March - Wiregrass Master Gardeners Association

. . . in honor of Evelyn Isbell
WMGA Newsletter
March 2016
Wiregrass Walk-About
Hello Fellow Gardeners,
I do hope all is well with each of you. It is hard to believe spring is upon us. Thanks
to those who came out to the Pruning workday and the Wildflower Garden workday
at Landmark Park in February. It is wonderful to be outdoors cleaning up the beds
in anticipation of beautiful flowers ahead.
There is so much work left to be done in preparation for our Spring Plant Sale in
April. The first work day is coming up. Please come help out with this one. If you are interested in becoming a
Plant Parent, please let me know. I would like people to step up and become a Co-Plant Parent in areas where
there is only one Plant Parent. This could help ease the work load if we had teams of two.
Wasn't our February meeting wonderful with Jason Powell? Thank you Janice Egolf for bringing us wonderful
guests. She has a wonderful speaker lined up for March. I hope to see you all there. Our awards meeting has
been postponed until the April monthly meeting.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to continue on with our projects. We have one at Troy Dothan coming up. We need to remember the new demo bed project and the projects at Landmark Park. These are all
approved projects. We need your help to keep them going!
I hope you have found a spot to help in for the Conference. My speaker group needs room monitors. There are
plenty of areas needing volunteers. If interested please see me. This will be an awesome conference. The
tours are filling up fast. Be sure and get your registration in early for your choice of breakouts.
Please keep those who are sick in your thoughts and prayers. Our members are an extension of our family. I do
hope and pray for each of you.
Thank you all for your hard work and dedication in making WMGA a wonderful organization!
Life is a garden, dig it!
INSIDE . . .
Devonne
1

Webinar Series

Lunch and Learn

Where the Wild Things Are

New Category for Volunteer Hours

Plant Parents at the Greenhouse

Check Out Our Updated Website
It’s Time to Roll Up Our Sleeves
Our Spring plant sale will be here before you know it. Our plant parents are busily working to make sure the
seedlings and cuttings will be nurtured and ready for the plant sale.
Below are days and times when the plant parents will be working at the greenhouse—please mark your calendar and come out and help.
VEGETABLES
Helen-Sue Kemp
[email protected]
334-671-9879
rd
Thursday March 3 (8:30-11)
Friday March 4th (8:30-11)
Saturday March 5th (8:30-11)
Friday March 11th (8:30-11)
Saturday March 12th (8:30-11)
Monday March 14th (8:30-11)
Tuesday March 15th (8:30-11)
Thursday March 17th (8:30-11)
Friday March 18th (8:30-11)
Monday March 21st (8:30-11)
Thursday March 24th (8:30-11)
Monday March 28th (8:30-11)
Thursday March 31st (8:30-11)
PERENNIALS
ANNUALS
Cheryl Hatcher
334-798-1034
Thursday March 3rd ((9-12)
Friday March 4th (9-12)
Thursday March 10th (9-1)
Thursday March 17th (9-1)
Monday March 21st (9-1)
Thursday March 24th (9-12)
Friday March 25th (9-12)
Thursday March 31st (9-1)
SHRUBS
Devonne Ellis
334-899-2050
Thursday, March 3rd (8-11)
Friday, March 11th (8-11)
Monday, March 4th (8-11)
Thursday, March 17th (8-11)
Monday, March 21st (8-11)
Thursday, March 4th (8-11)
Tuesday, March 29th (8-11)
Thursday, March 31st (8-11)
HERBS
Wayne VanLandingham
334-793-9143
Monday afternoons
Thursday afternoons
Linda Westphal
334-701-4508
Monday & Friday, 9–11
Our Website Has a New Look
Thanks to Lisa Ennis for getting WMGA set up on the internet. Jane Klosky has taken over as our site’s webmaster. The website (wiregrassmga.org) has undergone a few changes. If you have something you’d like us to include on one of the web pages, please contact [email protected].
Below is a snapshot of the updated home page, please take a few minutes and check out the site.
2
Helping with the 2016 Conference?
We now have a place to record hours working with the 2016 Conference on the ACES website for posting volunteer
hours.
Please be diligent about recording the hours you volunteer in preparation for the 2016 Conference.
Just click on the drop down
menu for “Volunteer Hours”
and select “AMGA Hosting
Association”” and post
hours, etc. as you would for
any other activity.
When life gives you
crumbs…
feed the birds
3
Mark Your Calendar . . .
March 1 ............. Lunch & Learn, 12 noon-1 pm @ Houston-Love Memorial Library
March 4 ............. Webinar Series, 1 pm
March 8 ............. WMGA BOD Meeting, 9:30 am @ DABG
Wiregrass Rose Society, 6:00 pm @ First Nazarene Church
March 12 ........... Wiregrass Daylily Society meets @ First Christian Church, noon
March 15 ........... WMGA monthly meeting @ HPUMC, 6:00 pm
March 22 ........... Conference Committee Meeting, 10:30 am @ Westgate Library
April 5 .............. Lunch & Learn, 12 noon-1 pm @ Houston-Love Memorial Library
NOTE: See Plant Parent schedules—your help at the greenhouse is needed!
April 8 & 9, 2016 ........... WMGA’s 20th Spring Plant Sale
May 12-13-14, 2016 ........AMGA 2016 Conference, Dothan
October 8, 2016 .............WMGA’s Fall Plant Sale
2016 Webinar Series
Bugs beware—the All Bugs Good and Bad webinar series continues in 2016. The March 4th topic
will be Kill that Queen the First Time: Tips for Making Fire Ant Mound Treatments.
Visit the following link for these webinars:
http://articles.extension.org/pages/73368/2016-all-bugs-good-and-bad-webinar-series
It takes a village to raise a child . . . And to put on a state conference. Wayne
and his team have spent a lot of time getting ready for this conference. However,
everyone is needed to make this a success!
Please contact the coordinator for your area of interest to see how you can help.
Below are the contacts for each planning area. March 22nd is the date of the next
planning meeting (10:30 @ Westgate Library). We’d love to see you there!
CHAIR ......................... Wayne VanLandingham [email protected]
Decorations ................... Helen-Sue Kemp [email protected]
Finance........................ Lisa Enfinger [email protected]
Food & Drink ................. Eileen Barreca [email protected]
Fundraising ................... Lamar [email protected]
Hospitality .................... Anita Gibson [email protected]
Publicity ...................... Ona Garwood [email protected]
Registration .................. Cheryl Hatcher [email protected]
Silent Auction ................ Faye Carnley [email protected]
Speakers ...................... Beth [email protected]
Technical & Equipment ..... Tom Boyle [email protected]
4
Dale and Carol have put together an amazing slate of programs. Be sure to
mark you calendars for the following dates so you won’t miss a one! All sessions
are held from 12 noon-1 pm @ Houston-Love Memorial Library.
March 1 ................. Starting a Garden
April 5 .................. Flowers
May 3 ................... Native Plants
June 7 .................. Roses
September 6 ........... Putting Your Garden to Bed
October 4 .............. Fall Landscaping
November 1............ Holiday Decorating with Flowers and Plants
Grab a bag lunch and meet us there! Drinks are provided.
Where the Wild Things Are
Yes, we’ll be in the Wildflower Garden at Landmark Park. When? On Friday, March 4th, we will have another
workday. Please bring clippers, rake, shovel and gloves. If we get enough people we should get finished early.
We need to finish picking up limbs, pruning camellia shrubs, holly shrubs and remove Chinese privet by the Ag Museum.
Please come out early. Tell the person at the
gate you are a gardener and working with
Tom! Pull around to the parking lot by the Gazebo.
Ready to Register
Online registration for the 2016 AMGA Conference is
ready for you to register NOW. Go to:
http://www.planetreg.com/E1115915129304
If you prefer to mail in your registration, print out
the registration form and mail it.
http://alabamamg.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/01/2016-conference-pg-7-8.pdf
Early registration must be made or postmarked by
April 1st so don’t delay!
5
Spring
Garden Checklist
March
April
Fruits and Nuts
Fruits and Nuts



Continue strawberry and grape plantings.
Bud apples and peaches.
Start planting blackberries. Remember, if
weather conditions prevent prompt planting,
heel the plants in by placing the root system in
a trench and covering the soil.
Shrubs



Fertilize shrubs (except azaleas and camellias).
Late plantings may be made, particularly if they are
container-grown.
Watch shrubs for harmful insects.
Roses



Watch new growth for aphids.
Begin a spray or dust program.
Begin fertilizing.
Annuals and Perennials


Tender annuals may be planted.
Check garden centers for bedding plants.
Bulbs


Plant gladiolus every 2 or 3 weeks if a long blooming
season is desired.
Plant tuberous begonias in pots. Plant dahlias.
Miscellaneous



Check and repair sprayers, dusters, and lawn mowers.
Control lawn weeds with chemicals.
Delay pruning of fruiting shrubs such as cotoneasters, pyracanthas, and hollies until after flowering.
Vegetable Seed


Plant hardy crops recommended for January and
February.
After danger of frost is past, plant tender vegetables.
Vegetable Plants

Plant tomatoes and peppers.
Lawns


Plant Bermuda, zoysia, and centipede.
Fertilize established lawns.



Season for strawberry planting continues.
Start spray program for all fruits.
Plant raspberries and blackberries and continue budding apples and peaches.
Shrubs



Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering.
Fertilize azaleas and camellias
When new growth is half completed, spray all shrubs
with a fungicide.
Roses



Watch for insects and diseases.
Keep old flower heads removed.
Plant container-grown plants from nurseries or garden
centers.
Annuals and Perennials


Plant early started annuals or bedding plants from
nurseries or garden centers.
Divide mums or root cuttings. Dig and divide dahlias.
Bulbs



Plant gladiolus, fancy-leaved caladiums, milk and
wine lilies, and ginger and gloriosa lilies.
Feed bearded iris with superphosphate and spray for
borers.
Avoid cutting foliage of narcissus or other bulbs until
it has turned brown naturally.
Miscellaneous



Spray camellias, hollies, etc., for scale insects.
Carefully water new plantings of shrubs and trees.
Pinching out tips of new shoots promotes more compact shrubs.
Vegetable Seed

Plant tender vegetables such as beans, corn, squash,
melons, and cucumbers.
Vegetable Plants

Plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, sweet potatoes,
and parsley.
Lawns




6
Planting continues.
New lawns may need supplementary watering.
Also, fertilize at 3- to 6-week intervals.
Keep ryegrass cut low, particularly if overplanted on
Bermuda lawns.
Count Your Volunteer Hours
At our September meeting, Lucy Edwards and Tom Boyle explained the importance of recording our volunteer hours and helped us understand some of the activities that may qualify as MG volunteer hours. Ask yourself...

Will it benefit the community?

Is it associated with a non‐commercial group?

Is it related to gardening, the environment, or an Extension program?

Are you helping people learn?
If you can answer yes to these four questions, then the activity meets the mission of the Master Gardener program and you should record the hours in the MG database.
To encourage Certified MG’s to stay active in the program, a minimum of 25 volunteer hours per year is required. Any activity accepted or approved by the Local MG Coordinator counts as volunteer hours.

Time spent in Master Gardener Association business meetings counts as
volunteer hours.

Drive time to monthly MG association meetings ONLY counts when you
are involved with a committee or have a specific responsibility at the
meeting or there is an educational presentation.

Travel time to and from ALL other educational or volunteer activities counts as volunteer time.

Time spent listening to an educational speaker or topic should be counted as CEUs.
RECORDING YOUR HOURS: When the volunteering is done, don’t forget to record your volunteer hours in the
ACES Master Gardener Service Report database. Below are some of WMGA activities and the appropriate category for each. When in doubt, check with Tom Boyle (334-794-2094 or email: [email protected]).
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
CATEGORY
WMGA nursery/greenhouse
(washing pots, etc.), plant sale ........................ Fundraising
WMGA demo gardens at DABG .............................. Education/demonstration
Landmark park .................................................. Education/demonstration or community landscape
Fire ant booth .................................................. Education/demonstration
WMGA business meeting ...................................... MGA/AMGA meeting
AMGA conferences ............................................. MGA/AMGA meeting
AMGA 2016 State Conference Planning..................... AMGA hosting association
Lunch and learn (participant) ................................ CEU
Lunch and learn (presenter) ................................. Public education program
MG class – (assisting) .......................................... Manage/teach/assist intern class
Presentations to other organizations ....................... Public education pgm
Home visits ...................................................... Home garden consult
Harvest for Health ............................................. Harvest for Health
Preparation time ............................................... Include in the same area of activity
7
WMGA Contacts
2015 WMGA Board of Directors
Officers:
President: .......................... Devonne Ellis ................ 334-899-2050 ... [email protected]
Vice President ..................... Marti Renojo ................ 334-671-0096 ... [email protected]
Secretary ........................... Jane Klosky .................. 699-8873 ......... [email protected]
Treasurer: .......................... Connie Ford ................ 334-406-9559 .... [email protected]
Board Members:
Board Member at Large: ......... Anita Gibson .................
Membership Chair: ................ Tom Boyle ....................
Ways & Means Chair: ............. Helen-Sue Kemp .............
Communications Chair ........... Cheryl Hatcher...............
Programs Chair .................... Janice Egolf ..................
Projects Co-Chairs ................ Faye Carnley .................
Lisa Enfinger .................
Immediate Past President ....... Beth Arnold...................
Newsletter Editor/Webmaster .. Jane Klosky ...................
2016 Conference Chair ........... Wayne VanLandingham .....
Plant Parent Directory
334-792-5063....
334-794-2094....
334-671-9879....
334-798-1034....
334-714-1785....
803-270-8757....
334-792-8018....
334-692-3172....
804-514-9498....
334-793-9143....
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Our Mailing
Address:
Annuals: Devonne Ellis .................... 334-899-2050
Bulbs: Judy Clardy .......................... 334-797-9580
Wiregrass Master Gardeners Association
P.O. Box 9376
Dothan, AL 36304
Perennials: Cheryl Hatcher................ 334-798-1034
Faye Carnley .................. 803-270-8757
Groundcovers/Vines/Grasses: Anita Gibson ... 712-4370
Herbs: Linda Westphal ..................... 334-299-0388
ACES
House Plants/Tropicals:
Lucy Edwards
Connie Ford ............................ 334-406-9559
Barbara Knight ......................... 334-350-4376
Home Grounds Regional Agent
Dale County Extension
Office: (334) 774- 2329
Mobile: (334) 329-1672
Shrubs: Wayne Van Landingham ............... 793-9143
Trees/Succulents: Ralph Byram ................. 618-6691
Vegetables: Helen-Sue Kemp .................... 671-9879
Visit our website @
https://www.facebook.com/#!/WiregrassMGA
www.wiregrassmga.org
DISCLAIMER: The Wiregrass Master Gardener Association (WMGA) believes this information to be correct and accurate. Neither the Associat ion nor its
members accept responsibility for errors or omissions that may be made. The WMGA makes no warranty expressed or implied with respect to the material
8