TheTheThe ScoopScoopScoop

September 2017September 2017

Gayle Dean

2

President’s Letter - Best Practices Leadership Workshop

A Best Practices Leadership Workshop for Master Gardeners kicks off this year’s GMGA Conference!

Any GMGA member (interested in any leadership role) is invited to attend at no charge, and the

workshop will be followed with a complimentary lunch. Although we hope you will attend the GMGA

Conference on Saturday, you do not have to be registered for the Conference to attend this workshop.

The workshop will cover three of the most important and challenging leadership subjects you will face in

any leadership endeavor as a Master Gardener or any organization. You will have the opportunity to meet

fellow master gardeners from large and small organizations across the

state, share ideas, and build a network to call for questions, ideas, and

assistance.

Experienced leaders in the Master Gardener community and the private

sector will facilitate discussions, share what they have learned, and provide

tools to take home to help you in your leadership roles. Topics include:

1. Membership

Recruiting new master gardener candidates

Mentoring to get them integrated into the group

Retaining master gardeners (including tenured members)

2. Financial Administration

Money Management – Bank Accounts - Budgets

Fund Raising – Needed? Why? How Much?

Grants – 501(c)(3) Needed? Why or Why Not?

3. Projects

Is it a “real project” and good for MGs and community?

When to collaborate?

When do we have enough projects? When do we let go?

WHEN: Friday, October 6th, 9:30 – 12 Noon (This program will not

interfere with 2017 GMGA Conference afternoon workshops. For more

information on the Conference, visit our website at

www.georgiamastergardeners.org.)

WHERE: Bogan Park, 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford, GA 30519

RESERVATION REQUIRED: Respond by email

to gmgapres2017@gmail.com. (There is no charge. Lunch will be

provided.)

RESERVATION DEADLINE: Friday, September 22nd. Participation

is limited to 45.

For additional information, contact Dot Martin, Workshop Organizer and

GMGA President 2016, at 678-372-9958 or mailboxdmartin@gmail.com.

Inside this issue:

Conf. Friday Presenters 3

Conf. Speakers 4

Conf. Breakout 5-6

Program 7-8

Registration Form 9-10

Summer in the Park 11-12

Carter Butterfly Trail 13

Weeds and Tree Mulch 14

Zinnia & Ga Winner 15

Festival at Nature Trail 16

Agent Mary Black 17

Gardens in England 18

Food For Thought 19

Portland Horticulture 20

3

Friday, October 6th Workshops Offered

Four - 2 Hour Workshops will be held on Friday, October 6th at

Bogan Park Community Center 2723 N. Bogan Road, Buford, GA. Just 4.5 miles from the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center

Pre-registration is required. $10 fee per workshop

GMGA Workshops are open to the public and non

conference attendees

Work Shop Presenters and Topics

Rick Smith, Pruning for the Seasons Rick is Chairman of the Georgia Certified Landscape Professionals Advisory Board, a UGA certified Landscape Professional in Georgia and Alabama, and owner of The Pruning Guru.

Pruning is one of the most intimidating responsibilities in the garden for landscapers and home-owners. This power point will touch on how and when to prune ornamental trees and shrubs along with answering questions that you may have on pruning. You will leave with a basic under-standing and enhanced knowledge to apply to your specific pruning needs that perhaps you may not have had at the beginning of this presentation.

Tony Whitaker, Understanding Orchid Culture, Propagation and Diversity Past President of NE Georgia Orchid Society There are about 763 genera with 30,000 species of orchids thus far classi-fied and many thousands of hybrids. The public has been interested in orchids since the 1800’s, yet many view orchids as difficult to grow. The current market favorite is the Phalaenopsis hybrid, and the pot the orchid arrives in often determines the plants life span.

This session will provide all the basic knowledge needed to successfully grow and bloom Pha-laenopsis including repotting, general culture, and successful stimulation of blooming. In addition, orchid propagation from seed to blooming size plants will be described. Orchid seed and seedlings will be on display as well as cart load of blooming plants from the speaker’s greenhouse.

Sara Henderson, Restoring Heritage Gardens, Lessons Learned from the Oakland Cemetery Restoration. Sara Henderson, a well-respected horticulturalist and active community leader is currently the Director of Gardens at Oakland Cemetery. Over the span of her career Sara has held numerous leadership roles including the Southeastern Flower Show and GPPA President.

Heirloom plants are the backbone of restoration gardens such as Oakland but they have also proven themselves worthy of a place in all gardens. Their grace and fragrance are reminiscent of years past but they are also uniquely suited to today’s gardeners’ desire for chemical free, low input gardens that are both earth friendly and less demanding of a busy gardener’s time. The Victorian period was rich with plants of all varieties. The history and use of many of these plants will be discussed.”

Container Gardening with A Southern Focus A hands-on demonstration with designing and developing container gardens of all sizes. Plant selection specific to light and watering requirements are imperative for successful container gardening. Our landscapes often cry out for an additional dimension to add just a bit more interest to an area. Adding container gardens for a pop of color or texture often bring the interest we were looking for. Many of the plants from the Southern Living collection for our region will be featured.

Registration forms and Conference Schedule available at

www.georgiamastergardeners.org

4

Nationally renowned speakers grace our 2017 Annual Conference.

Join us for an informative event with presentations from:

Joe Lamp’l, Keynote speaker, Creator and Executive Producer of GPTV’s

Growing a Greener World. A behind the scenes look at some of the most popular

stories from his national PBS television series over the past eight seasons. You will

meet some of the most fascinating people, see some of the most interesting places and

discover organizations doing great things for the planet, all with an emphasis on

gardening and a common thread that will empower each of us to advance the cause of

these gardening heroes in our own communities.

Mark Weathington, Director of JC Raulston Arboretum, NC State University

Dept. of Horticultural Science. Mark is passionate in his work to connect people with

plants. His career has included Director of Horticulture at Norfolk Botanical Garden

and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Mark travels extensively searching for new plants to

diversify the American landscape, and lecturing on a variety of topics in horticulture.

His explorations and speaking engagements have taken him to China, Taiwan, Japan,

South Korea, Ecuador, Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, and US. He has recently com-

pleted “Gardening in the South”, The Complete Homeowner’s Guide for Timber Press.

Mario Cambardella, PLA, ASLA, Urban Agriculture Director, City of Atlanta,

Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. Recognizing that urban agriculture renewal can bring

fresh produce to those battling our city’s food deserts. In 2015, the Atlanta Mayor’s

Office of Sustainability created a new position responsible for a wide range of activities

related to agriculture for inner city residents. Mario Cambardella, was appointed the first

Urban Agriculture Director and is responsible for agriculture related policy development,

program management and land-use for food production.

With the Introduction of Farmers Markets and partnership projects like the Cabbagetown Gardens, the local

non-profit, Truly Living Well and the organic farm in Washington Park, Atlanta is building not only the local

food economy but community togetherness and education. Tidy rows of vegetables, hives of honeybees and

places where children and their parents come to play and learn, signals a city moving forward with cooperation

and small garden ingenuity. Many Fulton County Master Gardeners volunteer and support the Atlanta City

Community Gardens.

5

Kevin “The Plant Man” Tarner, Carnivores in the Garden?

Yes! Kevin's passion for plants grew during his studies in horticulture at the

University of Georgia. He has been a professional horticulturist at UGA for

seven years, where he curates one of the largest public carnivorous plant

collections in the southeast.

Kevin will showcase amazing and beautiful native carnivores. Want to get a

young person interested in horticulture? What can be more alluring than

carnivorous plants! We are hoping the bug-eating plants might “capture” your

attention too! Kevin will cover how they eat and where they grow. He’ll also

guide participants through the basics of growing carnivorous plants.

While most plants are content with using sunlight for energy, some use animals to round out their diet!

Carnivorous plants are infamous for their ability to obtain nutrients by attracting, capturing and digesting live

insects. The nutrient poor swamps of the Southeastern US are a carnivore hotspot.

Susan Varlamoff, Sustainable Gardening for the Southeast Retired Director, UGA Office of Environmental Sciences; Urban Activist;

Master Gardener

Susan Varlamoff will highlight gardening practices that restore and enhance

local ecosystems while creating a beautiful landscape. These practices include:

increasing soil fertility - the foundation of a flourishing garden, using diverse

native plants to attract wildlife and keep pests in check, grouping plants

according to water needs to let Mother Nature do most of the watering,

maintaining a sustainable but small lawn and planting trees to sop up greenhouse

gases and grace the garden with beauty.

Susan will also focus on minimizing chemical use in garden maintenance. This information is found in her

latest book, Sustainable Gardening for the Southeast, which will be available for purchase at her signing table.

Ann Thompson, Growing Medicinal Herbs and their

Historical Journey It is said for every symptom there is a homegrown

cure. Join this Master Gardener and the growing number of people who are

growing safe, effective and inexpensive cures for many of the common

ailments.

Have you ever had dandelion wine or made hand crème from strawberry leaves,

tasted basil tea or used rosemary sage hair rinse? Learn which “weeds” and herbs

are most effective against nausea, pain, coughs and the common cold. Whether

it’s a window box, a patio container or a whole garden plot, it is easy to grow

and make many useful herbal remedies. Ann plans to bring samples of herbal

remedies for you to experience firsthand.

Breakout session speakers offer very diverse topics from which to choose

6

Carol Hassell, What’s in a “Post-Wild” Garden? Creating a Low(er)

Maintenance Garden Using Expected and Unexpected Native Plants and Concepts

Carol is the Executive Director of the Piedmont Land Trust. This presentation will

feature landscaping and maintenance in the manner of Thomas Rainer and Claudia

West in their 2015 book Planting in a Post-Wild World, and utilizing the concepts

of Doug Tallamy,’s Bringing Nature Home, as well as The Living Landscape by

Tallamy and Darke. Included are ideas for creating a resilient landscape using the

beautiful native plants you expect -- and some surprises.

Timothy Daly, Invasives in Georgia Agriculture and Natural

Resources County Extension Agent for the University of Georgia Cooperative

Extension, Gwinnett County; President of Georgia Exotic Pest Plant Council.

As passionate gardeners, we can all become involved with either bugs or plants

that are not desired in our project. By understanding available support, resources

and practices we can share that information and educate our community on

strategies to combat invasive species.

What is the definition of a non-native species? “An entity whose introduction

causes or is likely to cause economic harm, environmental harm or harm to human

health. The term "invasive", is used for the most aggressive species. These species

grow and reproduce rapidly, causing major disturbance to the areas in which they are present.”

Marjorie Stansel, Creating Fairy Gardens Master Gardener, Master

Naturalist Marjorie is the five-times President of Douglas County Master

Gardeners, two-times GMGA President, an author and presenter on numerous

gardening topics. She is Horticulture Chair of the Penny McHenry Hydrangea

Festival in Douglas County and a participant in the annual Fairy Garden display for

that Festival. Marjorie will talk about creating fairy gardens, containers to use,

where to find plants for the gardens, and the creation of your own props for the

gardens.

Mark A. Maher, Container Gardening with a Southern

Living Expert Certified Plant Professional. This Southern Living

Representative will provide a hands-on experience with designing and developing

container gardens of all sizes. Plant selection specific to light and watering

requirements are imperative for successful container gardening.

Our landscapes often cry out for an additional dimension to add just a bit more

interest to an area. Adding container gardens for a pop of color or texture often

bring the interest we were looking for. Many of the plants from the Southern

Living collection for our region will be featured in this demonstration.

7

8

9

(1) Mail your completed form and payment to: GMGA 2017 Conference Registration, P. O. Box 1846, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 Make checks payable to: GMGA (2) For online registration payment link https://www.georgiamastergardeners.org/ GENERAL QUESTIONS: 2017GMGA@gmail.com

GMGA ANNUAL CONFERENCE – Saturday, October 7th, 2017 REGISTRATION

Hosted by Gwinnett County Master Gardeners

Held at the Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford

Directions: https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/CommunityServices/

EnvironmentalHeritageCenter

Please print all information – NAME __________________________________________________

Street, City & Zip ________________________________________________________________

Phone #1: _________________________ Phone #2: ___________________________________

email: _______________________________________________________________________

If you are a Georgia Master Gardener, please indicate your local organization _______________________

FULL DAY CONFERENCE – includes buffet lunch, beverage breaks and breakout choice

GMGA

Member

Before 09/01/17

Non

Member**

Before 09/01/17

GMGA

Member

After 09/01/17

Non

Member**

After 09/01/17

** Not a current GMGA Member?

Join today and enjoy the Member Registration Price

GMGA Membership is valid now through December 2018

$90 $110 $100 $120

$15 $ 15 RENEWAL or NEW GMGA Membership - Please circle

$105 total $110 total $115 total $120 total

ADD Friday workshop (s ) from Page 2 if applicable

Indicate $ total payment enclosed and Check # _____________________

Please read these important small print details:

One form per persons ’ registration; one check for multiple registrations in the same envelope OK. GMGA Member for couples

at the same address is $25.

Full refund, upon written ( email ) request before September 1st. 50% refund before September 22nd

$35 bank service charge incurred on returned checks

Participants are responsible for making their own travel and hotel arrangements

Need assistance? Please write us a comment with your registration. Pack a snack if you have special dietary restrictions.

10

Page Two:

Your Name: _______________________________________________________

Select your 11:00 a.m. BREAKOUT, register for a WORKSHOP and Welcome RECEPTION

Pre-registration required:

Are you attending Friday, October 6th 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Welcome & Networking Reception at

Bogan Park Hosted by Gwinnett County Master Gardener Association Circle: Yes / No

Review the description pages of Breakout Options and Speakers and select your choice below.

** Your GMGA Conference registration confirmation letter will include your breakout selection.

Carnivores in the Garden? Yes! _______ Sustainable Gardening for the Southeast _______ Creating Fairy Gardens _______ Growing Medicinal Herbs and their Historical Journey ______ Invasives in Georgia _______ What’s in a “Post-Wild” Garden? _______ Creating a Low(er) Maintenance Garden . . . Native Plants & Concepts _______

Container Gardening with Southern Living _______

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6th

: 2-hour Workshops Bogan Park Community Center, 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford - directions

https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments/CommunityServices/ParksandRecreation/OurParksandFacilities/GuidetoYourParks/BoganPark

These optional $10 each workshop are open to non conference attendees - - -

If not attending the conference we will need your contact details and workshop

payment made payable to GMGA. If attending the conference, make selection

here and add amount to conference check.

12:30 – 2:30 p.m. Pruning for All Seasons OR Container Gardening $10

2:45 – 4:45 p.m. Understanding Orchid Culture OR Restoring Heritage Gardens $10

11

We all know that Spring precedes Summer, and Spring in Middle

Georgia means the ideal time to get outside and recover the garden

from the winter. At Hafley Park Teaching Garden in Perry, that is

just what Master Gardeners did—-on a big scale! The garden has

matured enough for MGs to begin to realize what changes needed

to be made to make the garden more functional for classes and for

community use.

The first steps were to remove the old deck that surrounded the

central tree and to widen the gate opening so that larger equipment

could enter as needed. Removal of the deck exposed many tree

roots that needed covering immediately, so we called in Walter

Williams with his big guns to quickly move mulch into place. An

extra layer of mulch over the area will help control the weeds, too.

Summer in the Park

Once the deck was

removed, the three

compost bins became sort

of a eye sore on the

landscape. We decided to

remove the bins from

inside the garden and

rebuild a 3-bin system

over by the new storage

building/bathroom that the

City of Perry constructed

for us. That is currently under way under the direction of new MG Wendy

Kane.

Meanwhile, the black gold from the bins was spread over

the border beds to enrich the soil. No easy task, but good

stuff and definitely worth the effort.

The end result was a much more open feel to the entrance, a

more welcoming feel to the garden itself, and more

opportunity to set up activities in different areas of the

garden.

Benches are under construction off site and will soon be

moved into place. We hope to get some picnic tables for the

garden as well.

But wait! There’s more. . . .

(Continue page 12)

12

Cont. from page 11

Let’s talk food!

The early spring planting has begun to yield its harvest.

The tomatoes are there, but only a few have begun to

ripen. The chocolate cherry tomatoes in the Pizza Garden

have been picked and distributed to EFNEP clients along

with blueberries.

Each week, kale, peppers, tomatoes, herbs, onions, and

lettuce find their way into EFNEP grocery bags. The

squash will soon be ready, and a couple of eggplants have

already been harvested.

One outreach projects for the garden was to involve the

local residents and make

produce available to them.

As Master Gardeners work

in the garden, many times

residents will walk over

and we’ll chat.

Annie Hill (below) was

rewarded with goodies

pulled right out of the soil.

You can’t get much fresher

than that!

She learned a lot about the

gardens and was happy to

receive the food.

So what next? Okra, of course. With our recent rains, it

germinated very quickly as did the second planting of peas and

the butterbeans that replaced the spent kale. The harvest will

continue throughout the summer and we will be able to provide

food bags both for EFNEP clients and for the community.

The garden continues to host a learning experience both for

Master Gardeners and for visitors to Hafley Park. We

appreciate the support we have received from the City of Perry

and their enthusiasm to see this project succeed.

The harvest will continue throughout the summer and we will be able to provide food bags both for EFNEP

clients and for the community. The garden continues to host a learning experience both for Master Gardeners

and for visitors to Hafley Park. We appreciate the support we have received from the City of Perry and their

enthusiasm to see this project succeed. Published with permission from Central GA’s “Weeder’s Digest”.

June 30, 2017

13

Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail Garden Sign

Beth St. Jean recently registered her garden as part of the Rosalynn Carter Butter-

fly Trail, and bought a sign (see below) to go in her garden. She received this note:

Thank you for joining the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail. The trail begins in

Plains, Georgia and connects gardens across the United States, Canada, and Ja-

pan providing much needed habitat for butterflies.

Mrs. Carter has approved a small metal trail sign that can be displayed in gardens on the

trail. The sign is only sold to gardens that have registered for the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail.

If you are interested in purchasing a sign for your garden, please complete the attached form and

mail it and payment to the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail.

We also have a children’s book about the trail which Rosalynn Carter endorsed and wrote the

forward for the book, Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail: A Journey Through Plains. A

Monarch butterfly takes the reader on a journey around Plains as they learn about former First

Lady Rosalynn Carter and historic places in Plains. The book includes information about the

Monarch butterfly’s habitat and life cycle.

All proceeds from the sign and book go directly to the trail.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Thanks, Annette Wise

http://www.rosalynncarterbutterflytrail.org/

Sign Order Form P.O. Box 17, Plains, GA 31780

The Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail sign is available to those that have registered a garden on the

trail at www.jimmycarter.info/Carterbutterflytrail.htm. The metal sign measures 8” x 11” and is

$25.00. The monarch butterfly on the sign is a picture of one taken in the Carter’s garden in Plains.

If you would like to order a sign, please complete the attached form and mail it with your check made

payable to the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail.

Name _____________________________________________________________

My garden’s registered name __________________________________________

Mailing address _____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________ zip code______________

Phone number ______________________________________________________

14

Fall 2017 - Spring 2018 Thyme to Read Book Club Selections

Sept. 8, 2017 - Lab Girl by Hope Jahren.

Oct. 13, 2017 - All The President’s Gardens by Marta McDowell.

Nov. 10, 2017 - Zeitoun by Dave Eggers.

Jan. 12, 2018 - The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore.

Feb. 9, 2018 - The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben..

Mar. 9, 2018 - The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton.

Apr. 13, 2018 - In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

May 11, 2018 - Mr. Owita’s Guide to Gardening by Carol Wall.

Weeds and Tree Mulch By Suzanne Thomas, Master Gardener

This summer, Augusta has experienced more frequent and larger amounts of rainfall

than typical. The rain gauge has shown two to three, even four inches of rain per

week and our lawns, gardens, and trees have loved it. The weeds love it, too. So

today I am searching for ways to control the weeds and get back to a more desirable

greenspace. The ideal place to look is the UGA Extension Website www.uga.edu/

caes/publications/ .

I ordered Weeds of Southern Turfgrass, a UGA publication that has 437 color

pictures to help identify and manage various weeds. It costs $14 including shipping.

The ultimate way to remove weeds, of course, is to pull them. Until the new book

arrives, I will be spending time pulling weeds in the front yard. Please wave as you

go by.

Trees contain all the nutrients that are needed for plants to grow.

Wood chips are delivered free from most tree service companies. If

you must have a tree cut down, ask the tree service to chip the tree

and leave it for you to use as green mulch. Green mulch goes on top

of soil. It is not a planting medium. As green mulch breaks down, it

removes nitrogen from the soil and from the air.

Plants need nitrogen to grow, so use it on top, don’t mix it into the

soil. Gradually, mulch breaks down and becomes soil with the help

of the soil food web, recycling the tree’s nutrients and creating a

sustainable environment. An exciting DVD about using wood chips

to create a sustainable garden is Back to Eden (available from

amazon.com). Think about using wood chips as free mulch for your

shrubs and garden this year.

~ We will be raising the mailed cost of The Scoop

to $18 effective August 1st ~

15

A Georgia Winner at the International Master Gardener Conference.

2017 Research 3rd Place (tie) – Kennesaw Science & Math Academy

Hydro/aeroponics Project, Cobb County, GA

Kennesaw Charter Science and Math Academy

Elementary Garden Club Hydroponics SFE Blog Summary for 2015/16 project.

Michael Donnelly, Cobb County Teacher and Master Gardener.

Amanda Green, Amazing educator.

Background: The Education Committee of Cobb County Master Gardener Volunteers, Inc. (MGVOCC),

Teacher Master Gardener, Michael Donnelly and his colleague, Amanda Green, teamed up to develop a hydro-

ponic and aeroponic gardening program for grades 1-5 at Kennesaw Charter Math and Science Academy in

Kennesaw, GA.

The Academy is part of the Cobb County Public School District. The collaborative effort enabled students in

grades one (1) through five (5) to experiment with the basic requirements of plants in order to grow them suc-

cessfully outside of the soil and to compare the effectiveness of growing them with roots in air or submerged

in water.

To read about the project in its entirety, got to the link below and scroll down the last entry.

https://publish.extension.org/mastergardener/?utm_source=August+4%

2C+2017&utm_campaign=IMGC+2017&utm_medium=email

Profusion Zinnia

The hybrid Profusion Zinnia (ZIN NI A) is an interspecies cross between

Zinnia “Elegans’ (common zinnia) and Zinnia ‘Augustifolia’ which

combined the best traits of both species. This results in weather-tough plants

which are tolerant of heat, drought and resistant to powdery mildew and

other foliage diseases. Profusion series comes in wide range of colors

including orange, pink, cherry-red, and white and has both single and double

blooms. It is an extremely easy-to-grow annual which can be used for

landscaping needs in beds and borders as well as in containers.

Profusion Zinnia attract birds and butterflies to the garden. It can be started from seed or bedding plants. Start

seeds indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost date. Profusion series zinnia has a long blooming period from early to

late summer until frost. Its 2-inch flowers bloom abundantly above dark green foliage. As flowers mature, a

circle of small golden stars appear around a central disk. Plants have a compact habit and grow 1 to 2 ft tall;

they should be spaced 12 to 18 inches to allow for air circulation and reduce risk of foliage diseases.

They grow best in fertile well-drained soil in full sun. Plants have average water needs and are low-

maintenance requiring no deadheading. Profusion cherry, orange, and white zinnias won the 1999 All

American Selections (AAS) Gold Medal Flower Award. Cherry Profusion Zinnia is also the Recipient of

Europe’s Fleuroselect Gold Medal Award. In 2009, yellow was named North Texas Winner’s Circle Award

Winner (Texas A & M University). By Shirley Williams, Muscogee Co. MG. Photo G. Dean

16

Festival at the Nature Trail

This is the third year for an annual fall festival at the James E. McGuffey Nature

Center Trails. Since the MGEV trail restoration project began in 2015, the

Coweta County Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs) have hosted a

community event every autumn. We invite all county public and private

elementary schoolers, homeschoolers, scouts and their families to spend a fall

afternoon learning about the environment.

Our goal is to encourage visitors to the trails and to see our restoration work in progress. For the last three

years, MGEVs have been removing invasive plant species and installing native plants along the trails. We have

planted over 800 plants donated, purchased or rescued. Many groups and organizations have helped to make

the restoration possible. MGEVs have volunteered over 1000 hours for the project. Local scout troops have

volunteered their time to remove invasive plant.

With the help of grants from GMGA and others we have

installed interpretative signage to guide visitors during their

trail experience. MGEVs researched content and designed

all the signs which inform visitors on such topics as water

management, invasive plant species, wildlife, pollinators

and native plants. We have also placed 100 ground markers

which identify plants by their common and botanical names.

(For workday activities, go to the project webpage at

https://gnps.org/conservation/restoration/james-e-mcguffey-

nature-center-trails-restoration-project/

During the festival event children and their families made stops at

activity stations to learn about bats and bird houses, tree

identification, scavenger hunts, and leaf art.

We have awarded prizes such as tree seedlings from the Forestry

Commission, pinecone bird feeders, handmade bird houses, and

pumpkins for completion of these activities. Local businesses have

sponsored refreshments.

It has been a great way to give back to the community and give

children an outdoor experience to learn about nature. Attendance

has grown each year and last year over 200 attended the event.

Come join us at the2017 Nature Trail Festival, Sunday, October

15, 2 pm -4 pm at the Coweta County Fairgrounds. Contact Dale

Senko beard31@charter.net for more information.

17

Dr. Mary M. Black

Gwinnett County would like to introduce you to our new Family and Consumer

Sciences County Extension Agent/Coordinator, Dr. Mary M. Black.

Mary was born in Washington, DC and grew up in Arlington, Virginia. When

asked what her early influences were Mary replied, “My mother was an avid

gardener. She had a beautiful rock garden on the side of a hill in our backyard.

Whenever I was with her, no matter where we went (school, church, grocery store,

library, etc.) my mom would always point out the beautiful flowers she saw along the way. I learned to see the

world through her eyes – always noticing the beautiful trees and flowers. She and my dad grew tomatoes and

corn in our small side yard where we got a lot of sunshine, and we grew grapes to make grape jelly for my

brother’s peanut butter and jelly sandwiches”.

Mary grew up seeing gardening and growing food early on in her life and it had an influence on her.

“Most of my adult life I wanted to be a master gardener which finally happened later in life rather than

earlier”.

Mary went to Mars Hill College in North Carolina near Asheville where she received a B.S. in Home

Economics with a concentration in Nutrition. “Once I took my 1st nutrition class, I knew I wanted to be a

dietitian and work in the hospital setting.”

Being a dietitian required Mary to get a M.S. degree in Nutrition, so she continued her education at the

University of Tennessee in Knoxville. A couple of years later Mary thought she might like teaching nutrition

at the university level and again continued her education at the University of NC in Greensboro to get her PhD

in Nutrition.

When asked what interested her in becoming an Extension Agent she answered that after completing the GA

Master Gardening training, she began working on her volunteer hours. As Mary volunteered, she saw a

wonderful collaboration of UGA Extension and Gwinnett County employees and volunteers.

“I saw the capacity to improve the everyday lives of Gwinnett County residents through education and training

programs as well as the services offered through extension. Although the programs and services are a bit

different from my work in the hospital setting, the community outreach aspect is the same, as well as the

potential to impact the community in a big way”.

“I really enjoy working with so many dedicated employees and volunteers. I enjoy the fact that our programs

and services reach so many different settings in the community; schools, day care centers, libraries, garden

clubs, parks and recreation centers, etc.”

Mary continued, adding that although she is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent (not an Ag or 4-H agent),

she is enjoying learning about both the Ag and 4-H programs. “At this point in time, I will consider 2017 a

successful year when I see and hear Extension staff and our volunteers get excited about their work, seek to

grow where they can, and feel a sense of accomplishment”.

No doubt, Mary Black’s enthusiasm is spreading among the staff and certainly amongst volunteers both as an

Extension leader and as a Gwinnett County Master Gardener! She regularly attends monthly GCMGA

meetings as well as maintaining her busy schedule at Extension. Mary’s door is always open and you may

contact her at mblack01@uga.edu.Jessica Miller, President, GCMGA

18

Nine adventurous Cobb Master Gardeners and three spouses experienced the trip of a lifetime from July 25th -

August 3rd, 2017 as we toured twenty gardens around England!!! We were accompanied by two Master

Gardeners from Memphis. Our trip leader was author Troy Marden, host of the Nashville TV show, The

Volunteer Gardener.

As Atlanta sweltered with temperatures in the 90s, we enjoyed temperatures from the fifties to the seventies.

Not to rub it in, of course! We toured many private gardens and estates in the Cotswolds, Sussex, and Kent.

Some of the more famous gardens we visited were at Bleinheim Palace (Churchill's birthplace), Sudeley

Castle, and Leeds Castle where we spent three nights. Our farewell dinner took place inside Leeds Castle

(which we had to ourselves) and was reminiscent of Downtown Abbey with white gloved servants and all!!

We look forward to more trips with Troy and hope all GMGA members can join us on a trip TBD next

May!! We learned so much and had such a great time!!

By Beth St. Jean, Vice-President of Education, Georgia Master Gardener Association

Nine Cobb Master Gardeners

Tour 20 Gardens in England

The Venders for this Year's GMGA Conference include:

King of Crops Teapot Garden LLC. The Lochlaurel Nursery

Silvers Elbert Nursery Lanier Nursery & Gardens Outdoor Environments

Super Sod Gwinnett County MGA Orchid Culture

Grower's Confidence Collection Southern Living/Plant Development

Door Prizes include: Native Trees Decorated Garden Tote

Camellia Plant Hosta Plant 3 gallon Plants

Windchime 5 Cubic ft. Bags of Soil

19

The Georgia Farmers Market (GFMA) is excited to announce the dates and location for the second annual

Food for Thought Conference! After the first conference last winter, GFMA went right back to the drawing

board to see how this year’s conference could build on the experience from last year.

The conference, which is scheduled for November 30 through December 1, 2017, will be held at Gwinnett

Technical College in Lawrenceville, GA.

“We were delighted by the participation, enthusiasm and impact of the Food for Thought Conference last

year,” said Sagdrina Jalal, Executive Director, Georgia Farmers Market Association. “Gwinnett Technical

College was an excellent venue for the event last year and we are happy to return.” When GFMA hosted its

first Food for Thought Conference at Gwinnett Technical College last year, both organizations recognized the

synergy between their programs.

“We focus on real-world education and skill development at Gwinnett Technical College and we encourage

our students to connect with industry associations,” said Aaron Poulsen, program director for the College’s

Horticulture program. “The Food for Thought Conference is an excellent opportunity for our Horticulture

and Culinary Arts program students to learn, gain valuable experience, volunteer, attend sessions and network

with agricultural professionals.”

Strong and resilient farmers markets bring people together, bridge cultural gaps, encourage sustainable living,

educate and inspire better food choices and healthier eating. They help local producers succeed while raising

awareness and improving local food systems, stimulating local economies, and contributing to the health of

entire communities. The 2017 Food for Thought Conference will facilitate and encourage meaningful dialog

about ways to cultivate and assist more farmers markets, help more local producers prosper, and strengthen

communities.

GFMA works year-round to strengthen connections between farmers markets and local producers to help them

maintain sustainable businesses, engage their communities, and improve local food systems. The Food for

Thought Conference brings market managers, farmers, municipalities, agricultural businesses, educators,

healthcare professionals, food advocates and local food enthusiasts together to share their experience,

knowledge and passion for healthy food, strong communities and food sovereignty.

Early Bird Conference Registration is Open Now, Learn more here.

20

Experiencing Horticulture in Portland

Sheri Dorn, State Coordinator

In July, I had the pleasure of attending the International Master Gardener Conference in Portland, Oregon.

A few Georgia MGEVs and agents attended, as well. The conference was outstanding in every way!

On Thursday, I participated in a workshop titled “Horticulture for Health and Healing,” by Teresia Hazen, a

horticultural therapist for Legacy Healthcare in Portland. I have been working with Teresia for close to a

year now, meeting online using webconferencing. What a delight to meet her in person and discover that

she is such a passionate gardener! In her professional role, she supervises 12 gardens at 8 hospitals!!!

She shared about the commitment to horticulture in Legacy’s facilities, ranging from a memory garden, a

garden for burn patients, a children’s garden, and a garden where women in labor could walk, rest, and

recover. Employee health programs revolve around the gardens, too. Stressed nurses and doctors find

restoration in gardens (and often a healthy snack, too!). Legacy knows that gardens are a key part of their

identity and even their CEO gets it! Teresia explained that at Legacy hospitals, they are cultivating a

“culture of good health.”

All throughout Portland, there was an appreciation for, almost an addiction to, ornamental plants and

gardening. Median strips were not just patches of struggling turf. They were filled with perennials and

shrubs that contribute many ecological functions, such as air purification and wildlife habitat. Bus and street

car stops were adorned with lavender beds and raised planters packed with bright annuals and ornamental

grasses.

Public parks, whether one square block or hundreds of acres, feel clean and neat and relaxing with their

roses, hydrangeas, dogwoods, spruce, black-eyed Susans, grasses, and lots of red crocosmia. Residential

landscapes were imaginative and creative and interesting! I wanted to be outside in those gardens, actively

caring for the plants (well, sure, it had a lot to do with the fact that it was July with temps in the 80s and low

humidity…).

I was truly energized and excited about plants from attending this conference. Yes, keynote Dan Hinkley’s

gardens are awe-inspiring, but looking at those pictures and fancy PowerPoint weren’t enough to inspire

action. It was the immersion in a city that values plants and horticulture that made me want to take action. I

bet if we asked around, we’d find that when people encounter you, MGEVs, they are interested in plants.

When they see your projects and experience your gardens, workshops, and classes, they become inspired to

plant their own. This helps our neighborhoods and communities to be better places. I’d say that’s how

MGEVs continue to encourage a “culture of good health!”

Mark your calendars for the 2019 IMGC!

Penn’s Woods: Digging into Our Roots

June 17-21, 2019

Valley Forge, PA

http://internationalmastergardener.com/