VOLUME’15,’ISSUE’8’’’’A’LAFAYETTE’PARISH’MASTER’GARDENER’S...

THE SEPTEMBER LPMGA GENERAL

MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT 6PM AT

THE VERMILIONVILLE PERFORMANCE HALL ON WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH Jackie Carlisi will present “Horticulture As Therapy”.

Ms. Carlisi has earned both a BS and a Masters degree in

Horticulture. She studied at the Center for Horticultural Therapy at the Denver Botanical Gardens for 2 years, and taught classes including organic gardening, plant tissue culture, and horticultural therapy at UL Lafayette for 20 years.

This meeting is open to the public.

LPMGA BOARD MEETING MONDAY 1PM SEPTEMBER 16TH

Compass Engineering 4023 Amb Caffery Ste 300

ALL MEMBERS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND Contact LPMGA President Marc Wiley for more details

WHAT’S INSIDE Events and Announcements Gerald’s Corner Pick Up Your PlantFest Signs PlantFest Ice Available Pine Straw Sale Starts Sept 4th What Plant Am I? Ask An MG Chair Needed Save Your Water Bottles for PlantFest Native American Day at Vermilionville Welcome 2013 Master Gardener Class 2013 MG Class Mentors September Garden Talk-Hibiscus 2nd Saturday Gardening Class MG State Conference-Bloomin’ On The Red Between The Rows-Organic Gardening With Mary Ann Armbruster PlantFest Worksite Update MGs Attend Environmental Studies School Volunteers Needed At Healer’s Garden LPMGA September Calendar

IF YOU HAVE A DISABILITY WHICH

REQUIRES SPECIAL ASSISTANCE FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION IN OUR

MEETINGS, PLEASE CALL 337-291-7090 PLEASE NOTE: ALL MEETING AND

EVENT DATES, TIMES, AND LOCATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO

CHANGE. LSU AGCENTER WEBSITE WWW.LSUAGCENTER.COM

VOLUME 15, ISSUE 8 A LAFAYETTE PARISH MASTER GARDENER’S ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION SEPTEMBER 2013

OUTSTANDING MASTER GARDENER NOMINATIONS DUE BY OCTOBER 1ST

Recognize the above and beyond efforts of one our volunteers by nominating

them for Outstanding Master Gardener. The form is available in the LPMGA

Handbook, or as an attachment to this newsletter mailing.

Please contact Linda Broussard with any questions at [email protected]

Items to be included in the 2014

LPMGA Budget need to be submitted to Treasurer Mary

Miller by the General Meeting on Wednesday, November 6th.

Please contact Mary with any questions.

2ND ANNUAL

PRES IDENT’S MESSAGE

When I took the Master Gardener class in 2004, I was filled with excitement and enthusiasm. I looked forward to pursuing my love of plants, learning from a wide array of experts, meeting new people, and becoming a member of a group that I am so proud to be a part of, Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners. When I visited the 2013 Master Gardener Class recently, I was thrilled to see that same excitement in the eyes of this year’s class members. We have a wonderful group this year, and I look forward to welcoming them as members at our class graduation ceremony and Christmas Social on December 4th. Gardening and horticulture have certainly grown as an interest for a large segment of our society. As Master Gardeners we have so many opportunities to provide horticultural education and promote the many different aspects of gardening, and the LSU AgCenter, to a very interested audience. We were a much smaller group back in 2004, and it constantly amazes me how much we have grown in number and in the scope of our service to our community, so many changes, but, thankfully, so many devoted and enthusiastic volunteers facing those changes together. I am honored to share with our members that I have been asked to join the Lafayette Central Park Planning, Design, and Construction Committee. I’m humbled by the invitation and by the opportunity to serve. I am looking forward to helping develop this wonderful park, and our future home.

Marc

THE LPMGA NOMINATING COMMITTEE

A special thanks goes out to the LPMGA members who have agreed to serve on this year’s Nominating Committee.

MARY ANN ARMBRUSTER-‐CHAIR LSU AgAgent GERALD ROBERTS

JUAN NIETO GAIL WAKEFIELD CINDY WILEY JEWELL WEST

Please contact Committee Chair Mary Ann Armbruster with

nominations for the 2014 LPMGA Board. Remember that the member nominated must be active. For more information on elections and the nomination

process, please refer to pages 24, 26, 51 and 52 of the LPMGA Handbook or contact your Member-‐At-‐Large Gail Wakefield.

SEPTEBER 2013 LAFAYETTE PARISH MASTER GARDENERS PAGE 2

THE 6PM WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH GENERAL

MEETING

JACKIE CARLISI WILL PRESENT “HORTICULTURE AS THERAPY”

THE MEETING IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL TAKE PLACE

AT THE VERMILIONVILLE PERFORMANCE CENTER.

October 2nd at Noon, the October General Meeting will feature Dr. Neil Odenwald presenting topics from his

book “Bountiful Flowers” http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/southerngarden/bountiful.html

Nominations for Member-‐At-‐Large and the method of voting at the November General Meeting will be

decided at the October General Meeting.

At the 6pm November 6th General Meeting, Dave Patton presents “Winter Hummingbirds” at the

Vermilionville Performance Center. The election of the 2014 LPMGA Board will take place at the November General Meeting. Please remember that only active members may vote.

LPMGA BOARD MEETINGS 2013

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17TH 1PM All meetings are scheduled to begin at 1pm at

Compass Engineering 4023 Ambassador Caffery, Ste 300

REMAINING 2013 MEETINGS: OCTOBER 22ND NOVEMBER 19TH DECEMBER 17TH

All members are welcome to attend the Board meetings, contact Marc Wiley for more information.

LPMGA ELECTION TIMELINE AND MEMBER-‐AT-‐LARGE ELECTION

Refer to page 26 in the LPMGA Handbook.

September Newsletter: Call made for Member-‐At-‐Large candidates to be nominated at the October General Meeting. October General Meeting: Nominations from the general membership for At-‐Large member are made and members decide on the method of voting. Since only active members can vote, the recommendation is made that ballots with space for additional nominees would guarantee that only active members are voting. November General Meeting: Election of At-‐Large Member is held at the same time as election of the other board members. December General Meeting: Christmas Social, 2013 Master Gardener Class Graduation, Installation of LPMGA Board Officers, including At-‐Large-‐Member. All officers, including At-‐Large member, take office January 1st.

EVENTS MEETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PLANTFEST NEEDS SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS! If you know people who are connected to schools or any other organization where students or members are looking for service hours, please ask them to sign up here ASAP: http://www.plantfest.org/2013-volunteer-opportunities.html Questions? Email: [email protected]

PLANTFEST IS IN DESPERATE NEED OF RVS…. Campers, Motor Coaches, etc. Please ask any kind and generous person who may consider letting us use one on September 13-14. Questions? Email: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2013 LAFAYETTE PARISH MASTER GARDENERS PAGE 3

GERALD’S CORNER Vegetables to plant in the month of September -‐ Tomato and pepper transplants, along with broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. If you want the satisfaction and challenge of planting seeds choose broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, collards, mustard, kale, kohlrabi, turnips, squash. For all warm seasons plants such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, bush snap beans, bush lima beans, these need to be planted in early September, so that they have a chance to mature before the first frost. Sets of shallots and bunching onions can also be planted this month. The LSU AgCenter offers” The Louisiana Vegetable Planting Guide” which contains a wealth of information on vegetable production and is one of our most popular pamphlets. Copies are available at www.lsuagcenter.com. When the website comes up just type in vegetable planting guide in the search box. It can be printed free of charge. September 1st is the last chance you will have to cut back poinsettias if you need to do so. Pruning after this time will interfere with their blooming. Make sure poinsettias in your landscape don’t receive artificial light at night from nearby streetlights or porch lights etc. If they do there is a good chance that they may not bloom. Pecan trees need for moisture is critical this month especially to minimize nut drop. It is not unusual for south Louisiana to experience dry conditions as we transition in to Fall. Be prepared to water pecan trees by letting a hose run very slowly for several hours a couple of times per week in the absence of rainfall. Be aware that one of the characteristics of pecan trees is that they have relatively brittle wood and limb breakage is not unusual especially with a heavy nut crop when it is raining with gusty winds. That is a primary reason that when planting pecan trees they be placed at 50 – 60 feet from buildings or other structures in order to minimize damage in case of limb breakage. All avid gardeners understand the benefit of mulching and the value it brings to plants such as conserving moisture, suppressing weeds, reducing soil compaction, adding nutrients to the soil, and improving the soil structure making it easier for roots to expand and extract much needed water and nutrients from the soil. However over the course of the year mulches break down and should be replenished to maintain a 2 – 3 inch layer of thickness. Some gardeners prefer the look of commercial mulches instead of leaves, dry grass clippings or pine straw. One suggestion is to put down a couple of inches of free mulch then top it off with a commercial mulch if that is the appearance your prefer. Generally when we have mild winters in Louisiana, bananas may produce fruit during the summer. Wait until the fruit start to turn yellow, cut off the whole stalk and hang it up. Pick the fruit from the stalk as they turn yellow. You can also cut the stalk when the bananas are full size but still green. They will ripen off the tree. As you’ll know hurricane season is hitting its stride this month so make whatever preparations that are necessary in case a hurricane develops and threaten south Louisiana. Pay attention to trees that may show signs of weakness such as dead branches which should be pruned off, or if a tree is dead it should me remove since it is a safety hazard. It’s very important that gardeners be aware that on our late winter or Spring flowering shrubs such as gardenias, hydrangeas, azaleas, sasanquas, and camellias have already set buds for their next crop of blooms. Pruning now will certainly reduce the number of blooms for their upcoming blooming season. Even though we take it for granted as Master Gardeners I receive numerous calls at this time of the year from gardeners wanting to know if it’s okay to cut back these shrubs. From now on don’t apply any fertilizer containing nitrogen to most landscape plants or lawns. Fertilizing trees, shrubs, lawns and ground covers with fertilizers containing nitrogen can reduce winter hardiness, promote winter injury and in the case of lawns aggravate brown patch disease. Virginia Button Weed – I consulted with Weed & Lawn Specialist Dr. Ron Strahan of the LSU AgCenter regarding numerous calls from people wanting to know what is the best way to address this tough weed in home lawn at this time of the year. Dr. Strahan doesn’t recommend spraying as the only option because the weed has become tough and is heading toward maturity reducing the effectiveness of herbicides in controlling it. Dr. Strahan recommends pulling as much of it as possible, place it in a garbage bag and get rid of it. This will help to tremendously reduce the seed population in the lawn that were produce this year, and greatly reduce the number of seeds that will be sprouting next spring.

Until Next Month – HAPPY GARDENING!!!

Gerald P. Roberts Horticulturist/Master Gardener Program Coordinator

LSU AgCenter 1010 Lafayette Street, Suite 325 Lafayette, LA 70501

[email protected] Office (337) 291-‐7090

Fax (337) 291-‐7099

PICK UP PLANTFEST SIGNS SEPT 4TH

Carole Gaubert will be at the Cottage on

Wednesday, September 4th with PlantFest signs. She will also be at the General Meeting

Wednesday evening at 6pm. Contact Carole Gaubert for more information.

BAG ICE AVAILABLE AT PLANTFEST

IceX will place a trailer of 10lb bags of ice at the back of the red barn. The ice will be supplied to MGs for their use during the

event. This eliminates the need for bringing ice from home. The ice will also be sold to other vendors. Gary Trahan and Marie

Jones will man the trailer. Contact Sherlyn Larrison if you have any questions.

ASK A MASTER GARDEN

CHAIR NEEDED

“Ask A Master Gardener” is an important educational outreach of LPMGA. This valuable program’s volunteers set

up a table at various events and provide answers to horticultural questions, information on Master Gardener

classes, AgCenter events and soil tests. They serve as an introduction to LPMGA for those who are not familiar with

our organization. You do not have to be an expert to volunteer for “Ask A

Master Gardener” or to lead this committee. A volunteer to take over that leadership position is needed

as soon as possible. Contact Marc Wiley for more information

If you walk down a certain street in New Orleans, going toward Bayou St. John, you'll become aware of a heady scent in the air. There are large magnolias overhead, but that's not the source. And it certainly isn't coming from the live oaks. No, that wonderful aroma is coming from much closer to your nose. I'm a large evergreen shrub or small tree, with lustrous medium-green leaves with paler undersides. Some of my leaves resemble holly, hence my nickname "False Holly". But hollies have alternate leaves, while mine are opposite. Although I'm a native of Asia, I've become a favorite of Southern gardeners, and am often found in older gardens. My growth rate is slow to moderate, and I like sun to medium shade in well-drained soil. When I'm older, my growth is as wide as it is high and I make a good hedge. I'm moderately drought-tolerant, but have poor salt-tolerance. I have few serious pests, but scales and nematodes can be a problem. My flowers, which can range from pure white to golden orange are small, but produce such a marvelous scent that they're used in some of the costliest perfumes. An extract of my golden orange flowers is dissolved in Absolute Alcohol to be used in Calvin Klein's "Escape", Estee Lauder's "Beautiful Love", Oscar de la Renta's "Volupe", and Elizabeth Arden's "Sunflowers". Do you know what plant I am? See page 7 for the answer.

Native American Culture Day at Vermilionville

On Saturday, September 21, Vermilionville will

celebrate Native American Culture Day with children’s activities, traditional dances and

craftwork, cooking demos, and a groundbreaking ceremony for the Native American expansion at

Vermilionville.

Visit www.vermilionville.org/events/native-american-culture-day for more information.

Be sure to stop and visit the Healer’s Garden!


Water Bottles Needed For PlantFest Children’s Tent The PlantFest Children's Activity tent needs 150 more empty water bottles for the kids to do their nature-themed project. Don't make us buy and dump 150 bottles of water!!! If everyone collects their own recycling plastic bottles and brings them to the Master Gardener meeting this Wednesday, September 4, Noorjahan will collect them for PlantFest. Please bring all you can. Thanks! PlantFest Children's Activities Committee

Pine straw will be for sale at the September 4th and October 2nd meetings. The cost is $7 a bale, cash or check only, active MGs only. Pay at pick-‐up, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday and Saturday, November 1-‐2nd, at the Demo Gardens Shade House (same as last year). The time will be announced when scheduled. Orders can be taken via my cell phone or my E-‐address beginning after the September 4th general meeting. Thanks! Theresa Gore [email protected]

WELCOME TO THE MASTER GARDENER

CLASS OF 2013 LORAINE ALLAIN HELEN HUGHES LINDA BEYT DEAN KOPFLER LISA BOUDREAUX WARREN LAFLEUR NATALIE BROUSSARD SUSAN FOREMAN PETER BROUSSARD RAE LUIG PHYLLIS CAGNOLA SANDRA MILLS DOLORES CHAMPAGNE BETH MOUTON AUDREY COSGROVE LEANN NAQUIN HOLLY CURTIS STEVE POIRRIER ANN DOWNS BONNIE PREVOST SUSAN FOREMAN PATRICIA REGGIE MARY JANE GATES CAROLYN RINK FAYE HEBERT BARBARA RIVERA DAVID HENRY LISSEE SPILLER ELEANOR HENRY PAM WOMACK MAXINE HOLLIER


2013 Master Gardener Class Mentors

MENTOR CHAIR CINDY JENSEN

CINDY WILEY MARY WAGGONER MARIE JONES MARY MILLER JAN WYATT TINKER DUGAS

TINA JUMONVILLE KATHY VAN NESS DENISE CHAPMAN DEBBIE GIGLIO GARY TRAHAN ANNE BREAUX DONNA WALKER SHERLYN LARRISON

MICHELLE DELAUNAY MARGARET CHAISSON THERESA MCCLENDEN LINDA ALESI THERESA GUIDRY SANDRA CRESWELL JEWELL WEST KATHRYN SOILEAU

LORETTA HETHERWICK MARY ANN ARMBRUSTER

Master Gardener Class lectures are open to our membership. Attending lectures counts toward Continuing Education, however, space is very limited.

Please contact MG Class Coordinator Patricia Soileau for schedules and topics. Don’t Forget To Record Your Volunteer And Continuing Education Hours

If you need assistance, contact your Volunteer Coordinator Mary Ann Armbruster

Lafayette Parish MasterGardener Association

“Hibiscus”Saturday, September 21, 2013

10:00-11:00 am

Master Gardener Demonstration GardensAcross from Blackham Colliseum on Colliseum Road

From small blooms to some the size of dinner plates, hibiscus flowers are treasure, and the many varieties hold something for everyone.

Don’t let their short life deter you from seeking , their beauty. Join Buddy Short for an introduction

into the wonderful world of hibiscus.

Bring a lawn chair.

This event is part of an outdoor mini-lecture series covering a variety of garden related topics.

These informal, educational talks are free and open to the public.

Also on site!

Ask a Master GardenerAvailable to assist with any other garden related questions, look at problem samples brought in,

receive soil samples, and provide information on how to become a Master Gardener.

Gar

den

Tal

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Second Saturday Gardening Class

Our class attendance is steadily growing. We celebrated the 1-year anniversary of the Second Saturday Gardening Class on August 10th with standing room only! The one and only Marshall Mugnier will present "Landscape Basics" on Saturday, September 14, 2013, from 10:00-11:00 am, at the Grass and Rock Shoppe, 1800 East Milton Avenue, Lafayette, La., located 1/4 mile west of the Verot School Road Roundabout. Mr. Mugnier is the former owner of Marshall's Home and Garden Showplace. Admission is free, and attending earns one hour of Continuing Education for LPMGA members. For more information contact Sherlyn Larrison.

The monthly Garden Talk earns one hour of Continuing Education for LPMGA members.

2013 Louisiana Master Gardener State Conference

BLOOMIN’ ON THE RED

OCTOBER 8-‐11, 2013

Sam’s Town Hotel and Casino, Shreveport, LA Hosted by Northwest Louisiana Master Gardeners

& Piney Hills Louisiana Master Gardeners After Aug 31st $180

Visit regonlinewww.bloominonthered.com for conference information, accommodations, and

registration forms


Leaf-‐footed bug eggs They have flattened ends and are laid in a single line along a stem or on a leaf. If you happen to see these eggs, destroy them.


Leaf-‐footed Bug nymphs on leaf Note the two black spots on the dorsal abdomen. These are the bad ones. You can get rid of them by ‘hand washing’ or by dumping them into a container of soapy water.

Hi Everyone, Another month has gone by and it seems like I just finished the last column. I guess that’s a good way to tell a person’s age. The older we are, the faster time passes. And, boy, am I OLD! Anyway, it’s time to get serious about fall planting. Get those Irish potatoes into the ground and plant bush beans before Sept 10th, and plant cabbage, peas, and pumpkins before the 15th. Then all of September is good for planting beets, carrots, chard, Chinese cabbage, collards, lettuce, mustard, radish, and shallots, as well as onions and leeks from seed. I’m not harvesting much right now. The tomatoes are still not doing well, though I did manage to harvest three yellow ones from a plant in the front between the blueberries. I replanted cucumbers just yesterday, and I put in a new tomato early in August, but I’ve been very lazy lately. I should have planted a lot more than I have, but first the weather was too hot, and then I haven’t been feeling very well, so planting took a back seat. That just happens sometimes. At least we’re getting rain again. At my house, we’ve been getting a quarter to three quarters of an inch every day or three. It keeps me from having to worry about watering except for the pots under cover. I need another bed, too, so I have to find the time and the energy to build that. I was very lucky to receive bags of pigeon droppings and bedding from a friend’s annual coop cleanup. I also bought some rabbit manure from Marcus at The Urban Naturalist. I can add those to the coffee grounds and compost that I got from the diner, and, with layers of cardboard, I should have almost enough to fill the new bed. That will give me about 600 square feet in beds, plus edges and sections in the front among the perennials. That should be enough for two people, right? Somehow garden space is akin to closet or cabinet space, no matter how much I have, I fill it and feel like I need more. I learned something more at our last meeting about identifying good versus bad bugs. Leaf-‐footed bug (stink bug) juveniles and assassin bug juveniles look very much alike and have always frustrated me because I don’t know whether or not to eliminate a group of youngsters. Will they grow up to eat the bad guys or to BE the bad guys? The younger they are, the more they look alike. As they get older, the leaf-‐footed bugs begin to differentiate themselves with the widening of their hind legs. The assassin bugs never do that and neither do the stinkbugs, but when they are younger, what do I do? During his presentation at the meeting, Marcus showed us that there are some clues to differentiate them though. The good bugs, the assassin bugs, have white spots on them, while the bad bugs, the leaf-‐footed bugs and stink bugs, have black spots on them. Finally, I can determine which juveniles to treat to my ‘hand-‐washing’ technique and which to allow to go on living with my blessing. What, you ask, is my ‘hand-‐washing’ technique? It’s really very simple. When the juveniles are young they cluster. As they get older the assassin bugs become solitary, but the leaf-‐footed bugs continue to be social into adulthood. I look at the insects without disturbing them to determine which they are. If they are leaf-‐footed bugs, they generally cluster on a fruit. I carefully put one gloved hand under the fruit and use the other gloved hand to tap the stem hard once, causing most of the insects to fall into the waiting hand underneath. I then ‘wash’ my hands, scrubbing well to get all of the little fellows. It’s a variation on the two bricks method. It’s quick, it’s safe for the environment, and the insects cannot develop resistance to it. If you cannot stand the squishing part (but honestly, they are so small and so soft that you really cannot feel them), you can put a bucket of soapy water underneath and tap the insects into the water. It’s harder to get the bucket underneath without disturbing the insects, but it definitely can work. This works for any non-‐flying bug, and the leaf-‐footed bugs are non-‐flying in the juvenile stages. I hope that gives you a better idea of how to deal with juveniles that might be stinkbugs or assassin bugs. Until next month,

Good luck with your fall garden and until next time, Keep growing, MaryAnn

Assassin Bug Nymph Good bug, note the white spots along its sides. Allow this bug to go on its way

undisturbed

Stink bug adult surrounded by leaf-‐footed nymphs Since the adult can fly, this situation it may be best treated by spot spraying with a solution of llight oil and dishwashing detergent. Spray the insect directly with a tight stream. Don’t just spray the plant, that will accomplish nothing. This inhibits their ability to fly. Then grab the bucket and drop the insect into it by grabbing or by knocking it in.

LAFAYETTE PARISH MASTER GARDENERS ATTEND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES COURSE

PLANTFEST WORKSITE UPDATE Please note that some of these volunteer positions may have been filled, but there is a great need for volunteers in many

different jobs. Contact Sherlyn Larrison or go to www.plantfest.org for more volunteer opportunities. PLANTFEST WORKSITE UPDATE Creating the work schedule is a great way for me to put names and faces together, particularly last names, and to meet so many of you fantastic 2013s. The response has been great so far from you dedicated MGs. So much of the stress on the chairs of the worksites can be relieved as soon as we fill their shifts! Don't forget to notify the chair of the worksite AND me of you selection of shifts. Thanks for making my job so pleasant and easy. Sherlyn

We still need workers in the following areas: Friday Setup from 1-5pm AND Saturday from 6-8 am with Juan Nieto. Juan needs the as many of the Friday setup team as possible to complete the Setup on Saturday 6-8 am. This is critical to get PlantFest running smoothly. Great spot for Class of 2013. Plant Holding with Juan Nieto and Beatrice Alcala. Great spot for Class of 2013. Children's Tent with Colette Anzalone

Horse Farm Tours: introduce the guide to the people taking the tour and direct them to the bus. 1 person/ shift NonMaster Gardeners are needed for parking and can assist in the Children's Tents. Your spouses, family, and friends volunteering in these and other positions add so much to our volunteer Ice Trailer with Sherlyn: dispense 10 lb bags at no cost to MGs and collect fee from vendors for ice. Need 1 per shift in charge of key, dispensing from 6 am-11 and 11-4 shifts contingent!


Members of the Lafayette Master Gardeners and the Lafayette Garden Club attended an Environmental Studies School in Jean Lafitte, August 20-‐23, 2013. Sponsors of the Courses were: National Garden Clubs, Inc.; Deep South Region, NGC; Louisiana Garden Club Federation, Inc.; Jefferson Parish Council of Garden Clubs; Better Swamps and Garden Club; and the Town of Jean Lafitte, Louisiana; and School Moderators, Joe and Cindy Baucum of Jean Lafitte. Course I, "The Living Earth," included topics on Ecology; Plants Biodiversity; Native Plants, Environmental Science and Issues; Wildlife Habitat; Networking and outreach; Historic Environmental Actions and Leaders; Earth Stewardship; and a Nature Field Trip to Jean Lafitte National Park. Course II, "Land and Related Issues," included topics on Ecology of Land; Plants in Agriculture; Reduction of Pollutants, Toxins and Other Materials; Coastal Zone Management; Environmental Science of Resources; Wildlife, The Misunderstood; Coastal Zone Management; Gardening With Nature and a Field Trip by Boat to See Coastal Preservation/Restoration Projects. Our very own Rene Schmit, MS, LSU AgCenter gave two great presentations on Agricultural Productions and Limitations and Louisiana Yards and Neighborhoods. (Pictured receiving Special Recognition from School Moderators; Cindy and Joe Baucum) January 9 and 10, Lafayette Garden Club will help sponsor a Gardening School in Lafayette. Our very own Becky Taylor will be a featured speaker. These Schools are open to the public and fill-‐up fast. Pictured Master Gardeners Attendees: (Left to Right) Anita Petitjean, Class of 2010; Kathy Van Ness, Class of 2010; Cinde' Risinger, Class of 2012; Babette Werner, Class of 2010; Debbie Grissom, Class of 2012; and Jo Ann Pugh, Class of 2003.

Anita Petitjean

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT THE HEALER’S GARDEN VERMILIONVILLE Le Jardin du Traiteur (The Healer’s Garden), is a demonstration garden sponsored by the Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners Association (LPMGA). In the Healer’s Garden, visitors can see, smell, and touch a collection of plants used for medicinal purposes for 150 years or more by the people in Acadiana. The Monday Group is the name of the Master Gardener Committee that tends the Healer’s Garden and supports the education mandate of the LPMGA.

We would like to invite any Master Gardener and any Master Gardener in Training to join us on Monday mornings and other days, as you may be available. Anyone who is interested, please contact Mary Perrin [email protected] or MaryAnn Armbruster [email protected] to be put on the committee notification list. For anyone who is not up to date on the activities of the Healer’s Garden Committee (HGC), please keep reading, you may be pleasantly surprised. The story of the Healer’s Garden began in August of 2010 when Dr. C. Ray Brassieur, Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Sociology at ULL and President of the Vermilionville Living History Museum Foundation Board, spoke to the LPMGA membership about his vision to build a medicinal garden at Vermilionville. This started as a project garden with the intention of eventually turning it over to Vermilionville. Members saw his vision, volunteers formed a committee headed by Jan Wyatt, and they learned how to perform research, and how to validate the historic use of these plants. Beginning with a master’s thesis presented in 1933 by Charles J. Bienvenu to the faculty of LSU, the HGC members collected and consolidated once-‐scattered information on the use of curative plants in early Louisiana. This information was then compiled into ‘The Healer’s Garden Guide’, which became the foundation document for the selection of plants in the Healer’s Garden. We currently have about 40 of the 75 documented plants. We are always on the lookout for the rest. Local botanist and landscape designer Bill Fontenot designed the layout of the garden. Interpreted as a garden appropriate to the 1850s, with plants that are either native or imported but widely used prior to 1900, ‘La Maison du Traiteur’ represents a time in Acadiana when physicians were scarce, pharmacies non-‐existent and traiteurs commonplace. Encouraged by Dr. Ray, and supported by the Executive Board, the members of the HGC have created a place where local residents, school children, university students, researchers, and tourists can connect with the unique cultural history and the local natural resources found in the Healer’s Garden. The first chair of the HGC was Jan B. Wyatt, a Master Gardener with 25 years’ experience as a museum professional and educator. Under Jan’s guidance, the Healer’s Garden committee reached out to the community to find partners to assist. Many individuals and organizations worked with the Master Gardeners and Vermilionville to make the Healer’s Garden an on-‐going reality. By the end of last year the garden was well established, but not finished. (It is a work in progress.) The garden under Jan’s leadership earned an important international award, but we cannot tell you about it -‐ yet. The purpose of the garden, in accordance with the LPMGA mission statement, is to inform and educate. The committee members share information, not only with visitors to the Healer’s Garden, but in presentations by committee members who are also members of the LPMGA Speakers Bureau. The Healer’s Garden Committee has expanded the activities around the garden by joining with Vermilionville and the ULL Department of Education to help educate our young people. At various times during the year, the committee members give tours to third and eighth graders, connecting their classroom experiences to their history and to the real world. The committee members also assist in tours on the various Culture Days and at summer camps held at Vermilionville. The current co-‐chairs of the HGC, Mary Perrin and MaryAnn Armbruster, are continuing the work started by the original committee and expanding on it. They recently received a grant from the Vermilionville Board to initiate a quarterly lecture series, “Healing Traditions in Acadiana”. The LPMGA Executive Board continues to support the Healer’s Garden, and last year, because of the expanded educational activities undertaken by the committee members and the fact that these activities fulfill our mission, they declared the Healer’s Garden to be a Demonstration Garden. Anyone who wishes to join our committee, please contact Mary or MaryAnn. Do not worry about lack of knowledge, we will teach you. We also need those who cannot work outside. There are a number of activities that may be performed indoors. Therefore, we have something for almost anyone. We are a very active committee, but the best reason to join our group is that we have a great time while working. Please, give us a try.

CHECK OUT THESE CLASSES AVAILABLE ONLINE & SEE WHAT OTHER NATIONAL MG ORGANIZATIONS ARE DOING

TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION

Environmentally Friendly Landscaping Course http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/training/

TEXAS A&M MG PROGRAM http://mastergardener.tamu.edu


Gardener’s Gazette is issued to all members of the Lafayette Parish Master Gardeners Program. All members are encouraged to submit news, educational features, and

photographs. The deadline for all submissions is the 24th of each month for publication in the next month’s issue.

Please send items to the editor: Louann McClelland-‐Long

[email protected]. The Master Gardener program is a division of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension

Agency and can reached at: 1010 Lafayette Street, Lafayette, LA 70501

(337) 291-‐7090 Fax (337) 291-‐7099 www.lsuagcenter.com

It is the policy of the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service that no person shall be subjected to discrimination on the grounds

of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability. The Louisiana Cooperative Extension provides equal

opportunities in programs and employment. Louisiana State University and A&M College,

Louisiana Governing Bodies, Southern University, and the United States

Department of Agriculture Cooperating. A State Partner in the Cooperative Extension

System

LSU AGRICULTURAL CENTER COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE U.S. Department of Agriculture 1010 Lafayette Street, Suite 325 Lafayette, LA 70501-‐688

SEPTEM

BER 2013 CALENDAR

VOLUME’15,’ISSUE’8’’’’A’LAFAYETTE’PARISH’MASTER’GARDENER’S...

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Transcript of VOLUME’15,’ISSUE’8’’’’A’LAFAYETTE’PARISH’MASTER’GARDENER’S...