Gardeners of the Grove http://www.gardenersofthegrove.org/ Volume 12, Issue 4, April 2020 A Message from our Vice -President ~~~~~~~~ April showers bring May Flowers? I certainly hope so! There can never be too many flowers. The world certainly has changed since our last meeting. I’m sorry we will miss Jan Fetler’s talk about the Honeybee. She has agreed to share that with us next year. The current plan is to hold our May meeting at Green Acres Nursery. You’ll learn (and be able to buy) the best plants to attract and feed pollinators (like Jan’s bees!) to your garden. Fingers crossed we will be able to meeting in May Till I see you, enjoy your glorious spring garden! Peggy Flynn Next Meeting CANCELLED! No meeting on Monday, April 6 Inside This Issue ~~~ 2 – April Program 2 – Build a Planter(s) 2 – Flower Power 3 – Arm Chair Vacation 4 – April Checklist 4 – What’s in Your Garden? 5 – If Bugs Could Talk 5 – Tours 5 – NW Flower and Garden Show 7 – Calendar
Transcript
Gardeners of the Grove http://www.gardenersofthegrove.org/
Volume 12, Issue 4, April 2020
A Message from our Vice -President ~~~~~~~~
April showers bring May Flowers? I certainly hope so! There can never be too many flowers.
The world certainly has changed since our last meeting. I’m sorry we will miss Jan Fetler’s talk about the Honeybee. She has agreed to share that with us next year.
The current plan is to hold our May meeting at Green Acres Nursery. You’ll learn (and be able to buy) the best plants to attract and feed pollinators (like Jan’s bees!) to your garden. Fingers crossed we will be able to meeting in May
Till I see you, enjoy your glorious spring garden!
Peggy Flynn
Next Meeting
CANCELLED! No meeting on
Monday, April 6
Inside This Issue ~~~
2 – April Program
2 – Build a Planter(s)
2 – Flower Power
3 – Arm Chair Vacation
4 – April Checklist
4 – What’s in Your Garden?
5 – If Bugs Could Talk
5 – Tours
5 – NW Flower and Garden Show
7 – Calendar
The Scarecrow | April 2020 2
April Program (Canceled) ~~ ~~~ By Peggy Flynn
Jan Fetler, Master Gardener and our go-to gal for garden questions has a new hobby—bees.
She started her first hive a year ago to pollinate her garden—and to help and understand bees and what threatens them. What Jan found most amazing wasn’t the keeping of the bees, but the bees themselves and how they interact with each other and the work they do.
Jan will save this presentation to share with us next year because we think you’ll find these little critters amazing too.
###
Build a Planter(s) ~~~~~~~~~~ By Jan Fetler
Here’s an interesting take on concrete blocks. To give the cantilevered blocks a bottom to hold the soil, stuff a small square of chicken wire or metal hardware cloth into the block and lay some weed barrier (or other water penetrable fabric) over the wire.
###
Gardenism ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Flower Power ~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Jan Fetler
Bearded Iris make quite a show when they bloom with big fluffy flowers. A few years back our club visited Frannie’s Iris Farm and I annually visit a fellow Master Gardener’s garden where she also grows competition irises.
‘Dividing Line’ is one of Frannie’s plants.
The Scarecrow | April 2020 3
This frilly apricot iris is called, aptly, ‘Blue Beard.’
New (unnamed) introduction by Joyce Ragle.
‘Alien Mist’ takes the beard to new lengths!
###
Arm Chair Vacation ~~~~~~~~ By Roberta Gleeson
While we are stuck at home, we can dream of beautiful places. This is Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.
To see more lovely photos of spring at the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden in Golden Gate Park taken March 13, 2020 by Michael Durand, visit:
• Plant tomato, eggplant and pepper seedlings only if nights are over 55oF.
• Prune out citrus suckers from the ground and below the graft, as well as frost damaged citrus leaves and branches.
• Begin thinning apples, pears, peaches, apricots, plums and other stone fruits.
• Thin grape shoots. Continue through May. • Plant warm season annual flowers. • Fertilize brown-in-winter lawns once they are
fully green. • Fertilize roses according to directions, usually
after flowering. • Do not compost clippings from lawns treated
with weed-and-feed products in the last 12 months.
• Limit pests and diseases: leaffooted bugs, powdery mildew, fire blight, aphids, and slugs and snails.
###
What’s in Your Garden? ~ By Jan Fetler
Flowering Maple, Chinese Lantern (Abutilon hybrid) is native to warm regions especially South America. They can grow to 10 feet in one season but there are dwarf varieties. All bloom from now till frost. There are lots of colors and even a few plants with variegated foliage.
They need regular water, well-drained soil and some afternoon shade in our hot climate and are evergreen with a little frost protection. All attract hummingbirds.
‘Ann Red’ is a hummingbird MAGNET!
‘Tiger Eye’ grows 5 to 8 feet tall, 3 to 4 feet wide.
The Scarecrow | April 2020 5
If Bugs Could Talk ~~~~~~~~~ Photo and story by Kimberly Steinmann, Master Gardener and bug nerd
Lester (and other) Leaffooted Bug Nymphs
Lester did not stop slurping the sweet sap as he eyed his brothers and sisters clustered around him. He laughed to himself. They were all still so small! Ok, maybe Frank was getting big, but Leona and Walter were tiny! They were practically a whole instar younger than him!
Lester knew he would be the first to molt and get his wings. Boy would they all be jealous then! All he needed to do was keep on eating and molting, and eating and molting...
Lester stuck his proboscis deeper into the flower bud and pulled up a deep draught. Soon he would be flying… Flying!
###
Tours ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ By Dianne Cadwallader
I want to let you know about some activities you might enjoy in the coming months. At this writing, these events are still on, but check before you go!
April 25 or 26, The Folsom Garden Club Garden Tour (6 homes, $20 per person). At our April meeting we will have plans for carpooling on one of the dates.
Mid-May. We are planning a carpool trip to Sherwood Demonstration Garden in Placerville. An arranged tour by a Master Gardener will be planned, and information will be given at the April meeting. See their gardens: http://mgeldorado.ucanr.edu/Demonstration_Garden/
May 6, Elk Grove Garden Club Bus Tour ($65 per person) has been planned to visit the Empire Mine State Park in Grass Valley. Go on their website to get the directions, form/waiver, and send check if you wish to go: http://elkgrovegardenclub.org/bustour.html
###
Northwest Flower and Garden Show By Jan Fetler
Vivian Sellers and I feel lucky to have been able to attend the Northwest Flower and Garden show in Seattle the last week of February. If that show had been scheduled 2 weeks later, I’m sure it would have been canceled.
Have some old shoes you don’t wear anymore?
The Scarecrow | April 2020 6
The highlight of the show was Fleurs de Villes—mannequins sent to the show site “nude” where local florists decorate them with flowers and other plant materials.
Chihuly Glass and Garden is another must see in Seattle. Even in winter, the outdoor part of the display was stunning.
In the pic below, the groundcover is tightly budded azalea ready to bloom. The glass will soon have to compete!
A trip to Seattle isn’t complete without visiting Pike’s Place Market. Got crabs?
If you are a Facebooker and aren’t already my “friend,” you can see more photos of our Seattle trip by sending me a friend request: Jan Geier Fetler.
The Scarecrow | April 2020 7
Calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~ GOTG Meetings for 2019-20 ~~~~
Canceled - April 6 (Monday)
The Honeybee – Master Gardener Jan Fetler
May 4 (Monday) 6p social, 6:30p meeting
Pollinator Workshop and New Plants – Green Acres Nursery
June 1 (Monday) 6p social, 6:30p meeting
Potluck TBA
~ River Valley District Meetings 2019-20 ~
Reservations are required at least five days before the meeting. For reservations call or email Debbie Doherty at 916-261-5041, [email protected].
Cost: Meeting $4, Luncheon $6 - Total cost is $10
May 19, 2020 (Tuesday) 9a till 1p
Our Job: Plant Sale Shepard Garden & Arts Center 3330 McKinley Blvd., Sacramento
~~~~~~~~~ Other Events ~~~~~~~~~
As you know, a number of events have been cancelled. As of March 17, the following events have not been canceled, but please check with organizers before you go!
April 4 (Saturday) 9a till 1p
Plant Sale – Free UC Davis Arboretum More: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/events/plant-sale-spring-2020-1
April 4 (Saturday) 1 till 4p April 5 (Sunday) 11a till 3p
African Violet Show and Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
April 11/12 (Saturday/Sunday) 9a till 4p
Bonsai Show and Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
April 15 (Wednesday) 9a till 1p
Wednesday Open Garden – Free Sacramento County Master Gardeners Fair Oaks Horticulture Center More: http://sacmg.ucanr.edu/?calitem=388955
April 18 (Saturday) 1 till 5p April 19 (Sunday) 10a till 3p
Iris Show and Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
April 25 (Saturday) 1 till 4:30p
Rose Show and Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
April 25/26 (Saturday/Sunday) 11a till 4p
Folsom Garden Tour – $20 Folsom Garden Club Tickets/more information: https://www.folsomgarden.org/
April 26 (Saturday) 9a till 1p
Plant Sale – Free UC Davis Arboretum More: https://arboretum.ucdavis.edu/events/plant-sale-spring-2020-2
May 2 (Saturday) 10a till 6p May 3 (Sunday) 10a till 4p
Cactus and Succulent Show Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
May 6 (Wednesday) 8a till 6p?
Bus Trip to Empire Mine/Grass Valley - $65 Elk Grove Garden Club Application form and Flyer: http://elkgrovegardenclub.org/bustour.html
May 9 (Saturday) 9a till 1p
Open Garden – Free Sacramento County Master Gardeners Fair Oaks Horticulture Center More: http://sacmg.ucanr.edu/?calitem=389778
The Scarecrow | April 2020 8
May 9 (Saturday) 9a till 3p
Chrysanthemum Show and Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
May 16 (Saturday) 10a till 5p May 17 (Sunday) 10a till 4p
Satsuki Aikokai Show Sale – Free Bonsai of ‘Satsuki’ Azaleas Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
June 6 (Saturday) 10a till 4p
Fuchsia Show & Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
June 20 (Saturday) 9a till 1p
Open Garden – Free Sacramento County Master Gardeners Fair Oaks Horticulture Center More: http://sacmg.ucanr.edu/?calitem=389779
June 20/21 (Saturday/Sunday) 10a till 4p
Bromeliad/Carnivorous Show & Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
June 27/28 (Saturday/Sunday) 10a till 4p
Sogetsu Ikabana Show & Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
July 18/19 (Saturday/Sunday) 9a till 3p
Iris Rhizome Sale – Free Shepard Garden and Art Center 3330 McKinley Blvd, Sacramento
August 1 (Saturday) 8a till 2p
HARVEST DAY – Free Sacramento County Master Gardeners Fair Oaks Horticulture Center More: http://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Harvest_Day/
