Greenhouse Notes A quarterly newsletter for Coastal Master Gardener Association members Spring 2017 President’s Message - Winter Survival I survived the Winter of 2017. It was horrific. I think it lasted almost 3 days! Seriously! It seems that everyone is asking if the extremely mild Winter we have experienced is any indicator of higher than normal temperatures we can expect this Summer. According to multiple studies, there seems to be no correlation between the two; but the lack of days with temperatures below freezing does suggest that the bugs and pests that normally die out during Winter have barely had a nap. My guess is that they are now just hungry, and that could be a problem for us and our plants. Expect more pests to appear in the gardens, yards, and patios; and they will likely show up earlier than normal. The plants, shrubs, and trees are all confused and many are bursting into full bloom in February. If we get a cold snap in March, which we often do, damage will likely be extensive and severe. Brace yourselves, and hope for the best! I would like to thank the members who have stepped forward to help lead our organization for 2017. We plan to stabilize our membership, expand our project opportunities, and increase the prospects for members to grow through education, share their knowledge and experience by teaching others, and participate in community initiatives and programs. Our first meeting of this year is scheduled for Coastal Georgia Botanical Garden at 6PM on 3/14. We will meet in the Andrews Visitor’s Center. Our speaker is Dr. Tim Davis, who will teach us about fire ants. I don’t know about you, but I have run into them everywhere already this year. Dr. Davis will help us better understand how to identify and control them. I look forward to seeing you there. Thank you to everyone who has already paid their 2017 dues to Coastal Master Gardener Association. Please remember to pay your dues, if you haven’t already done so. I would also ask you to pay your dues as well to the Georgia Master Gardener Association. Remember, GMGA will reimburse our local organization $5 for every CMGA member who pays their dues to the state organization by March 31. Win – Win! It’s going to be a GREAT year! See you in the garden, Steve Taylor President, CMGA
Transcript
Greenhouse Notes A quarterly newsletter for Coastal Master Gardener Association members
Spring 2017
President’s Message - Winter Survival
I survived the Winter of 2017. It was horrific. I think it lasted almost
3 days! Seriously! It seems that everyone is asking if the extremely
mild Winter we have experienced is any indicator of higher than normal
temperatures we can expect this Summer. According to multiple
studies, there seems to be no correlation between the two; but the lack
of days with temperatures below freezing does suggest that the bugs
and pests that normally die out during Winter have barely had a nap.
My guess is that they are now just hungry, and that could be a problem for us and our plants.
Expect more pests to appear in the gardens, yards, and patios; and they will likely show up
earlier than normal. The plants, shrubs, and trees are all confused and many are bursting into
full bloom in February. If we get a cold snap in March, which we often do, damage will likely be
extensive and severe. Brace yourselves, and hope for the best!
I would like to thank the members who have stepped forward to help lead our organization for
2017. We plan to stabilize our membership, expand our project opportunities, and increase the
prospects for members to grow through education, share their knowledge and experience by
teaching others, and participate in community initiatives and programs.
Our first meeting of this year is scheduled for Coastal Georgia
Botanical Garden at 6PM on 3/14. We will meet in the Andrews
Visitor’s Center. Our speaker is Dr. Tim Davis, who will teach us
about fire ants. I don’t know about you, but I have run into them
everywhere already this year. Dr. Davis will help us better
understand how to identify and control them. I look forward to
seeing you there.
Thank you to everyone who has already paid their 2017 dues to Coastal Master Gardener
Association. Please remember to pay your dues, if you haven’t already done so. I would also ask
you to pay your dues as well to the Georgia Master Gardener Association. Remember, GMGA will
reimburse our local organization $5 for every CMGA member who pays their dues to the state
organization by March 31. Win – Win!
It’s going to be a GREAT year!
See you in the garden,
Steve Taylor President, CMGA
Bonaventure Update
The camellias at Bonaventure have really been a pleasant surprise this year. Not only have they bloomed vigorously despite the setbacks from Hurricane Matthew, at present time the mild winter has also encouraged the azaleas to bloom early so the cemetery is quite a colorful sight.
As it turns out, there are quite a few more camellias out here than we realized. Ron and Belinda Jacob took a survey of the existing plants in private lots and along the thoroughfares, all 160 acres or thereabouts, and it turns out there are well over 1100 camellias still hanging in there. This came as quite a surprise because it means that there really were a lot of camellias out there and it wasn’t a figment of the imagination. The problem was that they were so ignored, so covered with moss and vines that people were unaware of their presence. All that hard work really paid off for it is a beautiful sight to see them once again in bloom.
Another interesting topic worth mentioning is the successful graft of a Dr. Quattlebaum camellia by Linda Artley. She remembered this variety from her childhood fondly but was unable to find any specimens locally. Fortunately, Bobby Green of Green Nursery in Fairhope, Alabama, a camellia specialist, was made aware of the situation and sent scions (cuttings) to Savannah and with the guidance of local nurseryman Gene Phillips, she was able to get a viable graft union that so far is looking good. We hope to see the blossoms from this plant in the future so we wish Linda good luck with this endeavor.
Any MG’s looking for volunteer hours can certainly get them at Bonaventure. Not only will the previously mentioned plants need TLC, many new plants have been added to the Colonial Garden, Tatnall burial plot, and along Wiltberger Avenue and the bluff by the Wilmington River. All will need irrigation, fertilizing, IPM management and more. Also many trees have been excavated due to Hurricane Matthew so many sites will need to be monitored for their current sun exposures and irrigation needs.
Ron and Belinda Jacob, Danae Goldberg, John Gentry, Linda Artley, and Leonard Daugherty have all put in many hours to keep this expanded project on track and we owe them our thanks for their hard work. As mentioned previously, all help is appreciated so if you can pitch in for a few hours please call coordinator Doug Webb at 912-786-6276 or email him at [email protected] for times and further details.
The photo is camellia Japonica “Sultana,” a sport, i.e. mutation, of the well-known variety Mathotiana from Magnolia Gardens in South Carolina. Something cheerful to see in the middle of January, wouldn’t you say?
Tybee Light Station Historic Vegetable Garden Project
In spring 2016, an historic vegetable garden was established at the Tybee Light Station by Hope Barton and Ann O'Leary.
The garden was put in on the site of the lightkeepers' shared garden plot and planted with vegetables and herbs that were common in the time period the Light Station has been restored to depict (1930's-1940's). Light Station staff include the garden in their guided tours and report that children are especially excited to see vegetables growing "in real life". The garden is enclosed by a picket fence and
adorned with brightly colored signs that label the plantings. Miraculously the fall crops survived the winds and rain of Hurricane Matthew and are now winding down their production, making way for spring plantings. Please contact me at ([email protected]) for further information on this project.
Hope Barton
Postscript:
Freya Zipperer gave a wonderful presentation on native plants to the Isle of
Hope's Wymberley Garden Club. She shared a slide show of the large,
beautiful collection of native plants on her property and even brought a
selection of plants from her yard.
These plants were raffled off to Club members, benefiting the Club's
treasury. The audience was very engaged in the presentation and
enthusiastic about the raffle and excited by their "winnings".
Many of you may be aware that Freya's lush property was the first to be awarded the designation of
Certified Habitat by Coastal Wildscapes, and it is an inspiration to all who visit it (which you may get
to do soon – another of her plant swaps is in the works – info will be forthcoming).
Kudos to Freya for her gardening expertise and sharing it so graciously and professionally with
This February for Super Museum Sunday at the Bloomingdale Museum our program committee decided to present a talk on dairy farming, called “How Now, Brown Cow: Dairy Farms in Chatham County 1880-1980”.
In keeping with the agricultural theme, our volunteers planned to offer two children’s activities related to growing plants. For the first activity, children could take a flowering plant, in this case, a viola, from a standard plastic 12-pack, and transplant it to a small clay pot. First, they poured potting soil into the pot, then made a hole to accommodate the plant, and finally, watered the pot. We let the pots sit in the sink to drain for a while before sending them home with a double layer of grocery bags.
The second activity took more preplanning, but had greater educational value. About three weeks before the event, the volunteers sprouted some bean seeds in clear plastic cups and brought them to show the children how the roots first grew down to the base of the cup to get water, and afterward, the bean split and the stem grew up over the rim of the cup for air and sunlight. The children were shown how to make their own “grow cups”, that is, how to line the cups with paper towel and carefully place their bean seeds about halfway up the sides of the cup between the paper towel and plastic. To complete the process, they poured about ½ inch of water into the cup and watched it saturate the paper towel to dampen the seeds. A couple of boys opted to plant some of the already sprouted bean plants into their clay pots, instead of the flowers. We thought mix and match was fine!
Chica Arndt
Ramblings..... As I write this, we have already had many weeks of 70-80 plus degrees weather and almost no winter at all, but it is hiccupping, yet again, and falling to the low 40s or even 30s next week. I have already, naturally, moved most of my orchids and bromeliads outside and they breathed a huge sigh of relief....but this new night temp will be a bit of
a shock to them....hopefully they will take it in stride, since it will be tolerably warmish during the days, and then be spring, again. Plants are pretty hardy that way... (I HOPE!!!)
All my fruit trees are in bud or bloom, as are most of the trees I replanted after Hurricane Matthew, so again, I just have to keep my fingers crossed that they won’t get nipped during this next cold spell. I will be sure everything is well watered and protected that way. What an unusual "Winter" we have had! So....we will just have to wait and see....and hold our breath and hope for the best...good ol’ Mother Nature.
Nancy Tamarak
?
?
Usually in Savannah we have the Camellia
season before the Azalea season. This
year we are having both at once and, in
addition, the blooms of yellow Carolina
Jessamine, dogwood, pear trees, and lots
and lots of pollen.
I am seeing more birds than usual and
many butterflies are already fluttering
around. Let’s hope summer is more
reasonable this year.
Marita Johnson
Speaking of Camellias – do you know what kind you have? If not, you can visit
at 8706 old Whitfield Ave, On Friday and Saturday for camellia identification (and temptations).
www.GenesNursery.com 912-376-9244
WINTER Mystery Plant Remember, there was no mystery plant for this Winter?
The mystery was what plants would pop up after being pounded by 300-lb wood chunks.
It seems Nature has pretty much shaken off the memory of the hurricane and is going about
her usual business – things are budding and sprouting and leafing all over the place. Now we just
have to see how well some of our shade-lovers like a suntan.
This was abounding on Harris Neck, as
were the armadillo dig holes.
There is a prize for the correct guesser - It might be exotic seeds or a unique plant, or an absolutely cutesy gardener's doo-dad.
SPRING Mystery
Plant
Answers should be sent to [email protected] (That’s an underscore between all those mmm’s)
Coastal Wildscapes is having its Spring Native Plant Sale at Ashantilly Center in Darien April 1st from 9am – 1pm
Several vendors will be available with a diversity of native plants for
your landscape. Free Educational programming, food, and drinks will be
available in the Center.
For more information on this and other upcoming events, such as Freya Zipperer’s “Habitat Certified” Garden Party, go to: https://coastalwildscapes.wildapricot.org/
and
Also on April 1st Jane Fishman will be holding her Spring Plant Swap
from oh, 8 a.m.-ish until plants run out. Bring any seeds, bulbs, plants, cuttings, or gardening
items you wish to share - nothing fancy, just yank things out of the ground and
bring them in a bag (it is nice to label what they are - if you know).
The place is on Boundary Street off Gwinnett. If you are coming from the west on
Gwinnett, go under the overpass then turn left; from the east turn right just before the
overpass. It's just a half block north on the left - you can't miss it.
and
The Savannah Orchid Show – Friday, April 28th to Sunday, April 30th at
the Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens/Historic Bamboo Farm – info:
http://www.coastalgeorgiabg.org/events.html
Join us at the Pavilion
Friday April 14th from 1-4pm & Saturday April 15th from 9am – 1pm
Plant Selections include annuals, perennials, native and exotic trees, wildflowers and shrubs.
Admission to the plant sale is free.
Be sure to bring an empty vehicle and a hand wagon to help gather and transport your purchases.
Programs .......................... Elizabeth Lewis ............. 856-0694 .................. [email protected] Membership ..... Amy Rhodes/Steve Taylor ............. see above
Internal Comms/Newsltr .... Carol McCurdy ............. 777-3810 ................ [email protected]
Public Relations ............ Andria Cummings ...... 256-698-3506 ................. [email protected]
Projects ............................ Richard Krauss ............. 921-4565 ........ [email protected]
