www.baldwinmastergardeners.com

I hope you are staying safe and that you are making headway with your storm recovery. Some people in our group had major losses. Our thoughts continue to be with them.

On a brighter note, I want to celebrate this month our connection with several public schools through our volunteer efforts. Many of us are excited about the fine leadership that Barbara Schwartz is demonstrating at the CCC Greenhouse in Fairhope. She has already organized a seed planting morning and overseen the much needed cleanup of the greenhouse. At the Open House held back in October, it was exciting to see Mandy Bezeredi, Director of the Fairhope campus of CCC, negotiating some consulting help with Barbara and other MGs for improvements to the campus.

We, too, have had a long time connection to Daphne High School. Selena Vaughn and Mary Hamilton and others are the contact persons for our support of their Agriscience program. Mary actually assists Dr. Becky Anderton with her horticulture classes, and Selena oversees the MG Greenhouse on the DHS campus. Besides the aid to the school, the Daphne MG Greenhouse on average contributes between $2,500.00-$5,000.00 to our annual spring plant sale proceeds through the plants propagated there.

Finally, a number of MGs have been volunteering at the SBCT in Robertsdale. Myra Lassere is our contact person. Fine support of their Agriscience program has occurred there through the years. We’ve also benefited at our spring plant sale from the plants propagated at SBCT. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 crisis has put our participation at the technology center on hold for an indefinite amount of time.

We meet again by ZOOM on November 12 at 9:30. Our program presenter will be Beau Brodbeck. He will speak to us on what to do after a hurricane. Hope you can participate in this safe way.

Hoping we all grow greener thumbs, Julian INSIDE THIS ISSUE

November 2020 Volume XXVIII Issue XI

2020 BCMG Elected Board President: Julian Walthall Vice-President: Gerry Lester Treasurer: Jim Whitson Recording Secretary: Mary Calvin Corresponding Secretary: Freya Sonenstein Caterina Kenworthy Members at Large: Deborah Marriott Eileen Huisman Past President: Paula Pritchett 2020 Appointed Board Members: Monthly Program Chair: Zetty Bauer Intern Class Coordinator: Pam Tucker Outreach Coordinator: Tanys Waldron Finance Committee Chair: Joni Euler Projects Chair: Brenda Montgomery

Wayne de la Rua Voting………. …………………....2 2021 Dues Payment……………………………….……..2 November Mini Garden Tours….….….……………3 Wanda’s Wanderings & Wonderings………..….4 Plant Quiz………………………………………..……….….5 Brazilian Bachelor’s Buttons…..…………………..6 November Birthdays………………………………………7 Deadline-Service Hours Reporting…………...7-8 Possible Work Project……………………….……….. 9 Look at Me—Candelabra Bush……………....10-11 Seed Native Wildflowers in Fall…………...12-14 Meeting Minutes…………………………………....15-16 Mark Your Calendar..…………………….…………..17

President’s Notes by Julian Walthall

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Wayne de la Rua Voting by Sam Andrews In September, you nominated five peers from among our active ranks to consider for our unique, prestigious award, the Wayne de la Rua (“WDLR”) award. If you have not already done so, please review their Nominations in the October, 2020 Grass Roots. Now it is time for your vote! 1. Each active, dues-paying or lifetime, Baldwin County Master Gardener may vote… once. 2. STRONGLY ENCOURAGED, EMAIL VOTES ARE DUE AS OF 2:00 PM, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2020. THE DEADLINE FOR POSTAL VOTING FOR WDLR IS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2020. With COVID-19 restrictions on our meetings, these are the only two ways of WDLR voting for our 2020 candidates. 3. Please review again the WDLR nominating information, which appeared in the October 2020 Grass Roots or the attachment to the email sent to you. Gordon Cooper, Sally DeMott, Jimmie Van Valkenburgh, Julian Walthall, and Jim Whitson are your five 2020 nominees this year. 4. Please VOTE for your chosen candidate using one of the two means available to you.

4a. REGULAR MAIL — The email sent to you contained a special Postal Ballot for your 2020 Wayne de la Rua vote as an attachment. Please print or copy it. You mark the Postal Ballot next to your candidate’s name. Then, please return it in a postal envelope to P.O. Box 2094; Fairhope, AL 36533. Careful, postal ballots are due on Saturday, November 7, 2020.

4b. EMAIL — This COVID-19 year we encourage you to vote through email. Frankly, it is the most

practical method of voting in 2020. Please write the full WDLR candidate’s name for whom you are voting -- as well as your own name -- in the email that starts up when you click on THIS red-colored web link: Sam Andrews, Chair of the WDLR Committee.

…Or simply click this email address HibiscusFiend@mchsi.com to open a blank email with the

addressee filled-in and type into your subject line: WDLR. Then, type your voter name and the Wayne de la Rua candidate for whom you are voting. Hit send.

(NOTE: PLEASE send your vote only to this email address in order to submit a valid vote. (The

correspondence was forwarded to you in our traditional manner from our BCMG Broadcast email address. However, do NOT return your marked vote back to the BCMG broadcast address!) It will be lost and not count.)

Your Email votes must be received as of 2:00 PM, Tuesday, November 12, 2020.

Thank you for your cooperation. The announcement of this “once in a lifetime” award will occur at the BCMG Christmas Luncheon on Thursday, December 10th.

2021 Dues Payment Make out a $25.00 check to BCMG. Mail to: P. O. Box 1064 Fairhope, AL 36533 Remember, this Fall we will not be able to make payments at monthly meetings!

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November Mini Garden Tours by Paula Pritchett November Mini Garden Tours

BCMG Members Only No Cost Events

All current COVID 19 restrictions will apply. Each session will be limited to five people. Bring your own mask and bottle of water. No mask, no admittance.

Pre-registration required: Contact Paula Pritchett for questions and pre-registration.

251-752-0609 or pdpritchett@gmail.com

Hosted by: Beverly Villafana Address: 45935 US Highway 31 N, Bay Minette Dates: Wednesday and Thursday, November 4 and 5 Times: 9 AM and 1 PM, both days Description: Beverly plans to share her love for Mexican petunias and also share her Mexican petunias. Visitors will learn to cut and propagate and should plan to take some cuttings home with them. These Mexican petunias will become beautiful summer flowers for you to enjoy in 2021. Hosted by: Freya Sonenstein Address: 2 Molokai Lane, Fairhope Date: Wednesday, November 11 Times: 10 AM and 2 PM Molokai is a live oak lined lane off scenic 98 with 7 houses leading to a beach and wharf. Freya’s house on the corner of 98 was landscaped for privacy, easy care, and winter blooms. Shows what you can do with a fairly small area and pretty blank slate. Hosted by: Marilyn Mannhard and Mike Healy Address: 320 N. Ingleside St., Fairhope Dates: Monday, November 16 Thursday, November 19 Times: 9 AM and 11 AM Description: Marilyn’s container and in ground vegetable garden and Mike’s hydroponic garden. Also see how we use chicken litter, yard waste, and kitchen waste to maintain three compost bins. Visitors can also meet our six laying hens and ask questions about any of our gardening efforts. Hosted by: Jere Trigg Address: 718 Artillery Range, Spanish Fort Dates: Monday, November 16 Tuesday, November 17 Time: Both days will have tours available at both 10 AM and 1 PM Jere will be offering tours of his African violet growing areas. Visitors will be encouraged to look and learn. Jere is very knowledgeable and will be able to answer your questions and demonstrate what works best when growing violets. For those interested in purchasing, violets will be for sale. Paula Pritchett 251-971-1025 (h) 251-752-0609 (c) pdpritchett@gmail.com

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Wanda’s Wanderings & Wonderings by Wanda Martin Last month it was my pleasure to “escape” the house and tour Patsy Conner’s neighbor, Margaret Smith’s whimsical garden which she created with her own hands with everything from designing and planting to laying stone walks and even building a fake gate nailed to her fence. Her garden was a delight. When I asked Margaret how long it took for her to get her garden ready for us to tour, she just laughed and said, “No time! I weed and play in my garden every day”. She had so many beautiful plants and flowers, I asked her what her favorites were, and she immediately said the lilies and coneflowers. I believe her because she had coneflowers in colors I wasn’t even aware they even came in!! Humm….., Is there such a thing as “Coneflower Envy”? On the 4th of July, Zetty Bauer was pulling the hated “smilax vines” down from a tree in her yard when all of a sudden it started raining baby squirrels!! To her horror, she had pulled down a nest which was home to 3 two-week old babies. After gathering them up, Zetty and her 2 granddaughters named them: Frank, Hazel and Fischer. Fischer was the weakest of the 3 and did not make it thru the night. The Wildlife Preserve recommended putting them in a box under where they had fallen hoping the mother would come get them!! When this didn’t happen, Zetty began her 14 weeks of squirrel raising!! What an experience. She learned how to set her clock for every 4 hours to feed them with a syringe, to stroke their private parts to get them to Pee and Poo and even give them a “Spa” experience with warm water baths and a heating pad to rest upon! She celebrated each of their accomplishments: as their eyes first opened, their first Squirrel pose with tails high and as they used Zetty’s leg as a tree to run up and down on scratching their way along, and of course the day they started digging in her prized blooming orchid on the screened porch to hide their peanuts! What a proud Mama. Finally, the time had come to return them to the wild. She had a squirrel nesting box built so they would have a familiar “Condo” home to sleep in when released. Zetty held her breath as she opened their cage door and Hazel shot out, so happy for freedom. Frank, on the other hand, was slower to come out and then finally he did, only to be chased by an older squirrel back into his Mama Zetty’s arms. After much soothing and petting, he was ready and made his squirrel debut. Since then, they have learned the “Squirrel Pecking Order” and seem to be acclimated to their new life. In fact, when Zetty has seen them, she held out their favorite foods and they wouldn't even come to her, “Crushing Her”!! The Ungrateful Little Brats! Zetty said this was “The Perfect COVID Hobby!

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Plant Quiz submitted by “C” Fogarty I hope you enjoy this! I knew 2! This quiz was authored by KhanM of the LearnedLeague. 1. The genus name of this "living fossil" tree is the result of a spelling error that occurred when Engelbert Kaempfer, the first Westerner to investigate the species in 1690, used an incorrect transliteration for Japanese kanji. What is it? 2, There are seven common European vegetables that developed from artificial selection of cultivars from the species Brassica oleracea: cabbages, broccolis, cauliflowers, kales, collard greens, kohlrabi, and _________________? 3. Give either the common name or the scientific name of the sacred trees depicted in Hindu and Buddhist art as the dwelling places of gods and spirits (aka banyan, peepul, or Bodhi Trees). 4. What is the name of the product, made from milky sap of the Boswellia tree, known as olibanum in Latin, levo na in Hebrew, and al-luban in Arabic, but associated with the Crusaders who brought it back to Europe due to its high quality? 5. English explorer Sir Richard Burton described the taste of this fruit - which may have served as the inspiration for a candy, a lozenge flavor, and a popular Laotian-American drag performer - as "like a bad plum, an unrepentant cherry, and an insipid apple." What is it? 6, What popular North American beverage's traditional recipe includes: sassafras, black cherry, and other tree bark; wintergreen leaves and berries; and hops flowers? 7. During WWII, what was the flowery nickname that the British gave to the military police of the United States Army, inspired by their white helmets, gloves, gaiters, and belts against olive green uniforms? 8. The female trees of two related species are involved in the production of barkcloth and silk respectively, while the male trees are invasive weeds that can cause severe allergic reactions. What family of trees is this, which also produces fruit for pies, wine, and tea? 9. What flower, known as pilewort by some herbalists because it was traditionally used to treat hemorrhoids, inspired three Wordsworth poems, features in a key passage from C. S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is the favorite bloom of the protagonist in D. H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, and is the namesake for a 2006 children's fantasy novel by Steve Augarde? 10. Name any of the "Three Friends of Winter," admired by the Chinese for their perseverance under harsh conditions and used as a Japanese ranking system (for example in sushi sets or accommodations at a traditional ryokan). 11. While Europe had an Iron Curtain and East Asia had a Bamboo Curtain, what plant made up the eight mile curtain planted by Cuban troops along the fence surrounding the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in the fall of 1961 to deter asylum seekers? 12. The Semper Augustus is a now-extinct cultivar of what common garden bulb that was immortalized in still life paintings and commanded European fortunes 400 years ago?

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Brazilian Bachelor’s Buttons by Gerry Lester

Rumor* has it that the four small plants with lavender flowers interspersed among serrated leaves that are now in my garden were propagated from cuttings from Carma Gronback’s garden. Originally destined for the 2020 Fall Plant Sale, these plants became available for private sale upon that sales’ cancellation. At the time of purchase, the plant’s name was unknown.

I saw similarities, mainly the color, between the plants I purchased and the Bachelor’s Buttons that I remembered from long ago. After a brief internet search, I came across photos of Centratherum punctatum, aka Brazilian Bachelor’s Button, from the Asteraceae family. And, that folks, is about all the Latin you are going to hear from me. Anyway, the description of Centratherum punctatum hit the nail on the head, and the lavender flowers now growing in my garden are now called Brazilian Bachelor’s Buttons.

The four plants may have started out small, but they have grown vigorously and are now twelve to eighteen inches in height and about the same across. They are in bright sunny spaces, put on a show, and have thrived throughout our hot and humid summer days. Someone asked me if they were invasive. From my own experience, they will spread out, and if the long stems touch the soil (mostly acidic), they tend to grow little roots. Invasive, maybe, but easy to control.

I have had to cut the plants back to keep them in check. I understand that these little treasures are easily propagated from cuttings and from seeds. When first planted, they had a tendency to wilt during the hot afternoons. However, once acclimated to my yard, they yielded to benign neglect, continued to grow and to produce lovely lavender flowers. I concluded that they are a good “filler” plant, i.e., that they will fill up empty spaces that can be troublesome. I plan to try to propagate cuttings and seeds over the winter. But, I hope that some of the seeds from this year’s prolific display of flowers will show up as new plants next year.

Here’s to Good Gardening!

*The “rumor” turned out to be true. Thanks, Carma.

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Take rest; A field that has rested gives a bountiful crop. —OVID

November Birthdays by Verna Thwaits and Caterina Kenworthy

11-2 John McCarty 11-5 Donna Burnham 11-6 Carma Gronback 11-8 Pat Greer 11-10 Pam Schultz 11-20 Sandy Stepan 11-20 Kazuko Russell 11-28 "C" Fogarty 11-29 Ann Pierce

Deadline—Volunteer Service Hours Reporting by Sam Andrews If you are an active Baldwin Master Gardener, it is time to catch-up your Service and CEU Hour recording at the Extension website so that I can prepare reports and make orders for the 2020 December Luncheon Awards Presentation. Please remember that the web address to post your hours is at https://ssl.acesag.auburn.edu/mgmanager/login (Just click on the link!) Due to the unusual nature of our 2020 year with its COVID-19 quarantine, the Master Gardener Volunteer Hours deadline for awards at the December Luncheon is earlier than usual this year: Midnight, November 10, 2020. Of course, Midnight on December 31, 2020 is your final deadline to report volunteer hours for the year 2020. If you have any questions, please contact either Super Administrator: Sam Andrews at HibiscusFiend@att.net or Lynn Andrews at LynnAndrews@mchsi.com. The following is a little information sheet created to help you with your entries. I look forward to seeing your entries on the website!

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Possible Work Project by Barb Comstock I was accompanied to the arboretum by William Underwood, a biologist and a state resource person for Weeks Bay. The small trees seem to have survived just fine. We will have to check for crown damage in the future. We lost some large trees, especially by the pond. Our Longleaf mini forest did just fine. Unfortunately our cook shack didn’t fare so well. Besides cosmetic damage, I suspect some water and structural damage. We lost the older sign in front of the meeting hall. I asked Mr. Underwood about organizing some volunteer work times. He said until the state inspectors were done, nothing could be planned. Furthermore we would need the state to okay work projects. There was a lot more damage to the trees on the other side of the road, by the offices. No damage to the building, but the boardwalk is damaged. Lots of clean up work to do, currently being worked on by state work crews. That’s it. That’s all I know. Barb Comstock P.S. Mr. Underwood’s title is “Coastal Section Administrator, Biologist IV” Phone: 251-621-1216 will.underwood@dcnr.alabama.gov

Clockwise from Upper Left: William Underwood looking over damage. Old sign toppled. Arboretum. Small tree damage at Arboretum. Cook shack damage.

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(Continued on page 11)

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From “GNO Gardening”, October 2020, a publication of LSU Ag Center, Baton Rouge, LA

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(Continued on page 13)

13 (Continued on page 14)

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From “GNO Gardening”, October 2020, a publication of LSU Ag Center, Baton Rouge, LA

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Meeting Minutes by Mary Calvin Julian Walthall called the Baldwin County Master Gardeners meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. The meeting was held via ZOOM. Forty-three members and guests attended. The minutes from the September 10 meeting as published in Grass Roots were approved by common consent. Kazuko Russell sent a thank you note for the flowers we sent after her surgery. Joni Euler had no financial report but did share the news that Janet Carney from the 2009 intern class died on Sunday. Paula Pritchett said that three people have approached her about continuing mini tours in November. On November 4th and 5th, Beverly Villafana will share her Mexican petunias to propagate. On November 16th,, Marilyn Mannhard and Mike Healy will talk about fall gardening, hydroponic gardening and raising chickens. On November 16th and 17th, Jere Trigg will show his African violets. Look for the details via email next week. Register with Paula. Eileen Huisman said the awards ceremony will be December 10 at 10:30 a.m. at the PZK Hall. It is off Highway 104 in Robertsdale. The hall has a capacity of 300, and we will limit participation to 80 people for social distancing. Registration will run from November 1 to December 1. Send an email to Eileen, confederaterose1946@gmail.com. LA Barbecue will provide the box lunches. The cost is $10.00. Barbara Schwartz gave an update on the Coastal Community College greenhouse in Fairhope. They are ready to start planting. The college is looking forward to working with the greenhouse in Biology 104 next spring. Girl Scouts are also interested. Planting will start next week on the 13th or 15th of October. Bring seeds from your favorite perennials and a bag of potting soil, vermiculite, or sand. Groups will be limited to no more than eight people at a time. The location of the greenhouse is on School Street off Fairhope Avenue. Moe Nation said that they have eight gardens for the 2021 Garden Walk. The committee will visit sponsors and advertisers starting next week. There was a special board meeting this morning to approve emergency roof repair to the Daphne greenhouse. Tanys Waldron said this Saturday the state will announce whether it will give permission for state held lands such as the Highway 104 research facility to reopen for meetings. Myra Lassere said the AMGA advisory council nominating committee has nominated four new officers. The election will be held November 3 on ZOOM. The December meeting will probably also be on ZOOM. We are still under orders for social distancing and wearing masks, perhaps through the end of the year. The 2021 state conference in Calhoun County is still planned. Montgomery is proceeding with plans for the 2022 state conference. Work has begun on the 2023 conference. The Grow More, Give More program is suspended until January. SBCT and Old Tyme Feed both have damage. The Mobile Botanical Garden still plans to have the plant sale on November 17th and 18th. Jack LeCroy has set up two ZOOM training workshops from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on October 29th and 30th. These are sponsored by ACES. Sam Andrews spoke about the Wayne de la Rua award. See the October newsletter for profiles on the five nominees. The vote runs from November 1 through 2:00 p.m. on November 12. You can vote by postal mail or email. Email is preferred due to the current delays with mail delivery. Sandra Walton informed Pam Tucker that fifteen people have expressed an interest in the 2021 intern class. She will contact them today and send out the applications.

(Continued on page 16)

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Meeting Minutes by Mary Calvin (continued) Paula Pritchett would like to remind people to pay dues by sending a check for $25.00 to BCMG at P.O. Box 1064, Fairhope, AL 36533. You may also send it to Jim Whitson’s home address as published in the directory. Julian called a break at 10:31 a.m. The meeting resumed at 10:36 a.m. Zetty Bauer introduced Alabama Coastal Foundation’s Mark Berte to speak about Oyster Farming. The ACF mission is to improve and protect the coastal environment through cooperation, education and participation. We all “live on the coast” as there are 132,000 miles of streams and rivers in Alabama, and the rain that falls in your yard runs into one of them. Volunteers have built osprey nests and wood duck boxes. They have planted trees, marsh grass, and sea oats. Let Mark know if you know of areas that need planting. They remove invasive species and run recycling collections for street festivals. They have built an oyster reef. They educate restaurants and the public about recycling oyster shells. Shells must age for six months before being put back in the water. 14.3 million shells have been collected so far. Forty percent of the seafood caught in our country comes from the Gulf of Mexico. There are 2.6 million jobs in tourism. You can follow Alabama Coastal on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Q&A followed. How many people participate in oyster gardening? TJ Waters is in charge. He has hundreds of people in Alabama and Mississippi. Brenda Montgomery asked if we are overharvesting. The state closed the season last year. Our history is that we have overharvested, but Mark says that we have been smarter in recent years. The farmers use cages, and they know how much they have. Julian asked about seafood in general. It is hard to find local fresh affordable seafood. Grocery stores mostly import, perhaps from the Gulf of Tonkin. Mark says pay the price as it supports local jobs. Foley Farmer’s Market has fresh seafood. The Alabama Gulf Seafood newsletter tells what restaurants serve local seafood. The meeting adjourned at 10:59 a.m.

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Baldwin

Baldwin County Master Gardeners % Baldwin County Extension Office 302-A Byrne Street Bay Minette, AL 36506 Attn: Sandra Walton

Mark Your Calendar

Next meeting: November 12, 2020 Via ZOOM Social: 9:30 a.m. Meeting: 10:00 a.m. Speaker: Beau Brodbeck, Ph.D. Topic: “What to Do After a Hurricane” If your contact information changes, please email: baldwincountymastergardeners@gmail.com

Grass Roots is compiled and edited by Lynn Andrews, assisted by Sam Andrews. The newsletter is available before the monthly general meeting on our website: www.baldwinmastergardeners.com Submission of articles, items of interest, photos of BCMG events, garden tips, garden jokes, etc. are greatly encouraged and appreciated. Articles should be submitted in Microsoft Word format, PDF or, if necessary, “rich text format” (*.rtf). Pictures should be at least 1 MB in size. Send to grassrootsnews@gmail.com. Special thanks to Wanda Martin, “C” Fogarty, Gerry Lester, and Barb Comstock for their contributions this month! © 2020 Baldwin County Master Gardeners, Inc. All rights reserved.

Nov. 1-12, 2020 Wayne de la Rua Voting—Email Votes due November 12, 2020 at 2:00 p.m.; P. O. Box votes due November 7, 2020 November 5, 2020 BCMG Board Meeting Via ZOOM November 10, 2020 Deadline to report Volunteer Hours for awards at December Luncheon-12:00 Midnight November 12, 2020 BCMG Monthly Meeting Via ZOOM, 10:00 a.m., Beau Brodbeck, What to Do After a Hurricane December 3, 2020 BCMG Board Meeting Via ZOOM December 10, 2020 BCMG Awards Ceremony, PZK Hall, Robertsdale, Alabama December 31, 2020 Final Deadline to report Volunteer Service Hours for 2020–12:00 Midnight January 7, 2021 BCMG Board Meeting Via ZOOM January 14, 2021 BCMG Monthly Meeting Via ZOOM, 10:00 a.m. April 20-22, 2021 AMGA Annual Conference — Calhoun County, How Does Your Garden Grow?

Wear Those Masks!