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Annual Master Gardener Friends and Family

Picnic at the Demo Garden

SATURDAY, JUNE 23 - 2PM-5 PM

Rain date - Sunday, June 24 Come and enjoy the gardens and the company of other Master Gardeners.

A great day to re-connect with Master

Gardeners you know, and meet new ones!

Your family or friends are invited to join

you. (We’d love to meet them also!)

The Garden Committee will provide

Burgers, Hot Dogs and Beverages. Please

bring an appetizer, salad or dessert and a

lawn chair to sit on.

We also need a few “Grilling Masters” who

love to cook and a few people to shop and

help set up and clean up. Please call Ann if you can help.

Ann Burgmeyer – 908-578-1068

via phone Or via e-mail: annburgmeyer@yahoo.com

RSVP by Saturday, June 16.. Please provide your name, total number of

people attending, and what you're bringing – an appetizer, salad or dessert.

________________________________________________________________________

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MASTER GARDENER

CLASS OF 2018 - Our 30th

Class! We look forward to having them join us in our ongoing projects and hope that they will

feel free to bring forward any new ideas that they wish to share with us. We hope that

they will attend our general meetings, usually held on the third Wednesday of the month

at 7:30 pm, so that they will receive additional information, continue their education and

have a chance to get acquainted with the rest of us.

THE MASTER GARDENER UNION COUNTY MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER

JUNE 2018

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CARYL SUGGESTS: THINGS TO DO IN JUNE

If you mow when the ground is wet, the mower wheels can damage a new

lawn. Mow grass to 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Don’t cut more than 1/3 of leaf length

at one cutting. Leave short clippings on the lawn. They will add nitrogen to

the soil as they decompose.

When trimming with a weed whacker, be careful around trees and shrubs. Bark can be

easily damaged opening the tree to insect and disease problems.

Check for chinch bugs in the lawn.

Tomato, pepper, and eggplant seedlings can be planted now.

Bitter cucumbers can be avoided by keeping the crop well mulched and watered

regularly.

Save leftover packs of seeds by putting them in an air-tight container with a small amount

of powdered milk (to absorb moisture) and placing them in the refrigerator.

Use pliers to pull up woody seedlings and weeds. Grip the stem at the soil line, twist it

around the pliers and pull straight up. Watering deeply the day before pulling up the

weeds will make the job easier.

Watch for and control black spot and powdery mildew on rose foliage.

Houseplants in containers without drainage holes are poor candidates for outside. A

rainstorm may drown and rot them. All plants perform better in containers with drainage

holes.

Vacation hint: Sink houseplants, pots and all, in the soil in a shady area of the garden.

Mulch to reduce the need for frequent watering.

Avoid using peat as a mulch. It tends to form a tight mat, virtually impermeable to light

rain once it becomes dry. It is best mixed in with soil as a conditioner.

Plant bush beans every two weeks until late July.

-

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THE HERB GARDEN - by Christine Dec

Lavender- Lavandula Angustifolia

Lavender, one of our most fragrant herbs, has been around for a long long time. Legend

has it that it was thought to be an herb of love during the Middle Ages. It was used in

bouquets and sachets, and worn in the hair of brides on their wedding day. It was also a

very popular herb during Victorian times and was used in potpourri, bouquets and tussie

mussies.

Also a powerful medicinal herb lavender was used to soothe both troubled minds and

bodies. Herbalists claim it has powers as a calmative, antispasmodic and stimulant. That

is most likely the reason "lavender pillows" are very popular today....they are calming

and a natural sleep aid.

The oil of lavender has been used to relieve eczema and other skin problems. A compress

made of it was used to treat bruises and insect bites as well. So it seems this herb has a lot

more to offer than its beauty and fragrance.

There are at least 28 species in the genus of Lavendula, but the two most common are

English and Spanish Lavender. These two Lavenders are crossed to create a huge number

of cultivars. All Lavenders are bushy perennials growing one to three feet tall and bear

spikes of fragrant blue or white flowers. Fringed Lavender has the prettiest foliage, while

Spanish and English are grown more for their aromatic fragrance.

All Lavenders dry well and retain color and fragrance for a long time. They should be

harvested when the blossoms are just opening and hung or set on screens in a shady airy

place with moderately warm temperatures.

As they dry they have so many wonderful uses, in crafts they can be used in wreaths,

dried flower arrangements, sprays and tussie mussies. Lavender oil has been used

commercially in soaps and other bath products and toiletries. Books are available on how

to make your own toiletries to suit your needs.

As culinary herb, lavender is used in vinegars and confections. I have made lavender

cookies in the past which were delicious but you must be certain if you are baking or

adding lavender to anything it must free of pesticides. So it's much better if you grow it

yourself.

So enjoy this fragrant herb and it's wonderful blooms fresh or dried...it is still a wonderful

herb! One of my favorites!

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June Plant of the Month by Denise Rothstein

Ficus (Ficus benjamina) or weeping fig, is a popular plant that comes in many varieties.

Known to be finicky, but delicate and elegant, these can be massive plants. They can be tree-like,

or low to the ground, but they are rapid growers.

They are difficult to grow, unless all their conditions are met. The rubber plant is another ficus

variety. The most common problem that they have is dropping leaves, a reaction to stress.

This could be due to one of their growing conditions not being met. They like bright, indirect

light. If the area is too dark, the stems will grow long and lanky. They prefer warm temperatures,

70 or higher. The plant cannot tolerate low temperatures (below 60), or drafts. They like high

humidity. Water it when the soil is dry, but don’t let them dry out completely, or have wet roots.

Ficus need nutrients twice a year, once in the spring, and once in the summer. They can tolerate a

good pruning, to grow bushy, but don’t be alarmed if they excrete a white sap when cut.

Anemone (Forsaken) by Kathryn DeFillipo

Sweet Flower! That peeping from thy russet stem unfoldest timidly, for in strange sort,

This dark, frieze-coated, hoarse, teeth-chattering month hath borrowed Zephyr’s voice,

And gazed upon thee with blue, voluptuous eyes. Alas, poor flower! (Samuel Taylor

Coleridge)

Anemone is part of the buttercup family, but known as a wind flower, since the Greeks

believed that the flower would only open when the wind blew, and is named after the

Greek god of wind, Anemos. It is said that when Venus was weeping in the woods for

Adonis, where her tears fell, anemones sprang up. This is why the plant is called forlorn,

and grows wild in the woods.

(from The Language of Flowers)

NASA SAYS BUY MORE HOUSEPLANTS

By Stephanie Bourk

As a current Master Gardener student I can attest that our days are filled with fascinating

new concepts and discoveries. One in particular struck me during our last lecture, the

mention of NASA study pertaining to the use of houseplants to remove toxins from the

air.

The study in question was conducted by Dr. Bill Wolverton in 1989. His research was

aimed at providing NASA engineers with guidance on improving long-term living

conditions in space stations through eco-friendly and sustainable means. His findings

indicated common houseplants can remove, sequester, and at times break down VOCs in

our air.

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Some, but not all of the toxins plants can remove are benzene, formaldehyde, toluene,

trichloroethylene, and ammonia. These compounds are found in a range of household

items including plastics, synthetic fabric, white paper products, paints, varnishes,

lacquers, wood paneling, solvents, and cleaners. Their effects on an individual depend on

duration and extent of exposure as well as personal overall health, but VOCs can cause

dizziness, headaches, irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, confusion, heart problems, and

liver and kidney damage.

Generally, it’s difficult to determine the number of plants needed to filter any given

room, but Dr. Wolverton recommends two plants per 100 sq/ft. Most palms, ficuses, and

ferns will do the trick - the bigger and leafier the better and the more variety the better.

Below are some of the top ranked plants based off of the their ability to remove VOCs,

growth success in indoor conditions, resistance to disease and infestation, and

transpiration rates.

Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)

Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)

Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)

Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta)

Dracaena “Janet Craig” (Dracaena deremensis)

Philodendron (Philodendron sp.)

Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)

Ficus Alii (Ficus maclellandii “Alii”)

Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis”)

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum "Mauna Loa")

Now to rain on the plant parade a little. It should be noted that the Wolverton’s study

was conducted in a controlled and isolated environment in order to mimic the conditions

of outer space and not our living rooms.

So while it’s true these plants will actively remove toxins from the air, the indoor/outdoor

air exchange of a traditional house has a far greater effect on removing the VOCs. Even

Wolverton states that unless someone is living in a space stations or one of the new,

energy-efficient homes that operate as a more contained, closed system, these plants have

more “psychological and aesthetic value.” But then again, that added little bit of

improved air quality, boost in oxygen levels, and overall attractive aspect of a hardy ficus

seems like valid enough excuses to buy a new houseplant!

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UNION COUNTY MASTER GARDENER HAPPENINGS

by Dolores Batz-Culp, UC MG State Rep.

Introduction to Horticultural Therapy

A program was done with the Children’s Specialized Hospital at the Demo Garden last

summer. Union County ARC had twelve participants and 7 MG volunteers for that

program. Lantern Hill Assisted Living received a program for 8 dementia/Alzheimer

clients. Terrarium projects were delivered toTBENC Temple in Cranford, Garwood

Senior Housing, Jewish Family Services in Westfield this spring.

Community Beautification

Diane Borman compiled a binder that is in the Helpline Office. It contains all of the C/B

Projects arranged by city. There are eighteen CB projects. The Liberty Hall garden

moved to the Elmora Library with the same MG’s working on it. A new Hydroponic

Farm greenhouse project in Elizabeth will be presented to the Board for approval. The

C/B Committee had a recent article in the Newsletter.

Sharing Garden:

Terry Moore advised that they would like to complete the soil amendment program by

doing the last 8 beds in the fall to have all twenty-four beds done. Committee looks

forward to using the new Mantis, but will need training. They would like to visit their

clients to ask detailed questions for better communication of their needs to coordinate

what is grown. Changes made this year: growing more collards and less kale; new

turnips ,and romaine; trying IPM plantings; some insect attracting vegetation: planting

borage for squash borers; planting radishes for flea beetles. Madeline suggested doing

these IPM plantings outside the bed or on the edge of an adjacent bed.

Demonstration Gardens

The Herb Garden reports that the plastic wood beds are holding up well and they would

like to replace two other beds in the fall and four more in 2019.

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BIG NEWS! 2018 is the 30th

Anniversary of

the Union County Master Gardeners First

Class Graduation by Joanne Krueger

In 1998, our very first Union County Master Gardener class graduated. Just imagine how much

we have accomplished over the past 30 years. In 1987, Jim Nichnadowicz was the Union County

Program Associate in Agriculture. Jim started the Union County MG program in 1987 with

Stephen Bachelder, who was the County Agent.

Did You Know? When the Union County Master Gardener class started in 1987 we had two MG

classes - a day and evening class, and Jim Nichnadowicz was extremely busy with a double

workload. The MG class was busy attending lectures and studying the RCE Fact sheets (just like

the current class today.) Halfway through the first year, the old RCE building in Westfield was

closed for asbestos removal. The first Master Gardener class moved to Lincoln School in

Cranford, where classes and their graduation were held in the basement, until the RCE building

re-opened.

Two instructors that taught the first class taught this year’s class also. They are Joel Flagler,

Bergen County Agricultural Agent and Dr Joseph Heckman, Professor with Rutgers. And Jim

Nichnadowicz, now the Union County 4-H Agent and Associate County Extension Department

Head, taught several Master Gardener classes when we first started, and is still teaching new

Master Gardeners today.

1998 Master Gardener Volunteer Committees

Once the first Master Gardener class graduated, we started with 5 Committees:

1. Extension Office and Telephone Hot Line (now the Garden Helpline)

2. Master Gardener Literature, Clerical & Records Committee (now the Clerical

Committee)

3. The Master Gardener Newsletter

4. Speakers Bureau

5. Master Gardener Executive Committee, which only had 5 offices; President, Vice

President, 2 Secretaries and Treasurer. The Treasurer position was created, but we didn’t

have a Treasurer until 1990, as we had no money! Our first President was Wesley Philo,

for 4 years.

Did You Know?

One of the very first Master Gardener committees to be started as soon as the first class graduated

in 1988 was the Extension Office and Telephone Hot Line (now called the Garden Helpline) We

staffed the helpline year-round Monday through Friday, from 1:00-3:00pm and were also open

March 1st to November 1

st on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm-9:00pm—and we

were busy with calls and visits! Don’t forget, this was pre-internet and personal computer days.

Our first collection of reference books was due to the efforts of Master Gardener Lenny Storch,

who pleaded our case with the Cook College Dean. The Dean graciously saw our plight and gave

us some very needed reference materials for the office. The reference material collection

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continues to be updated and grow and is a necessary tool for our Helpline staff, even with the

Internet and computers now available to everyone.

Demonstration

Garden News

By Joanne Krueger

Demo Garden is now open every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 9:00

We can use help every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 9:00am helping to fertilize, harvest

produce, plant empty beds and keep up with the weeds in the Sharing Garden and Annex. We

need everyone’s help to grow and distribute beautiful fresh produce. Your efforts make a big

difference in the lives of hungry people. Last year we distributed 1,491 lbs from the Sharing

Garden, 451 lbs from the Annex, 45 lbs of fresh berries from the Berry Patch and 10 lbs of fresh

herbs from the Herb Garden, for a Grand Total of 2,012 lbs. We hope this year to top that

number. Contact Norma Cohen at NormaintheGarden@gmail.com to join the e-mail distribution

list.

JUNE EVENTS AT THE GARDEN

This is the 2

nd part of an educational lecture conducted by the County

Join us on Thursday, June 7 from 6:00-8:30 pm for a Plant Swap & Shop at the

Union County Master Gardener’s gardens. Bring an invasive plant and trade it for a

native! Purchase additional natives from Toadshade Wildflower Farm. Tour the Gardens.

Preregistration is required at watershed7@ucnj.org

Annual Master Gardener Friends and Family Picnic at the Demo Garden SATURDAY, JUNE 23 - 2PM - Rain date - Sunday, June 24

Time to kick back and relax!

RSVP by Saturday, June 16

To Ann Burgmeyer – 908-578-1068

Or via e-mail: annburgmeyer@yahoo.com

!

Upcoming Volunteer Events at the Demo Garden – July & August

Trailside Children’s Camp visits return this summer for 6 sessions on Wednesdays, July 11, July

18, July 25, Aug 1, Aug 8 and Aug 15, all sessions start at 10:00am. Contact Laurie Westra to

volunteer @ kwestra1@att.net

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Focus on Demonstration

Garden

Theme Garden Plots

What are theme gardens?

Theme garden are small plots (about 150

sq ft) in the Demonstration Garden with a

specific theme.

Who are Theme Garden Caretakers (aka

Theme Garden Captains)?

Caretakers of theme gardens are Master

Gardeners who have volunteered to maintain

the garden and ensure it looks presentable

throughout the year. Depending on the size

of the bed and level of interest, there may be

1 -4 caretakers for a particular theme garden.

Being a caretaker is a great way to learn

about plants, create communities of interest

around certain types of plants, make friends

and continue to add beauty to the garden.

What are the responsibilities of Theme

Garden Caretakers?

The main responsibility of a Caretaker is to

maintain the garden in accordance with the

specific theme. This includes weeding,

mulching, dividing, pruning. Also, a

Caretaker is responsible for ensuring that the

plants are correctly identified, labeled and

inventoried to increase educational value.

What is the time commitment for being a

Theme Garden Caretaker?

Approximately 2-3 hours per month from

April to October. Caretakers of a garden

decide amongst themselves on a schedule

for meeting at the garden that works for

them. Some pick a day during the week

(typically Tues or Thurs when there are

other Demo Garden activities going on), or

on weekends (particularly for those who

work full-time).

Please note: Working alone in the Garden

alone is highly discouraged - there is safety

in numbers

How much autonomy do Theme Garden

Caretakers have?

Within the confines of keeping to the garden

theme, caretakers are encouraged to think of

activities that would maintain the health of

the garden, enhance its beauty and enhance

the educational value of the garden.

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The Theme Garden Plots and Caretakers are:

Herb Garden –All about herbs. Contact Caryl Hannemann 908-464-0439 – ahannem@verizon.net

o Green and White Welcome Garden – a green and white planting theme used to promote a cooling peaceful

feeling as you tour the garden. Contact: Cindy Coppa -908-353-6352 - cindycoppa@verizon.net

o Shade Garden Plot – Woody plants, bulbs and perennials appropriate for shady conditions. Contact: Uschi

Ueltzhoeffer 908-216-8843 - passingthru11@gmail.com, Carolyn Della Sala

o Friendship Garden Plot – Plants that you can share with your friends, by various methods of propagation.

Contact: Bridget Mracek - 908-232-0833 - mracekbridget@gmail.com

o Plant Architecture in the Garden – demonstrates how plants can serve as structural elements in the garden.

Class of 2016 – Inge Bossert - 908-568-1217 ibossert@msn.com, Tracy Crisctiello 908-803-2675

TracyC50@yahoo.com

o Cutting Garden # 1 – The original cutting garden planted with perennials and annuals for use in bouquets

arranged by the Cutting Garden committee. Contact: Diane Voight, 908-277-4309 -

Diane_Voight@yahoo.com, Billie Baron

o Cutting Garden # 2 – The 2nd

cutting garden planted with flowering shrubs for use in bouquets arranged by

the Cutting Garden committee. Class of 2017 Patty Martin 973-379-2954 pdsmem@msn.com

o Annual Flowers – Cutting Garden # 3- New garden plot planted with annual flowers that will be used for

bouquets by the Cutting Garden committee. Arrangements go to various cancer organizations. Contact: Uschi

Ueltzhoeffer 908-216-8843 - passingthru11@gmail.com, Marion Goldberger

o Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Garden – Plants and cultivars that are naturally resistant to disease and

insects. Contact: Barbara Pittman 908-232-3607

o Freedom Garden Plot – Planted to honor those lost on 9/11/01 plants are red, white or blue. Contact: Debbie

DiMaggio 908-464-1258 - debbie304d@verizon.net, Suzanne Hurley

o Drought Tolerant Garden Plot – Plants that don’t require frequent watering once established. Contact:

Carol Walczuk 908-769-3363 - cwalczuk@comcast.net

o Native Plant Garden Plot – Plants native to the USA including perennials, vines and shrubs. Contact: Joanne

Krueger, Pat Paul Margulis

o Pergola Rose Garden – Planted roses, and fragrant plants. Contact: Barbara Klaus (Capt.) 908-276-5841-

bkbook@comcast.net, Barbara Russ, Maria Henkel, Lan Murphy, Laurie Westra

o Memorial Shrub Garden (behind Pergola Rose bed) Contact: Harry Faulks - 973-258-1229

hfaulks@aol.com

o Perennial Bed Plot – Wide selection of plants that return year after year. Contact: Pat Leonard 908-233-

4532 - leonardreg@aol.com

o Conifer Shrub and Evergreen Tree Beds – Illustrates the beauty and diversity of conifers and evergreens

Contact: Bridget Mracek 908-232-0833 mracekbridget@gmail.com

o The Entry Bed Plot– Combines trees, ground covers and perennials to create a long season of interest.

Contact: Andrea Hightower 908-265-7646 - stitchflower4@aol.com

o Deer Resistant Bed – (outside the front gate) Plants that are unpalatable to deer due to their smell or taste.

Contact: Pat Leonard 908-233-4532 - leonardreg@aol.com, Bridget Mracek

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o Rain Garden – (next to Greenhouse) Native plants that help control storm water and gutter runoff. Contact:

Diane Voight - 908-277-4309 - Diane_Voight@yahoo.com, Richard Leister

o Rain Garden – (next to compost bin at top of Garden) - Class of 2018

Two members of the 2016 class, Inge Bossert and Tracy Crisctiello need help getting their Plant

Architecture in the Garden plot planted. This is a re-vamp of the old Cold Hardy Tropical plant plot. Please

contact them if you can help them this summer - Inge Bossert - 908-568-1217 ibossert@msn.com, or Tracy

Crisctiello 908-803-2675 TracyC50@yahoo.com The theme garden caretakers are requesting additional help from their fellow Master Gardeners. Contact

them directly if you are interested. Or contact Joanne Krueger at joannekru@aol.com or 908-313-2734

Demo Garden was open during Wild Earth Fest – Sunday, April 29

384 people stopped by the Master Gardener table under the big tent alongside the garden, and 226 people visited

the Demo Garden. Public attendance was higher than in 2017 due to nice sunny weather. We had a table directly

outside our little gate entrance welcoming people to our beautiful property. The Garden was open for garden

tours, highlighting the rain garden installations. James Keane brought the insect display. We had a separate table

outside the garden, under the big tent, where we promoted Master Gardeners and our Fair, distributed the Visions

newsletter, fact sheets, birdhouse gourd seeds, and sold 5 soil test kits. Shifts were 11am - 2pm and 2pm - 5pm,

and we had 10 Master Gardener volunteers.

Thank you to Mary Blacklock, Stephanie Bourk, Shirley Drew, Vera Figueiredo, Suzanne Hurley, James Keane,

Sue Podolak, Dean Talcott and Diane Voight for spending your Sunday welcoming people to our beautiful

garden.

Used pots, flats and trays needed for the Garden

Please continue to bring your empty pots, carry trays and flats to the garden for re-use. We are open every

Tuesday and Thursday (weather permitting) from 9:00 am until approximately12 noon. Please put them on the

wire tables to your right as you enter the garden, just past the pot shed. No pots larger than 1 gallon or mum size

please.

Spring Garden Fair

& Plant Sale Report

Sunday, May 20

by Joanne Krueger

Congratulations to everyone for another successful Spring Garden Fair. We had challenging conditions with

several trees that came down in March, and rainy and very cool weather the week leading up to the Fair. But the

sun started shining on Sunday around 11am. We had a very good turnout of 116 dedicated Master Gardeners to

help. We also had extra help from 11 friends and family. The final public attendance at the Fair was 914 people.

Freeholder Bette Jane Kowalski attended the ribbon cutting to open the Fair.

The Rutgers 250 tomato is still very popular, along with Ramapo and the old Rutgers variety. We sold approx.

130 Rutgers 250 plants and 80 Ramapo plants in peat pots. I thank everyone who helped in the greenhouse this

spring transplanting, watering and fertilizing all 1,900 tomato, pepper and vegetable peat pots. We also had 1,300

of our own member grown perennials, and a special thanks to all the plant sale committee members who worked

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so diligently last fall and this spring tending to these plants.

We received generous donations of plants from Williams Nursery. Customer giveaways also donated “811 Know

what’s Below” bags, Espoma Bio-tone starter samples, Osmocote trial fertilizer packets, the 2018 and 2017

Proven Winners Garden Idea book, and a “Gardening Simplified” Shrub care booklet.

The Helpline table sold 7 soil test kits and answered 16 questions and received four samples for diagnosis. We

had fun children activities, including making bird feeders with 76 children, tree rubbings, and planting seeds. We

offered garden tours and had great displays by the County, Union County Mosquito Control, Square Foot

Gardening, 4-H Master Tree Stewards, and home composting. Two new displays were an Invasive Species

display and information and a Hydroponics grow display.

We had a wonderful selection of home-baked goodies; beautiful hand painted birdhouse gourds and handmade

crafts including catnip mice, tote bags, hand painted rocks and postcards and Maine balsam sachets. Plain

birdhouse gourds were a big hit with people that wanted to paint the gourds themselves. The Garden Odds & Ends

table had lovely handmade coffee can birdhouses and a great selection of useful garden items. And don’t forget

the delicious food in the morning for all the hard workers!

The Fair cannot occur without your help. There is no limit to what we can accomplish with everyone working

together as a team. While the event is still fresh in your mind, I

would appreciate feedback to the following questions. All comments are taken seriously and sometimes even a

slight change or tweak can make a big difference.

Please send responses to Joanne Krueger @ joannekru@aol.com

1. Did you notice any problems?

2. Any areas for improvement or new ideas?

3. What solutions do you have for your suggestions?

4. Did parking at the "loop" work for you and was the shuttle van helpful?

5. We opened the coffee break at 9am with breakfast foods, what do you think of this?

6. Did you hear any customer comments (negative or positive) that you can share?

7. Any overall comments?

SAVE THE DATE - IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TO PLAN AHEAD - SUNDAY,

MAY 19, 2019 IS OUR NEXT SPRING GARDEN FAIR AND PLANT SALE and

our 30th

Anniversary of the Fair!