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February 2012 The Mason Jar
Seeds For Thought
R. Jeanne Rehwaldt
After the snowfall and ice storm a few weeks ago, I feel Mother Nature is spoiling us with warm temperatures and sunny days. It is still below freezing at night, but the days have been beautiful. It reminds me of the song from the old ‘70’s show “Here Comes The Brides”: “The bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle”.
agree!
The greenhouse committee is making great headway at Pioneer School. The wall to divide the greenhouse is up, tables have been built, the heater is installed, and tomorrow the gas company will come out and lay the gas line to the heater. We should be up and running within a week. Please don’t hesitate to help out at the greenhouse. What better way to spend a chilly, rainy day, than in a nice, warm greenhouse growing plants for
the plant sale and food bank garden?
The plant sale committee has found a new location for the plant sale, since the former Mell Chevrolet site has been leased to a used car dealership. A group of MGs met with Mark Ziegler, director of Shelton City Parks and Recreation and came away with an agreement to use Kneeland Park for the sale. We will be setting up on Thursday, May 10 and the sale will be Friday and Saturday, May 11 and 12 from 9 am—4 pm. We desperately need to know what plants you will be donating. Contact me with a list of plants, their names (color of flower if applicable) and how many of each. We will be producing labels for the plants and need this information. If you have plants to donate, but can not divide and pot them, let me know and we can arrange to get them to the Pioneer greenhouse to be divided. If you are interested in leading the committee for digging or dividing plants we could certainly use your help. This is a fun activity and it’s
always exciting to see our plants multiply for the sale.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
The Mason Jar Mason County WSU Master Gardener Newsletter
February 2012
Inside This Issue:
Contacts 2
Executive Board News 3-4
Donald D. Tapio Article 5-6
Community 7-8
Fundraising News 8
Getting Involved 9-10
February Gardening 10-11
Calendar 12
BackPage 13
February 2012 The Mason Jar
2
Extension Staff
Robert Simmons
Director
Ext.690
R. Jeanne Rehwaldt
Master Gardener Coordinator
Ext. 688
Allie Bernhard
AmeriCorps
Ext. 687
Anna Mangan
AmeriCorps
Ext. 690
Master Gardener
Ext 687
Office
303 N. 4th Ave
Shelton, WA 98584
360-427-9670
Ext. 680
Fax 360-427-7264
Executive Board
President
Beatrix Blackerby
President Elect
Pat Carpenter
Vice President
Lou Schmidt
Secretary
Evon Masteller
Treasurer
Margie Plebuch
Directors at Large
Pat Edmondson
Dave Shepard
Foundation Representative
Janet Mutter
Contacts
Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, US Department of Agriculture and Mason County. Extension
Programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported
through your local Extension Office.
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
At a recent Executive Board meeting, it was decided that some future Master Gardener General meetings will be held in Belfair, to make it easier for MG’s who live in North Mason County to attend. The meetings will be held in the classroom at the Salmon Center, on June 11th and September 10th. All other meetings will continue to be held at the Shelton Library as usual. Carpool arrangements will be made, and everyone is encouraged to attend, as it will also be an opportunity to see the new greenhouse, gardens, llamas, and chickens at the Salmon Center, which is a great place to take friends and family for a fun day trip. Be sure to check out the
Theler Center’s landscaping and estuary boardwalk and educational displays!
Minutes from the January 8th M.G. General Meeting by Evon Masteller, Secretary
Attendees: Christy Rowe, Sybil Jones, Allie Bernhard, Nancy Dillon, Evon Masteller, Secy., Margie Plebuch, Treas., Bonnie Day, Mary Bigger, Janet Mutter, Lou Schmidt, Vice Pres., Erika Stewart, Pat Carpenter, R. Jeanne Rehwaldt, WSU M.G. Coord.; Dave Shephard, Karen Shephard, Pat and Steve Edmondson, Beatrix Blackerby, Pres., Edna Rodgers, Esther Novak and Guest - Lowell Cordas
(Guest Speaker).
Jeanne Rehwaldt introduced the Parking Lot Rules for the duration of the meeting.
Treasurer’s Report - Margie (see Agenda for details)
Discount Cards sold/tracked. 12 cards sold before this meeting. She went through the entitlements of the cards. Accountability will be followed. We will advertise during the Country
Living Sessions.
Secretary’s Report – Evon Masteller - Board Minutes will go out to the Mason Jar without the
details of Treasurer’s Report.
Please note that M.G. Member Nancy Dillon’s correct email address is: [email protected]. It was moved and passed that the M.G. Board Meeting Minutes also be included in the Mason Jar
excluding Treasurer’s Report and time-sensitive items, i.e., M.G. of the Month/Year.
State Representative Report - Reapplication forms for returning M.G’s for the future year of 2012.
Directories will be updated/new applications. She will send an email to distribute.
Plan for VFW Memorial Hall Bldg. and St. Edwards Parking Lot (Edible Park). Jim Freed needs to be
contacted again.
Burpee Grant of $2,500 has been submitted. We should be notified in the near future hopefully by
the end of February if we are awarded the grant.
Tune into KMAS 1030AM Radio-Friday 7:00am - Allie being interviewed by Jeff Slackey.
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Executive Board News
February 2012 The Mason Jar
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OLD BUSINESS:
Plant Sale Committee - Brought to our attention is a sign in the Plant Sale space (across from formerly known as Mell Chevrolet) has a “used cars” on it. Lou Schmidt will call the owners and
see what this means for our Plant Sale space to be used in May.
Greenhouse Committee - Bonnie Day-Orr gave a report on the benches built and work party set-up in the greenhouse. Sybil Jones talked to Rick from Pioneer School (Custodian) about the propane tank and line and he said they would get in touch with vendor to update the heating system for the greenhouse which would cover 30,00 BTU. The water problem is still to be looked into. Jeanne wants to do a Memorandum of Agreement between Foundation and the Pioneer School. She will work on the template for that. She will get a hold of Dick Parrett, Board Member #3 on the
Pioneer School Board. She will also see about moving the dirt piles there.
Country Living - The brochure is confirmed and ready for printing and distribution and will be available at the WSU Ext. Office front desk. Elizabeth Campbell’s class on Native plants for health was moved to April and Lou Schmidt will work with Bonnie to present a full day of vegetable gardening in January along with Evon Masteller who will present vermicomposting. Olympian Newspaper -Bonnie Day-Orr will call Olympia and submit our Country Living class information for
publication in their community news line.
Ticket sales - $25 - Individuals;$30 per couple; and $100 for Season Ticket (6Classes), $90 for couple w/10% discount with Discount Card. The classes will be at the VFW Memorial Hall behind
the Post Office from 9:30-3:30 classes will break for lunch for 1 hour. (Price update: $15 per day)
Dave - We need to address the different groups new/old in sharing information with each other.
Garden Journal Book Project - Pat Edmondson reported to the group. Jan Mutter is collating the recipes Photos by Carol Gardener has worked up a sample of photos for publication . Pat Carpenter said they will be requesting certain photos after today to feel out the specific types /needs (send photos to:[email protected]) e.g., turnips, beets, etc. Also looking for art work - photos of artwork. Looking for originals. These must be submitted by Jan. 31. Please use the subject line when emailing “Garden Journal” to catch their attention from all the other emails that a person gets. Mary Bigger brought up idea of terminology “recipes” be instead
“pantry” as a term.
Revised By-Laws - Non-Profit organization needs this for auditing purposes. We are a 501.c.3. IRS recognized Chapter of the Master Gardener State Foundation. The January 30th Board Meeting will
discuss this topic.
NEW BUSINESS:
Looking for a “Clinic” Coordinator - Allie Bernhard monitors calendar and solves problems w/schedules as they emerge. Anna Mangan also assists with follow-up. Steve moved that Aug/Sept
months when AmeriCorps are not here that the Clinic concerns will take care of itself.
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
Donald D. Tapio Article
Going Outside --Even in the Cold --Improves Memory and Attention
Ask any gardener who spends time outside among their plants and they’ll tell you that gardening is therapeutic. Whether its digging in the dirt, pruning or just pulling weeds, most gardeners will tell you they just plain feel better after spending time among their plants. Further validation of the psychological boost that comes from being outside comes from research conducted at the University of Michigan by psychologists Marc Berman, John Jonides and Stephen Kaplan. They explored the cognitive benefits of interacting with nature and found that walking in a park in any season, or even viewing pictures of nature, can improve memory and attention by as much as 20 percent. Interacting with nature can have similar effects as meditating Berman said. “People don’t have to enjoy the walk to get the benefits. We found the same benefits when it was 80 degrees and sunny over the summer as when the temperatures dropped to 25 degrees in January. The only difference was that participants enjoyed the walks more in the spring and summer than in the dead of winter.” Kaplan and his wife, Rachel Kaplan, a researcher in psychology at the School of Natural Resources and Environment, argue that people are far more likely to be satisfied with their lives when their environment supports three basic needs: the ability to understand and explore, to feel they make a difference, and to feel competent and effective. By the same token, most gardeners will attest to the enormous sense of pride they feel when working with plants allowing them to use both their horticultural skills and artistic talents. Informal reports on how plants affect human well-being reach back centuries. For example, it was not uncommon for a doctor to recommend digging in a garden for people who were depressed. According to Dr. Virginia Lohr, Professor of Floriculture at Washington State University, people’s need for plants goes beyond the traditional role of producing food and horticultural products. Lohr and her colleagues have researched the effects of plants on air quality as well as human comfort. Their research shows that the presence of plants helps reduce stress. Other researchers are documenting the extent to which plants affect people physically, psychologically and economically. For example, plants release oxygen and moisture into the air, increase human comfort levels, reduce the levels of air pollutants in indoor spaces and raise relative humidity. In addition to improving memory, attention and overall mental health, gardening is an ideal form of exercise because in addition to physical exertion values, it also has many other merits. The one hundred million plus home gardeners in the United States this year will be pleased to learn that gardening is a waist shrinker, a weight reducer and a sleep inducer. Working in the garden is nature’s painless way to keep the waistline down. Did you know that you can use up more calories per hour gardening than you do by walking or bicycling? Figures from the University of Illinois show that bicycling or walking use up to 200 calories per hour, and lawn mowing (hand or push) uses 270 calories per hour. Ditch digging , a task similar to
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
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Staying informed is easier than ever!
WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener Face Book Page
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mason-County-WSU-Master-Gardeners/191488234215347
WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener blog at the Mason County Daily News
http://masoncountydailynews.com/mason-county-master-gardeners
WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener Website
http://county.wsu.edu/mason/gardening/Pages/default.aspx
Tune in to “The Garden Gate” with Master Gardener Steve Edmondson weekdays at 12:15
KOOL FM 104.1 / AM 1030 KMAS
Check out Jeanne Rehwaldt’s gardening and nutrition articles! You can find them every other
week in the Shelton—Mason County Journal, located under Non Profit News in the Master
Gardener Column, and during the odd weeks in the new Mason County Daily News’ weekly paper!
Donald D. Tapio Article
spading, uses 400 calories per hour. Gardening is a moderate, and sometimes strenuous, exercise that incorporates many important elements of accepted exercise regimes such as stretching and stance, repetition and movement, and even resistance principles similar to weight training, while expending calories. Gardening provides an adequate and challenging workout, but is not as stressful to the body as other exercise options, such as jogging or aerobics. It is still important to warm up muscle groups by properly stretching before gardening and is imperative to use proper techniques for lifting objects, bending or carrying. Also, unlike many exercise options, you can become involved in what you are doing and still take time to smell the roses.
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Wanted for the Mason Jar:
Committee and Sub-Committee Chairs, please submit dates and times of upcoming meetings so
they can be included in the Mason Jar calendar
Your favorite recipe utilizing local, seasonal produce
Your “free”, “trade”, or “wanted” classified ad
Information about upcoming non-M.G. events of interest
Your favorite garden related story, tip, trivia, or quote
Your photos of anything garden or nature related Photos are needed on an ongoing basis.
Please email your submissions to [email protected] by the 2nd Monday of the month!
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
Congratulations to Bonnie
Day-Orr, WSU Mason
County Extension’s Master
Gardener of the Year for
2011!
Bonnie has been a Master Gardener for
two years now, and earned her
certification here in Mason County.
She is originally from Seattle, and
moved to Belfair in the early 70’s to,
in her words, “be a hippy and live in a
tent”. She says that she enjoyed that
Community
time, but was glad when Collin, her now husband of 37 years, “rescued” her from the tent. They
have lived in Mason county for all but two of those years, which they spent living in Bellingham.
Bonnie’s brother is a new and enthusiastic gardener, who lives in Anchorage AK, and Bonnie
enjoys discussing gardening with him. Her father lives in Sequim, and Collin’s family also lives
nearby, so spending time with family is something she enjoys getting to do regularly. Bonnie and
Collin have three dogs, two Golden Retrievers and a Weimeriner, as well as one cat. Some of
Bonnie’s favorite hobbies include cooking, crafts, and reading. Some of her favorite gardening
reads include Steve Solomon’s book, Gardening West of the Cascades, as well as Fine Gardening
magazine, and the Territorial Seed Company catalog.
At home, Bonnie has a large vegetable garden, perennial gardens, a few fruit trees, and has been
learning how to grow grapes! Her favorite garden activity is sitting in her garden on a warm spring
day, and thinking about all the vegetables she hopes will soon be growing there. Fall is her
favorite season in the garden, when the corn is ripe, the sunflowers are blooming, the weather is
usually perfect and the air smells great.
Bonnie worked for 26 years in the mental health field as a Therapist, and 11 years as a Mental
Health Specialist at Head Start. She says that throughout her professional career she worked with
people who found it challenging to have enough good healthy food to eat. Believing that this
should never be the case in this country, Bonnie has devoted the majority of her extensive
volunteer work to Catalyst Community and Food Bank Garden. She also enjoys working with
various Master Gardener committees, and is very active in serving with the Pioneer Greenhouse,
Plant Sale, Catalyst Garden, and the new Catalyst Children’s Garden groups. Bonnie says that her
favorite aspect of the WSU Master Gardener program is the people she gets to meet. She says that
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
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gardeners are just good people, and that she really enjoys spending time with folks who love
gardening as much as she does. She also appreciates the focus of the program on educating the
community. Bonnie says that her gardening practices have definitely changed since she took her
Basic Training, C.E., and became an active volunteer, because she learns so much from her fellow
gardeners who are generous in sharing their knowledge. She feels that she is a better gardener
because of it, and has some advice for our newest Master Gardener Interns: Get out there and get
involved with some of the Master Gardener activities and get to know your fellow gardeners!
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Community
Fundraising News March 23rd Catalyst Park Silent Film
Fundraiser. Doors open at 6:30, film
starts at 7. Suggested donation of $10.
All MG’s are asked to invite friends
and family, and to make refreshments
to be sold during the intermission.
Sponsor donations and ticket sales will
be used to construct a drip irrigation
system at the WSU Master Gardener’s
Catalyst Park Food Bank Garden. A
drip irrigation system can reduce
water use by up to 50% while the
amount of water going directly to the
vegetable crop is increased. Installing
a new system in the food bank garden will conserve water and dollars, and will help us increase
the amount of vegetables we are able to grow and donate to our local food bank!
Catalyst Park Valentine’s Treats Fundraiser at the next MG General Meeting on Feb 13th. The
Catalyst Park committee has received a quote for the new park sign, and is hoping to earn some
money to pay for the sign by providing Valentine’s desserts at the meeting for sale or donation. If
you would like to contribute by bringing something, please contact Sybil Jones at
Plant Sale Committee Update: The location for the plant sale May 11th and 12th has been
changed to Kneeland Park. Volunteers are still needed to sign up for help at the sale, and with
various sub-committees. Margie Plebuch is serving as liaison between the various sub-committees,
and can be reached at [email protected]
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
Getting Involved
Volunteer Opportunities:
Monday Clinics run from 12-3 PM year-round, and volunteers are needed on a continual basis.
Allie Bernhard is coordinating the clinic, please contact her to sign up or for more information.
February 20th- The Catalyst Park Garden work day event in honor of the Martin Luther King
National Day of Service that was cancelled due to snow in January, has been rescheduled for
President’s Day. We will be building an extension to the Catalyst Park Garden which will be the
home of a new children’s garden. The garden will serve as a learning tool for children in
different youth groups around Mason County. The WSU Extension Master Gardeners are inviting
members of the larger community of Shelton and the surrounding areas to join in serving our
community. There will be a potluck, and helpers are asked to bring a dish to share, chairs,
tables, and tablecloths. We will be starting at 10AM and working until 2PM.
Catalyst Garden Silent Film Fundraiser March 23rd. Volunteers will be needed from
approximately 5-9 PM on the day of the fundraiser. Please contact Allie Bernhard for more
information, and don't forget to invite your family and friends!
The Plant Sale committee is still in need of volunteers to sign up for help at the sale May11th
& 12th and with various event planning sub-committees. Please contact Margie Plebuch at
[email protected] to find out how you can get involved!
Do you have a special interest in and knowledge of a particular garden related topic? Would
you like to share it with other M.G.’s? Please contact Lou Schmidt at [email protected] to learn
how you can give a Continuing Education presentation after a Master Gardener General
Meeting!
The Catalyst Children’s Garden sub-committee is in need of volunteers for both planning sessions
and “hands on” work establishing and then maintaining the new garden. Please contact Allie
Bernhard to learn how you can participate in this exciting project!
Volunteers are needed to work on designs and planting plans for the gardens located at the former
site of St. Edward’s church (Edible Park) and Memorial Hall (full sun, possibly using native plants)
Please contact Jeanne Rehwaldt for more information!
Volunteers are needed to present Country Living Workshops. Please contact Jeanne Rehwaldt for
more information.
February 2012 The Mason Jar
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Gardening During February -- Hints of Spring! Mary Robson (Ret.), Area Extension Agent
During the first three weeks of the month, keep the garden's winter protection in place. February's weather can often unleash a week or so of hard, freezing weather before month's end. Mild temperatures in late January are often followed by a deep chill. Hardy spring bulb shoots will continue emerging this month, and if mulch remains around them, they are remarkably resistant to cold temperatures. Many gardeners worry about the three-inch daffodil shoots, or snowdrops and crocus beginning to bloom when a cold snap hits. Generally, the spring bulbs manage cold very well. By the third week in January this year, snowdrops, early crocus, and narcissus had emerged in my Seattle garden. In case of a freeze, they'll have to rely on their natural genetic hardiness. The only action gardeners can take if a serious freeze is predicted is to place 2-3 inches of organic mulch around any shoots that are exposed. With mulch for root protection, these plants will manage well, stopping their growth during cold spells and reviving during warmth. The message for February is: enjoy the promise of new bulb shoots and trust that their beauty will survive cold spells. Check the landscape for early-season pests. Spruce trees, for instance, may begin to show
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February Gardening
Continuing Education Opportunities:
February 7th - 7-9 PM South Sound Fruit Society workshop Location: Evergreen Organic
Farmhouse Visit http://wcfs.org/ for more information.
February 11th –Gardening for Everyone – Centralia College and Growing Gorgeous Orchids—
Watson’s Greenhouse 11 am—1 pm, Puyallup
February 13th-After the MG General meeting, Lou Schmidt will be offering a presentation
on grafting fruit trees and tomato plants.
February 18 - Terrariums - Watson’s Greenhouse, 10 am, Puyallup
February 23rd through 25th –Mason Conservation District Plant Sale. Contact Jenn
Thurman-Williams to sign up to help. 427-9436 Ext. 13.
February 25th– Country Living Workshop - Frugal Gardening
February 26 - Vegetable Gardening 101, Watson’s Greenhouse, 1 pm, Puyallup
Please contact Jeanne Rehwaldt for more information!
Note: WSU Master Gardener Trainees are required to complete 60 hours of Basic Training classes plus on line
training, and as Interns fulfill 60 hours of volunteer time in their first year, including 15 hours of Clinic time.
Certified Master Gardeners are required to complete 25 hours volunteer time and 10 hours of Continuing Education
per year in order to remain Certified.
Getting Involved
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
evidence of a damaging critter, the spruce aphid. Repeated infestations of spruce aphid will leave a spruce tree defoliated along the branches, with no needles in the interior. The spruce aphid begins its nasty work early in the year. Now, and during the next 6 weeks, is the only time of the year to check for spruce aphid. Take a piece of white paper and hold it under a branch. Grab the branch firmly. Look at the white paper for evidence of these small, greenish aphids. They will crawl around on the paper. A magnifying glass may help you see them. If you see evidence of spruce aphid (Elatobium abietinum), treatment with chemicals is necessary now to get rid of them. The aphids appear in early February and increase through March. They will cause spruce needle drop if left untreated. Several different products are registered for this use. Insecticidal soap, in many different brands, and horticultural oil are the least-toxic of the possibilities. The horticultural oil can alter the color of some blue spruce, but it is effective. Thorough coverage of needles is important when spruce aphids have been spotted. There aren't any effective non-chemical treatments. Some gardeners have realized that most spruce don't thrive well in western Washington and have replaced them with other conifers like pines, firs, or hemlocks that survive more readily. It may be of no use to try to treat an old spruce with lots of interior defoliation and damage, because the tree will never look attractive. A younger spruce may benefit from treatment. The best choice may be using another conifer altogether. February offers good opportunities for pruning the garden, but only when the temperatures are above freezing! Freezing weather prevents most garden activities. Do not walk on frozen soil or frozen lawns, do not prune, do not transplant or install plants if temperatures drop below the mid-30s. However, on milder days prune hydrangeas and other shrubs that bloom in summer, such as butterfly bush (Buddleia), escallonia, and cotoneaster. Hydrangea pruning often puzzles gardeners. If the hydrangea is thickly overgrown and stuffed with old branches, remove about 1/3 of the stalks that bloomed last year, keeping a balance in the plant. Then shorten some of the remaining stalks (but not all of them) back to an outward facing growth node. Toward month's end, prune and fertilize roses. Many growers, after pruning off old growth, treat the bush immediately with a fungicide, helping to control diseases such as black spot that overwinter on the old canes. A new, relatively non-toxic fungicide called Remedy (potassium bicarbonate) has recently been registered, and is labeled for control of rose diseases. Wetable sulfur is also registered, and is also less toxic than other fungicides currently registered for use on rose diseases. If you choose to spray roses, do it on a day with temperatures over 40° F. and no rain. (If you find such a day in February, rejoice!) Read the label carefully and wear appropriate protective gear, including goggles, gloves, and a hat when using any pesticides. Eye protection is particularly necessary when mixing pesticides. Read the label!
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February Gardening
February 2012 The Mason Jar
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February 2012
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3 4
5 6
CLINIC 1-3
P. Carpenter
K. King
7 South
Sound Fruit
Society
Workshop
8 Catalyst/Childrens Garden mtg 5 pm. Ext office
9 10 11 Gardening
for Everyone Lewis Co
Orchids-Watson’s
12 13 MG General Mtg 10AM
CLINIC 1-3
C. Rowe
14 15 16 17 18
Terrariums-
Watson’s
19 20 Catalyst
Work Party 10-2
President’s Day
Office closed
21 Seed,
Catalog &Ideas Exchange
CLINIC 1-3
B. Day/K.King
22 23 Mason
Conservation
Corps Sale
through 25th
24 25
Country
Living
Workshop
26
Vegetable
Gardening
101,
Watson’s
27 Board
Meeting 10AM
CLINIC 1-3
N. Dillon
28 29
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February 2012 The Mason Jar
The Mason Jar BackPage
Photo by Erika Stewart