April 2018 Volume 13, Issue 3

WEEDER’S DIGEST CRAIGHEAD COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

Jason Mullins– Plant

Sale Project Chair,

conducted a brief class

before our monthly

meeting.

Our next meeting is April 5th Greeting @ 6:00

Meeting @ 6:30

Jason Mullins will be our speaker.

April begins our time of new beginnings. We have welcomed new members, the gardens will be

coming to life, and there are so many educational opportunities for us to attend. All of this month

we’ll be getting ready for our Annual Plant Sale that takes place on the 28th, I do hope everyone is

planning to bring their picks from their gardens. Also, if you find an opportunity to attend any

event and would like to ride or offer a ride please contact Donna Bandy our Travel Coordinator.

As always I wish each of you a wonderful gardening experience and please take

care of yourselves!

~ Donna Tolewitzke, President

Hyacinth Photo Submitted by Joseph House

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From Branon Thiesse BS, MS

County Extension Agent - Staff Chair

Crepe Myrtle Bark Scale

Crape myrtle bark scale (CMBS) is easy to identify since, in the U.S., it is the first and only known bark scale to occur on crape myrtles. The adult females appear as white or gray felt-like

structures on small twigs to large trunks, often appearing near pruning wounds or in branch

crotches on older wood. On the most current flush of growth and under heavy

infestation, distribution may be more uniform. Up close, CMBS is white to gray

in color and approximately 2 mm in length. Careful examination may reveal dozens of pink eggs or crawlers under some of the larger white scale covers.

Most gardeners will be alerted to CMBS by black sooty mold which appears on

the bark. The presence of sooty mold may confuse the diagnosis since that is

also commonly associated with a significant aphid problem. This felt scale is

not classified as either an armored or soft scale.

• For heavily infested plants, wash the trunk and reachable limbs with a soft

brush and mild solution of dishwashing soap. This will remove many of the fe-

male scales and egg masses and make insecticide control more effective. Also,

washing will remove much of the black mold that builds up on the bark on infested trees.

• Horticultural oil has not yet been shown to be effective against this insect; however, a winter application of dormant oil to the bark and crotches of the plants where scales shelter may be

beneficial. Be sure to use sufficient volume to allow for penetration behind loose bark and into

cracks and crevices. Winter is an especially good time to treat for scales because a higher

(winter) application rate can be used without damaging the plant. Thorough coverage of the tree

is especially important when treating with oil.

• Application of systemic insecticides as a drench applied to the root zone has shown the most promise in tests to date. Imidacloprid (Merit® or Bayer Advanced™ Garden Tree and Shrub In-

sect Control), thiomethoxam (Meridian®) and dinotefuran (Greenlight Tree and Shrub Insect

Control with Safari) have shown best control when applied between May and July. When

drenching the soil with a systemic insecticide, allow several weeks for the product to be distrib-

uted throughout the plant. Additionally, acetamiprid and clothianidin, also neonicotinoids, have

demonstrated good control. This information was taken from U of A Factsheet FSA 7086.

“Spring is finally here–

I’m so happy

I could wet my plants!”

Sun Star (Ornithogalum dubium) Photo submitted by Joseph House

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Minutes of the March 2018 Meeting By Karen Massey

The March 1, 2018 meeting of the Craighead County Master Gardeners was called to order at 6:33

by President Donna Tolewitzke

Program – Laura Bettis introduced Karen Mayfield on Essential Oils program.

Getting to Know our New Members was presented by Terri Inman and Peggy Lane. The 2018 class consist of 20 new members who have incredible backgrounds. Here are a few of their ac-

complishments: Retired military, missionary/mission work, nurse, music teacher, school board

members, stained glass maker, sells their own marinara sauce, ballet teacher, former model, quilt-

er, bird watcher, sales, lived in all planting zones and many volunteer for a variety of the Jonesbo-

ro organizations. And that is just a few descriptions of their backgrounds!

Branon Thiesse presented new members with certificates and name tags.

Minutes – the minutes of the February meeting were approved as printed in the monthly newslet-

ter.

Treasurer’s Report – Stephanie Neely gave the current balance.

Project Reports -

Stan Bachman reminded everyone of the FFA/CDE event March 7 starting

at 8 – 12.

Paula Smith – updated on the Riceland Community Garden from their

work day. Jason Mullins – encouraged everyone to be potting plants for the plant

sale.

Ethel Cole – updated on the Native Plant Garden.

Old Business – Ann Ross gave the “Countdown to Spring” seminar results. Attendance was 143. Ann Ross and Ann Ferguson presented Lucy Murray

with a gift card as a special thank you for all of her extra help at the semi-

nar. And they recognized all of the committee that helped create the out-

standing seminar.

New Business – Val Price advised everyone of the revised By-Laws/Policies. Donna Tolewitzke announced that Donna Bandy has accepted the position of Travel Coordinator.

Any member can email her that they will be attending a special event and help them coordinate

rides with other members.

Birthdays – members with March birthdays were given a plant.

Meeting adjourned at 7:49

Our 2018 New Members: Left to Right: Geraldine Bagwell, Taura McDaniel, Karen Olson, Judy Cole, Evan Moore, Daveta Kirkindall, Mark Nuckles, Mary Jo Franklin, Charles Harris, Susan Harris, Dianne Lawler, Randal Hogue, Lori Williams and Roger Williams. Other new members not photographed: Karen Primm, Pat Warren, Jeff Housley, Stacy Hall, Katrina Hall and Anita Adams.

Speaker: Karen Mayfield

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Our Projects

Extension Office, Municipal Building and Courthouse~ Nick, Marilyn and Katie Wysocki, Project Chairs.

The Wysockis called for a work day Thursday

evening the 15th.

From Nick and Marilyn:

A lot of work was accomplished at the Exten-

sion Office this evening, everything looks

great! Thanks Mike, Stan, Donna, Diane,

Gary and Steph!

Riceland Community Garden Project met for garden clean up and additions to

the on-site compost pile. Plans were made for spring planting, including staking beds for insect

repellant flowers. Placement for raised beds were identified and plans for planting with one being

dedicated to herbs. Soil samples were taken of all plots and results have been shared with Mr. Bounds at Riceland, with recommendations for improvements prior to planting. Sample signage for

the community garden partnership has been sent for approval to Branon Thiesse, CEA Chair, and

then will be sent to Riceland legal for final approvals. The next work day will be early April after

the ground has dried and is ready for planting. Many thanks to our own Master Gardener, Mark

Nuckles, for heirloom seed planting at home to supplement the garden. Also, many thanks to Ash-more Livestock Supply for the discounted onions and garlic. ~Angela Schmidt Co-Chair

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FFA/CDE took place at the ASU Convoca-

tion Center on March 7th.

Stan Bachman, the Project Chair, says

that 21 teams competed. The high school

students competed in various tests such as

plant and equipment identification, judg-

ing corsages, planting, hazardous condi-

tion testing and media selling.

Stan did an excellent job with the help of

Ralph Seay.

If anyone is interested in being the Project Chair for this event next year, please con-

tact Donna Tolewitzke.

FFA/CDE took place at the ASU Convocation Center on March 7th.

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Upcoming Events

March 31- Spring Workshop and Plant Sale, 600 Grant 83, Sheridan, AR (Grant County) open-

ing remarks start at 9am. Plant Sale begins at 11am

April 1-30- Salem, AR. Fulton County Master Gardeners have planted over 1500 tulip bulbs on

the courthouse lawn alone. They will also be displayed in planters and beds at businesses in the

Salem area. Visit the city to see the amazing display of tulips throughout the month of April.

April 13, 14- Memphis Botanic Gardens Plant Sale. Hours are: Friday 9am-7pm, Saturday

9am-5pm. 750 Cherry Road, Memphis, TN.

https://www.memphisbotanicgarden.com/plantsale

April 20- Cross County Seminar “Plant Your Bloomers” Registration 8am-9am. Seminar is

9am-2pm. 1790 Falls Blvd., Wynne, AR https://www.baxtercountymg.com/buddy-message-blog/planting-your-bloomers-cross-county-

gardening-seminar

April 21- Gardening A to Z; Izard County High School. 9am-3pm.

https://www.baxtercountymg.com/buddy-message-blog/izard-county-master-gardener-seminar-sat-april-21-2018

24- County 76 Quarterly Meeting, Little Rock

28- CCMG Plant Sale!!

April Birthdays

2nd- Sandra Arwood

6th- Katrina Hall 9th- Jane Jamison

11th- Charlotte Grant 21st- Brenda Layne 30th- Paula Smith

Be kind to the hands that care

for your garden~ Fine Gardening/April 2018

Before you put on your garden gloves, lavishly spread

hand lotion or cream onto your hands, adding more under your fingernails. As you work, your hands will

absorb the cream, and when you take off your gloves,

you’ll find that your skin has been protected and

moisturized instead of being dried out by the moisture

-removing soil. Any soil on your hands will wash off

easily because the cream or lotion formed a barrier-Yvonne Savio, Los Angeles.

Submitted by Peggy Lane

Our NEW updated Photo Directory will be available at our April meeting. One per member

and please sign your name on the paper so Diane Sandberg can be sure each member has

received one.

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Officers

President Donna Tolewitzke

Past President Ann Fergeson

Vice President Cindy Morris

Secretary Karen Massey

Treasurer Stephanie Neely

Assistant Treasurer Sandy Puryear

Projects Barbara Pitcock

Programs

Laura Bettis

Recruitment, Reten-

tion, Recognition Peggy Lane

Historian

Diane Sandberg

Social

Debbie Tate

Parliamentarian

Mimi Cox Executive Committee

The Officers

Newsletter Editor

Donna Tolewitzke

Members-at-Large Donna Bandy

Val Price

Logging in Hours: If you are having problems logging hours and/or would rather Cindy log

them for you, please email her at cindyamorris@hotmail.com. Please include where you worked,

the date and the amount of time you worked. And let's not forget, include your learning/

education hours!

Being Respectful: Just a reminder to be respectful of not only the speakers at meetings but

to your fellow MGs. You may think you are talking quietly, but voices carry, making it difficult

for others to hear what is going on during the meetings.

Sign In! As you arrive at the MG meeting each month, be sure to SIGN IN and pick up a ticket

for the door prize(s). The sign-in sheet will be on the table to the right as you come in the

door. At the end of each meeting, we will draw for a door prize!

Name Tags: Be sure to wear your MG name tag to each meeting, otherwise put 50 cents in the

jar.

Reminders

Project Chairs

ASU Display Garden & Farmers’ Market Susan Westbrook

On the Deck- Jan Dupwe

ASU Greenhouse- LaVeta Howerton

Butterfly Garden

Barb Evans Pat Finch

Courthouse, Extension

Office & City Hall Nick, Marilyn & Katie Wysocki

NEA District Fair

Ginger Adams-Seeds Mike Wilbanks-MG Booth Mimi Cox- Floriculture

NEA FFA-CDE- Stan Bachman

Native Plant Garden- Ethel Cole

Plant Sale- Jason Mullins

Plants for Sunset Gardens Margaret Williams

Extension Office Work & 2017 Basic Training Class

Neva Shewmaker

HWES Children’s Learning Garden

Melinda Smith

Riceland Community Garden Angela Schmidt

Paula Smith

Standing Committee Chairs

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Fun and Useful Links

Arkansas Master Gardener Program http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/master-gardeners

CCMG Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Craighead-County-Master-Gardeners/629232630461141?ref=hl

HWES School Gardens Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/HWESschoolgardens

Janet Carson's Blog - In the Garden

http://uofacesmg.wordpress.com/

Jim Long’s Blog

http://jimlongsgarden.blogspot.com/

Public Horticulture Events

http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/master-gardeners/events.aspx

University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Research & Extension

http://www.uaex.edu/

Garvan Gardens with Janet Carson

http://www.garvangardens.org/photos-videos/gardeningwithjanet.aspx

For list of Arkansas shows, meetings, etc. see statebystategardening.com/ar/calendar/

For Master Gardener events see http://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/master-gardeners/

events.aspx

For information on Memphis events see www.memphisareamastergardeners.org/events.htm

The Arkansas Cooperative Extension

Service offers its programs to all eligi-

ble persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orienta-

tion, national origin, religion, age, dis-

ability, marital or veteran status,

Weeder’s Digest is the official news-

letter of the Craighead County AR

Master Gardener Program.

Please contact the newsletter editor at

dtolewitzke@gmail.com with your arti-

cles, ideas, photos and suggestions.

Newsletters are Adobe files and re-quire the latest

Adobe Reader to view. You may down-

load the latest Adobe Reader at

"http://get.adobe.com/reader/".

Craighead County Master Gardeners are trained volunteers

working with the University of Arkansas Cooperative Exten-sion Service and Craighead County officials to provide beau-tification projects and horticultural information to the resi-dents of the county. In 2017 Craighead County Master Gar-

deners reported more than 11,108 hours of service and education to bene-fit Craighead County.

Branon Thiesse BS, MS

County Extension Agent - Staff Chair

Copyright 2012 -2018 Craighead County Master Gardeners. All rights reserved.

Our friend, Renee Shepherd, owner of Reneesgarden.com (Renee's Gar-

den Seeds), is making a wonderful offer for Health, Wellness and Envi-ronmental Studies Elementary School. If you go to her website and or-der seed, and use this code when you order: FR556A, she will donate 25% of the price of the seed you order, to the Health, Wellness and En-

vironmental Studies Elementary Kitchen/Garden Program. Isn't that great? So, go to her website and order some seed, being sure to use the FR556Acoupon code.