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Beet 2023 08 August

Jul 27

OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference

By Beet 2023 08 August

I was lucky to attend this year’s Oregon State University Extension Service Joy of Gardening Conference, two days of research-based classes on edibles, ornamentals and pollinators. It was held in Corvallis, OR on July 7 and 8. The conference was well organized and had excellent presenters. I learned a great deal about gardening that can be applied to my personal garden as well as Jackson County Master Gardener Association projects, training and gardens.

In addition to attending, I volunteered to help new attendees staying in the dorms to get their room keys, building passes, and directions to registration, etc. I also wrote a process to provide guidance to participants and the planning committee, and submitted it to the planning committee for use in 2024. Volunteering gave me insights and great appreciation for how hard the Joy of Gardening planning committee works and the value they bring to the Master Gardeners of Oregon. Thank you, Oregon Master Gardener Association.

The conference was excellent and every presentation provided new information to help Master Gardeners deal with current issues. I learned lessons that will be passed back to the Joy of Gardening planning group, and can also be applied to projects here at JCMGA. There were two outstanding Keynote speakers:

Tom Kaye on Coping with Climate was informative, had a good sense of humor and summarized recent research on how plants respond to changing climate. We hope he accepts our invitation to present at the 2024 Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens (WD/SG).

Dr. Melathopoulos is affectionately called “the Bee Guy”. He spoke at last year’s WD/SG and is scheduled again this fall. We hope he will update us on the fabulous Citizen Science efforts of Josephine County Master Gardeners, especially their findings about rare bees. Josephine County Master Gardeners will continue collecting data on rare bees in spite of their county commissioners’ defunding decisions. OSU is helping. This is great news.

The Joy of Gardening Conference is also a place to connect with groups to make a difference. I took a class on “Citizen Science”, an approach in which volunteers help conduct scientific research. Master Gardeners may be able to earn volunteer hours and provide a valuable service as they gather data, and it doesn’t take much effort! Please contact Grace Florjancic with any questions.

Grace and I participated in a round table discussion where we learned that most chapters are looking for ways to increase participation, retention and expand volunteers and membership. Grace and I discussed our efforts with creating Friends of the Gardens. The round table was an opportunity for different chapters to compare their issues and problem-solve. I think it should be included every year.

I was so thrilled to see how well JCMGA is doing as a chapter. We had the greatest number of people mentioned for awards. Lynn Kunstman was awarded the Master Gardener of the Year at the state level. She so deserves this recognition.  Thank you, Lynn, and congratulations. You go, girl!

OMGA raises scholarship money, via a raffle, to help people attend the Joy of Gardening Conference. This year, their Send a Friend project provided five people across Oregon the opportunity to attend. Next year, JCMGA could look into a similar fundraising effort. Perhaps it could be a reward for one of our Friends of the Garden or an outstanding student in the 2024 class.

In closing, I would like to mention another lovely activity at this year’s Joy of Gardening. Attendees visited the Polk County Inspirational Garden. We were met upon entering the garden by a Master Gardener and given refreshments, learned some history and took an informative stroll through this reclaimed area. I will let you learn about this beautiful space, its creation and development on your own virtual visit.

The Inspirational Garden has an acronym with an interesting history. FIG stands for Friends In the Garden. This beautiful place is managed and maintained by the Master Gardeners of Polk County and Friends, who are all volunteers. Brooke, the interim State MG, helped get the friends part of this in place as it was known that Master Gardeners alone could not do this on their own. Thank you to Brooke for helping to make that happen. This is a good example for us all. Many chapters have a claim to fame. It would be nice if these outstanding works were shared with OMGA and OMGA could advertise to all what Master Gardeners are doing throughout the state.

Attending the OMGA Joy of Gardening Conference was inspirational and provided me with many learnings to pass on to others. I encourage everyone to attend when they can.

Jul 27

Beneficial Insects You Need to Know – Part 3

By Beet 2023 08 August

In past articles we discussed predatory and parasitic beneficials.  Now we turn our attention to pollinators.  Who are the important pollinators in your yard?  Everyone is familiar with the non-native European honeybee (Apis mellifera), but there are so many more insects that provide our pollination services.  In Oregon, we have over 700 species of NATIVE bees, all of whom are servicing our native and non-native plants. And good news: native bees do not sting!

All bees need pollen and nectar to reproduce.  Many of our native bees are specialists on the pollen of particular native plants so that, if the plant isn’t present, those bees cannot survive.  Plant natives!  Some examples of our beautiful native bees are bumblebees – which everyone recognizes – sunflower bees, and others shown below.

 

 

Most of these bees are solitary stem or ground nesting bees. Young queens gather and build a “bee loaf” of pollen and nectar to lay an egg on, then seal that egg and food in a chamber.

Our second most important pollinators after bees are our native flies, especially the hoverflies.

 

 

These little bee mimics can be identified by their large eyes and their hovering behavior over flowers.  Our beneficial flies overwinter in fallen leaves, and many of their larvae provide winter food for birds. So “leave the leaves”.

Moths and butterflies are a third group of important pollinators.  Remember that all butterflies are moths (that fly in the daytime and are brightly colored), but not all moths are butterflies.  The moths are critical nighttime pollinators, so it is important to put your outdoor lights on motion sensors, keeping your yard mostly dark for these important insects.

 

 

Wasps and beetles make up the other two large groups of pollinating insects.

For more information, visit the Xerces Society page about pollinators.

 

Jul 27

The Lavender Trail Stops Here!

By Beet 2023 08 August

There’s a weekend every June when the lavender farms from all over the Rogue Valley are open to the public for the Lavender Festival Trail. Visitors can choose to visit them all or select a few favorites, and immerse themselves in the heavenly aroma of French and English lavender in full bloom.

This year, our site was somehow omitted from the official Lavender Trail brochure. However, the dates coincided with our scheduled native plant sale, so Margaret Clark and Irv Johnson, the GEMS of our beautiful Lavender Garden, didn’t give up. With the help of Master Gardener volunteers, they patiently planted themselves under canopies for the three days, hoping our signs along Hanley Road and on the SOREC billboard would catch the attention of lavender lovers.

 

“If you make it, they will come.” A stream of garden enthusiasts stopped by to wander among the 80 plus varieties in the Lavender Demonstration Garden; the only one in the PNW that is registered in the Herb Society of America. Margaret did an amazing job of providing shortbread cookies rolled in lavender sugar, lavender lemonade, samples of Lilli Belle lavender chocolate and Rogue Creamery’s “La La Lavender” Blue Cheese.  She beautifully decorated the tables with lavender tablecloths, décor and napkins.                                   

 

It was another “we are back” moment for the Association; 2019 being the last year in which we participated. All in all, it was a fun and successful weekend, and you can be sure we will be back on that list for next year! My thanks to Margaret and Irv and the wonderful volunteers; not only those who came out in the heat to work that weekend, but also those who worked for several days prior to the festival to help get it ready. It truly does take a village!

 

There will be a lavender harvest workday in August, where we will learn how to harvest, store and braid the lavender, which we will sell at our Fall Harvest Festival.  Also, Irv is looking for a replacement (he has been working in the garden for over 15 years), so if any of you want to be a Co-GEM (Garden Education Mentor) with Margaret or just a lavender helper, come out on Wednesdays from 9-12. Contact Marcie Katz for information about the Lavender Garden at marciek10@gmail.com

Jul 27

  GEMS, our Garden Custodians

By Beet 2023 08 August

                                               

You’ve heard me talk about the GEMS before. Formally known as the Garden Education Mentors, they are the garden caretakers and custodians of the beautiful Demonstration Gardens on the Extension grounds.

If you haven’t been out to experience the gardens, now is the perfect time, as they are in full bloom! This year, with the help of our Student Apprentices, the gardens look amazing. We have a great bunch of workers, and as they say, “many hands make light work.”  And it shows! I am excited to see that many of the students are dedicated to their selected gardens, are engaged in long-term garden planning and show up every week to carry on with the constant maintenance required.

If you are interested in becoming a GEM or co-GEM, we have two gardens in need of a GEM – the Entry Garden and the Lavender Garden. Or, if you simply want to come out and help, lend a hand to these two gardens. The Rose Garden needs additional help because its team of six workers has dwindled down to one. All those the roses require deadheading and that’s a lot to do by oneself every week!

Being a GEM is rewarding. You will share in the comradery of working on a group project, giving and receiving help from other gardeners, feeling pride in your garden, and having fun in teaching gardening practices. Sometimes the students are even the teachers!

If you are interested in becoming a GEM, please contact Marcie Katz at marciek10@gmail.com

Jul 27

A Cot Above

By Beet 2023 08 August

With each season we’re blessed with some of God’s most incredible and delicious fruits. There’s nothing comparable to Prunus armeniaca, the apricot, with flavors unmatched by any other fruit.

Apricots were domesticated as early as 2000 BC in Central Asia and China. Archaeological evidence also shows them in ancient Armenia. Alexander the Great is said to have introduced them to Greece. They were later introduced to the Romans. It’s believed apricot trees were introduced to the New World by Spanish missionaries in California in the early 18th century. Early French explorers brought them to the eastern US in the 1700’s.

While the apricot’s cultivation likely spread because of its taste, more recently it has been consumed for its bounty of health benefits. These nifty little easily-eaten-out-of-hand fruits are loaded with generous amounts of vitamin A and C, B1, B2, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and iron, as well as fiber. Who says healthy food must taste bad?

The best fruits are of course from your own tree ripened to their most succulent sweetness. Aside from savoring them fresh, they’re also great frozen, canned, dried, or made into jam. Commercially, they’re also used for making liqueurs.  There’s even a National Apricot Day every January 9th!

Today’s apricots are cultivated on every continent in the world except Antarctica. In the US, most commercially grown apricots are grown in California, Washington, and Indiana, but home gardeners can cultivate them in Oregon as well.  The main secret to success is selecting the appropriate variety.

No matter the variety, apricot trees can top 45’. However, they can be kept at 10’-12’ with annual pruning.  They’re broadly spreading with ovate bright-green leaves and lovely pink flowers that appear in spring. Most are self-fertile, but some aren’t and require a pollinating partner.

They’re also very long-lived generous producers (usually at 2-3 years of age) of velvety golden-to-deep orange, slightly tart, perfumy-sweet fruits that nearly melt in the mouth.  Like peaches and plums, they contain a single seed (kernel).  (Note: While many claim that consuming apricot kernels can fight cancer, there is no scientific evidence to support this claim. DON’T consume the apricot kernel. It contains a chemical called amygdalin, which the body turns into cyanide. Eating apricot kernels is unsafe, especially when eaten in large amounts.)

While hardy in zones 4-9, the challenge in our area is spring frost.  Selecting late-blooming, disease- resistant varieties is most important.

Eight hours of sun is needed for good fruiting.  Apricots tolerate a variety of soils if they’re well drained. They’re too large for growing in a container. Water deeply (1’ per week over the root zone) by drip irrigation, mulching generously to retain moisture.

Fertilize with generous amounts of well-rotted compost. Spray with copper fungicide in spring and apply foliar micronutrients to aid the immune system.

Although a little challenging, there’s nothing like harvesting your own fruits that are sure to be a “cot” above the rest.

 

Resources:

Ty Ty Nursery

https://www.tytyga.com/Apricot-Trees-s/1832.htm

Encyclopedia Britannica

https://www.britannica.com/plant/apricot

Harvest Time Foods

https://harvestimefoods.com/21511/the-history-of-apricots-and-why-theyre-called-yellow-plums/

Raintree Nursery

https://raintreenursery.com/pages/growing-fruit-trees-appricot

National Today

https://nationaltoday.com/national-apricot-day/

WebMD

https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1190/apricot-kernel

 

Sources for apricot trees:

Varieties to look for:  Harglow; Zard; Puget Gold; Wenatchee Moorpark

One Green World

https://onegreenworld.com/?s=apricot

Raintree Nursery

https://raintreenursery.com/search?type=product&q=apricot*

Shooting Star Nursery

https://roguevalleynursery.com/retail-clients#availabilitylist

 

Recipe:

Fresh Apricot Crisp

Preheat oven to 350°

Grease an 8×8” square baking pan with oil.

 Filling:

6 cups fresh apricots, washed, pitted and cut in lengthwise wedges (about 6 per fruit)

1 tablespoon tapioca starch

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon each ground ginger and nutmeg

½ cup organic honey or pure maple syrup or organic sugar

zest of one organic lemon and 1 tablespoon juice

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl, stirring gently until the fruit is coated.  Spoon into the prepared pan.

 

Topping:

1 cup organic thick rolled oats

1/3 cup organic oat flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

6 tablespoons olive oil

zest of one organic lemon

¼ cup pure maple syrup, organic honey, or organic brown sugar

Mix together the topping ingredients until blended and clumps form. Crumble topping over apricots in the pan.

Bake in preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes until filling is bubbling and the top is golden brown.

Serve warm or cold with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or vanilla Greek yogurt.

Makes 6-8 servings.

 

Jul 26

Master Gardeners Catch the Rain!

By Beet 2023 08 August

In September of 2021, the irrigation wells on the OSU Southern Oregon Research and Education Center campus in Central Point ran dry. Watering of all campus demonstration gardens stopped, and plants in the native plant nursery began to die. Through a massive emergency effort, the nursery stock was either donated to local restoration projects or taken to member homes to be maintained until we could install a watering system.

In October 2021, bids were sought to find a contractor to construct a rain catchment system, pending approval of the project. All contractors with rain catchment skills were fully booked until late Spring 2022. As an interim solution, JCMGA purchased eight 250-gallon cage tanks and filled them with water from a local watering delivery service. A small pump was purchased and watering the remaining nursery plants continued all winter using the two thousand gallons of water in these small tanks.

 

In January 2022, as the new growing season approached, Jackson County Master Gardener Association received approval to install the rain catchment system as an emergency irrigation backup for our well.  Fundraising began for the $15,000 system with a Go Fund Me campaign in February of 2022.  A total of $10,367 was raised, with the remaining funds being acquired through plant sales from the native plant nursery, and a generous grant from Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Sage Hill Landscape, the installation contractors, also donated one of the tanks to the project.

The system, installed by Sage Hill, was completed in the summer of 2022. It is a 5,000-gallon system consisting of two 2,500-gallon tanks that capture water off the roof of greenhouse #2. When the campus well failed again in the late fall of 2022, JCMGA was able to utilize the rain catchment system, beginning in February 2023 to grow all the plants for our May 2023 Spring Garden Fair.

As of July 2023, the well on campus is functioning, and the rain system tanks are full.  Master Gardeners will use the rainwater to maintain the native plants in the nursery on campus in the event of another well failure. Additionally, the system will serve as a demonstration teaching tool for Master Gardeners, Small Farms, Land Stewards, 4-H programs, and any community association that would like to bring members onto campus to see what a large capacity capture system looks like. An interpretive sign was installed in early July of 2023, and we look forward to the public being able to learn about rainwater catchment on the SOREC campus.