Our Mission

To provide home horticulture information and education to the citizens of Scott County consistent with Iowa State University

recommendations. We also strive to increase members’ knowledge of horticulture through educational programs.

THE GARDENER’S DIRT The Latest Scoop from the Scott County Master Gardeners

April 2014

2014 Tree Planting and Care Committee Wayne Hannel – Chair, Tree Planting and Care Committee

Thanks to the dedicated volunteers who assisted the Bettendorf Trees Are Us Committee and the Bettendorf Tree Committee

(through Bettendorf Parks and Recreation) pruning and mulching trees in Bettendorf on March 22, 2014.

We met at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Bettendorf at 9:00 a.m. The pruning was along the Duck Creek Recreation Trail from the

top of the hill overlooking the golf course and eastward past 23rd Street to the lagoon. An unknown number of trees were

mulched and pruned.

Approximately 20 volunteers (13 Master Gardeners) assisted with the pruning and mulching. Master Gardeners assisting with the

effort included:

Charles Doss Julianne Fischer Lois Fradel Wayne Hannel Donna Housley Joyce Lee

Doug McDonald Doug Morrell Arnold Olsen Ron Philips Diane Soltau Joe Stewart

Ken Weideman

NOTE: The hands-on activity provided the participants to experience first-hand that Mother Nature’s trees do not always

look like the classic pictures one sees in the classroom. This required some considerable discussion among the pruning teams

about which branch should be pruned as well as how extensive one should prune. There was discussion about the poor pruning

practices as well as diseased trees observed. This type of field exercise is a real benefit to enhancing education and perceptive-

ness of MG’s (especially the newer MG’s).

It was a brisk spring morning – about 33 degrees at pruning time. Thanks again!

Remember to turn in your volunteer hours.

City of Bettendorf Public Works Day (Recycle) Submitted by Ed Sharkness, Committee Chair

We support the City of Bettendorf Public Works Day (Recycle.) We educate the public regarding composting.

We answer other questions by using the portable horticulture clinic. This is a one day program.

Our next action day is Saturday, May 17, 2014. The location is inside the Bettendorf Public Works Building, lo-

cated at 4403 Devils Glen Road. The building is set back one very long block behind the Post Office. The work

shifts are from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.. Travel time is additional. The maxi-

mum service hours available are the two shifts of two hours each plus travel time and site preparation time.

To sign up, call ISU Scott County Extension at 359-7577.

Activities are:

1. Hand out pamphlets

2. Manage the portable horticulture clinic.

3. Omnibus person.

4. Demonstrate model compost bins.

All Master Gardeners are welcome

Thoughts From The Belly By: Dan Mays – Ironbelly1@aol.com

Last month (March) was an absolute whirlwind of activity. My lovely wife, Cyndia, and I traveled to

Cedar Rapids to listen to a lecture by Dr. Douglas Tallamy, a professor of entomology at the University

of Delaware who wrote the seminal book, Bringing Nature Home. Our journey was made especially

enjoyable because fellow Master Gardener, Carol Seitz, accompanied us. Judging from the amount of

notes Carol had taken by the end of the lecture, I think she found the time spent to be well worth the trip.

For me, the ninety-minute lecture was so enjoyable, it seemed to only last about ten-minutes!

A few days later, Cyndia and I traveled to Iowa City for their annual “Prairie Preview.” Although the

focus is on prairie happenings in Johnson County, Iowa, it is amazing how many people from across

Iowa attend this event. The speakers and exhibitors in the packed auditorium really do their best to

provide a rich spectrum of high quality information that the average person can readily put to use. In

addition, I get to rub shoulders with so many friends I have garnered over the years of my involvement

with native plants. Listening to their thoughts, accomplishments, stories, concerns, and future plans is

nothing short of inspiring.

April 14th will find me speaking to the Rock Island County Master Gardeners on the topic of: "Ten

Native Plants You Should Have In Your Yard." I am looking forward to both seeing old acquaintanc-

es and making new friends from our neighboring state of Illinois. I welcome the opportunity to share

our common resources. After all, the Cooperative Extension Service was chosen as the name since 1914

when the Smith-Lever Act was passed.

I am especially looking forward to Earth Day (April 22, 2014) this year. After watching the native

plantings progress in the new park of my home town of Walcott, I get to celebrate the joy of accomplish-

ment with the entire community. I will be giving a public presentation at the Walcott City Hall that I am

calling: “What the Heck Is Growing Out There Anyway?” As many of you already know, I asked for

(and kindly received) help to facilitate this event from my fellow MGs. This should be a fun event. I

have put together a presentation that begins with the first excavations, takes us to the present, and even

projects development of the park into the future. Although this presentation specifically outlines what

happened in this particular park, it should also be of great value to anyone considering a small (or large)

prairie planting of their own. If either you, or someone you know, is contemplating such an undertaking,

“Come on down!” The public is invited.

My “formula” for compiling an educational presentation is pretty straight forward. I simply follow two

precepts outlined in two quotations from Mark Twain:

“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”

In translation, this means that I remember every crummy class and boring lecture that I have ever attend-

ed and simply do the opposite. I have long believed that learning is inherently an enjoyable experience.

It is human nature to be quite happy with ourselves when we learn something new. I have yet to figure

out why so many instructors insist upon ruining that experience.

If I might use my ride-sharing friend, Carol Seitz, from above as an example: she was scribbling notes

like a madman during Professor Tallamy’s tremendously educational lecture. Yet, you could not have

wiped the smile from her face. It was clear that she was sharing the same wonderment and excitement

the rest of the audience was experiencing as they reveled in the simple act of learning something new.

If my presentation goes even half as well as Dr. Tallamy’s, I shall be quite pleased.

*** Walcott City Hall, 128 W. Lincoln Street

*** Tuesday, April 22, 2014 6:30 pm to 8:00pm

ISU Scott County Extension

875 Tanglefoot Lane

Bettendorf, IA 52722-1690

(563) 359-7577 Fax (563) 355-6569

www.extension.iastate.edu/scott

The Gardener’s Dirt

“The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in

alternative formats for ADA clients. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence

Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964.”

Upcoming Classes & Events:

CEU’s Course # Topic When Where Cost Instructor Registration Information

NA - Siouxland Garden Show March 28-30, 2014 Sioux City Convention Center

801 4th St Sioux City, IA

TBA NA NA

* - 6th Annual Day of Insects March 29, 2014

8:00 a.m.—5:30 p.m.

Reiman Gardens Iowa State University 1407 University Blvd.

Ames, Iowa 50011

$2200 Various http://www.reimangardens.com/

event/day-of-insects/

* - 2014 Upper Midwest Master

Gardener Conference June 25—28, 2014

Quad Cities Waterfront Convention Center

Bettendorf, IA TBA Various

Coming soon http://www.aep.iastate.edu/

iowamg2014/

* - International Master Gardener

Conference September 22-25, 2015 TBA TBA Various

http://mastergardener.unl.edu/imgc2015

* To be determined by sessions attended. Submit proof of sessions attended to the ISU Scott County Extension Horticulturist.

Thank you Bev Thies for the donation of Grow-

ing Fruits & Vegetables by Richard Bird &

Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew to

the MG Library.

The following Master Gardeners have items to be

picked up in the MG Office

Karen Beetham Beverly Broughton

Suzanne Hawkinson Sheila Lang

Clayton Lloyd Donna Ploog

Cheri Slavens Darren Speth

Susan Summers Dotty Weber