The Compost Inside this issue: 2018 New CC MG Organizational Structure 1 MG Coordinator‘s Corner/Port Tobacco River Park 2 Drip Irrigation 3 Mums the Word! 4 Protecting Your Mums/Holiday Party 5 Growing Squash 6 Calendar 7 5 Ways Gardening Can Extend Your Life 8 Changes Ahead 9 Landscaping With Moss 10 January To-Do/ In Memoriam 11 Resources 12 Winter 2018 2018 NEW CC MG ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE In Charles County, a formal organizational structure with working committees has been created to handle all Master Gardener affairs and regular meetings are held to conduct business and plan volunteer activities. Newsletters, websites and social media are used to link members as described below. Luke Gustafson, the CC Master Gardener Coordinator, a paid UME employee, is responsible for handling all matters related to the monthly general membership meetings. He also reviews/approves project proposals for conformance with UME volunteer record keeping procedures and deals with personnel and other confidential issues which may arise including specific Master Gardeners’ hours and other matters. Program Support The purpose of these positions is to provide support to the Coordinator: Record Keeper (an active CC MG volunteer approved by the Coordinator), currently held by Pauline Spurlock; Treasurer (an active CC MG volunteer approved by the Coordinator), currently held by Tima McGuthry-Banks; Recording Secretary (a monthly, rotating position held by an active MG or MG Intern volunteer). Finally, the Funding Review Committee reviews and approves (in person or electronically) expenditures from Master Gardener accounts and signs Expense Vouchers that must be submitted for reimbursements from Master Gardener accounts. It shall consist of three elected active CC MGs or Interns who are responsible for approving expenditures. The Funding Review Committee members will be elected by online vote prior to and announced at the last official membership meeting of the calendar year. They will serve for one year (January 1 – December 31 of the next year), or until successors are elected. Luke Gustafson, CC MG Coordinator Tima McGuthry- Banks, CC MG Treasurer Pauline Spurlock, CC MG Record Keeper Next Christmas, don’t forget the carrots!!!
Transcript
The Compost
Inside this issue:
2018 New CC MG
Organizational
Structure
1
MG Coordinator‘s
Corner/Port
Tobacco River Park
2
Drip Irrigation 3
Mums the Word! 4
Protecting Your
Mums/Holiday
Party
5
Growing Squash 6
Calendar 7
5 Ways Gardening
Can Extend Your
Life
8
Changes Ahead 9
Landscaping With
Moss
10
January To-Do/
In Memoriam
11
Resources 12
Winter 2018
2018 NEW CC MG ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
In Charles County, a formal organizational structure with working committees has been created to handle all Master Gardener affairs and regular meetings are held to conduct business and plan volunteer activities. Newsletters, websites and social media are used to link members as described below. Luke Gustafson, the CC Master Gardener Coordinator, a paid UME employee, is responsible for handling all matters related to the monthly general membership meetings. He also reviews/approves project proposals for conformance with UME volunteer record keeping procedures and deals with personnel and other confidential issues which may arise including specific Master Gardeners’ hours and other matters. Program Support The purpose of these positions is to provide support to the Coordinator: Record Keeper (an active CC MG volunteer
approved by the Coordinator), currently held by Pauline Spurlock;
Treasurer (an active CC MG volunteer approved
by the Coordinator), currently held by Tima McGuthry-Banks;
Recording Secretary (a monthly, rotating position
held by an active MG or MG Intern volunteer). Finally, the Funding Review Committee reviews and approves (in person or electronically) expenditures from Master Gardener accounts and signs Expense Vouchers that must be submitted for reimbursements from Master Gardener accounts. It shall consist of three elected active CC MGs or Interns who are responsible for approving expenditures. The Funding Review Committee members will be elected by online vote prior to and announced at the last official membership meeting of the calendar year. They will serve for one year (January 1 – December 31 of the next year), or until successors are elected.
Luke Gustafson,
CC MG Coordinator
Tima McGuthry-
Banks,
CC MG Treasurer
Pauline Spurlock, CC
MG Record Keeper
Next Christmas, don’t
forget the carrots!!!
The Compost Page 2
COORDINATOR’S CORNER
We had a cold start to the New Year with temperatures dipping as low as zero degrees in La Plata on January 7th. That is bad news for less hardy plants like figs, some types of crape myrtle and other less hardy plants. As we move into spring, I am sure that we will see cold damage start to show up.
Looking back at 2017, Charles County Master Gardeners put in over 3,380 volunteer hours, had 509 contacts and logged 745 hours of continuing education. Thanks to everyone for all your great work!
The new Master Gardener Basic Training begins on February 1 and finishes with graduation on Thursday, April 5. I always enjoy getting to know the new class when it begins each year. Thanks to those who will be helping out with it in various ways. I encourage you all to reach out to the new class this season as we welcome them aboard!
Extension Office Move I am excited to let you know that the Extension office will be moving to a new location at the old Bel Alton High School (9501 Crain Hwy, Bel Alton, MD 20611) this spring. The County has been doing major renovations on the historic building to get it ready for our move. At this point, we are planning on a late April or early May move. The new location boasts a large meeting room that seats over 150, a second, smaller meeting room and ample storage room. I am very excited about the possibilities this opens up for Master Gardeners and the public that we serve!
Podcasts Do you listen to podcasts? If so, I encourage you to check out Arthro-Pod, "the podcast that teaches you about the weird and wonderful world of insects!" It is produced by Jonathan Larson, Nebraska Extension Entomology Educator. Check it out at http://arthro-pod.blogspot.com/
What is soil organic matter and why does it matter? Learn about soil health and how you can improve it. This series of four podcasts by Natalie Lounsbury features University of Maryland’s Dr. Ray Weil. http://www.soilpodcast.com
Charles County Master Gardeners Wanda Jones, Amanda Tellechea, Harriet Beck and Rosemary Ewing took part in the Open House held at the new Port Tobacco River Park on October 28, 2017.
Some of the topics discussed with adults in attendance included home composting, gardening with native plants, shade gardening, rain barrels and planting for pollinators.
The children were engaged and challenged by the light-up boards. Many were interested in learning more about Monarch Butterflies and went home with the wooly caterpillars that they created.
Photos and article by Rosemary Ewing , CC MG
The Compost Page 3
In the late fall of 2017, 15 CC MGs and guests met at
Melwood Recreation Center in Nanjemoy for a hands-on
class in drip irrigation. The session was taught by CC MG
Martha Eldredge and Suse Greenstone, Manager of the
Melwood Horticulture Program and a fellow Master
Gardener.
After a short introduction
about the task at hand and
about Melwood (and its mission
of advocating for and empowering individuals of differing
abilities), attendees split into groups of four to
attend individual flowerbeds and to install above
ground drip irrigation.
Under Martha’s expert tutelage the work
progressed quickly. We were all satisfied to see that when activated, the
systems worked and will make it easier in the future to maintain an adequate
moisture level in the vegetable garden beds. A satisfying feeling indeed.
Thank you Martha and Suse for an informative and interesting morning!
MGs and Interns interested in volunteering for the Horticulture Therapy
On Monday, October 16th, 2017, I visited the Chesapeake Beach
property of Dorrie McDonald, President of the Potomac Chrysanthemum
Society. I expected a well kept yard and some colorful mums. I couldn't
have underestimated the visit more.
Dorrie was preparing to have several of her mums judged at a variety
of shows. Clearly, my knowledge of mums was very limited. I was aware
of the large mums that people use in
corsages and of course, the colorful mum
plants sold in the fall, but the reality far
exceeded my expectations.
Initially, I was given a pamphlet titled, "Chrysanthemum Classification".
Come to find out there are 13 classes of mums, each with very specific
characteristics! Dorrie had examples of all 13 plants, so I used the guide to
look at the plants and tried to figure out their classes with her guidance.
In addition, our hostess explained that for
a plant to produce a bloom that large, it was
necessary to remove all buds but one from
the plant. She would count back from her
show date to determine when to allow a bud to form. A certain number of
hours of sun and darkness were also needed for the mum to bloom so
Dorrie shared her use of black trash bags to cover the plants for part of
the day to trick them into blooming when she needed the plant to be in top
shape for a show.
Dorrie also explained that she wintered the plants over and in the spring
she took a cutting from the host plant. When she was sure the cuttings had
taken root, she destroyed the host plant. She explained the procedure was
done to eliminate most diseases.
I have included pictures of some of the most beautiful examples that I
encountered. It was an eye-opening experience for me. Many of the fall
flowers that I have seen since this visit, I can now identify as mums instead
of daisies or other varieties.
While I was at the property of Dorrie McDonald, I asked her how she was able to keep her plants safe from harmful insects and deer. She admitted that
when she was preparing for a show she had to take extra care. On page 5 see her recipe for a successful deer repellant and some of her other methods of protecting her plants!
MUMS THE WORD!
Photos and article by Sue Brewer, CC MG
Bright pink is "spider-class 11"
Yellow center surrounded by white with red tips is
"spoon-class 9"
Closed center with light pink straw-like petals is
"quill-class 10"
Light yellow is "irregular
incurve-class 1"
The Compost Page 5
PROTECTING YOUR MUMS
26 CC MGs and guests attended the annual CC MG holiday
party on December 5, 2017. As always, there was a wonderful
buffet with a great variety of delicious savories and desserts.
CC MG Jan Lakey-Waters prepared several gorgeous floral
centerpieces to brighten the room which were raffled along with
different UME MG items (umbrellas, tote bags, cold drink
containers, etc.) provided by Luke Gustafson, our much
appreciated County Coordinator.
Photos and article by Terry Thir, CC MG
CC MG Intern
Gail Walker, who
served as raffle
official, graciously
demonstrated
UME items.
Dorrie actually has bought screened tents under which she stores her plants before a show. While
they are growing, however, the mums need sun and pollination so she uses a deer repellent she mixes up
herself. Her application method caught my attention. She has purchased an inexpensive toilet bowl brush.
She dips it into the deer repellent solution and flicks it on the plants using a snap of the wrist. She says it is
very effective and she can cover large areas of plants quickly. She reapplies the solution after a hard rain or
every 2 weeks.
Dorrie McDonald's Deer Repellent
2 cups water in blender
2 eggs, shells included
4 large cloves garlic
2 stinky onions
2 tablespoons of ground hot peppers
Blend the above ingredients until smooth. Fill a pail half full of water. Pour blended mixture into the pail and mix. Apply with a toilet bowl brush.
HOLIDAY PARTY
Article by Sue Brewer, CC MG
After dinner, Luke gave a
well-received presentation on
native bees and their importance
as pollinators. He also
recommended trees, shrubs and
perennials that provide food and
shelter for them.
The Compost Page 6
GROWING DISEASE-RESISTANT SQUASH
Every winter, I look forward to the arrival of seed catalogs in the mail. They start to trickle in starting in December and by the end of January I have a whole stack of catalogs, each touting their own new, colorful offerings. The allure of the many colors, shapes and sizes often gets the best of me, and by June I wind up with too little time and garden space to plant out all my seeds. Then, by early July, I find that as my squash are coming into full production, disease and pests begin to take their toll. When it comes to growing cucurbits this year, I am sticking to the most disease resistant varieties. Downy mildew, one of the most challenging diseases of cucurbits, is caused by a fungus-like organism. It requires a living cucurbit host, so it does not overwinter in Maryland but rather travels back up each year from warmer locations such as southern Florida. Besides downy mildew, squash borers and squash bugs can be big challenges. Squash borers lay their eggs on the stems of squash (especially C. pepo and C. maxima). Once the eggs hatch the larvae feed on the stem tissue. The damage reduces and eventually cuts off the flow of water and nutrients through the plant, resulting in rapid wilting and death. To reduce disease and pest issues, I will be growing more of the following squash this season: Cucurbita moschata is the species of squash that includes Butternut, Long of Naples and others. All varieties of this species have relatively hard stems that thwart squash borers. Most standard Butternut varieties are susceptible to downy mildew, so look for varieties like ‘Honeynut’ and ‘Amber Delight’ bred at Cornell. While most varieties of C. moschata are considered winter squash, most can also be picked immature and used like zucchini. The Italian variety Tromboncino is commonly used as a summer squash and produces long, skinny squash. If allowed to mature, the skin turns a tan color like Butternut. Lagenaria siceraria or bottle gourd (also calabash) is a member of the family Cucurbitaceae. They are commonly grown throughout South and Southeast Asia for culinary use. In the US, the most common varieties of this species are used to make into birdhouses. They have the advantage of being relatively resistant to downy mildew and not bothered by squash borers. Most varieties tend to grow vigorous vines, so it is best to trellis them on something sturdy like cattle panel. This also helps them grow straight and makes harvest easier. Serpente di Sicilia (Serpent of Sicily) is a Mediterranean variety that makes a good substitute for zucchini. Luffa are most commonly known from their use as natural fiber sponges (Luffa cylindrical). When harvested young, however, they are tender. The vines are very vigorous and will climb fences and trellises. Harvest the fruit frequently, similar to okra, to keep them less than 1.5 inches in diameter or they will get tough and fibrous. If left to mature on the vine, however, the dried fruits of the ridged luffa (Luffa acutangula) can be used as a whimsical shaker instrument as the seeds rattle around inside. Southern Maryland’s long number of frost-free days gives the home gardener lots of opportunity to grow warm season crops. However, all the warmth and humidity come at a price. By looking for species and varieties adapted to resist these challenges, I hope to have a better cucurbit harvest in 2018! Further reading: https://eorganic.info/cucurbits http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/fungi/oomycetes/pages/cucurbits.aspx http://cdm.ipmpipe.org/
Photo and article by Luke Gustafson,
CC MG Coordinator
Ridged Luffa
The Compost Page 7
01/23 06:00 pm General
Membership Meeting Extension Office, La Plata
01/27 09:00 am - 1:00 pm
Melwood Volunteer Training Luke Gustafson Extension Office, La Plata
02/01
-
02/27
06:00 pm Master Gardener
Basic Training Luke Gustafson Thomas Stone HS, Waldorf
02/27 10:00 am General
Membership Meeting Extension Office, La Plata
03/01
-
03/29
06:00 pm Master Gardener
Basic Training Luke Gustafson Thomas Stone HS, Waldorf
03/27 10:00 am General
Membership Meeting Extension Office, La Plata
04/03
-
04/05
06:00 pm Master Gardener
Basic Training Luke Gustafson Thomas Stone HS, Waldorf
04/05 TBD CC MG Graduation Luke Gustafson Soil Conservation Office
(Tentatively)
04/24 06:00 pm General
Membership Meeting Extension Office, La Plata
05/05 Plant Sale La Plata/Waldorf
05/12 09:30 am - 12:30 pm
Compost Work Shop Luke Gustafson
Regency Furniture Stadium
Parking Lot
05/22 10:00 am General
Membership Meeting Extension Office, La Plata
06/26 10:00 am General
Membership Meeting Extension Office, La Plata
CC MG CALENDAR January - June 2018
Page 8 The Compost
Over a typical lifespan the average person will spend thousands of dollars
to stay young. While aging is a natural progression, there are things we can do
to live longer and stay younger as we age. Gardening is by far one of the most
beneficial things for the mind, soul and body, and may extend your lifespan.
Here are 5 ways that gardening helps you stay younger, add years to your life
and boost the quality of those years:
Gardening can improve self-esteem and lower stress.
Gardening can lower your cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and
improve your overall self-esteem. This may influence your mood resulting
in a more positive outlook on life.
Gardening can reduce depression and improve mental health.
Physical activity, sunlight, being out in nature and creating beautiful things with your hands are some of the benefits of gardening. These are aids that stimulate mental health.
Spices, our Superheroes -
Batman and Superman are not the only Superheroes that exist in our
society today. Spices, which originate in our gardens, possess amazing health
benefits that may extend your life. Spices such as coriander, turmeric, black
pepper, cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and ginger can quell nausea stemming
from motion sickness, chemotherapy and pregnancy, remedy toothaches and
regulate blood sugar levels for those with diabetes, ease stomach cramps
and even flatulence, lessen the growth of tumors and ease anxiety.
The bottom line is that being surrounded by green plants can add years to your life - having a
green space outside or having plants within your home can benefit your physical and mental health by many
years. Green spaces offer privacy and tranquility, reduce stress, improves air quality by adding oxygen thus
improving your overall life.
References:
Agnes E. Van Den Berg & Mariette H.G. Custers. (2017). Journal of Health Psychology. Retrieved from
Organic Life, Leah Zerbe. (2017). Rodale Inc. Retrieved from https://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/food/7-
spices-could-extend-your-life/
5 WAYS GARDENING CAN EXTEND YOUR LIFE
Article by Wanda Jones, CC MG
Page 9 The Compost
What’s New for the University of Maryland Extension Master
Gardener Program in 2018?
The UME Master Gardener State Office will be focusing on a few new
initiatives in the coming year. We are enthusiastic to make progress that will
move the UME Master Gardener program forward.
We have heard your requests and feedback through meetings and
interactions with UME Master Gardener Coordinators. We want to shape and
lead the program so that it best serves current and future UME Master
Gardener Volunteers. We will do this by
● Increasing the accessibility of UME Master Gardener Programming to
Maryland residents by recording webinars, exploring digital formats for the
Maryland Master Gardener Handbook, and adding UME Master Gardener
Basic Training online modules.
● Increasing our on-campus connections, tapping into cutting edge research and educational
resources, and enlisting the support of new University of Maryland faculty.
● Completing two comprehensive UME Master Gardener online policy and procedures handbooks.
One for UME Master Gardener Coordinators and the other for UME Master Gardener Volunteers.
We are considering 2018 a year of transformation; a time to refresh the program by doing a little
rejuvenation pruning. With new ideas to explore and directions to pursue, some changes are
inevitable. One change you will notice this year is the temporary break in hosting
the Master Gardener & Master Naturalist Annual Training Conference.
We understand the sadness you may feel about this decision, but hope you remain patient with
us as we take this opportunity to set a course for the future. We are very excited about this new
adventure and look forward to sharing with you our progress as the year unfolds.
I appreciate the volunteer service you perform to make the UME Master Gardener Program vibrant
and successful! I look forward to working with you in 2018.
Jon Traunfeld
State Master Gardener Coordinator
CHANGES AHEAD - LETTER BY JON TRAUNFELD
Jon Traunfeld -
State Master
Gardener
Coordinator
The Compost Page 10
Two years ago I decided to quit arguing with Mother Nature and let the moss that so badly wanted to grow in my yard have at it. The results are fabulous – lush green and soft underfoot, less frequent mowing and no need for chemicals. I love that it is bright green in the winter and that I can find little patches of moss hiding in the woods; a great sight in the drab winter landscape. While it may not be for everyone (such as my neighbor who spent days last year tilling, liming and planting new seed in his tree lined driveway only to have the moss back again this year), its fairy-like mysteries are just fine with me. I set out to find out more about moss recently and was delighted that I share my affinity with many others. In Japan, moss is loved for bringing serenity and beauty to the garden. In the United States, moss has traditionally been used in rock gardens and near water features, but an increasing number of homeowners are embracing moss as a low maintenance alternative to grass. No mowing; no
fertilizers or pesticides; no watering once established; no liming or dethatching; little to no weeding once established and great for erosion control…what’s not to love? Mosses are considered Bryophytes, a subdivision of non-flowering plants. They are thought to have evolved from green algae millions of years ago. Today there are around 14,500 species of mosses found around the world, a testament to the plant’s ability to thrive in places where other plants will not grow. They thrive in shade and sun, compacted, acidic soil and in areas with poor drainage.
Brotophytes are primitive plants – they don’t have a true vascular system or
root structure characteristic of many plants. They absorb nutrients from the air, rainwater, dew, and sunlight through their leaves, which are more like needles and scales of multiple sizes. To attach themselves to the earth, they have hairy, root-like structures called rhizoids which don’t absorb water or nutrients. Mosses don’t have flowers or seeds, but reproduce via spores. Their cell physiology is made up of totipotent cells, which allows them to regenerate an entirely new plant after periods of drought or extreme cold. Canadian researcher Dr. Catherine La Farge and her colleagues from the University of Alberta discovered several intact bryophyte communities beneath a retreating glacier in 2013 and were able to regrow the plants that had been frozen for over 400 years. In addition to their use in the landscape, scientists are looking at moss as a bio-indicator of air quality. Since they get their nutrients from the air, mosses also absorb whatever else happens to be present at the time - including pollutants. A 2013 study found that cadmium levels in moss correlated with those measured by air quality instruments. Based on this finding, researchers are now looking at moss’s ability to measure the presence of 22 other airborne heavy metals and compounds. Why not dedicate a small part of your yard to this marvelous plant? Start small, add some ferns, maybe even a fairy or two and let the magic begin.
LANDSCAPING WITH MOSS
Article by Jane Tyson , CC MG
Rock Cap Moss(Dicranum) – likes deep shade, prone
to “sun burning” (brownish yellow)
Hypnum – Sheet Moss
Fern Moss - likes wetter locations
The Compost Page 11
Christmas is over and the New Year has begun and if you are like me, you are counting the days until Spring. Unfortunately, we still have several months until the warmth is here and we can return to our gardens. Never fret, there are still garden related activities to do, even in January, to set you on a successful path for Spring.
For me, January is a great time to plan for the coming garden year. One of my favorite things to do is to scavenge through stacks of gardening books and seed catalogs for new varieties on the market. It is also a great time to order bare rooted trees and shrubs that may be planted now, if the ground is not too hard. In addition, this is the time to prune back your plantings, clean-up your raised beds, inspect your landscape and sharpen your shovels and shears and the like. Lastly, remember to recycle your Christmas tree, feed the birds and provide them with some unfrozen water.
Indoors, start seeds of perennials or slow-growing annuals, like coleus and geraniums, beneath lights. Start seeds of cabbage, early lettuce, and at the end of the month, broccoli. When onion and cabbage transplants are available at the garden center, select the best ones, then plant them in the garden beneath a row cover. Near the end of the month, weed the asparagus beds and strawberry plot, then feed the plants and renew the thinning mulches.
Whew, lots of works, but before you know it, Spring is here and because of your prep work, you are set and ready to go. Happy Gardening Everyone!
JANUARY TO DO LIST
Article by Wanda Jones, CC MG
ROBERT CHARLES SMITH, JR.
We are sad to announce that one of our fellow Master Gardeners has passed away.
Robert Charles “RC” Smith, Jr., 62 of Newburg, MD passed away on December 7,
2017 at the Hospice House of Charles County.
RC was born in Pennsylvania on August 29, 1955 to Robert C. Smith, Sr. and the
late Patricia Eacret. In addition to his father, RC is survived by his step-mother, Mae
Smith; loving wife, Joanne Smith; sons, Eric Smith and Brian Lawrence (Lindsey);
daughters, Erin Hall (William) and Jessica Lawrence; brother, Greg Smith (Lena);
Submit articles, photos, reports, events, and other items for publication to Tina Bailem at [email protected] by April 15, 2018
for the Spring 2018 newsletter. If you send a photo, please include a brief description of the activity and names of persons included in the photo, as well as the photographer’s name.
If you send a photo of a plant, please include the scientific name.
The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural
Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate
against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual
orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or
national origin, marital status, genetic information, political
affiliation, or gender identity and expression.
Published Quarterly by the Charles County Master
Gardeners, University of Maryland Extension, Charles
County Office, 9375 Chesapeake Street, Suite 119,
La Plata, MD 20646
Phone 301-934-5403 or 301-753-8195
Luke Gustafson, Charles County
Master Gardener Coordinator Tina Bailem, Compost Editor
Janet McGrane, Compost Calendar
Check out the new Charles County Master Gardener page on Facebook! If you haven't already, please like us and share with your friends. This will be a great way to expand our reach into the community! https://www.facebook.com/charlescountymastergardeners/
