Helping Each Other Grow! - Michiana Master Gardeners Association

Page 1
The Michiana
Broadcaster
“Helping Each Other Grow!”
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Michiana Master Gardeners Association
JANUARY 2015
Table of Contents
1
President’s Message by Loanne Harms
1-2
Day Minder and Member Meeting Dates
3-4
Extension Office Jeff Burbrink—MMGA Class of 2014
5
“Nature’s Symphony” by Jim Carpenter
6
Member Meeting Minutes for October by Linda Harkleroad
7-8
Splinters from the Board for October by Linda Harkleroad
8
Member Meeting Minutes for November by Linda Harkleroad
8
Splinters from the Board for November by Linda Harkleroad
9
“A Winter Walk” by Jim Carpenter
10
Spring Celebration Brunch/ Awards and Public Seminar—
Carole Seville Brown, author of Ecosystem Gardening
11-12
Where Does That Come From? Poinsettia by Stan Palmer
13-14
Information for our Members by Committee Chairs
15-16
Recipes From our Members by Fancheon Resler, Eggs/ Citrus
17-18
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
by Loanne Harms
Greetings, Master Gardener Friends!
It’s that time of the year when holiday wishes abound. As soon as Christmas is past
we’re saying “Happy New Year” and trying to fix 2015 in our heads so we won’t date
something wrong. A new year means a variety of things. It can mean new prospects,
dreams, plans, and aspirations and is often filled with a sense of hopefulness. It’s a
time when almost anything seems possible. Some of your dreams might include a
bigger garden, trying some new vegetables, or beating the weeds...for once.
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A new year for Michiana Master Gardeners also means a new president. (It’s
amazing how quickly the year went as vice-president!) As president, I, too,
have dreams, plans, and aspirations. Just as the new plants like Sun Spun
Orange petunias and Little Quick Fire hydrangeas are coming into view, and
we anticipate the coming of the 2015 catalogs full of new possibilities, there
are new possibilities, as well, for the association. Some, we will wait to
experience, and some we will notice right away. Throughout the year we will
all be growing new ideas about how to make the association more viable,
friendly, and true to our mission. The Board of Directors and I will be working
with you to move in this direction.
But right now I’m thankful for the fertile soil left by past presidents. In the
plant world these past presidents might well be seen as true heirlooms
whose seeds are passed down from one year to the next with reliable fruit
and flowers. They are the Brandywines and Black-Seeded Simpsons of the
association. They come with their stories of successes and challenges. They
come with a history, and with wisdom. As I begin my presidency I am
fortunate to have such a strong foundation to build upon.
We all know that our gardens grow best with a mixture of old and new plant
varieties. The best gardens are always a mix…of colors, varieties, heights, of
both flowers and vegetables. Our association is strengthened by variety as
well…new and old, young and older, men and women, experienced and notso-much. Some of my hopes for this year are that we can celebrate our
diversity, that we can share with our community with renewed energy and
passion, and that we will enjoy our time together planting and growing our
dreams in hopes of the best garden ever.
To that end, I wish each of you a very
“Happy New Year!”
Loanne
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Day Minder . . .
Watch Us Grow
5
Mon.
Garden Tour Planning Committee, Extension
Office Conference Room
7:00 p.m.
19
Mon.
Spring Celebration Planning Committee,
Harms’ home, Goshen
7:00 p.m.
27
Tues
Board Meeting, Extension Office Conference
Room
5:30 p.m.
27
Tues.
Member Meeting, Ag Hall, Larry Yoder,
“Maple Sugar”
7:00 p.m.
2
Mon.
Garden Tour Planning Committee, Extension
Office Conference Room
7:00 p.m.
16
Mon.
Spring Celebration Planning Meeting, Extension Office Conference Room
7:00 p.m.
17
Tues.
Board Meeting, Extension Office Back Table
6:00 p.m.
24
Tues.
Member Meeting, Ag Hall, Loanne Harms,
“Gardens of the Founding Presidents”
7:00 p.m.
MEETING CANCELLATION NOTICE:
If the president and/or vice-president feels it would be in the best interest of the
membership to cancel an event, a blanket email will be sent out to all members no
later than 5 p.m. on the day of the event. For those persons who do not have
access to email, a phone call will be made notifying them of the cancellation .
Member Meetings, LAST Tuesday of the month, Ag Hall, 7 p.m., unless noted
Tuesday, March 31, no meeting
Tuesday, April 28, Emma Wynn, “Cottage Gardening”
Tuesday, May 26, “Crafts”
Tuesday, June 30, Marsha Chambers. “Bees”
Monday, July 20, Fair Set-up and Pizza Party
Tuesday, August 25, “Garden Tour Appreciation Dinner”
Tuesday, September 29, Road Trip to Nelson’s Herbs, Edwardsburg, Michigan
Tuesday, October 27, Gerald Joldersma, “Tree Branch Structures”
Tuesday, November 24, “Thanks-for-Giving Carry-In Celebration”
No Meeting for December
Tuesday, January 25, 2016, “Historic Trees”
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Board Meetings, THIRD Tuesday of the month, Extension Office Conference Room, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17
Tuesday, April 21
Tuesday, May 19
Tuesday, June 16
Tuesday, July 14
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday September 15
Tuesday, October 20
Tuesday, November 17
Tuesday, December 15
Garden Tour Planning Meetings, 1st Monday, Extension Office Conference Room, 7 p.m.
Monday, March 2nd
Monday, April 6th
Monday, May 4th
Monday, June 1st
Monday, July 6th
Saturday, July 11th, GARDEN TOUR, CONCORD HIGH SCHOOL AREA
Miscellaneous Meetings
Spring Celebration Meetings, 3rd Monday, Location TBA, 7:00 p.m.
Spring Celebration — Saturday, March 7, Clinton Frame Mennonite Church
Annual MMGA/SWCD Tree Sale — April 11, Goshen Fairgrounds
State Master Gardener Conference—June 4-6, in Evansville, Vandenberg County
International Master Gardener Conference—September 22-25, in Council Bluffs, IA
Advanced Training at AgDia—March 31—details TBA
Members: If you notice
ELKHART COUNTY 4-H FAIR
any discrepancies on
JULY 24 TO AUGUST 1, 2015
dates, please let us
“Planning Toward a Bright Future”
know so we can correct
the calendar.
Thank you.
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NEWS RELEASE —EXT. EDUCATOR JEFF BURBRINK
(Published in the Goshen News, December 24, 2014)
Fourteen local people have completed the first phase of the Purdue
Master Gardener program in Elkhart County. Jeff Burbrink, Extension
Educator with the Purdue Extension Service in Elkhart County and
coordinator of the local Master Gardener program, explained that
Master Gardeners is a volunteer training program, not just a series
of gardening classes. Participants have been attending training for the past four months and
have passed an exam.
The participants will now be giving volunteer time back to the community in exchange for
the knowledge they have gained. The focus of the volunteer time is education, with the
intent of making our community a better place to live. The Master Gardener Class of 2014 is
planning to offer several seminars this winter and spring on gardening related subjects.
Brochures for the Master Gardener seminars will be available soon at local garden centers
in Elkhart County.
“It has been fun watching this group gel,” Burbrink said. “They have been working
enthusiastically on their winter seminars. I have a feeling this class is going to have some
memorable seminars this year!” In addition, Master Gardeners are available to help with
groups in the community, including schools, service clubs, and church groups. The Master
Gardeners operate a horticultural hotline at the Extension Office from April through
September each year. About 1,000 horticultural questions were answered in 2014 through
the hotline.
This is the 20th Master Gardener class held in Elkhart County since the program was started
in 1996. Burbrink suggested that interested people call Purdue Extension Office in Goshen
at (574) 533-0554 to be placed on a mailing list for an application for the next class to be
offered this fall.
Pictured above are members of the 2014 Elkhart County Master Gardener class: Front Row
from Left: Connie Garber, Goshen; Jean Muehlfelt, Elkhart; Bud Mosier, Elkhart; Gary
Graber, Bristol; and Beth Graber, Bristol. Second Row from Left: Meg Mitzel, Elkhart; Debbie
Mann, Goshen; Vickie Boyle, Bristol; Jenny Schrock, Goshen; Tori Fehl, Wakarusa; , Kathy
Radican, South Bend; Lisa Holmes, Union, Michigan; Judy Jordan, Elkhart; and Nick Jordan,
Elkhart.
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Nature's Symphony
A winter poem by Jim Carpenter
Here in the woods I hear the sound,
of the air moving through the trees.
Like some age-old symphony,
with the wind playing upon the leaves.
The birds nearby lend their voice,
with quite a melodious passion.
It seems they like to constantly sing,
in a contest of aviary fashion.
The insects also play a role,
in this song of complex sounds.
With all the subtle buzzing of the bees,
and the crickets chirping that abounds.
The pond nearby plays its part,
to make this song complete.
It seems a constant contest,
in which all the frogs compete.
I love the sounds of nature,
and the incredible song it sings.
I listen to it quite closely,
and appreciate the joy it brings.
Written November 2014
EEOC STATEMENT
It is the policy of the Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service that all persons
have equal opportunity and access to its educational programs, services, activities, and
facilities without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age national origin or ancestry, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, disability, or status as a veteran. Purdue
University is an Affirmative Action institution.
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MEMBER MEETING MINUTES FOR OCTOBER
President Leah Lichtenberger called the October 28th meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. with
64 members present. Barb Heeter introduced the evening’s speaker, George Kallimani,
from McKinley Terrace Garden Center. Kallimani explained the many new varieties that
appear every year and offer a variety of heights and colors for gardens of varying sizes.
On a motion by Loanne Harms, seconded by Jim Carpenter, the August minutes as
printed in the Broadcaster were approved. Educator Jeff Burbrink then distributed the
new Purdue Volunteer Application and Agreement to those present and explained that
this form would now have to be filled out yearly. It provides information to the
university about each Master Gardener in the state and allows for a yearly background
check. Jeff needs to verify ID’s for all members as they submit the form. Nominating
chair Jim Carpenter and his committee of Pat Watson and Mary Ann Martin introduced
the four candidates for the two open Board positions: Kathleen Cripe, Dan Carlson,
Cathy Fortin, and Laura Stevens. The committee distributed ballots. During
refreshments provided by Sherry McClure, Christie Egendoerfer, and Susie Klepinger,
members voted for the Board positions; Jeff collected the new forms from Purdue; and
Treasurer Bert Evans collected dues and member information sheets. In committee
reports, Program Co-chair Barb Heeter stated that the sign-up sheet for refreshments
for the 2015 meetings was available. Also available was the sign-up sheet for food for
the Thanks-for-Giving meeting November 25th at 6:30 p.m. in Ag Hall. Members may eat
for free, but guests need to pay $2.50. Barb needs reservations by November 14th. Nonperishable food items and cash will be collected for a food bank selected by President
Lichtenberger. Barb needed help in setting up tables at 4:30 p.m. the day of the meal,
but no volunteers came forward. Barb also pointed out that the order forms for the tree
sale are now available. Treasurer Bert Evans reported expenses of $371.94 and income
of $57.21 for a balance of $2,508.39 in checking; $20,665.86 in money market; $136.89
in savings; and $200.00 in petty cash for a total of $23,511.14. On a motion by Carol
Swartzendruber, seconded by Paul Miles, the Treasurer’s Report was approved. Bert
reminded members that they needed to pay their dues by the end of November under
the new policy. He also stated that the “surplus” amount in the treasury created by the
two state conferences is decreasing yearly, and members need to be aware of that. In
regards to that decrease, Spring Celebration ticket chair Linda Harkleroad stated that
the membership needed to vote on paying for member meals at the awards dinner on
March 7th. A great deal of discussion followed on the pros and cons of taking money
from dues to pay for the meals of members. J Whitmer moved that the brunch be paid
for from member dues, with a second by Mayrea Reusser. A great deal more discussion
followed. Marilyn Miles called the question and, on a vote of 39 to 10, the motion
passed. Broadcaster liaison Kate Rink stated the November issue would be out soon
and reminded members there would be no December issue. Kate also announced that
the Fair Board had hired a new manager and treasurer, and had voted to move forward
on the new CR 36 entrance and widening of Gate 7. Heidi Zavatsky reported that the
community garden had been put to bed with a record of 1,415 pounds of produce
donated. They are waiting for storage in one of the hangars to become available.
Website manager Craig Stiver stated that the software that is used for our MMGA
website is no longer supported, and a new site will need to be designed, at considerable
cost. The Board is looking at options and will report to the membership when a
proposal is formulated. Merchandiser Kathleen Cripe announced “tonight only”
specials. Program chair Laura Stevens stated programs for 2015 have been finalized. Set
-up volunteer Craig Stiver emphasized that more help is needed to set-up Ag Hall at 6
p.m. before every meeting. Len Harms, Garden Tour chair, announced that education
chair and co-chair, as well as merchandise and publicity/media co-chairs are still
needed. There was no old business.
Member Meeting Minutes for October Continued...
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In new business, Jim Carpenter announced the two newly elected Board members:
Kathleen Cripe and Cathy Fortin. Kate Rink also pointed out there were 17 flats of iris
outside the building available for the taking. Door prizes were won by Sue Jones, Jean
Rombke, Ruth Yeomans, Mary Davis, Brad Lantzer, Dean Preheim-Bartel, Christina
Goldsborough, Anne Overmyer, Marilyn Horvath, Ellen Longenbaugh, Tandy Stutsman,
and Leah Lichtenberger. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at
8:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Linda Harkleroad, secretary
SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD FOR OCTOBER
President Leah Lichtenberg called the October 28th meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. with
all members present. Treasurer Bert Evans reported expenses of $371.94 (programs
and Garden Tour) and income of $57.21 (Garden Tour and interest) for a balance of
$2,508.39 in checking; $20,665.86 in money market; $136.89 in savings and $200.00 in
petty cash for a total of $23,511.14. Dues monies are being collected but are still in the
hands of Nancy Borkholder and will be forwarded when all criteria have been checked.
With the transfer of treasurer from Jim Bare to Bert Evans, an audit of the records is
needed. Bert will approach Penny Stroup and ask her to audit the books. On a motion
by Mary Morgan, seconded by Loanne Harms, the 2015 Budget totaling $19,820.00
was approved.
Respectfully submitted, Linda Harkleroad, secretary
MEMBER MEETING MINUTES FOR NOVEMBER
President Leah Lichtenberger called the November 25th meeting to order at 6:30 p.m..
with 50 members and 19 guests present. Leah thanked those who helped organize and
set-up the dinner and introduced eight members of the Class of 2014. She also stated
that the non-perishable items and cash donated by the members would go to the
Salvation Army. After the blessing, given by Penny Stroup, the members and their
guests enjoyed a wonderful pre-Thanksgiving feast. In the brief business meeting that
followed, on a motion by Jim Carpenter, seconded by Kent Yoder, the September
minutes as printed in the November Broadcaster were approved. Treasurer Bert Evans
reported $189.85 in expenses and $128.37 in income for the month. This leaves a
balance of $2,436.54 in checking; $20,671.13 in money market; $136.89 in savings;
and $200 in petty cash for a total of $23,444.56. Bert reminded members that the cutoff for filling out the membership information sheet, recording volunteer and
education hours, and paying dues is November 30th. Members of the Board will
contact those who have not renewed their membership by then. The absolute cut-off
for members who wish to be included in the directory is December 30th. Spring
Celebration ticket chair Linda Harkleroad announced that the brunch for the March 7th
awards dinner will be a breakfast buffet and will cost $11 for guests. Tickets will be
available for both the dinner and the seminar at the January and February
membership meetings. Program chair Laura Stevens stated that all programs for 2015
have been scheduled. Tree sale chair Barb Heeter reported that sign
up sheets for volunteers would be available beginning at the January
member meeting. There being no further business, the meeting
adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Linda Harkleroad, secretary
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SPLINTERS FROM THE BOARD FOR NOVEMBER
President Leah Lichtenberger called the November 17th meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with
members Jim Carpenter, Bert Evans, Linda Harkleroad, Loanne Harms, Mary Morgan, Kate
Rink, Bill Roberts, Jenny Wisolek, Heidi Zavatsky and educator Jeff Burbrink present. Absent
was Bill Albaugh.
Treasurer Bert Evans stated that Penny Stroup had completed the audit of the books with no
discrepancies found. In the monthly report, Bert reported $189.85 in expenses (programs and
Spring Celebration) and $128.37 in income (garden tour and community garden fees). This
leaves a balance of $2,436.54 in checking; $20,671.13 in money market; $136.89 in savings;
and $200.00 in petty cash for a total of $23,444.56. Jeff Burbrink stated the Class of 2014
seminar groups are progressing well. Jeff has decided not to host the MG Leadership Program
as he has been appointed chair of Purdue Extension’s Land Use Committee. This will require
some time and traveling on his part, so he will not have time to organize the Leadership
Program at this time.
There was an error in addition, and the community garden total was closer to 1.200 pounds
donated. They have moved into their storage space at the old terminal building, and the
airport will till the gardens at their convenience. The Garden Tour committee is considering a
change in the plant sale for 2016. A suggestion has been made to move the sale out of the
Tour and make it a separate event to be held in May. This would require a new committee to
be formed. Jeff suggested that March 31st, the regular MMGA member meeting night, which
will be omitted due to the Spring Celebration, would be a perfect time for an additional
meeting field trip to AgDia—Jeff is working on it; stay tuned for more details!
The set-up committee continues to need help before every meeting. It was suggested that
perhaps a sign up would be helpful to encourage members to commit to showing up and
helping. Good news came from Webmaster liaison Jim Carpenter. Member Poorna Bhagat’s
husband has created his own website using Internet sources and has volunteered to help Craig
Stiver in creating a new MMGA website using the same technique. The only cost is $6.50 per
month for technical support.
Loanne Harms stated that she had met with a committee working with the Indiana
Bicentennial Celebration plans and hoped to include the Spring Celebration and Garden Tour
on the state calendar of events. A Garden Tour along the Lincoln Highway would be a perfect
tie-in, if that were possible.
Respectfully submitted, Linda Harkleroad, secretary
Attention MMGA Members:
Articles for the February 2015 Broadcaster will be due on January 15th. Please
email items to Co-Editor Sherrie Zou before this date. Note: Although we can
easily accept files in the .pdf format, it is easier for us to publish them using
Word or .doc files. For photos, please use .jpeg. Please submit in this format.
Thank you.
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r
e
t
in
W
A Winter Walk
A winter poem by Jim Carpenter
I went on a winter walk today,
through the snowy solitude of the wood.
It was quite cold, with a bit of a breeze.
But I was bundled as I should.
As I walked deeper into the stillness,
of the stark and lonely trees,
I felt a sense of wonderment,
in the simple beauty that I could see.
The majesty of the sky above,
the diamond brilliance of the snow.
The vivid contrast of dark and light,
it was really quite a show.
Only a simple pleasure,
for just a simple man.
But I feel blessed to have such joy,
in nature so near at hand.
My bank account may be small,
but I have riches beyond compare.
To be able to appreciate,
the blessings that nature has to share.
Written December 2014
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MICHIANA MASTER GARDENERS’ ASSOCIATION
16TH ANNUAL
SPRING CELEBRATION
MEMBER BRUNCH AND AWARDS PROGRAM
Speaker: Carole Sevilla Brown
Saturday, March 7th, 2015
9:30 a.m. — 11:30 a.m.
Clinton Frame Mennonite Church
63846 County Road 35
Goshen, Indiana 46528
The menu will be a breakfast haystack which will
include scrambled eggs, a choice of bacon, sausage
or ham, biscuits, gravy, cheese, hash browns, fruit,
cinnamon rolls, coffee and juice. However, it is not
an all-you-can-eat buffet. The awards program will
follow the meal.
Reservations Required: Guests—$11.00
Tickets available at January and February Membership Meetings;
via e-mail to [email protected];
or mail to Linda Harkleroad, 8022 East Cherokee Road
Syracuse, Indiana 46567
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MICHIANA MASTER GARDENERS’ ASSOCIATION
16TH ANNUAL
SPRING CELEBRATION AND
PUBLIC SEMINAR
Title:
Speaker:
‘Gardening for “Life”’
Carole Sevilla Brown
Author — Ecosystem Gardening (book and blog)
Managing Editor— Beautiful Wildlife Gardens (website)
Managing Editor — Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens (website)
When:
Saturday, March 7th, 2015
Where:
Clinton Frame Mennonite Church
63846 County Road 35
Goshen, Indiana 46526
Time:
12:00 p.m.
Doors open to public
Shop vendors, visit educators
1:00 p.m.
Speaker/ Program
3:45 p.m.
Program Ends/ Book signing
Tickets:
$10.00
Presale
$12.00
Day of seminar at the door
Presale tickets may be ordered by check. Mail to:
MMGA, Purdue Extension Elkhart County
17746 County Road 34, Goshen, Indiana 46528
Tickets will not be mailed. They can be picked up at the door on the day of
the seminar.
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Where Did That Come From?
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
By Stan Palmer
This holiday season will once again highlight the bold and spectacular red of
the Poinsettia flower. The Poinsettia is such a familiar and popular plant that
I almost had decided not to “reinvent the wheel” by writing another article
about it. But then, thinking about the theme of this series, I decided that
maybe I would be pointing out facts not normally written. The Poinsettia is
native to Mexico. It is found in the wild in deciduous tropical forest at
moderate elevations from southern Sinaloa down the entire Pacific coast of
Mexico to Chiapas and Guatemala. It is also found in the interior in the hot,
seasonally dry forests of Guerrero, Oaxaca, and Chiapas.
Euphorbia pulcherrima is a scraggly tree in the wild typically reaching a
height of 2–13 feet. It not only bears the familiar red flowers, but there are
populations of wild plants that have white flowers. In the fourteenth to
sixteenth centuries, the Aztecs used the Poinsettia leaves to dye fabric for
clothing and the sap for medicinal purposes, including helping control fevers.
They also considered the red color a symbol of purity, and so Poinsettias
were traditionally part of religious ceremonies. In Mexico and Guatemala,
the Poinsettia is called the “Flower of the Holy Night” referring to Christmas
Eve and has been used for centuries to decorate churches during the
Christmas season.
Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, an amateur botanist and first United States
ambassador to Mexico, introduced the plant that became known as the
Poinsettia to this country. He discovered a shrub with brilliantly colored red
leaves growing by the side of the road in Taxco, Mexico, in 1828 and sent
cuttings home to his plantation in Greenville, South Carolina. December 12 is
National Poinsettia Day. The United States has observed this official day since
the mid-1800s. It honors the man and the plant he introduced. Poinsett died
December 12, 1851.
Most botanists at that time dismissed the Poinsettia as a weed. Fortunately,
Poinsett continued to study and breed this plant in his greenhouse, sharing
plants with his horticulturist friends. It soon gained acceptance as a holiday
plant, despite its very short bloom time. (It wasn't until the 1960s that
researchers were able to successfully breed plants to bloom more than just a
few days.)
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Where Did That Come From?
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
(Continued)
Albert Ecke emigrated from Germany to Los Angeles in 1900, opening a dairy
and orchard in the Eagle Rock area. He became intrigued by the Poinsettia
plant and sold them from street stands. His son, Paul Ecke, developed the
grafting technique, but it was the third generation of Eckes, Paul Ecke Jr.,
who was responsible for advancing the association between the plant and
Christmas. He sent free plants to television stations for them to display on air
from Thanksgiving to Christmas. He also appeared on television to promote
the plants.
Until the 1990s, the Ecke family, who had moved their operation to Encinitas,
California, in 1923, had a virtual monopoly on Poinsettias owing to a
technique that made their plants much more attractive. They produced a
fuller, more compact plant by grafting two varieties of Poinsettia together. A
Poinsettia left to grow on its own will naturally take an open, somewhat
weedy look. The Eckes' technique made it possible to get every seedling to
branch, resulting in a bushier plant.
There are over 100 varieties of Poinsettias. Though once only available in red,
there are now Poinsettias in pink, white, yellow, purple, salmon, and multicolors. The red Poinsettia still dominates over other color options. Poinsettias
contribute over $250 million to the U.S. economy at the retail level.
California is the top U.S. Poinsettia-producing state.
(The source of this information was primarily Wikipedia and the University of
Illinois Extension bulletin, “The Poinsettia Page”.)
Be safe and keep that garden growing!
-Stan Palmer-
Page 15
INFORMATION FOR OUR MEMBERS
Program and Refreshment Committee
I hope you have had a good holiday season and are now able to
catch your breath. With three holidays so close together, we can get very busy. For
those of you who were able to attend the November Thanks-For-Giving dinner, I do
hope you enjoyed yourself. I want to thank everyone for all of the wonderful dishes
you brought to share. I would also like to thank everyone for the donations of items
and money which we gave to the Salvation Army. I am certain it was well received.
Looking to the January 27th MMGA membership meeting, we have a very interesting
program planned. Larry Yoder will be giving us information on Maple Sugar. It will
soon be time to start tapping the trees to collect that precious sap. We will be
welcoming some new members to our organization at the January MMGA meeting.
Some of the members of the new class of Master Gardeners will be joining us. Please
introduce yourselves, and be ready to answer any questions they may have about us.
This is a good way to recruit new people to help on our committees.
Looking ahead to the February 24th MMGA meeting, we will be entertained by two
of our own members. Loanne and Len Harms will be giving a presentation on “The
Presidents’ Gardens”. You can bet they will have some great pictures to show us!
As we are coming into the time of year when we can never depend on the weather,
please remember if any of the meetings are canceled due to inclement weather, you
will be notified via email by 5 p.m. the evening of the meeting. Please refresh
yourself on the note printed in the Broadcaster.
Submitted by Barb Heeter, Program and Refreshment Committee Co-Chair
*********************************************************************
Tree Sale Committee
Remember our annual Tree Sale will be here before you know it. It will be held on
April 11th in the Sheep Swine Arena at the fairgrounds. I will have signup sheets at
the January 27th MMGA meeting for help in prepping the trees as well as helping the
day of the sale. We will need a lot of people to help on these days, and for those of
you new to the organization, this is a good way to get to know the members as well
as earning those precious volunteer hours.
If you are planning to order trees get your orders in soon. Remember
you can also purchase trees the day of the sale. however they go fast.
Submitted by Barb Heeter, Tree Sale Committee Co-Chair
Looking Far, Far Ahead… Garden Tour Plant Sale
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WHAT: Garden Tour Plant Sale
WHY: The Garden Tour is our primary source of revenue. Making
beautiful, unusual, and healthy plants available to others is one of
the things we are passionate about, and donating and selling our
own stock is a terrific way to generate much needed funds for the
services and programs our group provides.
HOW: We are preparing now! We would like to encourage you to
envision your garden. What gorgeous plant do you have that
needs rejuvenation through division? What plants have gone bonkers, seeding and
coming up everywhere? We would like to know what you can share! At the next
couple of meetings we'll have a sign-up sheet, which will help us to:
1) Balance our plant variety for bloom time and culture requirements.
2) Make colorful plant tags, depicting each plant in its full glory and including
instructions for its care and culture.
3) Inform us as to who needs help dividing and potting up their plants.
4) Inform us as to who has space and/or time to nurture potted plants for the
month or two between digging and the sale.
5) Inform us as to who can transport plants to the sale for those who cannot get
them there.
6) Inform us as to who can start plants from seeds.
WHEN and WHERE: January meeting--and ongoing!
CHALLENGE: We encourage every member to commit to having a hand in getting a
dozen plants to the sale. That does not mean that everyone pots up 12 of their own
plants, but it does mean that everyone is prepared to be involved in the process in a
tangible way. It's FUN! Sharing our love of plants is what we DO. Join the buzz, and
tell us your "awesome plant" stories! Share your great ideas with us! Help make this
sale a success! Thank you!
Kathy Hollenberg and J Whitmer,
Garden Tour Plant Sale Committee Co-Chairs
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12th Annual Porter County Gardening Show
January 24th, 2015, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST
at the Porter County Expo Center
Admission is $10, Children under 12 are
free
Free Parking, Free Seeds, Free Door Prizes
And much more
Page 17
RECIPES FROM OUR MASTER GARDENERS
Submitted by Fancheon Resler
If you bought a case of oranges before Christmas and have a few left, don’t let them
go to waste. Squeeze them for a nutritious hot or cold beverage. Of course
reconstituted frozen orange juice may also be used in these recipes.
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CITRUS MORNING SUNRISE
This is a smooth, nutritious beverage. Makes 2-3 servings.
1 orange, juiced
1/2 grapefruit, juiced
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 cup chopped fresh or frozen pineapple
1 banana
8 ounces plain yogurt
1/2 cup cranberry or apple juice
Put all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.
HOT CITRUS COMFORT
Here’s a tasty hot beverage. Single serving.
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1 orange, juiced
1 lemon, juiced
1 cup brewed tea
2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Combine all ingredients and bring to a boil. Turn heat down and simmer for 3
minutes. *For more nutrition and flavor, use 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root.
COCONUT BLIZZARD
Makes 4 servings.
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2 cups orange juice
2 cups non-fat vanilla yogurt
1-1/2 cups pineapple tidbits in own juice
1 cup ice cubes
1-1/2 teaspoons coconut extract
Blend all until smooth and frothy. Pour into chilled glasses.
RECIPES FROM OUR MASTER GARDENERS
Submitted by Fancheon Resler
Page 18
BAKED OMELET ROLL
Bake in a 9’x13” well-greased pan at 425 degrees for 20 minutes or until set:
 6 eggs
 1 cup milk
 1/2 cup flour
 1 teaspoon salt (less if using bacon)
 1/4 teaspoon pepper
 1 cup chopped ham or bacon crumbles
 chopped bell pepper and onion
 1 cup shredded Cheddar
Beat together eggs, milk, flour, and seasonings. Fold in meat and vegetables. Pour
into greased pan and bake as directed. When set, remove and sprinkle with cheese.
Roll up in pan from short side. (Loosen gently with pancake turner as you go.) Place
on cutting board, and cut into 1-inch slices.
Makes 8 servings. Serve fresh or freeze for later. (Cool completely and slice to freeze.
Freezes well. Thaw in refrigerator, then heat in microwave to serve.)
OMELET IN A BAG
This is a somewhat unusual recipe used as a way to make individualized omelets
when entertaining or even for a family treat. It requires a large stock pot of boiling
water if making four or more servings. Have guests write their names on a doublezipper quart-size freezer bag with permanent marker.
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Crack two (2) large or extra large eggs into the bag; shake to break the yoke and
mix them.
Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheddar and Swiss cheese, chopped
onion and peppers, tomatoes, pre-cooked hash browns, chopped ham and
bacon, sausage crumbles, etc.
Add chosen ingredients to the individual bags and shake. Make sure to get the
air out of the bag then zip it tight.
Place the bags into rolling, boiling water in a large pot for exactly 13 minutes.
Don’t crowd the bags. Open the bags and the omelet will slip right out onto a
serving plate.
"January is here, with eyes that keenly glow,
A frost-mailed warrior astride a
shadowy steed of snow.”
~Edgar Fawcett
JANUARY 2015
(574) 533-0554
The Michiana Master Gardeners Association is a not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to the improvement of the community.
Members of the Association have completed the requirements of the Master Gardener Volunteer Training Program, working in affiliation
with the Purdue Extension Service of Elkhart County. Its specific aim is to improve the quality of life in the community by providing
information and technical assistance in the area of home horticulture through the use of trained and certified volunteers.
MICHIANA MASTER GARDENERS ASSOCIATION
ELKHART COUNTY
Mission Statement