July, 2015 HAMILTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS

HAMILTON COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS
MESSAGE FROM LISA CLARK, PRESIDENT
July, 2015
Volume 22, Issue 7
In This Issue
2
3
4
5
6
7
V. President/Secretary News
Education News/Wildlife Calendar
Tom’s Tidbits
Calendar of Events
July Garden Tips
Heat Stress Tips &
Officers/Chairpersons
JULY 4th, OUR COUNTRY’S BIRTHDAY, is
a day to celebrate our independence.
Many of us will celebrate with family
and friends with picnics and barbecues,
watching parades, fireworks and listening to patriotic music. It is a time to pay
respect to our forefathers, for having
strength, courage and vision, a vision of our great nation “the
land of the free and the home of the brave”. It is also a day to
honor those that have fought and died for our freedoms,
freedoms that are still being fought for today. Some fun facts
about July 4th:
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Send contributions and/or calendar
events for the August publication by
the 25th of July. Articles may be edited
or delayed due to time and/or space.
Suggestions are welcome about errors
that warrant correction and they will
be made in the next newsletter.
Send contributions/corrections to the
Editor at: [email protected]
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Some free local events taking place are:
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NEXT MEETING
July 16, 2015
SOCIAL @ 6:00 PM
MEETING @ 6:30 PM
FIRST CUMBERLAND
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1505 N. MOORE ROAD
Over 74 million people have cookouts on July 4th.
Over an estimated 150 million hot dogs will be consumed
on July 4th, that’s roughly one hot dog for every two people
in the US.
The first Fourth of July party was held at the White House
in 1801.
Americans spend around 211 million dollars every year on
fireworks!
The Georgia Winery is having a Red, White and Blue Happy
Hour on July 4th from 1-5pm. Taste all the patriotic colors
with $3 wine by the glass. Admission is free.
Pops on the River & Fireworks @ Coolidge Park is a free
event to enjoy music by the Chattanooga Symphony &
Opera July 4th from 8p-10p.
Our next big project is the County Fair in September. Bertha
Livingston & David Hopkins have done a great job in getting
it organized. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer,
so I encourage everyone to check the lists and sign up. It’s a
lot of fun plus you earn hours!
Happy Gardening and have a Safe July 4th!
What did one flag say to the other flag?
Nothing, it just waved!
FROM YOUR VICE PRESIDENT
July Already ?
I hope everyone enjoyed meeting some of our neighbors from Bradley County at our June monthly
meeting. They have built an incredible program to address the county’s Juvenile Court Program, as well as
several other great projects, and deserve our congratulations and assistance if needed.
I want to thank everyone for all of our programs that we have been involved in so far this year. Our
organization is involved in so many things within our community, and many of our members have given a
great deal of their time to make certain we make a difference in whatever we put our mark on.
Just to think of what we have: The MG Classes, Winter School, Beginner Gardener, The Expo, Saturday Classes, Hot Line, Food Bank Garden & Tour, Rock City Bloom Days, Zoo, Siskin, Graduation, Community
Outreach & Speakers, Rain Barrel Classes, 501c-3 and now we are moving forward to plan our County Fair
Exhibit.
All of these programs listed and many more have required a leader to step-up, set-up, communicate,
execute, follow-up and evaluate to insure success. And to think we are all just Volunteers! It makes me very
proud to be a part of this outstanding organization, as I am sure you are too.
Please thank each of our members who take on leadership roles, and don’t forget to offer your support when it is needed. You may soon find yourself a leader as well.
I hope to see everyone at our July 16th meeting at the church fellowship hall.
Sincerely, Bud Hines
NEWS FROM YOUR SECRETARY, VALARIE ADAMS
The JUNE BOARD MEETING was both informative and productive and here are some interesting tidbits from
the meeting:

Gretchen Rominger reported about the 2015 Master Gardener Class. The class started with 55 interns, 6
dropped out, 49 graduated, and 10 of the interns have certified. We are looking forward to seeing a lot
more 2015 green badges!
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Bud Hines said that the Puller Bear Weed Wrench, the MGs purchased for the Future Farmers of America
at Hixson High School, will be presented to their sponsor Lee Friedlander and the FFA members at our
August meeting. The Weed Wrench will be used by the FFA to clear invasive growth at the North Chickamauga Conservancy.

Tom Stebbins remarked that Natalie Baumgarner, our State MG Coordinator, is currently revamping the
MG intern textbook to a ring binder with a USB drive and hope that it will be ready sometime in 2017.
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Freeman Powell presented a proposal, which was passed by the Board, for our help in coordinating,
maintaining, monitoring, and certifying Monarch Waystations for a Monarch Watch at four difference
places: Hixson High and Middle Schools, Lookout Mountain Park, and Skyuka Redbank at old Four
Squares.
In case you were not at the May meeting, we voted on the 501c-3 proposal. There were 85 members
signed in and 83 ballots handed out. When the ballots were counted, a total of 80 members voted, 60 voted
yes, 20 voted no, and the 501c-3 proposal passed. Further discussion by the Board about what comes next
after the passing of the 501c-3 ensued. We hope to report progress soon.
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On Saturday, July 18th, at 10:00 AM, at the Extension classroom, we will have a special guest preFor our 3rd Saturday class in June, we had a room
senter, Jim Henry. He is a member of the North Georfull of attendees, as we have had all this year and the
gia MG’s, which covers several counties. He has many
questionnaire they filled out showed we are reaching specialties but the one he will be sharing is “SEED
out. Tom
SAVING”. As we all know, saving seeds from many of
Stebbins did
the plants we buy is not possible as the plant that
a wonderful
comes up is not the same plant we had, don’t come at
job of showall and some are actually illegal to collect. Heirloom
ing the differseeds are however, not copyrighted in any way and
ence bethere are many. Some plants are about to disappear so
tween good
knowing how to reproduce them is valuable in keeping
bugs and bad
the heirloom varieties alive for the future. The other
bugs. During
credentials Mr. Henry has is being a specialist in Comhis Power
munity Gardens, has been an Organic grower for years
Point presentaand is on the Agri Mission Board for growing food in
tion, Tom
foreign countries helping to establish agriculture to
showed many
feed the starving nations. (Those of you who knew Ron
insects that are
Kelly will note that his older daughter is currently in a
common in the
foreign country in South America doing just this very
landscape and it
same thing with the Peace Corp. ) You do not want to
is amazing just how interesting they really are. He had miss hearing and seeing Jim’s presentation on Seed
a table full of handouts and one was in color just for
Saving. Help me spread the word, come, bring a guest
me, not really, but because I asked. Afterwards we had and save those seeds.
a “Lab” with lighted magnifiers and a special scope you
can order and see insects on your computer. Really
great! We could see the tiniest insect at work on plant
-Carol Mathews
branches as well as in cases.
Education Committee
EDUCATION NEWS
On Friday, June 19th we had an event called
“Summer Learning Day” at Warner Park . Tom directed this and there were several MG’s that volunteered to show and teach gardening to children. Sara
Stanley was faithful planting sunflowers that the children enjoyed so much. These children are the future.
Wildlife Management Calendar for June/July
Craig Harper, Professor, Wildlife Management
Wildlife Notes
Black raspberries and mulberries ripen in early June
Wild plums ripen through June
Blackberries ripen in early July
Most white-tailed deer fawns are born in June. Do not pick them up, thinking they have been abandoned
Peak hatch for wild turkeys and bobwhites occurs in June. DO NOT MOW old-fields!
Ducks and geese molt in June and July and are flightless for a couple weeks
Initial nests of most songbirds have hatched in June and nestlings are fledging
Box turtle eggs hatch in June
Bullfrog breeding peaks in June and July
July is peak breeding season for black bears
July is also peak time for the second litter of squirrels
Lots of bobwhite poults using fields in July. DO NOT MOW early successional areas (old-fields)!
Grassland songbirds incubating second nests of season in July
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Tom’s Tidbits
By Tom Stebbins, UT/TSU Extension Agent for Hamilton County
Germans Bring Gardening Excellence As Well As a teacher in 1974, I took two German exchange stu-
dents in my class to hear a lecture by the great German rocket scientist, Dr. Werner von Braun (19121977). He helped build the massive rockets that sent
American astronauts to the moon in the years after
World War II. His topic was “Looking Inward from
Space”. He described and predicted our increased use
of satellites. He showed how cameras from space
would reveal whether the crops had enough water or
I just had to research the German passion for gardens. fertilizer. Satellites would detect signs of disease and
We may be able to adapt some of their frugal method- insect damage. I remember he even predicted how
ology for our landscapes. There is already a heavy in- marijuana fields could be located. Today global posifluence of German gardening nearby. In 1932, Garnet tioning systems (GPS) are used for many agriculture
Carter and his wife Frieda Utermoelen (of German de- uses. Now that the principles are clear, let’s take a look
at the results.
scent) opened their private garden estate, Rock City
Gardens, to the public. Many visitors are now inspired
to create small
German Garden Gnomes
rock gardens at
There is another phenomenon we discovered in Gertheir home. They
many. It is known as a Schrebergarten . This is an area
discover ways to
outside the city where the Germans can rent out a
save water and
small garden plot. They usually build a small structure
use drought toleras well. It was during World War I and World War II
ant plants. They
that the gardens rapidly rose in importance as sources
learn that moss
of fresh fruit and vegetables. Today there are thoucan be a design
sands of garden colonies on the outskirts of big cities
element and not
an enemy in their gardens. They may also use garden in Germany. They look like miniature housing developments. Families come to garden, grill out and relax
gnomes and other ornaments for whimsical effects.
in the summertime.
Germans do have a great sense of humor.
We all know that Germany is known for it’s fine automaking abilities. Germany also has a history of plant
science and gardening excellence. German scientists
authored more than 9,200 articles in plant science
journals between 1999 and 2005. This was about
3,000 more than second place England. That is very
surprising!
Frieda Carter brought German garden gnomes to her
I visited Germany over thirty years ago. I was imChattanooga garden for all to
pressed by the small, well kept gardens. Most houses
see. The first clay German
had some kind of container garden on their little balgarden gnome ("der
conies. Colorful hanging baskets and window boxes
Gartenzwerg") was made in
were everywhere in the cities. These smaller EuropeGraeferoda, Thuringia, Geran type gardens are now becoming very popular in the
many in the 1800's. A
United States.
gnome is a legendary creaWhen I went to college, I decided to be a Plant Doctor. ture resembling a tiny old
man who lives in the depths
I wanted to diagnose and help sick plants. I learned
of the earth and guards burthat a man named Heinrich Anton de Bary (1831ied treasure. The gnomes are regarded as good luck
1888), is considered the Father of Plant Pathology.
charms in one's house and garden. In Germany they
This German botanist studied fungi and other agents
may often be found in the rafters of barns where they
causing plant diseases. At that time, various fungi
keep a watchful eye on the owner's animals, crops and
were still considered to arise through spontaneous
generation. He showed it was not magic, witchcraft, or garden produce. Gnomes symbolize integrity, honesty
the gods. He demonstrated ways in which fungi pene- and hard work. That is exactly what the Germans will
bring to Chattanooga.
trate plant tissues.
German Influence
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR JULY
FOR MORE DETAILS OF UPCOMING EVENTS, WEBSITES OF INTEREST,
SPECIAL ALERTS AND CURRENT TOPICS & ARTICLES: SEE MGHC.ORG
BEING A MEMBER OF OUR YAHOO GROUP WILL GIVE YOU THE LATEST INFORMATION ON ALL ACTIVITIES
July 4—Holiday
DID YOU KNOW FIREWORKS WERE INSPIRED
BY SUMMER FLOWERS ? ON 4TH OF JULY
WATCH THE SKY FOR PEONIES, DAHLIAS AND
CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
July 6,13,20,27, Monday’s, 10:00 AM
July 1,8,15,22,29 Wednesday’s, 10:00 AM
MG Hot line at the Ag Center on Bonny Oaks
July 11, Saturday. 2:00 PM
Tennessee Valley Bonsai Society meeting at the Ag Center on Bonny Oaks
July 14, Tuesday, 6:30 PM
Chattanooga Herbies meeting at the Ag Center on Bonny Oaks
July 16, Thursday, 6:00 PM
Master Gardener Monthly Meeting at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church
6:00 PM-social hour 6:30 PM-meeting
July 18, Saturday, 10:00 AM—12 Noon
Education Class on “Seed Saving” at the Ag Center on Bonny Oaks
July 23,Thursday, 7:00 PM
Rose Society Meeting at Hixon Civic Center
CAFB Greenhouse Workdays
Alpine Crest Elem. School
Seeding the Cumberland
Workday at the Zoo
Contact: Holly [email protected]
Contact: [email protected]
Contact: [email protected]
Contact: [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 15 - Education Class on Bluebird Houses
Monarch Waystations for Monarch Watch—coming soon (see Secretary’s News for details)
Information on Waystations: http://monarchwatch.org/waystations/
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GARDENING TIPS FOR JULY
Layering easily propagates many plants. Hydrangeas, viburnums, weigela,
trumpet honeysuckle, Carolina jessamine, and climbing roses are a few
plants that will root if the stems are fastened down and covered with soil.
 Start planning your fall vegetable garden. Late July is the time to start seeding you winter broccoli,
cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts to be transplanted into the garden in mid-August.
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Raise the height of your mower to reduce stress on your lawn and to conserve moisture in the
ground. For best results, mow 2 inches for Bermuda grass, 1-2 inches for zoysia, and 2.5-3 inches
for fescue.
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July is a good month to prune “bleeder” trees, like maples, dogwood, elm, birch, and other trees
that bleed when pruned in winter.
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Give your chrysanthemums and asters a last pinching no later than mid-July.
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Keep your perennials deadheaded to keep them flowering. Be sure to remove the fading flowers
down to a leaf node or new bud.
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Cut back by one-third early planted annuals that are getting leggy or out of control to keep them
looking good into the fall. Give them a shot of a water-soluble fertilizer. Good candidates include
impatiens, salvia, sweet potato vine, trailing or ground-cover type petunias, and herbs, like basil.
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Avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs from now until next spring. Anything you remove now will
also be removing next year’s flowers. Shrubs that bloom in the spring include azaleas, camellias,
witch hazels, and rhododendrons. Now is the time to prune overgrown oakleaf and mophead hydrangeas.
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Cut flowers for a bouquet early in the morning. Immediately place them in water. Good cut flowers
include purple or white coneflower (Echinacea), black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia), zinnias, salvia,
dahlias, sunflowers, Mexican sunflower, celosia, jewels of Opar, cosmos, dill, fennel, globe amaranth, blanket flower (Gaillardia), bee balm, phlox, yarrow, and ornamental grasses.
Cut old flower heads off Hydrangea arborescens, such as ‘Annabelle,’ to get a second but smaller
flush of flowers.
 July is a good time to buy crapemyrtles. They are in flower now, so you can be certain to get the
flower color you want. Crapemyrtles should not be fertilized after mid-July to allow them time to
properly harden off by fall. Check out the following website for Carl Whitcomb’s plant introductions,
such as crapemyrtles and lacebark elm: http://www.lacebarkinc.com/pat_plants.htm
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Keep birdbaths clean and filled with water throughout the summer. Control mosquitos by eliminating all sources of stagnant water.
by Jason Reeves, research horticulturist, the University of Tennessee Gardens, Jackson
http://utgardens.tennessee.edu/
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AVOID HEAT STRESS WHILE GARDENING
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The Center For Disease Control Provides The
Following Tips:
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Drink plenty of cool (not icy cold) fluids; water
is best. Drinks with alcohol or sugar actually
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cause the body to lose fluid. Don’t wait to
drink until you are thirsty. If your gardening
tasks require heavy exertion in the heat, drink
2-4 -8-ounce glasses of fluids per hour.

Avoid hot foods and heavy meals.
Replace salts and minerals, which are removed
by sweating.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting
clothing, and a wide-brimmed hat.
To prevent UV damage to skin, apply a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before
going outdoors and reapply after significant
perspiring.
Schedule your activities for cooler times of the
day—early morning or early evening.
Pace yourself and accept that you shouldn’t
work as fast and you probably won’t get as
much done as you would in cooler weather. If
you are not used to the heat, start slowly.
If you find yourself getting too hot or breathing
heavily, seek a cooler location—indoors in air
conditioning or in a cool shower, or outdoors
under a garden hose or sprinkler or in a shady
area.
DID YOU KNOW?
Just as our bodies perspire to stay cool, plants transpire water out of
microscopic pores in their leaves. In high temperatures, transpiration
can result in wilting which reverses in cool night temperatures if a
plant has access to adequate water. Transpiration releases heat and
maintains the flow of water and nutrients throughout the plant.
2015 MGHC OFFICERS
President, Lisa Clark
Vice President, Bud Hines
Secretary, Valarie Adams
Treasurer, Rodney Selcer
Certification Officer, Gretchen Rominger
Communication Officer, Chad Pickeral
Projects Officer, Freeman Powell
MGHC Coordinator, Tom Stebbins
1 Year Board of Governors
Lori Ashton
Bob Kemp
Cindy Rutledge
2 Year Board of Governors
Barbara Blankenship
Ron Smith
Sue Henley
Chairpersons
Bonny Oaks Arboretum, Jim Davenport
County Fair, Bertha Livingston/David Hopkins
Education Committee, Carol Mathews
Events Coordinator, Bertha Livingston
Finance, Rodney Selcer
Garden Expo, Sue Henley
Historian, Jane Goodin
Hospitality, Lori Ashton
Hummingbird/Butterfly Garden, Mike Payne
Membership Directory, Pam Bare
Mentor Coordinators, Bertha Livingston/Clyde Mathews
MG Hotline, Bill Apps (Mon.) Diane Slover (Wed.)
Newsletter, Ann Dale
Nominating Committee, Clyde Mathews
Scholarships, Bob Kemp
Speakers Bureau, Carol Mathews
State Advocate, Patsy Boles
Website, Holly Colf
2015 New Class Representatives
Vicki Petzko
Johnny McMasters
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