Strawberry Fields Forever

GROW
March 2013
Tulsa Garden Center News
In This
Issue
Volume 64 Issue 2
2
3
4&6
5
Note from the Director
Gardening by the Book
Education
Affiliate News
Strawberry Fields Forever
In 1967 John Lennon and the Beatles
recorded “Strawberry Fields Forever,” a hauntingly beautiful song with no horticultural connotation whatsoever. At the time I lived near a large
commercial strawberry growing operation in Louisiana.
During the harvest season, buddies and
I would pile into a dilapidated Ford pickup and
head for the sandy strawberry fields to pick berries and earn a little extra cash. It was backbreaking work and the wages were awful, a whopping fifty cents for each bucket picked.
SPOTLIGHT
Azalea Mulch Day
March 2nd at 9:00am
Basics of Pruning
March 9th at 9:30am
Edible Fruits Lecture
March 16th at 9:30am
Planting a Spring
Container Workshop
March 20th at 9:30am and
6:30pm
Composting Fair
March 23rd at 9:30am
Rose Pruning Class
March 23rd at 9:30am
Like Tulsa Garden
Center on
Facebook
As we approached the strawberry fields,
my buddies and I invariably broke into a mournful
rendition of “Strawberry Fields Forever”. Our singing was horrible; our strawberry picking was even
worse.
The long hours of stooping and bending
were shear misery. Back muscles would cramp
into tear-wrenching spasms. We tried every
imaginable picking position to lessen the misery.
We would bend at the waist until we
could hardly straighten up. We would crawl along
the rows on all fours until our knees gave out. We
even scooted along the rows on our bottoms,
hoping not to sit on a fire ant nest. In the end, we
were no match for the strawberry fields.
Despite those terrible memories, I’m still
nuts about strawberries. They clearly are among
the easiest of all fruit to grow in an urban setting.
They require minimal space and they require no
pesticides. They can also be easily grown on a
sunny deck, balcony or patio in a nursery pot,
decorative strawberry jar, or hanging basket.
The economics of growing strawberries
also makes sense. One small planting, as few as
25 plants, can yield 30 to 50 pounds of luscious
berries one year after planting. At 4 to 5 dollars
per quart retail, that’s a nice chunk of change.
But here’s the best motivation for growing strawberries: fully ripe, home grown berries
are far sweeter than those shipped in from out of
state.
Strawberries love sunshine, but they will
produce a satisfactory crop in part shade. Be
sure to spade several inches of compost into the
planting bed and set plants one foot apart. Evenly
scatter a slow-release fertilizer such as Osmocote
around plants and mulch with leaves, pine
needles or any organic mulch.
Strawberries also can be grown in virtually any drainable container with a depth of 12 to
15 inches. Fill pots with a commercial peat-based
potting mix. As with any container grown plant,
careful attention to summer watering is a must.
March is prime strawberry planting time
in Oklahoma. Local nurseries often sell bare-root
plants in bundles of 10 to 25. Varieties such as
Cardinal, Earlyglow, Jewel and Redchief have
performed exceptionally well in the Linnaeus
Teaching Garden.
************************************
Barry Fugatt is Director of Horticulture at the Tulsa
Garden Center and Linnaeus Teaching Garden. He can
be reached at 918-746-5125 or
e-mail: [email protected]
TGC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Note from the Director
Officers
Deb Kirkpatrick, President
Paige Martin, Vice President
Lisa Brandes, Secretary
John Kahre, Treasurer
Marilyn Lay, Ass’t Secretary/Treasurer
Lucy Lewis, Immediate Past President
The March edition of Tulsa Garden Center’s Newsletter is
packed full of great things to do! Fun hands-on learning opportunities
include Pruning, Floral Arranging, Composting, and Container Gardening. Learn about Garden Makeovers, Co-existing with your Electric Service, how to Plant A Row for the Hungry, and how to grow Edible Fruits
in your backyard.
Directors
Tom Baker
Barry Fugatt
Jola Houchin
Betty Kusleika
Sue Lovelace
Michael Patton
Heather Pingry
Barbie Raney
Patsy Wynn
Tulsa Garden Center NEWS is published ten times a
year on a monthly basis with the exception of the
July/August and the December /January issues,
which are combined. If you are interested in
advertising in the newsletter please contact the
Garden Center. The submission deadline for articles
is the 8th of the month for the following month’s
issue.
The Affiliate News section is packed with upcoming lectures
and luncheons. And don’t miss the upcoming Children’s Classes! Little
Green Thumbs Spring/Summer schedule is on the back of the calendar,
so look it over before you put it up on the refrigerator.
Bring a friend and come help us prepare Tulsa’s premier Municipal Gardens for Spring. March 2 we will be mulching Azaleas on Saturday, March 2nd(page
7) and March 23 we will prune roses on Saturday, March 23rd (page 5). We will feed and water
you as we work together to keep Woodward Park beautiful.
Come join us!
Barbie Raney, Executive Director
TGC Staff
Barbie Raney-executive director
Barry Fugatt - director of horticulture
Janet Gaither - event & facility manager
Dorris Crawford - head caretaker
Toni Alley-administrative assistant
Julie Powers-horticulture assistant
Dyane Lewis-volunteer coordinator
Mike Blake-Education & Marketing
CHANGE OF ADDRESS ?
You are an important part of our organization, and we
want to keep in touch with you. If you are moving,
please keep us informed by calling us at 918-7465125 with your new information. Thank you.
Thursday, March 21st 10:00am
Tulsa Garden Center
2435 South Peoria
Tulsa,Ok 74114-1350
(918) 746-5125
Fax (918) 746-5128
www.tulsagardencenter.com

Story Time in the Garden is held in The Linnaeus
Teaching Garden in Woodward Park, east of The Tulsa
2
Tulsa Garden Center News
Garden Center. Admission is Free!
Gardening by the Book
Container Gardening
Think of containers as problem-solvers. They offer a manageable way to enjoy all the beauty and benefits
of your own personal garden, whether it is on a balcony,
patio, rooftop, windowsill, or wall. With proper soil, drainage, exposure, and nourishment, your garden will flower
and fruit just as it would in the ground. Try these books
for great ideas and expert advice on designing, planting,
and caring for beautiful container gardens.
Container Gardening (Time Home, 2010), a Sunset Outdoor Design Guide, highlights container gardens
of all styles, from traditional to contemporary. The basics
of color, shape and scale are covered for both ornamental
plants and edibles. Readers are instructed in planting correctly as well as in the process of caring for the plants.
Every home gardener, whether experienced or a novice,
can find useful information.
For miniature garden plans that are as appealing
in January as in July, try Continuous Container Gardens
(Storey Pub., 2010). This innovative system begins with a
“main-stage” plant-a woody plant, garden ornament, or
eye-catching perennial—and then adds a secondary
player for texture and variety. Twelve containers are highlighted with themes such as foliage, structure or color.
The authors show how easy it is to swap plants in and out
for a great year round display.
Encyclopedia of Container Plants (Timber Press,
2010) profiles 500 plants suitable for this style of gardening. Each entry includes height and spread, light, mois-
ture, temperature and soil requirements, potential problems and its ease of growth. This authoritative reference
gives details on which plants work best in containers.
Color photography by Rob Cardillo, former director of
photography at Organic Gardening, adds to the book’s
appeal.
Twenty flower, fruit, and vegetable container projects, whether for a small yard or a large, traditional garden, are found in Quick and Easy Container Gardening
(Cico Books, 2008). From retro kitchenware to water bottles, learn inventive ways to decorate the garden by recycling household items. With both the basic techniques
needed and simple project ideas, this is perfect for beginners and seasoned gardeners alike.
In this book, 300 great ideas for growing flowers,
vegetables and herbs are stated as helpful tips. One example is using plants with contrasting texture for dramatic
combinations. A solution is planting kale or curly parsley
among flowers to add great texture and something tasty.
Tips for Container Gardening (Taunton Press, 2011) has
major categories concerning design, plants and planters,
and planting and maintenance. Large color photographs
help the gardener.
Mary Moore
Tulsa City-County Library
CONTRIBUTIONS—JANUARY 8—FEBRUARY 7, 2013
Tulsa Garden Center
In Memory of Cindy Farrar
JoAnn White
Patsy Wynn
Tulsa Herb Society
Susan Leslie
Karon Kessler
Mary Beth Tripp
Ellen H. Mantia
Linnaeus Teaching Garden
In Memory of Cindy Farrar
Judy Hall
In Memory of Carolyn Bonifazi
Patricia J. Albright
Christine M. Robinson
Kathy Willis
Phillip and Susan Gelwick
Andrea Novak
Kelley R. Lawrence
Margo J. Proctor
Anne Marie Sferra
Margie Bonaros Oslick
Kathy and Cecil Epperley
Elizabeth Peterson
In Memory of Patsy Kilgore
Mary Carolyn Mitchell
Gary I. and Martha A. Leff
Carolyn M. Lamb
Linda Harnden
Tulsa Garden Center News
3
Education
Upcoming
Horticulture Classes
Presented by Tulsa Community College and the Tulsa Garden Center. Classes are held at the Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, Ok.
74114. This is a Pilot Program that allows you to take credit classes as a Continuing Education Student.



More in-depth study.
Improve your skills without the intensive application process for credit classes.
Take as non-credit student with possible option to switch to credit.
80051-Principles of Floral Arranging
Basic design shapes, corsages, bud vases, centerpieces and bows
are arrangements you will create in this lecture class with lots of
creative hands-on time! Care and handling of cut flowers from the
florist and the home garden will also be included.
Course Fee: $75.00
April 2 –23, 2013
Tuesdays, 9:00am—12:55pm
Tulsa Garden Center
Call 918-595-7200 to Enroll Today!
Brown Bag
Lecture-Thursday,
March 21st
Bring your lunch and enjoy an exciting educational experience.
This lecture is free to the public and will be held from 12pm to 1pm at
Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria Ave. For more information, call
918-746-5125 or visit www.tulsagardencenter.com.
Trees Co-existing with Electric
Service
Trees and electric service don’t have to be enemies. Both are
critical to mankind’s wellbeing and must be able to co-exist.
Gardeners have created a lot of the problems by not being aware of
a tree or shrub’s natural growth cycle and pattern, planting them in the
wrong spot, where they don’t have a chance to mature to their natural
size.
Join Richard Bewley, Forestry Supervisor of AEP/PSO, on March
21st at 12:00 pm at Tulsa Garden Center to learn how your trees and
electrical service can become friends.
4
Tulsa Garden Center News
Book Discussion Club
Tuesday, March 19th
Come join us during your lunch hour for this informative
discussion. The Tulsa Garden Center’s Library Book Discussion
Club is free to the public and held in the Tulsa Garden Center’s
Library, 2435 S. Peoria Ave., from 12pm to 1pm. For additional
information, call 918-746-5125 or visit www.tulsagardencenter.com
Garden Makeovers
Join Sandy Cox as she reviews the book Garden Makeovers by
Liz Dobbs and Sarah Wood.
Does anyone want to salvage a messy garden? This book begins by looking at a variety of garden situations. It will tell us how to
find out what we already have and how to plan our garden’s transformation.
Affiliate News
African Violet Society of Greater Tulsa
The African Violet Society will meet on March 18th at 7:00pm.
The program will be “Back to Basics—What am I going to do with these
new plants?” This will be offered to assist visitors and new growers in the
care of the violets that they may have purchased at our February sale.
Our winning exhibitors will be leading the discussion and offering growing
tips. Refreshments will be served and everyone is welcome to attend.
Oklahoma Native Plant Society-Northeast Chapter
"Moss Graffiti" and "Moss Milkshakes"? Would you like to know
more about these mysterious terms? If so, join the Northeast Chapter of
the Oklahoma Native Plant Society on Monday, March 4, 2013, in the
Ballroom of the Tulsa Garden Center at 6:30 p.m. when Brooke Bonner
and Channing Richardson, doctoral students in the Botany department at
Oklahoma State University, present the program on mosses and liverworts.
Snacks and desserts will be available at 6:30, followed by a
brief business meeting and the program commencing at 7:00 p.m. The
meeting is open to the public. For additional information, call Alicia Nelson, chairman of Northeast Chapter, at 918-599-0085.
Tulsa Area Daylily Society
In celebration of the new year and the beauty of our daylilies,
TADS invites you to join us on March 7th at 6:30pm in the Ballroom of
Tulsa Garden Center for a “Feast of the Body and Soul”. Please bring
your favorite dish and the recipe to share with everyone. Any dish will be
welcome—Appetizers, Salads, Sandwiches, Chili, Desserts. We have a
great program planned. Door prizes will be given and we will have a lot of
fun. Contact: [email protected].
Since we are celebrating our 25th year, we are honoring the founders and
some of the former members we’ve not seem for a long time.
Active membership and luncheon reservations are required for the Tuesday March 12th Silver Anniversary Tea.
Tulsa Perennial Club
Maureen Turner will bring us information about “What’s Happening in Tulsa Parks” at the Thursday, March 21st, meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:00pm and the public is invited to attend. Keep informed
a b o u t u p c om i n g Tu l s a P e r e nn i a l C l u b e v en t s at
www.tulsaperennialclub.com.
Tulsa Rose Society
The Tulsa Rose Society will not meet at its regular
monthly meeting time of Sunday, March 10th. Instead, the
society is sponsoring a District Rose Workshop on Saturday,
March 16th. This day-long event will be held at the Tulsa
Community College North Campus at Harvard and Apache
from 8 AM to 4 PM. A box lunch is included in the event fee
of $20/person and there will be door prizes and silent auction of potted roses. You may contact President Judy Carter
at 918-355-8020 or [email protected] for further
information.
Tulsa Area Iris Society
The Tulsa Area Iris Society will meet on Friday, March 8th, at
7:00pm in the auditorium of Tulsa Garden Center in lieu of their scheduled March 14th meeting. The program will be given by Kelly Norris author and Iris hybridizer. Mr. Norris will be available to autograph copies of
his book which will be available for sale.
On Saturday, March 9th, Mr. Norris will conduct a Judging
School. Cost for the Judging School is $15.00, payable at the door.
Tulsa Council of Federated Garden Clubs
The Council will meet on Friday, March 1st, at 10:00am. Hospitality will begin at 9:30am with the meeting starting at 10:00am. David
Hillock, Oklahoma State University Assistant Extension Specialist and
Master Gardener Coordinator, will give the program. A potluck luncheon
will be held immediately after the program.
Tulsa Herb Society
The annual Tulsa Herb Society March Tea is always a special
time to share tea, savories, sweets, and fellowship with our fellow members.
Tulsa Garden Center News
5
Let’s Make a Container Garden
Discover How To Play with Textures
Create Your Own Secret Garden
Learn How to Mix and Match Plant Combos
Grow Edible Fruits in your
Backyard—Learn how from the
experts
LeeAnne Barton of Dave Wilson Nursery will join
Barry Fugatt, Director of Horticulture of
Linnaeus Teaching Garden, to cover the
basics of Backyard Fruit Production on
Saturday, March 16th, 9:30am—12:00 pm.
Advance Registration is Requested!
Registration Fee is $8 for TGC Members
or $10 for Non-Members.
To enroll, please call 918-746-5125 or visit our
website at www.tulsagardencenter.com
Richard Bewley, Forestry Supervisor of AEP/PSO, will
present a hands-on workshop covering the basics of
tree and shrub pruning.
Karen Watkins, OSU Master Gardener and Linnaeus Gardener, will
teach a workshop for creating a Spring Container Garden,
personalized for you.
Plants, Container and Soil will be provided.
There will be two classes taught on Wednesday, March 20th.
9:30am—11:30am and 6:30pm—8:30pm. Participants will only
attend ONE class. Please indicate which class session you’ll attend
Advance Registration is Requested!
Registration Fee is
$10 for TGC Members
or $12 for Non-Members.
To enroll, please call 918-746-5125 or
visit our website at www.tulsagardencenter.com
9:30am—12:00pm
Saturday
March 23rd
Presentations by Composting
Educators
Hands-on Demonstrations
Worm Composting
Compost Bin Designs
Saturday, March 9th,
9:30am—11:30am
Advance Registration is Requested!
Registration Fee is $8 for TGC Members
or $10 for Non-Members.
To enroll, please call 918-746-5125 or visit our
website at www.tulsagardencenter.com
6
Tulsa Garden Center News
Advance Registration is Requested!
Registration Fee is $8 for TGC Members
or $10 for Non-Members.
To enroll, please call 918-746-5125 or visit our
website at www.tulsagardencenter.com
As spring approaches, many gardeners are looking ahead to the
upcoming growing season. The Community Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma is looking to expand the Plant a Row Program and encourages anyone with a garden to plant a little extra this growing season and donate the
abundance to help feed Oklahoma’s hungry.
Whether you’re a casual backyard gardener or a full-time farmer,
you can help. No quantity is too small and donating is easy. You can dropoff produce at the Food Bank, located at 1304 N. Kenosha Ave. in Tulsa,
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays or deliver it to the Tulsa Garden Center, located at 2435 South Peoria in Tulsa, between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Last fiscal year, the Food Bank distributed more than 4 million
pounds of fresh produce, which comprised more than 25 percent of the
Food Bank’s total distribution. Fresh produce helps raise the nutritional
value of food distributed by the Food Bank and is made available to more
than 450 Partner Programs serving the 24-counties of eastern Oklahoma.
“If your garden is producing more than you can eat, before it
goes bad, consider donating it to those in need who have limited access to
fresh fruits and vegetables,” said Tara Harris, Development Manager at the
Food Bank.
Southwood Landscape and Garden Center is making it easier for
gardeners to give back by hosting their 8th annual Plant a Row for the Hungry event. On March 23, visit Southwood Landscape and Garden Center
and receive a free vegetable plant in exchange for a non-perishable donation to the Food Bank. Last year, more than 7,000 pounds of food was
collected through this event, providing 5,932 meals for those struggling
with hunger in eastern Oklahoma.
The Azaleas in Woodward Park need YOU! Come join us for
the 1st Annual Mulch Day in Woodward Park.
No experience necessary. Bring your pitchforks and rakes
and join the fun. If you don’t have a pitchfork or rake, no
problem, we’ll have extras.
Mulch Day is March 2nd,
9:00am—12:00pm
This is a great opportunity for the
public to get involved in helping beautify
Woodward Park.
Help the Azaleas produce their best color display
this Spring.
Tulsa Garden Center News
7
918-746-5125 Phone
918-746-5128 Fax
www.tulsagardencenter.com
Sun
Mon
Tue
March 2013
Wed
Thu
Fri
1
10:00am
Council of
Federated Garden
Clubs Mtg.
3
4
5
10:00am
Tulsa Garden Club
Mtg.
9:00am
Tulsa Herb Soc.
Crafting
6:30pm
Ok. Native Plant
Soc. Mtg.
6:00pm
TCC Class “Basic
Plant Science”
6
9:00am
TCC Class “Annual
and Perennial
Culture”
7
7:00pm
Tulsa Area Daylily
Soc. Mtg.
7:00pm
Cacti & Succulent
Soc. Mtg.
8
10
11
1:30pm
Tulsa Orchid Soc.
Mtg.
2
9:00am
Azalea Mulch Day
9
7:00pm
8:30am
Tulsa Area Iris
Tulsa Area Iris Soc.
Society Lecture,
Judging School
Book Review & Mtg.
9:30am
“Basics of Pruning”
Class
7:00pm
Green Country
Bonsai Soc. Mtg.
Daylight Savings
Time Starts
Sat
9:30am
Little Green Thumbs
“Seeds
& Germination”
12
9:00am
Tulsa Herb Soc.
“March Tea”
6:00pm
TCC Class “Basic
Plant Science”
13
9:00am
TCC Class “Annuals
and Perennials”
Culture
14
15
1:30pm
Nat’l. Assoc. of
Parliamentarians
Mtg.
16
9:30am
“Growing Backyard
Fruit” Seminar
6:30pm
Green Country
Water Garden Soc.
Mtg.
17
Happy St. Patrick’s
Day
18
7:00pm
African Violet Soc.
Mtg.
19
9:00am
Tulsa Herb Soc.
Crafting
11:00am
Anne Hathaway
Herb Soc. Mtg.
12:00pm
Book Discussion
Club
“Garden Makeovers”
20
10:00am
Storytime in the
Linnaeus Garden
“Planting a Garden”
6:30pm
“Creating a Spring
Container”
Workshop
12:00pm
Brown Bag Lecture
“Trees co-existing
with Electric
Service”
25
6:30pm
Calligraphy Guild
Mtg.
26
9:00am
Tulsa Herb Soc.
Crafting
7:00pm
The Hosta
Connection Mtg.
31
22
23
9:30am
Composting Fair
with the M.E.T.
9:30am
Rose Pruning Class
In Tulsa Rose
Garden
7:00pm
Tulsa Perennial
Club Mtg.
7:00pm
24
21
9:30am
“Creating a Spring
Container”
Workshop
27
9:00am
Linnaeus Garden
Monthly Mtg. “All
About Tomatoes”
28
12:30pm
TGC Board Mtg.
7:00pm
Green Country
Sierra Club Mtg.
29
30
February 14, 2013
Non-Profit
Organization
US POSTAGE
PAID
Permit No. 192
Tulsa, OK
Visit us at www.tulsagardencenter.com
News from City of Tulsa Chief Horticulturist, Maureen Turner…...
Every year I watch the super Bowl on TV with the guys in my
life. I personally don’t care too much about the game, or even who wins
or loses, unless of course it is the Green Bay Packers.
It is the commercials that grab my attention. The commercials
are outlandish and some appear to be just downright silly. These commercials tell the country about the state of affairs we are in. The commercials change according to how the economy is faring and help set future
trends. I was ecstatic to see a commercial about farmers this year. Farmers aren’t really exciting or glorious – just hard working people trying to
earn a decent living. Farmers are so dependent on the weather and
when the weather does not cooperate with our needs, it can cause a lot
of problems, usually in the form of trickle down.
So, this morning I was sitting in my office, looking out at the
lake and wondering if we are going to get any snow at all this winter. Five
minutes later I hear on the radio that we are going to. This is good news
for Tulsans as the snow will help the plants we care for continue their
winter slumber. As I walk around to many parks in Tulsa, I am seeing
bud swell on lots of trees and plants. This is a little unsettling to see. It is
not so much that the parks may not have a ‘pretty’ spring, but I worry
about the farmers that rely on these blooms for pollination and fruit set.
The pecan farmers, wheat farmers, peach farmers and many others
have been watching the winter unfold in a warm dry way. These farmers
are sitting on pins and needles hoping for a cold and wet period to unfold
so their precious blooms don’t open too early. There are so many variables that can occur to alter a harvest – some good, some not so much.
Lately, it seems like we have been getting a lot of the not so good.
When the pretty white stuff starts falling from the sky, please
don’t berate Mother Nature for her wrath, but instead celebrate the fact
that this might just be the moment that saved the farmers crop. So often
we only think about how something affects us in the here and the now.
The coming snow will help ensure that your summer peaches will be at
the supermarket or the pecans that you like to crack each fall will actually
exist. It is pretty well known that food prices will continue to rise and everything we eat will cost more, so when you see the snow, do a little
dance and be happy that there may be hope for our industrious farmers
and their crops.
Maybe we will get lucky and get enough snow to go out and
throw a snowball or make a snowman. So when others are out shoveling
walkways and cursing the cold, I’ll be out making snow angels, because
snowfall to farmers is like angels in the sky.
Have a good month!