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Beet 2023 09 September

Aug 31

Jackson County Master Gardeners Announcements — September 2023

By Beet 2023 09 September

Every Wednesday in September

 

Friday, September 8th

  • JCMGA Board Meeting from 9:30-11:30 a.m. This will be a hybrid meeting – via zoom and in person at SOREC Extension.

 

Friday, September 15th

  • Glass Art Class – Update
    • From 9-12:00 p.m.
    • At the SOREC Extension in the Greenhouse

 

Registration open for Winter Dreams Summer Gardens 2023

https://jacksoncountymga.org/winter-dreams-summer-gardens-symposium/

 

Aug 31

The President’s Corner — Summertime Blues

By Beet 2023 09 September

I find it ironic how we can’t wait for winter to be gone. Away with the cold weather! We are ready to put sweats, socks, and sweaters into storage and get outside to do anything that brings the sunshine to our pale faces and color back into our world.  We envision our gardens growing and bountiful, our decks and yards amass with annual and perennial color, our time spent outdoors shared with friends and family.

And then it’s summer; usually an instantaneous happening here in the Rogue Valley, as we go from a cold spring with late frosts, to 80- and 90-degree days. No transitional, gradual warming, nope! It comes in like a bang, and we are thankful that it is here. Yay! We can plant gardens, visit nurseries and eat outdoors.

And suddenly it is too hot to stay outside for very long, even though slathered in sunscreen. Now days are spent indoors again, slipping outside only at dawn and dusk to water the many plots and containers we were so excited about planting just two months ago! Then, just when we figure out watering schedules, activities, and what we won’t be planting next year – the dreaded wildfire smoke comes into our lives. It’s summer in the Rogue Valley!

Living in a beautiful area with an abundance of nature also means that the health of our forests plays a dominant role in our lives. Forest fires in the PNW used to occur every 5–10 years; now they happen yearly. Where there is fire there is smoke. In 2018 we averaged 37 days of unhealthy air pollution; in 2020 it was 41 days (particulate matter in the air was over 100 on the Air Quality Index). There goes the tail end of summer.

Life is not how we dictate it should be, it is what it is. We need to adjust to the new kind of “summer” whether we want to or not. Here’s hoping the fires will soon be contained and the smoke will clear. We can enjoy the merging into fall; delighting in the cooler weather and sunny afternoons, as we clear the gardens for next season’s crops. Goodbye Summertime Blues!

Aug 31

Coordinator Column

By Beet 2023 09 September

Hello Gardeners,

The end of summer and throughout fall is a great time for collecting seeds from your favorite plants. While it is tempting to snag every seed in sight, we want to make sure we are harvesting seeds in a manner that will not harm wild plant populations.

Where can I collect seeds?

If you want seeds from plants in your yard, feel free to harvest away! If you are thinking of harvesting seeds from wild areas, be mindful of some regulations.  The first step is to know if you are on private property or not. Avoid harvesting from private land unless you have permission from the landowner.

On land owned by the BLM, it is OK to harvest small amounts of seed from healthy plant populations for recreational use. A permit is needed for commercial use. To learn more about the details of harvesting seed on BLM property click here for a resource from the BLM..

How do I collect seeds?

Before you pick up our pruners and buckets to snip some seedheads you must first assess which plant species it is and the health of the population. Seeds from endangered plants must never be harvested in the wild. Click here for a resource to determine if a plant is endangered or threatened.

Plants with low population numbers should be left to reseed the land. There is no one rule for what counts as a low plant population. It is better to err on the side of caution. Make sure there are multiple distinct groupings of the plant present before harvesting seeds. For long term sustainable harvest of wild plant seeds, it is recommended to take no more than 10% of seeds in a population. This helps ensure other animals have seed for food and future generations of the plant will germinate.

If you are on appropriate land, the plant is not endangered or threatened, and the plant has a healthy population you can collect seeds! It is easiest to snip off seedheads into a bag or bucket labelled with the plant species name so you don’t get confused about what you harvested. Cleaning and processing the seeds can be done at home.

Happy harvesting and remember to be a responsible nature enthusiast!

Aug 31

Highlighting JCMGA Experts Presenting at Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens

By Beet 2023 09 September

 

Last month began our Beet series of three articles on the speakers and their presentations for the upcoming Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens Symposium October 27-28 and November 3-4. This month I shine a spotlight on Jackson County Master Gardener Association’s own experts who are presenters at the symposium. We have a deep and talented bench at JCMGA!

Speakers:

Ronnie Budge 

  • Presentation: Two 45-minute presentations: 1) Unlocking the Mysteries of the Seed Catalog, and 2) Coping with Critters in the Garden
  • Description
  • Every flower and vegetable variety described in a seed catalog, accompanied by a beautiful photo, is so tempting. How do you pick and choose? Learn to decipher the codes and clues in the catalog before you order, so you can grow the kind of garden you really want.
  • Deer, squirrels, gophers and voles – how do you keep them from destroying your garden? Learn what methods will help you control the pests, and what probably won’t work.
  • Speaker Bio: You can take the woman out of the Rogue Valley, but you can’t take the Rogue Valley out of the woman. Although she moved to Seattle last year, Ronnie continues to honor us with her participation in JCMGA. Ronnie lived and gardened a large part of her adult life in the valley. She became a Master Gardener and served as a Practicum mentor for many years. She tended vegetable and ornamental gardens on her property near Jacksonville where she did battle with all manner of “critters”.

 

John Kobal    

  • Presentation: Rock Gardens
  • Description: Create a unique feature, exclusive to your property. Try a Rock Garden.  Each rock garden is unique to its developer and varies by plant and hardscape variety.  It’s not hard to build one, but does take some planning and forethought.  The plants are usually on the small side, but a well-placed tree can be a welcome addition.  Create living pathways, garden walls, and points of interest using rocks (and plants).
  • Speaker bio: John has 30+ years of gardening experience.  He relocated to the Rogue Valley in 2014, and is a Master Gardener, certified by the Oregon State University Extension in Jackson County.  John has an extensive orchard, an in-ground garden and 18 raised beds used for growing vegetables.  He has three worm bins which compost a majority of kitchen scraps.  John is a garden lecturer for civic organizations, interfaces with several local school gardening programs, is an instructor in the Practicum aspect of the Master Gardener Training Program, is an OLLI instructor, and hosts the garden lecture series at the annual Master Gardener Spring Garden Fair.

 

 

 

Bonnie Englehardt  

  • Title: Masses of Grasses
  • Description:  Overwhelmed with the abundance of ornamental grass options, but ready to delve into this endlessly useful category of plants? Come explore the varieties that are best suited to our region, including many North American natives, and learn about their bountiful benefits-: deer resistance, drought tolerance and wildlife habitat among them.  Tips and information on the best care practices will also be discussed.
  • Speaker Bio:  Bonni Engelhardt is a landscape designer, Master Gardener, and writer.  She loves to share her knowledge and enthusiasm for plants with the community.

 

 

Rosenelle Florencechild 

  • Title of Presentation: Fragrance in the Garden   
  • Description of Presentation: When we see a beautiful flower in the garden, instinctively we bend toward the bloom and breathe in. Often we are disappointed. As modern hybridizers work toward increasing pest and disease resilience, scent is sacrificed. This presentation will examine varieties of shrubs – peonies, roses, lavender, and herbs – such as mints, lemon verbena, and pineapple sage – that offer a feast for your nose as well as your eyes.
  • Speaker Bio: Rosenelle Florencechild completed the Jackson County Master Gardener Program in 2013. She served as Head Gardener of the Lavender Garden from 2014-2016. She is a member of the Herb Society of America, the American Rose Society, and several local garden clubs.

 

 

Marsha Waite  

  • Presentation: Identifying and Attracting Beneficial Insects to the Home Garden 
  • Description: This class will help students identify, attract and protect some of the best garden helpers in Southern Oregon. Come learn which factors are depleting beneficial insect populations and what we can do to help them survive these challenging times.
  • Speaker Bio: Marsha Waite, a Master Gardener since 1995, has been a Plant Clinic Specialist and an Entomology and Integrated Pest Management instructor for the past 28 years. She has given many classes to garden clubs in Oregon and written articles for the Mail Tribune and Garden Beet. She was given the Jackson Co. Master Gardener of the Year award in 2000, Oregon State Master Gardener of the Year award in 2007, and was the State Behind the Scenes award recipient in 2016.
Aug 31

GLASS ART CLASS UPDATE

By Beet 2023 09 September

GLASS ART CLASS BY POPULAR REQUEST   

Many Master Gardeners and visitors have admired the glass art pieces hanging in a few of the gardens which were made by members of the Garden Enhancement Committee. They have requested a class to learn how to create their own framed glass art. So here goes! It is so much fun!

Date:  September 15th         

Time:  9:00 – 12:00 p.m.

Location:  SOREC Extension – Greenhouse

The class is free, but you will need to bring your own supplies. Suggested supplies are:

  1. Suitable glass options to use for a base or substrate, preferably one that will permit you to hang for display. (Keep in mind most pieces in your project should be transparent.):
    • Glass platter or large plate
    • Unframed flat glass. Choose a standard size so you can frame later. Tape the edges to avoid cutting yourself.
    • Frame with glass.
      • You can choose any size, but first projects are easier if you start out with a small to medium size.
      • Glue the glass into the frame with one of the glue options below before class. It should be dry before you arrive.
  1. Glue options suitable for outdoor use: clear silicone, Wellbond, E-6000. 
  2. Various sizes and colors of glass flat-backed beads or “blobs”, transparent pre-cut mosaic glass, colored glass saucers, small china bowls/cups, small glass figures, shiny aquarium sand, small pebbles, colored bottles, ANYTHING THAT STRIKES YOUR FANCY. Think outside the box! Sources: Dollar Store, on-line, garage sales, thrift stores, hobby store, etc.
  3. Think of a simple design. This project does not lend itself to a lot of detail unless you wish to cut glass to certain sizes and shapes, as you would for stained glass.
    • Design examples: simple flowers in a grass meadow, hearts, simple butterfly shapes, geometric shapes, abstract designs.
    • Design inspirations: Pintrest. Search for: “Gluing glass beads to window glass.”
    • Draw your design on paper that fits your substrate. This pattern goes under the glass for you to follow.  Choose your glue-on items with a color scheme if you wish or just embrace the random!
    • Several pre-made patterns will be available for you to use if you don’t have something in mind.

This is a fun, fun, fun event! We would love to help you make glass art. You can make it for yourself – or you can you donate it to the display in the gardens or it can be sold by the JCMGA at the Fall Festival.

Your questions are welcome.  Call, text, or email:  Janine Salvatti or Marcie Katz.

Aug 31

Plant a Row Opportunity Update

By Beet 2023 09 September

 

 

  • We are off to a great start!   
  • We have collected 236 pounds of produce so far!
  • A BIG thank you to everyone who has contributed produce!
  • 40% of the produce collected – so far – is from our JCMGA Vegetable Demonstration Garden. The garden’s GEM is Seán Cawley.  Thank you to Seán and his team for their hard work in the Vegetable Garden!
  • All collected produce is being donated to the Access Community Action Agency of Jackson County. Access will distribute it to help feed others.
  • Plant a Row provides a great opportunity for us to help others who need a little extra help to feed their families.

 

Here’s how to donate produce to Access:

  1. Produce can be dropped off at the SOREC Extension at the Gathering Garden on Wednesday mornings from 9-10:30 a.m.
  2. Once you’ve dropped off your donation, we will have a record sheet on the table with the scale in the Gathering Garden. Record how much produce (by weight) and what kind of vegetable/fruit you have donated so we can keep track!
  3. We have a beautiful Plant a Row Food Donated Thermometer to record how much food we are able to donate to Access (by pounds).
  4. Encourage friends to participate even if they are not Master Gardeners.

 

If you have questions, please

contact Barbara Low at barbaralow@msn.com.

Aug 31

The JCMGA Board Needs YOU!

By Beet 2023 09 September

We are looking for new, and experienced, members of Master Gardeners to serve on our Jackson County Master Gardener Board of Directors for 2024.  Could that be YOU, or someone you can recommend?

Please consider becoming a member of the board – the governing body of the association. The board adopts the budget, sets policy, and generally oversees the present and future direction of JCMGA.  Meetings are held the second Friday of each month.  Most board members also sit on one or more of the association’s working groups.  Your input is important, and fresh perspectives on how we move forward are the key to our success.

The following positions are to be elected this fall:

  • Vice-President/President-Elect
  • Membership Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Assistant Treasurer
  • Recording Secretary
  • Archivist
  • Oregon Master Gardener Association Representative
  • Five Members-at-Large

 

Contact Barbara Low, President-Elect, at barbaralow@msn.com if you want to nominate yourself or someone else.

Please submit any nominations by September 22nd.

Aug 31

September in the Garden

By Beet 2023 09 September

I am continuing this series of articles and hope that you find them helpful and inspiring. In September, there is quite a bit to do in the garden depending on what you want to grow.  Our gardens still need to be cared for so that they will do well, and we will have a plentiful harvest. By caring for our gardens, we are also caring for ourselves – physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association has a great resource for gardeners to use. It is the Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month.  This great reference book for gardeners is mainly about growing vegetables, berries, and melons.

September is the time to:

  • Mid-month, pickoff blossoms and very small fruits from peppers and eggplants to all remaining fruit to mature.
  • Cover the flower heads of sunflowers to keep from the birds.
  • Time to prune tips and flowers from tomatoes to allow the plant to concentrate on maturing the remaining fruits.

  • Direct Seed
o   Arugula o   Chervil
o   Corn Salad o   Cress
o   Fava Beans o   Kale
o   Lettuce o   Mustard Greens
o   Turnip Greens o   Onions
o   Radishes o   Spinach
  • Transplant
o   Broccoli, fall variety o   Broccoli, sprouting types
o   Cabbage – fall or winter varieties o   Cauliflower – late variety
o   Celery o   Chinese Cabbage
o   Garlic o   Pak Choi
o   Shallot bulbs

 

  • Control Pests and Diseases
    • Breeding season for slugs and snails starts in the fall. Bait for them for the next two months.
    • Bacterial canker is a problem for blueberries. Use of fixed copper sprays starting before the rainy season and repeated in early January, may help to control this disease.
    • Bunch rot can be a problem for ripening grapes. Pick off damaged leaves.

 

 

Garden Guide for the Rogue Valley – Year-Round & Month by Month. This book contains a wealth of gardening information. You can purchase it at our local Grange Co-op or at the OSU Extension office for $21.00. It can also be purchased on-line at https://jacksoncountymga.org/shop/.  Note that a shipping fee will be applied.

 

 

Happy Gardening

Garden For Life

Aug 31

1ST ANNUAL JCMGA FALL FESTIVAL

By Beet 2023 09 September

The Fundraising Working Group is organizing the 1st annual Jackson County Master Gardener Fall Festival! The event is scheduled for October the 14th from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, and will be held at the Extension parking lot and greenhouse.

 

This will be a smaller event than the Spring Garden Fair because of limited parking.  We’re happy that there will be 5 to 7 outside vendors, along with the Master Gardener Native Plant Nursery. Sanctuary One will provide a live display of goats. The Fundraising Working Group will sell holiday items such as wreaths, Christmas cacti and garden art.

 

We are excited to provide yet another fun event for our Master Gardener students, veterans and the public. In the near future, requests will be sent out for volunteer help.

Aug 31

JCMGA Annual Picnic August 19, 2023

By Beet 2023 09 September

 

 

 

 

The Jackson County Master Gardener Association annual picnic was held at the SOREC Extension on Saturday, August 19th.  We had a wonderful time – good friends, delicious food, wonderful conversations. As part of our picnic, we briefly reviewed what we have accomplished as an organization this year!  Lots to celebrate!

  • Special thank you to Joe Alvord for stepping up at the last moment to BBQ our meat for the picnic!
  • Special thank you to Colet Allen for doing all the grocery shopping for this event!
  • Special thank you to our hard-working Member Services Working Group – Lucy Pylkki, Marcie Katz, Grace Florjancic, Linda Millus, Sandy Hansen, Trina Stout, Colet Allen and Barbara Low – for their work behind the scenes.

Also, a BIG thank you to Marcie Katz, our president, for her support, energy, and positive attitude during this challenging year.

Several people were recognized during this event for what they have done for JCMGA.  Below is a list of the awards that were given out.

Special Recognitions –

  • Grace Florjancic- “Compassionately Committed Coordinator” for stepping up and giving your full support and more to JCMGA
  • Jane Moyer & Lynn Kunstman — “Leadership through Example” for their above and beyond planning, teaching and leading the Practicum and its Mentors smoothly through new waters.
  • Keltie Nelson – “Master of the MailChimps” for her clever doctoring and timely ability to send the MailChimp communications to the members.
  • Sandy Hansen – “Fabulous Facebook Facilitator” for keeping our Facebook page looking professional, current and fun.
  • * Sean Cawley & Keltie Nelson – “Financial Wizards” who laboriously work with QuickBooks to manage our accounts, keeping us on track and out of the red.
  • Janine Salvatti – “Having A Keen Eye” producing the 2023 Directory cover photograph and inspiration for beautifying the gardens with Mosaic Glass.
  • Sandy Hammond, Lucy Pylkki, Sandy Hansen – “Event Organizers Extraordinaire” for their ambitious dedication and hard work bringing the Spring Garden Fair back to life in a new venue.
  • Heidi Gehrmann – “Amazing Program Support” for stepping up to facilitate the JCMGA through our transition between Program Coordinators.
  • Laurel Briggs – “Webmaster Wonder Woman” for expert problem solving and updating our JCMGA presence in the digital world.
  • Lisa Brill – “Excellence in Editing” for all the wonderful work “spit and polishing” our Garden Beet submissions.
  • Susan Koenig, Colet Allen, Barbara Low – “Virtual Ambassadors” for successfully leading the way taking Winter Dreams/Summer Gardens from limited capacity in-person classrooms to virtual classes and finding excellent speakers that teach plant science which now reach a much larger expanded audience.

 

State Master Gardeners Awards Nominees (these people were nominated for the specific award by JCMGA)

  • Susan Koenig – State Behind the Scenes Award
  • Jim Buck – State Growing and Belonging Award

State Master Gardener Awards Recipients 2023

  • Lynn Kunstman – State Master Gardener of the Year Award

 

County Master Gardeners Awards Recipients 2023

  • John Kobal – County Master Gardener of the Year Award
  • Regina Boykins – County Behind the Scenes Award
  • Trina Stout – County Growing and Belonging Award

 

Oregon Master Gardeners Association Longevity Awards

20-year Recipients:

FIRST NAME LAST NAME YEAR
Jim Becker 2001
Vickie Rader Belknap 1996
Richard Brewer 2003
Sydney Jordan Brown 2000
Jean Buck 2003
JoAnn Dixon 1994
Sheila Gleim 2000
Linda Holder 1998
Richard Hoskins 1998
Bob Law 1997
Claudia Law 1996
Joan Long 1998
Susan Maesen 1999
Lupe McHenry 1995
Regula Pepi 2003
Linda Robertson 2001
Carol Robinson 1999
David Rugg 2000
James Scannell 1997
Donna Smith 2000
Nicki Van Vleck 1998
Darcy Van Vuren 2002
Shannon Wolff 1996
Jody Willis 2003

 

30-year Recipients:

FIRST NAME LAST NAME YEAR
Becky Belau 1990
Peggy Corum 1989
Sam Elliott 1993
Betty Hewitt 1989
Liz Koester 1988
Ron Nitsos 1986
Ellen Scannell 1993

 

 

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