april 2017 tiller - the gardeners club of green...
TRANSCRIPT
Tour at Swanstone Gardens, David Calhoon 4696 Swan Road, Green Bay, WI 54311
6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Dear Fellow Gardeners,
Thanks to Shirley for her spectacular presentation of Portugal and the Azores. Unfortunately, I was not there, but I have heard of the great reviews and the excel-lent pictures. Also, thanks to Carl for conducting the meet-ing in my absence.
Spring has sprung! With the crocuses blooming and the tulips coming up before long our gardens will be in full color. It's such an exciting time of the year with everything coming to life again. What a beautiful time of the year.
scheduled for Thursday, April 27, has been cancelled. Our quest speaker, Judy Steffen's husband will be having surgery and she will be unable to make it. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her and her husband for a speedy recovery.
This month’s meeting we will be heading out to David Calhoon's Swanstone Gardens. David will be giving us a tour of the garden’s spring woodland flowers. It should be an excellent tour and meeting. Hope to see everyone there.
Take care, Scott Casperson
03/22/2017 Minutes
Next Month’s Program 2
Officers and Chairpersons
Club/Member News 3
Garden Club Schedule
GBBG Events 4
Celebrate Asparagus!
Status Report 5
“Recycle” Pickle Juice on Your
Acid-Loving Plants!
Our Wisconsin Bees
When to Start Your Vegetable
Seeds in Wisconsin
6
Status of Bob Mongin Gardens
at the Br. Co. Ag. Center
March Tiller Tomato Report
7
Advertisers 5, 7-8
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Tiller
The April 2017
Volume 35, No. 4
Refreshments Maxine Cashman
Sue Rohan Joyce Rowe
From the President . . .
This month our club has our annual fund raiser, the Asparagus Fest. It has been quite the challenge for Betty and her team to find a place to host it this year. With the sale of the UW Extension, we were not able to hold it there. Thanks to the Green Bay Botanical Garden for having space for us. It will be on Saturday, April 29, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. So stop on over and get yourself a bowl of soup, some desserts, and some sweet potato plants as well as asparagus crowns. Hope to see everyone there.
Unfortunately, our "Plants of the Bible" seminar that was
Swanstone Gardens is a place where folks who share an interest in nature and garden crafts may come to enhance creative spirit. Our lovely grounds are expansive and park-like. We have two waterfalls, ponds, a Japanese Garden, a Western themed garden and even a tree house. Take time to stroll our gardens and wander through our interesting and quirky paths and visit our quaint gift shop. Many trips and garden art classes are offered throughout the year. Check out the website at swanstonegardens.com. Directions on p. 2.
PAGE 2 Til l er
mentioned on May12th that the club can have a table at GBBG to sell plants and give info on the club.
Shirley Winnes brought an amaryllis plant and a clivia plant for raffle at $1 per chance. The lucky persons were Patti Nellis and Perry Sieloff.
The 2018 national calendars are on sale through March 31 for $2.50 for members to order.
Shirley Winnes showed a PPT presenta-tion of the Azores and Portugal. What a beautiful country with many plants and colorful flowers and many rock formations from lava of volcanic eruptions. There are lakes, castles, and also a lot of dairy farms in the area. It was very wonderful and interesting plus educational show. Thank you, Shirley.
Meeting adjourned at 8 p.m.
Marge Labs, Secretary
Carl Christensen opened the meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening at the Green Bay Botanical Garden in the absence of President Scott Casperson. The
Tiller minutes were approved by the members. Treasurer Perry Sieloff read the treasury account which was accepted also.
Twenty-four members were present and two visitors.
Carl announced the upcoming program on Thursday, April 27, with speaker Judy Stevens on “Plants of the Bible” at the Green Bay Botanical Garden at 6 p.m. Tickets will be sold at $5 each by club members and at the door.
Saturday, April 29, will be the asparagus event from 9 a.m. till 2 p.m. The asparagus and sweet potato plants will be available for pickup and to buy. Also, soups are asparagus and chicken noodle for purchase with breads, beverage, and desserts of many choices to enjoy.
Betty Cox would like the members to donate pies and desserts. She also
Meeting Minutes - 03/22/2017
What’s Coming Up? May Meeting—Planting at the YMCA on Huron Road Our project this year is to help with plantings at this site which
include two cement planters, a bed around their sign, and beds by
each side of the door.
Directions to Swanstone Gardens: Find your way to
Hwy. 57 North. Turn left on County A which becomes
Nicolet Drive (1.3 mile). Turn right on Edgewater Beach
Road (0.4 mile). Take the second right on Swan Road.
APR IL 2017 PAGE 3
Club and Member News . . . The Gardeners Club of Green Bay Officers and Chairpersons
President Scott Casperson, 920-435-1780 [email protected]
Vice President Judy Nighorn, 920-865-4311 [email protected]
Secretary Marge Labs 920-425-3224
Treasurer Perry Sieloff, 920-435-1780 1247 Emilie Street Green Bay, WI 54301 [email protected]
Past President
Carl Christensen, 920-425-3224 [email protected]
Membership and Public Relations Ritalyn Arps, 336-0225 [email protected]
Sunshine Ruth Goeben, 920-494-3008
Tiller Editor, Website Manager, and
TGOA-MGCA National Photography
Competition and Calendar Chairperson Shirley Winnes, 920-499-4441 [email protected]
Historian Barb Vandersteen, 920-435-0568 [email protected]
Civic Projects and Fund Raising
Asparagus Sale Betty Cox, 920-468-8693 [email protected]
Silver Trowel Scott Casperson, 920-435-1780 [email protected]
Inventory Control and
Education and Plant Records
———————-Open———————-
House and Program Paul Hartman/Carl Christensen [email protected]
Refreshments Coordinators Sue Rohan, 920-336-3004 [email protected] Mary Naumann, 920-866-2282 [email protected]
Sunshine wishes to Scott Casperson after
heart surgery in March.
We hope Ritalyn Arps is doing well after having been
in the hospital. She sends the following note:
Dear Garden Club Friends, Thank you very much for the azalea plant. The hot pink flowers above the braided stems are gorgeous! You have always been a wonderful caring group. I'm truly blessed to have you as friends.
Ritalyn
National Public Gardens Day at GBBG
May 12 at 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Admission is FREE for all visitors!
Our club, along with other garden clubs, has been
invited to have a table to promote our club and to sell
items for fund raising. Betty Cox has arranged to set
this up. We can sell leftover asparagus crowns, sweet
potato plants, plants from our gardens, and our
photo cards. Please check with Betty if you can help
volunteer. One more person needed.
Articles for next month’s issue of the Tiller
are due by May 10. Send to Shirley Winnes at
[email protected] or to [email protected].
Linda and Robert are our Silver Trowel winners from
2016:
Linda and Robert Cox
798 Florist Drive
De Pere, WI 54115
We have a new out-of-town member who is Mary
Naumann’s sister-in-law. She resides in Arizona but
spends the summer in Wisconsin.
Mary Ellen Ranney
4449 E. Edgewood Ave.
Mesa, AZ 85206
New Members
PAGE 4 Til l er
Coming Attractions Sponsored by the Green Bay Botanical Garden
Call 920-490-9457 or see http://www.gbbg.org for complete information, reservations,
and cost about any of the following:
Tour at Nature’s Way Products, Inc., 825 Challenger Drive, Green Bay, WI 54311, Apr 18 @ 5-6:30 p.m. Come and explore Nature’s Way certified laboratory. Nature’s Way is a leader in the herbal health industry by providing herbal remedies, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and more. Included will be a guided tour through the laboratory where extensive testing is performed to ensure the highest quality products following a short presentation.
Repotting Orchids, Apr 19 @ 6-8 p.m., Mary Stewart, Goin’ To Pot Orchids. Learn the basics of repotting orchids the right way. Attendees may bring 1 orchid no larger than 6” pot/person to replant. Orchids and supplies will be available for purchase at class. Limit 10 participants.
Reinvigorate Your Landscape with Simple DIY Projects, Apr 20 @ 6-8 p.m., Lisa Stubbe, Landscape Artisans. Lisa will discuss small scale projects to help you update, change, and fully enjoy your existing landscape. Advice and discussions on: (1) choosing the correct plants for your site, (2) renewal techniques for existing shrubs and perennials, (3) re-spacing and adding to existing landscapes, (4) season-long garden planning.
May Day Afternoon High Tea, May 2 @ 6-8 p.m., Northeast Wisconsin Unit of the Herb Society of America. Join us for a special sip of spring complete with a Maypole and Green Man, Celtic spring lore and traditions . . . and a lovely high tea with three courses, a taste treat with scones, savories, and sweets of the season. Wear your spring garden hat! Register by April 24.
Focus on your Brain, Not your Muscles, May 9 @ 4:305:30 p.m., four-week series, Gail Wood, Certified Anat Baniel Method®NeuroMovement® Practitioner. Whether you’re a beginner on the path to greater fitness, or an accomplished athlete, your brain holds the key to making movement easier and you more powerful. Designed so all can participate and learn at their own pace, this 4-week series of safe, slow and gentle Anat Baniel Method NeuroMovement® lessons can help improve your posture, balance, flexibility, coordination and fitness. Wear loose comfortable clothes. Bring a mat and 2 towels. Register by May 2.
Mead Making – Turning Honey into Wine, May 11 @ 67:30 p.m., John Parsons & Paul Chambers, Green Bay Rackers Club. This class will cover the basic knowledge necessary to make mead at home. Topics will include types of mead, equip-ment, necessary ingredients, and procedures from initial mixing to bottling. Come learn how the term “honeymoon” got its name! Register by May 4.
The Gardeners Club of Green Bay
Upcoming Schedule of 2017 Meetings
April 26 .............Swanstone Gardens, David Calhoon
May 24...............Planting at the YMCA on Huron Road
June 28 .............Roses, Carl Christensen’s Yard
July 26 ..............2016 Silver Trowel Home (Yard Tour)
Aug. 23 ..............Picnic, Betty Cox’s Home
Sept. 27 ............Autumn Color, Vijai Pandian
Oct. 25 ..............Brag Night – How Did Your Garden Grow?
Dec. 6 .................Christmas Traditions, Nancy Hamann
Special Events April 29 .............Celebrate Asparagus!
July 19-21 .......TGOA-MGCA National Convention, Cleveland, Ohio “The Gardening Scene in 2017”
Sept. 9 ...............Fall Family Art Festival at GBBG
Sept. 16 .............Farmers Market - Large Produce Weigh-in and Sunflower Measurements
Oct. 7 .................Farmers Market - Pumpkin Weigh-in and Sunflower Measurements
Nov. 10 ...............Harvest Banquet
International Plant Appreciation Day Every Year on April 13
Plants are our friends, our counterparts. We breathe in
oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. Plants take in carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Why, you could say its a marriage born in heaven, or at least the garden of Eden.
There isn't a lot of documentation on this special day. Our research only found reference to this day in the
2000s. We did not find the originator of this special day.
This day is referred to as an "International" day.
However, we did not find any UN resolution or other proclamation ordaining it as an International day. We suspect the originator wanted everyone around the world to appreciate plants and their importance to us.
Source: http://holidayinsights.com
Earth Day Every Year on April 22
Founded in 1970 as a day of education about environ-
mental issues, Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green awareness. The brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson (Wisconsin)
and inspired by the antiwar protests of the late 1960s, Earth Day was originally aimed at creating a mass environmental movement. By raising public awareness of air and water pollution, Nelson hoped to bring environmental causes into the national spotlight.
Source: http://www.history.com
Celebrate Asparagus!
Status Report
APR IL 2017 PAGE 5
Here is where we are at so far for the asparagus event. Betty reports that the upstairs room at
the GBBG Visitors Center will be set up for us with tables and chairs. We won’t know until late in
the week before the event as to when we are able to bring in our supplies.
Numerous members have volunteered to bring desserts; pies are preferred, however, you may
bring fresh bread, cookies, bars, or cakes.
Please pot up perennial divisions at least a week prior to the event so that they are not wilted.
Also, label the plant. Houseplants are also welcome.
Jim Beard will be presenting at 10 and 12 Noon on “Organic Gardening: Beds, Buckets, and
Brews.” He did this session at our national convention in July last year. At 11:15 a.m., a
member from the Brown County Beekeepers Association will present beekeeping information.
Cashiers for Food: Sue Rohan (9-Noon), __________________, __________________. Our roll of
tickets will be used and a letter symbol written on it identifying what is being purchased.
Soup Servers: Marsha May, Mary Naumann
Coffee and Dessert Servers: Maggie Ford, Ruth Goeben
Clean-up Tables: Joyce Rowe
Pick up Soup: Patti Nellis
Membership Table, Pumpkin and Sunflower Seeds, Photo Cards: Ritalyn Arps, Shirley Winnes
Sweet Potato and Asparagus Pick-up: Josh Olson, _____________________
Fresh Asparagus and Potted Plants Cashiers: _____________________, ____________________
Plant Educator with Handouts on Growing Tips: Agnes Schussman
Floaters: Betty Cox, Patti Nellis, Barbara Vandersteen . . .
Shirley Winnes will prepare signs for the tables directing visitors to the various areas.
Please let Betty know if you can volunteer. It is recommended to have at least two people
working per station to allow for “comfort” breaks!
Green Bay Botanical Garden
Saturday, April 29, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Til l er PAGE 6
“Recycle” Pickle Juice on Your Acid-Loving Plants!
Editor’s Note: Betty Cox made this suggestion. More information from http://homeguides.sfgate.com below: About Pickle Juice The makeup of pickle juice varies from brand to brand
or even batch to batch. Straight pickle juice is too
potent for plants, largely because salt is part of the
solution. It's the vinegar in pickle juice that increases
soil acidity. A proper pickle juice solution for increasing
soil acidity is 1 part juice to 20 or more parts water—
the more salty or vinegary the juice, the more water
you should add.
Using Pickle Juice for Plants The pickle juice solution shouldn't be applied directly
to the plants—it's the soil that benefits from the juice.
When the soil pH is lowered, it encourages mineral
absorption, which benefits the plants. Pour the
solution into the soil around the plants, rather than at
the roots or on the plant. Pouring it directly on the
plants could damage them—straight vinegar and salt
are touted as weed killers, and too much salt near
plant roots can starve the plant of water.
Indirect Pickle Juice Application Instead of mixing a pickle juice solution every time you
have leftover juice in a pickle jar, pour the juice into a
compost pile, along with grass clippings, produce
scraps, coffee grounds and dead plant matter from the
garden. Add the compost to the soil around acid-loving
plants at least once per season, or as needed.
Pickle Juice for Acid-Loving Plants An acid-loving plant is one that prefers a soil that has
an acidic pH level, rather than neutral or alkaline soil.
If the soil around your acid-loving plants is neutral or
alkaline, the plants won't absorb nutrients properly or
bloom to their fullest potential. Adding vinegar-based
pickle juice to the soil around those plants increases
the soil's acidity. As an added bonus, using pickle juice
as a soil amendment is a beneficial way to use
something that would otherwise be discarded.
When to Start Your Vegetable Seeds in Wisconsin
Vegetable Start Seed
Inside
Transplant Outdoors
Plants for 100 feet of row
Broccoli March 22, 2017 May 7, 2017 40-50 plants
Cabbage Early March 22, 2017 May 7, 2017 50-70 plants
Cauliflower March 22, 2017 May 7, 2017 50-70 plants
Celery March 22, 2017 May 27, 2017 200 plants
Eggplant March 22, 2017 June 1, 2017 50-60 plants
Lettuce, head March 22, 2017 May 7, 2017 100 plants
Muskmelon May 7, 2017 May 27, 2017 34-50 plants
Okra April 22, 2017 June 1, 2017 50-75 plants
Parsley March 7, 2017 May 7, 2017 100 plants
Pepper April 7, 2017 June 1, 2017 50-60 plants
Tomato April 22, 2017 May 27, 2017 34-50 plants
From Green Bay Press Gazette (contributed by Scott Casperson)
Our Wisconsin Bees
The Honey Bee The honey bee is fuzzy and
small in size compared to a
bumble bee. Can be brown/gold
to black/dark brown in color.
Has only 2 wings and long
antennas. Typically forages for
food 2-3 miles, but can fly up to 5 miles in search of
food. Non-aggressive and will sting only if threatened.
Once they sting, they die. The only bee to produce a
surplus of honey for human consumption.
The Bumble Bee The bumble is probably the most
recognizable bee. They are
bigger than the honey bee and
their colors are a tell-tale sign of
who they are. They are very fuzzy
and most predominantly
black/yellow in color. The
bumble bee has 4 wings. They will forage for food 3-12
miles. Their flight speed ranges from 6.7–10.7 miles
per hour.
The Yellow Jacket The yellow jacket is a type of wasp.
They have the distinct black and
yellow bands and a pinched waist.
Most typically thought to be a honey
bee or bumble bee. They have the
capability to sting multiple times
with very painful stings. They build
paper nests. The fertilized female will hibernate alone
while the workers and males die when the weather
turns cold. They are attracted to human foods,
particularly meats and sweets.
. . . more about Wisconsin bees in next month’s issue.
Source: Wayne Gerdts, Nature’s Pathways, October
2016, p. 35. (contributed by Agnes Schussman)
Til l er PAGE 7
Garden Talk with Larry Meiller Wisconsin Public Radio
88.1 Green Bay
11 a.m. Fridays 7 a.m. Saturdays
Status of Bob Mongin Gardens at the Brown County Agriculture Center
Editor’s Note: We have heard quite a few things about the upcoming sale of the Extension building and grounds. Here is the status as reported in the minutes from the March 2, 2017, meeting of Master Gardeners and Troy Streckenbach, Brown County Executive. In attendance: Troy Streckenbach, Birdie Schantz,
Karla Parmentier, Dave Bonham, Vijai Pandian,
and Jim Radey
Discussion: Dave explained the plantings at the
Extension Office that the Master Gardeners have
developed and maintained. Karla shared a cost
analysis from the past 10 years that showed the
money the Master Gardeners have invested in the
grounds. Dave explained that some of the plant-
ings (like fruit trees and conifer trees) will need to
stay, but the perennial garden is something the Master Gardeners will want to move when a
permanent location is ready. Dave also explained
that some of the grants received for the grounds
projects still have some requirements that need
to be met.
Troy saw the sale of the Extension building and
property to the Green Bay School District as an
opportunity to keep the location as an education
site. He said that the Green Bay School District is
willing to work with us to allow the Master
Gardeners to continue using the grounds as an
education opportunity for the community until a
new site is ready. The school district may also
want to incorporate gardening education into
their use of the grounds in the future.
Using the cost analysis put together by Karla, Troy
was made aware of the need to include money in
the county budget for re-establishing the Master
Gardeners’ gardens at the STEM Center location.
This should include money for plantings in addi-
tion to greenhouse moving or re-purchasing costs.
Next Steps: The County will do a MoU (memoran-
dum of understanding) with the school district to
document special conditions of the sale. Judy
Knudsen, Extension Department Head, will need
to submit what needs to go in this MoU. The
County Board will need to approve these condi-
tions too.
Recommended suggestions would include (1) The
Bob Mongin Perennial Garden will be protected
and Master Gardeners will be able to maintain
the garden and move it to the STEM Innovation
Center when that site is ready and (2) Master
Gardeners will have access to the grounds to
maintain plantings and use them for educational
purposes until the new STEM Innovation Center is
ready.
March Tiller Tomato Report Just to review when you are ready to acquire your
tomato plants—the top ranking (in order 1-8)
tomatoes as grown by Jim Fameree in 2016 are
as follows:
Big Zac
White Wonder
Beefmaster
Mortgage Lifter
*July 4th
Persimmon
**Quere de Toro (unknown—not true to seed)
Ripley’s Believe It or Not
*More frequently known as the ‘Fourth of July’
hybrid tomato.
**Most sellers use the spelling ‘Cuore de Toro’ .
For the full report, see the
March 2017 Tiller.
Affiliated with The Gardeners of America/Men’s Garden Clubs of America
National website: www.tgoa-mgca.org Local website: http://gardenclubgreenbay.weebly.com American Horticulture Society website: http://ahs.org
The Gardeners Club of Green Bay was begun
in 1967 and became chartered in 1968 by
the Men’s Garden Clubs of America (now The
Gardeners of America, Inc./The Men’s
Garden Clubs of America, Inc.).
Purpose and objectives of our club:
to educate its members and the public
and to promote interest in horticulture per-
taining to home gardening,
to acquire and disseminate horticultural
knowledge in regard to materials, plans,
and ideas in connection with home gar-
dens to and for the benefit of individuals
and communities,
and to encourage and promote civic inter-
est and pride in individuals and communi-
ties, and to encourage and promote pride
in individual or private gardens, commun-
ity plantings, and parks.
Membership is extended to serious gardeners
who have a concern for the above objectives
of the organization. Membership categories
and dues for 2017 are
1. $25 per individual,
2. $35 per family,
3. lifetime: $200; $5 annual local dues.
In addition to the tiller, members receive a
national newsletter.
At the national level, a photography contest is
held each year with photographs selected to
use for a calendar, five annual $1,000 scho-
larships are presented, Youth Gardening and
Gardening from the Heart programs are
implemented, a national convention is held,
and much more.
At the local level, members are involved with
numerous community institutions through
financial support and contributions of labor
and plant materials. Silver Trowel awards are
given to recognize contributions to com-
munity beautification, four awards are given
to youth in the Big Sunflower and Big
Pumpkin contests, and much more.
Shirley A. Winnes
Tiller Editor
301 David Drive
Green Bay WI 54303
The Gardeners Club of Green Bay