Volunteer Brunswick County Master Gardener Association Newsletter November 2014

Brunswick County Master Gardener
Volunteer Association Newsletter
November 2014
Volume VII Issue 10
President's Message
Joanne Bendy, President BCMGVA
Certified Master Gardeners
Check the NCSU Website for opportunities to fulfill
your 40 hours are required to remain qualified. 2014
requirements are minimum 10 hours Hotline and 10
hours Botanical Garden. Click here
Scheduled Speakers
Nov 27 – Tom Ericson, Transplanted Garden redux
Other Events of Interest
Holiday party
This year's party is
scheduled for December
11th at 11:30pm. More
information will be
coming as we get closer to
the event.
I have really enjoyed being your
President this year. My goal was
always to listen to the membership
and make positive changes.
We now have a Trip Committee and
soon will have a Plant Sale
Committee. We will have only one
Spring Plant Sale and the Recognition Luncheon will
take place on our Member Meeting day in April. I
promoted a Member Discount Card, a give back benefit
for your volunteering. I believe these changes will
improve the continuity of our membership.
A special thanks to Bob Gelinas and Marianne Bell,
who both kept their positions for a second year during
my transition. I would also like to thank all the Board
members and Committee Chairs for their dedication
and support. When ever I asked for a volunteer, my
requests were always answered.
You are a wonderful group!!
It was my pleasure,
Joanne
Regular meeting on November 20th at 9:00 am
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Newsletter
Fall Turf Care
November 2014
Master Gardeners Board
Elected Officers:
By Donna C. Coulson,
2014 Master Gardener Intern
Matt Martin of the NC State Research Facility in
Castle Hayne spoke at the October Master Gardener
monthly meeting about turf maintenance in the fall
season.
Our first resource, of course, is NC State’s Turf Files:
www.turffiles.ncsu.edu. If you’re working the
Information Line or answering neighbors’ questions,
it’s your best friend for turf questions. The web site
identifies turf diseases, dedicates information
sections to Bermuda, Centipede and Zoysia grasses,
contains maintenance calendars and has information on cool-season tall
fescue.
Matt’s Top 3 Hints for fall care is to (1) Turn your irrigation system OFF
around mid-September. He estimates our area had about 10” of rainfall
between August and September—no more water is needed. (2) Watch out
for fungal diseases which tend to appear in the fall as a result of too much
water; (3) Avoid using nitrogen-rich fertilizer in the fall for Centipede, Zoysia
and St. Augustine grasses—except Bermuda grass which will tolerate a
little nitrogen. Potassium is OK.
Here are Matt’s 7 Techniques for Improving Fungicide Performance for turf:
1. Maintain a healthy turf year-round.
2. Get an accurate diagnosis of any turf problems—don’t secondguess yourself. Soil test time.
3. Select the best fungicide for the type of grass. Read your labels,
consult the web page.
4. Time your applications properly. Read up on the best time for
applying fungicide.
5. Put fungicide where the whole pathogen is – like Large Patch or
Ground Pearl.
6. Provide uniform coverage on the target site—if you buy the Cadillac
of fungicide and misapply it, the treatment will be ineffective.
7. Prevent fungicide resistance.
Matt mentioned that nematodes, viruses, mycoplasma and bacterial
organisms can cause turf disease. Such infestation may require totally
switching grasses and replanting the lawn. No one likes to do that yet it
may be the best solution to continuing problems. Here’s another helpful
website for problem grasses with pathogens: www.turfpathology.org
Page 2
President
Joanne Bendy
[email protected]
910-575-0071
Vice president
Mike Duffy
[email protected]
805-975-5767
Treasurer
Bob Gelinas
[email protected]
910-755-7578
Recording Secretary
Marianne Bell
[email protected]
910-253-6697
Corresponding Secretary
Ann Gallman
[email protected]
910-363-4027
Volunteer Chairs:
Banquets/Parties
Sonia Smith
[email protected]
203-249-5911
Gardens / Webmaster
Fred Mina
[email protected]
910-278-6205
History
Barbara McCoy
[email protected]
910-575-7679
Library
Grace Wrigley
[email protected]
910-846-3341
Membership
Judy Ruth
[email protected]
910-854-0184
NCMGVA Liaison
Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman
[email protected]
910-754-4148
Newsletter Editor
Hank Rapp
[email protected]
910-253-4071
Restitution
Anita Handler
[email protected]
910-845-0669
History/Publicity
Mary Dixon
[email protected]
910-755-6873
Donna Coulson
[email protected]
910-399-6321
Trip Planning
Ellen Pecina
[email protected]
910-575-6877
Michelle Spencer
[email protected]
910-620-5954
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Newsletter
Puréed Winter Squash & Carrots
with Tangerines & Brown Butter
by Yankee Magazine in Nov 2013
Total Time: 40 minutes
Hands On Time: 20 minutes
Yield: 6 servings
November 2014
Dotti Hunkele's PUMPKIN PIE BISCOTTI
Served at the October Membership meeting, here's the
recipe:
Ingredients
Bright-orange squash and
carrots are puréed with
tangerine juice and zest to
make this light side dish,
topped with a nutty brown
butter. You can make this dish up to a day ahead and reheat before
serving.
Ingredients
½ CUP PACKED BROWN SUGAR
1 ½ TEASPOONS PUMPKIN PIE SPICE
¼ CUP CANOLA OIL
¼ TSP. SALT
¼ CUP CANNED PUMPKIN
¼ TSP. BAKING SODA
¼ CUP MAPLE SYRUP
¾ CUP WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS
2 EGGS-LARGE
½ TSP. PUMPKIN PIE SPICE
2 ½ CUPS ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
1 TSP. BAKING POWER
Preparation
3-1/2 pounds peeled butternut squash (or other winter
squash) flesh, cut into 1-inch pieces (from 4 pounds of
whole squash)
2 large carrots or 4 small carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch
pieces
Zest from 2 tangerines, about 2 teaspoons
1/3 cup tangerine juice (from the same 2 tangerines)
2 tablespoons honey
Kosher or sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 tablespoons salted butter, plus more for dish
Preparation
Butter a medium-size (2-quart) casserole dish; set aside. Bring
a large pot of water to boil over high heat. Add the squash and
carrots, and cook until tender when tested with a small, sharp
knife, about 12 minutes. Drain.
Working in batches, transfer the vegetables to a food
processor and blend, adding some of the zest, tangerine juice,
and honey to each batch. Place the puréed vegetables into the
prepared casserole dish. Stir in salt and pepper to taste.
In a small skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Cook
until it just begins to turn a rich amber color, 2 to 3 minutes.
(Watch the butter carefully so that it doesn’t burn.) Stir half
the butter into the cooked vegetables; drizzle the remaining
butter on top. You may cover and refrigerate the dish for up to
a day, or serve immediately. To reheat, warm the casserole in a
325° oven until hot, 10 to 12 minutes.
When you do all the talking you only learn
what you already know. --Anonymous
Page 3
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat brown
sugar, oil, pumpkin, maple syrup, and eggs in
large mixing bowl until smooth. In a 8 cup medium
bowl mix together flour, baking powder, 1 ½
teaspoons, baking soda, and salt. Stir into
pumpkin mixture until well combined. Knead dough
on a floured surface until smooth( about a
minute).Divide dough in half and shape each half
into 10x3 inch rectangle on a greased cookie
sheet. Bake 25 mins. Or until toothpick inserted
in center comes out clean. Cool on a cookie sheet
15 minutes. Cut crosswise into ½ thick slices.
Turn slices cut side down on a cookie sheet. Turn
oven down to 300 degrees and bake sliced biscotti
10-15 minutes, turning once until crisp and light
brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet to
wire rack, cool completely. For chocolate
topping: Put white chocolate chips and ½ teaspoon
pumpkin pie spice into a measuring cup, microwave
on low 2-3 minutes. You can also use dark
chocolate chips in place of the white chips.
Recipe by the Sun News provided by Dotti Hunkele
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Newsletter
November 2014
September Meeting Minute Briefs.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
See http://tidewatercamelliaclub.org/ for details
•
•
•
Pres Joanne Bendy opened the meeting at 9:00 with about 35
members in attendance.
Dotti Hunkele and Dominique Loewenstein hosted the
refreshment break.
Treasurer, Bob Gelinas, presented the Treasurer report with a
balance of $29,869.72
Hardscape – Fred Mina thanked all who helped with the
boardwalk project
Speakers – Grace Wrigley is working on 2015 schedule
Corr. Secretary Ann Gallman was not available but reported
sending several cards during the month.
Publicity – Donna Coulson stated that a press release for the
plant sale had appeared in several local newspapers. Without
Gina's help the distribution was impacted.
NCEMGVA Rep, Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman, reported on a
probable 2015 conference in Durham and a proposed change to
by-laws that would relieve the requirement for an annual
conference.
Hort Agent Sam Marshall gave thanks for the boardwalk work
and spoke briefly about the Advanced Propagation class trip to
Biltmore and Ashes Japanese Maple farm. He said that the staff
is planning for 2015 activities.
Hort Assistant Michelle Spencer spoke about the boardwalk
construction and plant ID labeling.
President Bendy - the possibility of sponsoring a state
conference in Brunswick County in 2016 was again discussed.
Consensus seemed to not support it. The board will make a
final decision with consideration of the comments received.
Jeanne Pavero presented the slate of candidates for 2015
officers (see separate item in newsletter for details).
President Bendy asked for comments on a proposal for a
standing Plant Sale Committee. After discussion a motion was
made to create such a committee. The board will take this under
consideration.
Proposed slate of officers for 2015
At the November membership meeting we will elect the
officers for next year. The slate proposed by the nominating
committee of Jeanne Pavero, Dominique Lowenstein, and
Ellie Bierman is as follows:
President: Maryann Horgan
Vice President : Michael Kibler
Treasurer: Merry MacBarb
Corresponding Secretary: Ann Gallman
Recording Secretary: Vicki Fuhrmann
Nominating committee:
Judy Ruth
Craig Farland
Nominations from the floor will be accepted.
Make peace with your past so it won't
spoil the present.
Page 4
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Newsletter
November 2014
All things pass...
Patience attains all that it strives for.
-- St. Teresa of Avila
Soil Testing - Fee Reminder
Soil samples can be taken any time of the year for analysis.
Historically, soil reports have been free for North Carolina
residents, but as of last year, all soil samples submitted
during the peak season months (December 1 – March 31)
will be charged a $4 processing fee per sample. Getting
your samples in now will avoid this fee. Having your soil test
results in hand before the spring season gives you more
time to amend your soil, lowering the last-minute scramble
to get your soil ready for spring planting.
Recognition Awards
NCEMGVA News
The following is a list of awrds presented at the June social event
in recognition of individual volunteer service to BCMGVA:
submitted by Shirley Waggoner-Eisenman
Report from the NCEMGVA Board of Directors Meeting,
October 7, 2014, in Wayne County:
•
2015 conference is being planned by the Board
of Directors for fall 2015. Bylaws are being
updated so, if necessary, a conference would be
held only on election years (every two years).
•
NCEMGVA Liaison to NCSU reports that in the
future an extension office may only have the
following: director, assistant, agricultural agent,
4-H agent and 1/2 family consumer science
agent.
•
Endowment fund is now a little over $12,000.
Only the interest can be used for projects.
Presently a new Master Gardener Manual is
being prepared. Hopefully it will be ready for use
by summer or late fall of 2015.
•
2014 conference hosted by 5 counties was able
to share a profit of over $12,000.
The next Board of Directors meeting will be January
28th in Rowan County.
2014 Awards for Volunteer time through Dec 31 2013
5 Year Pins
Joanne Bendy
John Doherty
Charen Fink
Daniel Fink
Ann Gallman
Peter Gulliver
Mariellen Klick
Glenn Petzinger
Ruth Petzinger
Diane Schortau
Robert Schortau
Robin VanVliet
Janet Sponsler
250 Hours
Marianne Bell
Joanne Bendy
Monica Bender
Joann Edwards-Norman
Daniel Fink
Kay Forbes
Warren Liebowitz
Karen Rife
Steve Simon
Linda Swanson
Sharon Urgento
Pat Walker
Martha Weiber
10 Year Pins
Becky Dus
Lew Joesten
Dominique Lowenstein
Fred Mina
500 Hours
Richard Chadwick
Gloria Rapp
Ron Wedekind
George Wong-Chong
15 Year Pins
Patricia Burns
1000 Hours
Bill Dinsdale
Bob Gelinas
20 Year Pins
Vicki Kay
Fred Mina
Special Recognition for Outstanding Service
Karen Rife
Ron Wedekind
Shirley Waggoner
Dominique Lowenstein
Amanda Kiel
The fragrance always stays in
the hand that gives the rose.
--Hada Bejar
Master Gardener Volunteer for 2013-2014
Bob Gelinas
Page 5
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Newsletter
November 2014
Mr. Tom says:
Sam Marshall Extension
Tom Woods, MG Coordinator – Coop Extension
Horticulture Agent
This and That
It really is incredible how time seems
to pass so quickly, this year not
excepted. We are quickly approaching
the end of the gardening season as
well as the end of the calendar year,
which means things will be slowly
winding down in the not-so-distant
future. I want to first thank each and
every one of you who continue to
demonstrate the selfless act of giving
of your time to help extend the mission
of the Cooperative Extension and the Extension Master Gardener
Program.
Without your support, our programs would be nowhere near the
success that they are. By attending advanced trainings, getting
hands on education, volunteering on the info line and botanical
garden, you become a strong force in your community that
increases the horticultural knowledge of residents in Brunswick
County. Thank you!
As the year slowly winds to a close, we will be planning our
programmatic efforts for 2015. In the coming year we plan to focus
our goals to become an even stronger force in Brunswick County.
Your input is currently being evaluated and with a group of your
peers, we will begin incorporating your feedback to help improve
educational efforts of Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, as
well as to improve your experience as a volunteer. As a staff we
are very excited about some of the upcoming trainings we have for
you all in 2015! We plan on giving your more hands-on and indepth training to better equip you to help resolve horticulturerelated questions in Brunswick County. Stay tuned!
The Fall Plant Sale was a success.
How so? We made money and the
PAD is empty. Our next sale will be
May 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2015. We will have only one spring
sale but it will be four rather than three days. In
addition, we will restock the sale during the second
day. This is a change that we need to ‘talk up’. Make
every effort to let your friends and neighbors know
that there will be plenty of plants on the third and
fourth days of the sale.
We will not be doing a flats sale in 2015. The fall sale
will be October 8, 9 & 10.
THINGS TO KNOW
We often overlook how rich a horticultural environment
North Carolina provides for our enjoyment. I spent the last
week of October in the Great Smokey Mountain National
Park. The fall color display was spectacular. I have gone
leafing in the New England states when the fall color was
peaking and I now have been to the mountains of North
Carolina to view peak color. There is no reasonable
comparison to be made. The views are longer, the
panoramas are wider, the mountains are higher, the streams
make more noise and the spectrum of color is broader due
to the greater number of contributing species in North
Carolina. For those New England state transplants who
know the beauty of New England in the fall, check out
western North Carolina in the fall, you may have to rearrange your rankings of beautiful places to visit.
You (BCMGVA) have completed another successful year. I
hope that you still enjoy gardening; however, I am hearing
grumbling about new rules and requirements and several of
you have decided to go inactive. Your time is certainly
yours to use as you choose but you will be missed and the
organization will be weakened by your absence. Please
don’t let little changes cause you to make a big decision –
that might be wrong.
Tom
Logging your volunteer hours
Please make sure that you continue to log your volunteer hours on
the NCSU Garden site. The final cutoff date is December 31, 2014.
It is vital that you have your hours in on this date as this is when I
will be reporting to the state all of the wonderful things you have
done, including all the time spent working and giving back to
Brunswick County.
Slight change to volunteer hour requirements
In light of the current hours requirements for Info Line and
Botanical Garden, the change in hours for next year will go from 10
to 9 so that you can complete your time in 3 sessions as opposed
to four. Hopefully this will make things a little easier when trying to
log your time in these categories.
Again, I cannot state enough how appreciative we are that you
have chosen to share the passion for gardening with the residents
of Brunswick County. I am excited that you are excited and that
pushes us to constantly enhance the things we do here at
Cooperative Extension. Thank you for sweating with us in the
garden and for answering questions from the public. I cannot wait
for 2015 and for all the great things we will be doing together in the
coming year!
–
Page 6
Sam
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Newsletter
November 2014
Gardening in a Changing Climate
Sam Marshall, Horticulture Agent
NC Cooperative Extension, Brunswick County Center
Weather is something that happens all the time and there is probably no one who understands that better than gardeners.
Even if you are not a gardener, you are most certainly affected by the climate in some way, even if it is just to complain
about how hot it gets down here. Whatever your personal beliefs, there can be no denying that it is time we start talking
about a changing climate and its impacts to our landscape.
The difference between weather and climate
Basically, ‘weather’ is the way the atmosphere behaves in the short-term. Rain, snow, humidity, and temperature are all
forms of weather, and something that we have discussed much of this summer. Climate would be the collective change of
these weather patterns over the course of many years. Maybe you have heard that the winters are not as cold, or the
summers are hotter, or you may have noticed it yourself. In this instance, what you are describing and what you have
experienced would be ‘climate’ and its change over time. Scientific evidence no confirms these observations, and that
humans are partly responsible for the acceleration in this change.
How does climate change affect gardeners?
You do not necessarily have to believe the scientific models that are telling us the climate is changing. Our living world,
insects, birds, other mammals, and especially plants are now responding to change. For example, some plants like apples
and grapes are beginning to bloom earlier in the season. In some instances this can lead to poor pollination of crops
because insects that have evolved to coincide with the bloom period of plants have not yet emerged. Though the
differences are subtle, they do occur.
For gardeners, and for farmers as well, a changing climate may mean shorter periods of more extreme weather. Rainfall,
for example, is coming down in heavy downpours which leads to increased flooding and soil erosion. Weed, disease, and
insect pressure is increasing as well. In some cases, an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide actually favors the growth
of noxious and invasive weeds. Poison ivy, for example responds positively to increased carbon dioxide and is becoming
more toxic and harder to control. For weed control, high carbon dioxide levels actually mean that herbicides are less
effective, which requires more frequent use of a particular product.
Pest insects are starting to emerge sooner in the year, and oftentimes when natural enemy controls have not yet emerged.
This means that as climate changes, insect control may become more difficult because their natural enemies are not
available for early season suppression.
But the news is not all bad. A changing climate may also mean that some desirable plants thrive, and farmers and
vegetable gardeners may actually begin to start extending their growing season. However, an extended growing season
also means that the pest season is also extended, and increased summer heat stress and prolonged drought or rainy
conditions can present new challenges for growing plants.
What can you do?
Increase in urban sprawl and loss of native habitat means that local climate will continue to warm. Urban areas create
‘heat sinks’ which trap solar energy and cause heat to become more intense.
As gardeners, there are practical steps you can take to help mitigate the effects of habitat loss and climate change. Smart
gardening practices such as proper plant selection for specific growing conditions, watering properly and only when
necessary, and following integrated approaches to pest management are just a few of the things you can do. Increasing
the amount of green space in your landscape and plant diversification will create a habitat that is both suitable for wildlife
and helps absorb some of the atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Page 7
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association Newsletter
November 2014
Cornwall, Connecticut
Brunswick County Master Gardener Volunteer Association
P.O. Box 109
Bolivia, NC 28422
Office: 910-253-2610
First Class Mail
Useful links for online access:
http://www.bcmastergardener.org/
http://brunswick.ces.ncsu.edu/
http://www.ncmastergardeners.org
http://pendergardener.blogspot.com/
Page 8