INSIDE: Local Master Gardener News - 2 Upcoming Events – 5 Bits and Pieces - 7

/ February 2008 July 2014

It Was A Wonderful Night… (by Jill Barland with pictures by Jo-Ann Clark, Sally Anderson and Jill Barland)

It was a wonderful summer evening on June 17 to enjoy a tour of the historic Schlegelmulch gardens (along with strawberry shortcake and lemonade) despite earlier forecasts of rain. Sue Glenz, who has worked in the Garden for many years and as a Schlegelmilch House docent, shared a brief history of the Schlegelmilch family and the house they lived in for over 100 years. She also reminded us that the property, which is owned by the Chippewa Valley Museum is available for events such as parties, business meetings and weddings. Ann Heywood discussed the design process used for the rehabilitation of the landscape as well as the features found in gardens of the era typical of the 1906-1920 period in the Great Lakes region. They include: a modest, natural appearance with shrubbery used as a boundary and screening device and includes fruits and herbs as well as flowers. There is also a brochure available to help identify the various plantings. Ann and Jill Barland distributed a Plant Identification Map/Brochure which is available to visitors to the Garden and which provides both the common and botanical names of the shrubs, trees and perennial flowers. This educational piece, which is illustrated in Vintage Wisconsin Gardens, by Lee Somerville, was made possible by contributions from the ECAMG organization.

Gail Schneider, Suzanne Gallagher, Rhonda Cook, Ann Heywood and Sue Glenz then led the group through the garden, answering questions and sharing stories of their work. While the House is open by appointment, you are invited to stop by the Garden anytime you are in the neighborhood. Maybe, as did a recent passerby, you’ll see the deer munching on the hostas!

Obviously many volunteers have helped to not only re-establish the historic gardens, but to maintain them. Among these are Boy Scout Troop 31, chartered to Immaculate Conception Church in Eau Claire, (members and siblings pictured at left) has been a part of the Schlegelmilch Garden rehabilitation project since it started in 2004. The first contact was (continued on page 3)

Members & siblings of Boy Scout Troop 31 who helped at the Schlegelmilch gardens.

Page 2 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener New July 2014

Local Master Gardener News

NOTE: The ECAMGA Board minutes no longer appears in the newsletter. You may access them by going to the website at

eauclairemastergardeners.weebly.com

Changing e-mail? Moving? If you do, please remember to notify the ECAMG and the newsletter editor of your new e-mail address and/or mailing address so you don’t miss any Eau Claire Area Master Gardener happenings! Email you’re new information to Carol Cox at c7w6c2200@charter.net or notify her by snail mail at 1908 Hogeboom Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701 (or call her at 715-861-4495).

ECAMGA Board ECAMGA BOARD MEMBER CONTACT INFO

NAME/TITLE e-mail address phone number

Erin LaFaive Erin.lafaive@ces.uwex.edu 715-839-4712

Cindy Ferver cferver@charter.net 715-606-0006 715-514-1544

Gary Mathis Garym5811@live.com 715-878-4031

Ede Strand edestrand@aol.com 715-8326775

Amy Boetcher myamybird@aol.com 715-577-9085

Diane Hunter sportflower@gmail.com 715-835-2775

Andy Heren Rcktnut007@aol.com 715-831-9236

Daria Hutchinson dariahu@aol.com 715-797-4793

MGV

Bulletin Board Postings Stories and Opportunities!!!! Bulletin Board Postings Stories and Opportunities!!!!

Volunteer Opportunities: Youth&Gardens!""!Summer!Sessions!through!August!6!

Mondays,!McDonough!Park!garden,!9am"10am;!Tuesdays,!North!River!Front!Park!garden,!9am"10am;!Wednesdays,!McDonough!Park!garden,!9am"10am!

!

Weather&Watchers!"! Be!a!weather!watcher!for!the!youth!gardens!for!any!of!the!following:!Thursday,!Friday,!Saturday,!or!Sunday.!If!the!weather!is!rainy,!

then!the!youth!gardens!don't!need!to!be!watered.!If!the!weather!is!hot,!dry,!

windy!then!you!will!give!the!youth!gardens!a!drink.!The!gardens!are!at!North!

River!Front!Park!(near!Phoenix!Park)!and!McDonough!Park!(off!of!Birch!

Street).!If!it!rains!you!can!log!1!volunteer!hour!for!your!watchful!efforts.!!

Ask5A5Master5Gardner&Booth&@&the&Eau&Claire&County&Fair!on!July!25,!11am"

3pm!&!July!26,!11am"3pm!at!the!Eau!Claire!County!Exposition!Center,!outside!

Building!“E”.!!Help!answer!horticulture!questions.!Shade,!tables,!and!chairs!

provided.!

!

Chippewa&Valley&Farm&City&Days!on!September!20,!from!10am"2pm.&Location:!GJ!Jerseys,!Gary!&!Josh!Olson!Farm!S12055!County!Rd!D!Strum,!WI!

54770.!!Need!volunteers!to!make!a!fun!interactive!educational!display!geared!

for!young!kids.!Also,!volunteers!are!needed!to!staff!the!display!"!small!shifts!

are!encouraged.!!This!is!an!annual!festival/expo!providing!all!residents!an!

opportunity!to!visit!and!understand!a!local!farming!operation.!!This!year!it’s!

held!in!Eau!Claire!September!19"20!(http://www.farmcityday.com/).!

**We!could!have!an!exhibit!with!a!quick!hands!on!activity.!In!past!years!each!

child!is!given!a!“passport”!they!have!to!get!stamped!at!the!exhibits!then!they!

get!a!treat!for!getting!all!the!stamps.!In!addition,!each!exhibit!has!a!very!quick!

activity!each!attendee!can!choose!to!participate!in.!If!you’re!interested!in!

creating an exhibit or staffing the exhibit on the day of, please contact Erin LaFaive at 715-839-4712. (Continued on page 4)

!!

Eau&Claire&MGV&Association&Facebook&page!needs!a!few!volunteers!to!help!add!posts!of!Association!

ECAMGA 2014 Calendar

All meetings at UW-Extension Office unless otherwise noted

July 15th at UW-Extension Office, at 6:30 p.m. Brent Douglas will demonstrate using some of our own garden flowers in arrangements. August 3 – Plant Sale at the Expo Center August – Tour of Mary Zellmer’s garden. Watch for more information on particulars. September 16 – speaker TBA & volunteer hours due October 21 – speaker TBA November 18– speaker TBA December 16 – annual potluck and election of officers

Page 3 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener Newsletter July 2014

It Was A Wonderful Night continued from page 1…

with Scout James Keys, who as part of obtaining his Eagle Badge, led members of the Troop in planting over 30 shrubs along the perimeter of the property. Since then, each season, the Scouts come to the Garden with shovels and wheelbarrows in tow to help put down mulch in the flowerbeds. The Schlegelmilch House is especially grateful to their Leader, Catherine Keys and the Scouts, one of whom said, as he arrived, “Well, here we are - the Schlegelmulchers!”

The tour gave participants time to stop and smell the roses and enjoy the landscaping in this lovely garden (the white rose is ‘Blanc Double de Coubert’. In addition to enjoying the gardens and learning about the historic home everyone was treated to strawberry shortcake and lemonade.

Plant Sale, August 2 !!!!!!!!! Don’t forget to pot up those extra stray plants in your garden for the sale on August 2. The sale is held at the Expo Center in the first barn. Sale time is 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. with cleanup beginning at 2 p.m.. We are looking for volunteers for Saturday - sale time through cleanup and also for Friday, August 1 for setup at 2 p.m. Tables and chairs are provided by the Expo center, but we are to set them up. People can bring plant donations in on Friday after 2 p.m. or on Saturday before sale time. Bring any garden related donations also for our garden garage sale along with the plant sale. Extra books and magazines always sell well. Volunteers may call Nina Logan at 715-878-4585 or by email at ninalogan@centurylink.net.

Page 4 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News July 2014

Volunteer Opportunities continued from page 2… Ask A Master Gardener Booth @ Eau Claire Downtown Farmer’s Market Farmers Market at Phoenix Park. In the past we have started Memorial Day weekend, but this year we want to start a little earlier on Saturday, May 10. Are you looking for a way to get your 24 hours of volunteer time? Do you like talking with people and watching the crowds at the Farmers market? If so, please consider volunteering at our booth. Here is how it works: Either myself or someone else will bring all the supplies out to the Phoenix Park Pavilion at 8:00 a.m. We are never in the same place; it all depends on where Diedre, the manager, tells us to set up. Just look for a familiar face and our table. We try to have about four of us there, which means someone probably knows the answer to most questions. If we don’t, we refer them to the Extension office and someone will get the answer to their question. **We are looking for!people to help this year. It doesn’t matter if you have done this before or not. You can do it as often as you like or just a few times. After I get names, I will have a way for you to sign up - probably a Doodle again). I usually check the signup each week to see who will be there. I had a job last year that kept me from the Farmers Market and I am looking forward to being back! Those of us there have a great time not only taking!with the public, but with each other. Please consider joining us this summer! If you are interested, please email Andy at Rcktnut007@aol.com and I will add your name to the list. Thanks! – Andy Heren Eau Claire MGV Association Facebook page needs a few volunteers to help add posts of Association events and other pertinent garden information. Volunteers need for the Chippewa Valley Sustainable Future Festival Sept. 13. We need volunteers the day of the event and right now with the planning committee. http://www.sustainablefuturefest.com/index.html !!Erin LaFaive Horticulture Educator & Co-Dept. Head Eau Claire County UW Extension 227 First St. W. Altoona, WI 54720 715-839-471 2

So What’s A Little Rain Among Gardeners???? Well over a dozen gardeners came to see the Stan and Jeannette Fredrickson shade gardens on the evening of June 25th despite rainy skies and an earlier downpour in the Eau Claire area. Stan recounted what the lot looked like when they first moved there about 12 years ago – buckthorn and pine trees. After clearing out all the invasives they began to garden and what attendees saw today is the result of much work and a good eye for garden design. With umbrellas held high to ward off the rain the garden lovers present had many questions for Stan and Jeannette and enjoyed the tour immensely. (Continued on page 5)

Upcoming Classes

Registration is not required for most classes but is appreciated.

Landscaping 201 - Saturday, July 12th at 10:00 am (note date change). We will cover additional landscape design principles including: foundation plantings, edging installation, and the pros and cons of using mulch vs. rock. We will also go over how to determine what type of soil you have, provide tips on what plants to use, how to plant, and how to incorporate boulders into your design. Landscaping 301 - Saturday, July 26th 10:00 am – 3:00pm (note date change). Come ready to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty in this class designed for the do-it-yourself landscapers! This landscaping class will focus on using various types of hardscapes in your landscape design. We

will provide hands on instruction on how to install pavers, retaining walls, boulders, etc. Cost: $40.00/person; price includes lunch too!

6025 Arndt Lane, Eau Claire WI, 54701 715-833-1234 or E-mail - home@dwntoearth.com Website: http://www.dwntoearth.com/index2.html

Upcoming Events

Page 5 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News July 2014

What’s A Little Rain continued from page 4… The Fredrickson shade garden has quite a collection of hostas complemented by various martagon and other lilies, fern, huechera, trillium, and many other plants that enhance the hosta collection.

Stan described how he manages his compost by applying it in the spring over the snow, which seems to work well as the snow melts and the plants emerge. They have access to an adjacent lot where he is able to place his compost pile. Obviously his method works well.

Page 6 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News July 2014

2014 Butterfly Count July 8 from 9:30 am until 3 pm at the Wise Nature Center Join other butterfly enthusiasts for the annual Beaver Creek Reserve Butterfly count. Meet at the Wise Nature Center to review species likely to be seen; then get directions for the count and receive a route assignment. Most counters spend 2 to 4 hours counting, but you may count for as little as one hour or for most of the day if you wish. The results are forwarded to the North American Butterfly Association. FREE for Friends, FREE for Nonmembers, $3 to cover BCR's cost - per counter - assessed by NABA for Donation. To register go to the BCR website. Summer Tree, Shrub, and Vine ID - Afternoon Session July 11 | 2:30 until 4:30 pm and July 11 session from 6:30 until 8:30 pm at the Wise Nature Center. Are maple trees really either hard or soft? Are popple, poplar and aspen the same tree? Are red pine and Norway pine different species? Naturalist Jim Schwiebert will answer these and other tree questions as you hike the Reserve's trails to look at the unique leaf, twig and bark characteristics of trees, shrubs, and a few interesting vine species found on the Reserve. Learn easy ways to remember how to identify them. A simple key to tree identification will be provided for participants to take home. Cost: $5 for Friends, $8 for Nonmembers - 18 spots available so register early. Build Your Own Leopold Bench - July 19 from 9 am until 12 pm at the Citizen Science Center - Wildlands Garage. This comfortable, wooden 4-foot bench was designed and made popular by Wisconsin conservationist Aldo Leopold. Build a bench to grace your patio during this workshop. The bench will be made of treated (arsenic-free) lumber unless specified otherwise. Bench pieces will be pre-cut. Attendees will drill bolt holes and assemble the pieces together. Tools will be provided or feel free to bring your own. Cost: $40 for Friends, $50 for Nonmembers. There are 7 spots available so register early. Wisconsin Dragonfly Society - July 26 from 9:30 until 11 am at the Wise Nature. Learn about the biology and ecology of the dragonflies and damselflies of Wisconsin. A short presentation will include tips on species identification and how citizen scientists can get involved, and a trip out to the trails will follow. Bring your insect net if you have one! Cost: $5 for Friends, $8 for Nonmembers Center. Only 16 spots available so register early. Summer Wild Edibles - July 31 from 6:30 until 8:30 pm at the Wise Nature Center Join a Beaver Creek naturalist for a taste of some summer's wild edibles. We'll take a hike and look for some common, easily identified, wild edible plants. As we hike, we'll nibble a few things and then sample a cooked green and a wild tea or two! A list of some plants to try and their use will be provided. Cost: $5 for Friends, $8 for Nonmembers with 15 spots available so register early, this popular program fills up quickly!

S1 County Road K, Fall Creek, WI 54742 bcr@beavercreekreserve.org

Siberian Iris in full bloom.

Cork being harvested. (Picture from an internet forward.)

Page7 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener July 2014

Page 7 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News April 2013

Bits and Pieces

Eye Candy…

July Classes July 12- Whimsy in the garden- Make some garden art! To be determined. 9:00-10:00 a.m. For more information call. July 26- Wildlife in your garden-Bring the kiddos! Meet some critters that take up residence in your own backyard! Learn from a Beaver Creek naturalist about what plants feed and shelter wildlife and how you can welcome wildlife into your garden. The cost of the class will be $3 per person. If you choose to purchase plants that help attract wildlife to your garden on this day, we will offer 10% off natives and shrubs to those who attend the class. 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Tin Roof Garden

5310 Friedeck Road Eau Claire, WI 54701

Phone: 715-834-4232

e-mail: getyourplants@tinroofga

rden.com

visit us at our website at: www.tinroofgarden.com

Bits & Pieces

July ECAMGA Meeting To Highlight Flower

Arranging

On Tuesday, July 15th Brent Douglas of Brent Douglas Flowers and Artist Gallery in downtown Eau Claire will be talking with the Eau Claire Area Master Gardener Association (ECAMGA). He will share ideas and demonstrate what to do with those blooms from the garden. Also, he will show some ways to be creative when choosing a vase or container for your arrangements. Come for this fun evening, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office in Altoona.

This presentation is free and open to the public. Door prizes will be awarded and refreshments will be served. To reserve a seat please 715-839-4712. This event is sponsored by the ECAMGA.

The first martagons to bloom!

Eye Candy…

Easy plant tags double as garden art!

Page 8 Eau Claire Area Master Gardener News July 2014

EAU CLAIRE AREA MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER A newsletter for the Eau Claire Area Master Gardener Association members.

For more Eau Claire County UW Cooperative Extension information

go to our website: www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/eauclaire

Phone: 715-839-4712 Fax: 715-839-6277

M-F 8AM-5PM

Unless otherwise noted, articles for this newsletter are submitted and/or written by ECAMGA members or the newsletter editor, Carol W. Cox. Unless otherwise noted, graphics are from clipart. Newsletter layout by Carol W. Cox

The University of Wisconsin Extension provides affirmative action and equal opportunity in education, programming and employment for all qualified persons regardless of race, color, gender/sex, creed, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental, arrest or conviction record or veteran status.” If you need an interpreter, materials in alternate formats or other accommodations to access this program, activity or service, please contact Erin LaFaive at 715-839-4712 as soon as possible preceding the scheduled event so that proper arrangements can be made in a timely fashion

Eau Claire County

Extension Office

227 First Street West

Altoona, WI 54720

Floral Masterpieces

Each piece is an actual topiary

project, completely done with live,

planted, flowers growing and blooming.

I think this is what hooks one to gardening: it is the closest one can come to

being present at creation.

Phyllis Theroux