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OCTOBER MASTER GARDENER MEETING

Wednesday, October 19, 2016 7:30 PM at the RCE office, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield, NJ 07090

Presentation by Garden Historian Lesley Parness

details on page 7

The Herb Garden by Christine Dec

A Little Known Herb - Marsh Mallow

When was the last time you toasted a marshmallow over an open fire or just popped one of these sweet

confections into your mouth? Ever consider the origin of this childhood delight?

The Marsh Mallow is a pretty, decorative plant with a long, tough, fleshy root. It can grow two to four

feet according to the Random House Book of Herbs. A species of the Althea's plant, it is derived from

the Greek word "to cure." It was used as a medicinal herb to soothe irritation and inflammation caused

by coughs, colds, bronchitis, and sore throats.

It was one of many flower pollens scattered around the grave of a Neanderthal man who had been buried

in a cave in Iraq some 60,000 years ago according to Barbara Griggs in Green Pharmacy. She

speculates that it was probably scattered in his grave to give him strength for his journey into the next

world.

If you are fortunate enough to find Marsh Mallow in the wild, you can propagate it by taking a stem

cutting and putting it into a rich layer of soil. It should be noted that it does take two years of old roots

to produce the "mucilage" that is so valuable to herbalists. This is the substance that was used to relieve

the symptoms mentioned above. It is also the substance of which marshmallows are made.

When one of my daughters got married a few years ago there was a large fire pit outside the venue and

at the end of the night the staff brought out ingredients to make "s'mores". So we were able to enjoy

marshmallows at a formal event. So next time you pick up a bag of marshmallows at the store keep in

mind it's more than just a sweet confection.

THE MASTER GARDENER UNION COUNTY MASTER GARDENER NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER 2016

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October Plant of the Month by Denise

Rothstein

My Trip to Shangri La

This month’s article is not about a plant, it is

about a trip I went on recently and the beauty

that I saw. I had the privilege many years ago to

see Doris Duke’s estate in Hillsborough (NJ),

and her gardens and greenhouses, before they

were demolished. So when I planned a trip to

Hawaii, on my itinerary was a trip to her home in

Honolulu. I was not disappointed.

Booked through the Honolulu Museum of Art,

Shangri La is open for tours, but only with

advanced reservations. It is considered one of Hawaii’s most architecturally significant homes, and the

only one built by Doris Duke herself from the ground up.

Built in 1937 as a vacation retreat for Duke and her husband James Cromwell, she was inspired by the

travels they took on their honeymoon to North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. She loved

Hawaii so much that she decided to build there, and she acquired 5 acres on a bluff, with scenic vistas

over-looking the Pacific Ocean and Diamond Head. The 14,000-sq. ft. single story home was considered

her most intimate home, and consists of courtyards, terraces, lanais, and gardens, and is an

environmental and wildlife preserve.

There is a formal Indian Mughal garden, a Hawaiian fish pond, lush tropical gardens (including a private

garden outside the master suite), a courtyard in the center of the house, and a meditation garden. Besides

this, there is a 75-foot pool with a guesthouse/playhouse, a jetty to shelter a yacht, and tennis courts.

Duke used her own beach to learn to surf with the famous

Olympic surfer Duke Kahanamoku, who was a good

friend. The home is filled with over 2500 objects of

Islamic art, collected from Morocco, Iran, India, Turkey,

Syria, and Egypt.

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When you arrive at her home you see a huge Banyan tree filled

with white doves. The home is quite ordinary from the front,

except for 2 stone camels by the front door. But once you enter,

you are treated to a place of solitude and beauty. Orchids,

Anthurium, Bougainvillea, Bird of Paradise, Shefflera, Date

Palms, and Ferns can be found throughout the estate. And to

bring the outside in, Duke installed a glass wall in the back of the

house that descends completely into the ground, powered by an

Otis Elevator system.

If and when you plan a trip to Hawaii, after Pearl Harbor, this is a

must see!

And like Pearl Harbor, you need to reserve a spot in advance.

How Not to Kill A Houseplant by Kathryn DeFillipo

Can’t keep a houseplant alive? Making a houseplant thrive is easy, if you follow these simple

tips from fellow Master Gardener (and author) William Moss, in his book “Any Size,

Anywhere Edible Gardening.”

To give your plant a fighting chance, select one that matches your habits. Be honest, are

you really going to remember to water it? If not, stick to a succulent or cactus. They can go weeks

without water. Place the plant near where you will see it, like in a bathroom or kitchen, so you will remember to water it. But don’t over-water either. Put your finger into the soil, if it’s wet, don’t water.

And when you do water, give enough so that you see water running out the bottom of the pot. Check the

plant’s light requirements. If in doubt, place it near an eastern exposure. Use potting soil, which has

added nutrients. And always look for an indestructible plant!

CARYL SUGGESTS: THINGS TO DO IN OCTOBER

by Caryl Hannemann

Continue watering fall-planted trees, shrubs and perennials. The roots will continue to grow until the soil

temperature drops to about 40 degrees F.

Rake leaves as they fall. Shred them and use as a winter mulch or start a compost pile.

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Do not become alarmed if your yews, pines, arborvitae, and junipers begin to shed their interior needles. It is

natural for them to do so at this time of year.

Complete planting of spring bulbs. Plant daffodil and hyacinth bulbs.

Don’t leave a thick layer of mulch over your vegetable garden in the winter or it will take a long time for the soil

to dry out and warm up in the spring.

Plant garlic at the end of the month.

Place a ripe apple in a closed container with green tomatoes to encourage the tomatoes to turn red. Ripe apples

give off ethylene gas that causes tomatoes to ripen.

Dig up summer flowering bulbs such as dahlias, gladioli and cannas before the ground freezes and store in a cool,

dry and dark space.

Fall is an excellent time for taking soil samples in the lawn and in the garden. Pick up a soil test kit at RCE.

Christmas cacti need special care now to produce flowers in December. Buds will form when temperatures are

between 50° and 60° or if the plant is exposed to at least 13 hours of complete darkness every day.

House plant growth slows as the days get shorter and light intensity is reduced. Do not fertilize them until next

spring.

Clean up perennial beds. Clean up and compost all spent plant parts. Discard all diseased plants and those that

have weed seeds.

Store harvested seeds in a cool, dry place. Some gardeners store their seeds in the refrigerator.

Mulch root systems of newly planted trees and shrubs but keep mulch away from tree trunks and do not pile more

than 3” high.

To keep your cat out of your potted plants, sprinkle the soil with pepper. It works

without harming either cat or plants.

Demonstration

Garden News

By Joanne Krueger

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As of Sept.22, over 2,000 lbs. of delicious fresh vegetables has been donated to soup kitchens and food pantries in

Union County. We will continue to harvest through the end of October. We’ll also be clearing out all the beds in

November. We can use help every Tuesday and Thursday starting at 9:00 am. Contact Norma Cohen at

NormaintheGarden@verizon.net to join the e-mail distribution list or call for

more information.

HELP NEEDED! Dig in Plant Sale perennial potted plant days - starting Tuesday, Sept 27 at the

Demo Garden at 9am. We will continue to dig in the plants every Tuesday and Thursday until we

are done.

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MG October Continuing Education Meeting: The Green Heart of Beijing - Exploring its Imperial Gardens and Public Parks

Please join us for our continuing education meeting, Wednesday October 19, 2016 from 7:30-9 pm in

the RCE Meeting Room, 300 North Avenue East, Westfield, NJ 07090.

Fasten your seat belts for a tour of Beijing's green spaces! This densely populated city is home to 11.5

million residents and over 600 parks. Explore some of the most historic, popular, and widely used ones

in this hour-long illustrated presentation by garden historian Lesley Parness.

Lesley Parness has served as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park

Commission since 2001. She co-founded the Garden State Gardens Consortium, a public gardens

alliance in 2006 and served as its Vice President and President. Lesley teaches at the Frelinghuysen

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Arboretum and is a frequent lecturer to Garden Clubs and Plant Societies. Her interests include garden

history, garden travel and herbs.

You are welcome to bring a guest for this event! RSVP by October 14 by emailing Judi Laganga,

jlaganga@ucnj.org or calling(908) 654-9854, option 2.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

On Tuesday, September 20, the fifth grade of College Achieve Charter School visited the demonstration garden.

The Gardening with Children and Demonstration Garden Committees hosted the 55 students. We received the

following letter from the school. We will have an article about this event in our next newsletter.

Dear Madeline,

Today was one of the best trips I have ever been on! From the moment we pulled up and saw all those cars and

then realized they were all volunteers there for us, I knew it was going to be a special day. The prep time that the

Master Gardeners put into the workshops was quite evident. Everything ran smoothly and in an organized manner

- you even thought of a clock keeper and a whistle to keep us on time. Everyone was so patient, cheerful, and

helpful with our scholars. It was so evident that these Gardeners were exceptional people who love the land and

want to share this passion with the next generation.

I would like to pick out one station and say it was the favorite - but they all were amazing. Our students have

never had the chance to run freely with butterfly nets and carefully catch and release butterflies. They have never

had the opportunity to really learn and examine actual eggs. Who knew you could make such beautiful artwork

using flowers as your crayons? Well, we all do now.

Days such as these are only possible when caring people are willing to share their time, knowledge and passion. I

thank you and your whole team - they provided an amazing day for our scholars. I am sure it will be one they will

remember for years to come.

Thank you so very much,

Mary Greeley

Teacher

College Achieve Charter School, Plainfield NJ

Thank you!!