LOOSELEAF - University Of Maryland...ties for Master Gardeners to volunteer with school programs at the Conservancy. The first of these will take place on Thursday, March 27 from 9:30-12

A Publication of the Howard County Master Gardeners

March 2014

From Georgiarsquos Desk

A warm welcome to the MG class of 2014 Elias Addleman Sharon Baker Willa Brooks

Jim Cimaglio Anne Cottle Paul DiCrispino Melissa Farris Ronald Fiskum Patricia Fletcher

Phyllis Geiger Lisa Geisler Sarah Herman William Horsey Sally Johnson Gregory Jones Gary

Laidig Ann Lee Debi MacKay Gail Mason Rita Moy MK Muncie Janet Ocheltree and Dot

Rockstroh We have had weather problemsmdashtwo out of four classes postponedmdashLetrsquos hope spring

is not far off I hope you will have a chance to meet our new folks

Join us for the Earth Forum on Sunday March 16 2-400 pm Gardening will be the topic

and we will be giving informal talks on a variety of gardening topics including GIEI and Bay-Wise

This is a special opportunity for us to share our horticultural experiences and knowledge with some

Howard County residents

Enjoy reading the seed catalogues

Georgia Eacker

Master Gardener Coordinator

410-313-1913

geackerumdedu

University of Maryland Extension programs are open to all citizens without regard to race color gender disability religion age sexual orientation marital or parental status or national origin

Educating People to Help Themselves

HOWARD COUNTY ∙ 3300 NORTH RIDGE ROAD ∙SUITE 240 ELLICOTT CITY MD 21043

HOWARD COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS ∙ (410) 313-2707 ∙ FAX (410) 313-2712

wwwmastergardenerumdedulocalhowardindexcfm

LOOSELEAF

March 2014 Looseleaf 2 Howard County Master Gardeners

March 2014 Looseleaf 1 From Georgiarsquos Desk 3 Whipps 4 GIEI 5 Mt Pleasant 6 Conservation Stewardship 8 Ask a Master Gardener 9 Bay-Wise 11 News from State Office

Suzette Holiday MG Editor webbratshotmailcom 410-903-6809

GIEI Vegetable Gardening by Jerry Kissel

Thursday March 6 730 pm

Kings Contrivance Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Dawn Linthicum at 410-381-9600

Deterring Deer and Other Critters by Kent Phillips


Miller Library

Contact Ann Hackling for information 410-313-1950

GIEI Starting a Vegetable Garden by Jerry Kissel

Saturday March 8 at 1000 am

River Hill Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Maureen Cogan at 410-531-1749

Baywise Landscaping by Baywise Team

Wednesday March 12 at 700 pm

Oakland Mills Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Brigitta Warren at 410-730-4610

Native Plants in the Home Landscape by Pat Greenwald

Thursday March 20 at 1200 noon

Howard Community College

Contact Gina Guilliford for information 443-518-4542

Hot Composting by Kent Phillips


Hickory Ridge Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Joan Lancos at 410-730-7327

SUBMITTED BY ANN VIETH

Public Education for March

The Earth Forum of Howard County will present ―Gardens Galore on Sunday March 16 from

200 to 430 pm This session will feature different types of gardens in keeping with the Earth Forumrsquos

focus ―Food for Today and Tomorrow It is anticipated that Howard County Master Gardeners will play a

prominent role in the March 16 program Detailed information will be posted at wwwearthforumhcorg

when it becomes available

The Forums will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Howard County and are free and open to

all For further information contact earthforumfirstpreshcorg or call 410-730-3545

BY MICHELLE CONNOLLY

Earth Forum of Howard County

ldquoGardens Galorerdquo Sunday March 16 2014 200mdash430 PM

First Presbyterian Church Columbia MD

Pruning Presentation Master Gardener Joe DiGiovanni will be

presenting ―Pruning to the ―Friends of

Patuxent at the National Wildlife Visitors

Center at the Patuxent Research Center on

Saturday March 1 at 1030 am The pres-

entation is open to the public For direc-

tions and additional information check the

web site

Please submit items for the April Looseleaf by Thursday March 6


Strolling through the Whipps Garden

On January 31 our annual spring kick off

meeting was held at UME to review the upcoming

events slated for 2014 Starting in March when the

weather warms the Thursday work days will begin

with the removal of loose branches and leaves clutter-

ing the gardens

The spring cleanup is preparing the gardens for

Daffodil Day An inventory will be made to identify the

location of the daffodils in

preparation for separating and

transplanting the existing bulbs

and selecting additional bulbs

to enhance the gardens for the

upcoming years This year it is

time to separate many of the

daffodil clumps Included in

this project is evaluating the

front area around the parking

pad and along St Johnrsquos Lane

in preparation to enhance the

front entrance of Whipps Vol-

unteers will be needed to transplant the bulbs

After the weather turns we will again try our

luck to add vinca to the Whipps Garden This time we

will transplant existing vinca with hopes that the voles

do not enjoy mature plants These plants will come

from the rear of the Whipps Garden and the existing

daylilies will be spread out

Plans for Seventh Daffodil Day on Saturday

April 12 is underway with the purchase of spring bulbs

presentations entertainment refreshments and a raffle

The plant sale will follow on Friday May 9 and Satur-

day May 10 at the First Lutheran Church on the corner

of Chatham and Frederick Road Please donrsquot forget

our need for donations When you are opening your

garden this spring and have

extra plants remember

Whipps The upkeep and

maintenance of Whipps is

done through donations and

fund-raisers only Every plant

counts

Volunteers are needed

to share the duties of maintain-

ing the Herb Garden and But-

terfly Garden on a regular ba-

sis If you are interested

please let me know It isnrsquot a

daunting task just systematic and routine

If you would like to add your name to Whipps

weekly workday announcement please send Aleta

Gravelle a message at 4104652398 (home) or

4102747795 (cell) or agravelleverizonnet

CALL FOR PLANTS

Donate your extra garden perennials amp small shrubs Delivery drop-off Thursday April 24 ndash Monday May 5

Location Whipps Garden Cemetery

3651 St Johnrsquos Lane Ellicott City

We invite your donations of your extra garden perennials and small shrubs to be delivered to Whipps Ceme-tery (3651 St Johnrsquos Lane and place behind the Acuba near parking pad) Please bring -- potted up and labeled --what ever lovely plants you have just a few too many of in your gardens Please label Sun or Shade Native or Non-native Your plants will be happily bought by other gardeners at reasonable even weve been told LOW prices We just want to share with others -- and also make a little money to keep the Angel Garden growing and glowing

SUBMITTTED BY ALETA GRAVELLE


The Grow It Eat It (GIEI) team

is starting off a busy spring The photo-

graph at left shows Kent Phillips and

Ann Hackeling assembling a salad table

at Miller Library on February 6 Kent

also described the construction of a five

gallon self-watering bucket showing

examples pictured below of some of

the vegetables which can be grown The

class was well attended and the salad

table was given to the Bain Senior Cen-

ter to raise salad greens

Kent and Sharon Smith taught a

class at the Hickory Ridge Village cen-

ter on February 12 The topic was

―Ingredients to a Successful Vegetable

Garden Pat Greenwald taught a seed

starting class at Long Reach Community

Center

On February 27 the State GIEI

meeting was held in College Park Dis-

cussed at the meeting were plans for

advanced GIEI training and advertising

the vegetable of the year (Cucurbits

squash)

GIEI classes for March can be

found on the calendar or on the class

schedule for Howard County on the

GIEI website The GIEI website con-

tains registration and contact informa-

tion Classes for March include

―Deterring Deer and Other Critters and

―Spring Vegetable Gardening on

March 6 ―Starting a Vegetable Garden

on March 8 a round table discussion on

backyard vegetable gardening at ―Earth

Forum on March 16 and ―Hot Com-

posting on March 26

If you are interested in joining

the GIEI team contact either Kent or

Jerry Kissel

SUBMITTED BY KENT PHILLIPS MG


Volunteer Opportunity at the Conservancy Thursday March 27 930-12 noon 4th grade ―We Are All Connected program

MGs needed to lead small groups of students in environmental activities Contact Jo Ann for more information

Doings at the Howard County Conservancy at Mt Pleasant

March brings us the start of our growing sea-

son at the Conservancy Weather permitting we will

start preparing the historical vegetable garden on Fri-

day March 21 from 9-11 am Hopefully by then the

weather will have settled into a closer to normal

spring pattern During the growing season we will

have regular workdays every Friday from

9-1100 am We do not work if it is raining since this

tends to spread disease among the plants

During the spring there are several opportuni-

ties for Master Gardeners to volunteer with school

programs at the Conservancy The first of these will

take place on Thursday March 27 from 930-12 with

a 4th grade program titled ―We Are All Connected

This program involves leading small groups of stu-

dents with their adult leaders in environmental learn-

ing activities

In April and May there will be 7th grade ser-

vice learning programs which also need small group

leaders as the students complete service projects

around the farm

Spring is a beautiful time on the farm Come

out and explore the grounds see what is in bloom and

join us in working the gardens

Conservancy Upcoming Events

Join the Conservancy Saturday March 8 from

10 am-12 noon for a Hike to River Searching for

Signs of Spring with Conservancy Naturalists Are

you tired of cold and snow Want to take a

hike Search for signs of spring on our annual hike

from the farmhouse to the Patapsco Riverhellipacross the

fields and into the State Park A moderate hike ac-

companied by Conservancy naturalists FREE

The Howard County Conservancy will host its

Fifth Annual Juried Art Show The Art of Steward-

shipndash―The Artist as Messenger March 12 - April 19

2014 in the Gudelsky Center Gallery Join the artists

at The Art of Stewardship Opening Reception on

Thursday March 13 at 6 pm $10person in advance

$12 at the door See and hear what the theme of ―The

Artist as Messenger means to these artists and the

stellar panel of Judges Rebecca Alban Hoffberger

Founder and Director of the American Visionary Art

Museum Greg Mort internationally acclaimed artist

and Anne Raver writer columnist and gardener

extraordinaire serve as the Judges and initial speakers

this evening The Opening Reception begins at 6 pm

There will be a presentation by the artists followed

by ample time to browse the exhibit and speak to the

artists All artwork is available for sale A portion of

the proceeds benefits the Conservancyrsquos educational

programming The program will end at 830 pm

donrsquot miss it You may visit the Conservancy to view

the gallery display (FREE) March 12 ndash April 19 (call

before visiting)

Saturday March 22 from 900-330 the Con-

servancy will host Project WET training for teachers

naturalists and community members This training is

sponsored jointly by Robinson Nature Center and The

Howard County Conservancy It will be held in the

Conservancyrsquos Gudelsky Education Center For more

information or to register for this training please visit

wwwhcconservancyorg

The Conservancy trails are open dawn to dusk

7 days a week Check for additional information on

upcoming activities on the website

(wwwhcconservancyorg)

BY JO ANN RUSSO MG AND TABBY FIQUE MG


―Letrsquos Stop the Invasion A

Presentation on Non-Native Invasive

Plants will kick off the Conservation

Stewardship Projectrsquos 14th season This

PowerPoint talk is scheduled for

Wednesday March 19 at 730 pm at

the Robinson Nature Center 6692 Ce-

dar Lane Columbia It will feature the

alien plants that are steadily and

stealthily attacking our native habitats

and invading our native parks stream-

sides open spaces and backyards It

will cover common invasive plants and

touch on how ―invasives affect habi-

tat why you should care and what you

can do about it

Please join us for this educa-

tional event and encourage your

neighbors to attend Admission is

FREE For more information contact

me at 4109929889 or Jeff Claffy As-

sistant Natural Resources Manager

MPEA at 4103136209

Join us among the thorns at our

Barberry and Rose Removal event on

Tuesday March 25 as we begin the

14th year of this non-native invasive

plant removal proshygram at the MPEA

Evidence of our past efforts can be seen

in the new stands of trees and shrubs

along the stream banks or in the mead-

ows whose trunks are clearly visible

without their vine camouflage

Our formidable foes will be

Berberis thunbergii aka Japanese bar-

berry and Rosa multiflora better

known as multiflora rose If you like

digging and pulling you will love this

morning Therersquos a place for you

pruning lovers also Long pants and

shirt sleeves are recommended spine-

proof gloves are a must (they will be

provided)

Let us convene at 900 am at

the Trotter Road entrance and work un-

til 1130 (or as long as you can) Inter-

ested friends and neighbors are always

welcome

Directions From Route 29

Take 108 W towards Clarksville From

Route 32 Go north to Route 108

Clarksville and turn right For both

Turn into Trotter Road Continue 08

miles to the parking area on the left

For more information contact

me at 410 9929889 or Jeff Claffy at

4103136209

SUBMITTED BY AYLENE GARD

Middle Patuxent Environmental Area Conservation Stewardship Project

Before and after results are clear when an invasive like Japanese Barberry is removed Photograph Aylene Gard


Along the banks of the Patapsco River adjacent to the

Frederick Road Bridge entering Ellicott City from Baltimore

County is a community garden staffed by Master Gardeners

Patapsco Heritage Greenway members and community volun-

teers

Planted in 2010 the attractive riverfront garden was

funded with proceeds from the Maryland Home and Garden

tour of Oella and designed by landscape architect John Slater

The rock cairn sculpture at the center was dedicated to Teddy

Betts an artist educator and tireless volunteer who dedicated

his life to improving the riverine environment of the Patapsco

River The garden was inspired and initially maintained by

Howard County Master Gardener and Oella resident Lisa

Baum and funded in part by the Oella Garden Club

On Earth Day April 22 a volunteer event (10 am-

noon) will be held at the garden featuring a brief discussion by

John Slater on the design of the garden and use of native

plants Volunteer gardeners will then prune weed and mulch

the garden and those interested will walk across the street to

the trolley stop for lunch Like last yearrsquos event the morning

will feature an educational component a ―get your hands

dirty segment and an optional lunch time ―Dutch treat social

gathering

This garden event offers master gardeners the oppor-

tunity to be either a one-time volunteer on Earth Day or to

make a more substantial seasonal commitment If you would

like to participate in this event please email Paul Farragut the

gardenrsquos volunteer coordinator at pjfarragutaolcom Please

note on the ―subject line of the email - OellaEC garden

More detail will be provided to volunteers at a later date

SUBMITTED BY PAUL FARRAGUT MG

Earth Day Volunteer Opportunity in Oella

Photograph Lisa Baum

Bioblitz Howard County April 26 2014

Transition Howard Countyrsquos Ecosystem

Landscaping Committee The Howard County De-

partment of Recreation and Parks and the Howard

County Living Farm Heritage Museum are partner-

ing to host a Bioblitz in Howard County A

Bioblitz is a survey of the biota in a particular

place on a particular date The survey provides us

with base-line data about the biodiversity of an

area In this case the site is a part of our Howard

County home West Friendship Park

We are seeking your help for this impor-

tant project We need leaders who can identify

plants in the field both native and non-native

Leaders will lead small teams into the field to iden-

tify and count plants Please register at http

wwwtransitionhocoorgcommitteeseco-

landscaping If you are interested in participating

but do not want to lead a group we also welcome

your help You may register as a leader or partici-

pant

The relevance of the survey to Howard

County residents is that we are experiencing rapid

land use changes Our forests long ago became

farmland and that farmland is now becoming sub-

urban and urban development This is either frag-

menting or destroying whatrsquos left of the native

habitat Thus native populations are in decline in-

cluding those that humans value For instance the

beauty of butterflies and dogwoods bees to polli-

nate our crops snakes to eat the mice bats to eat

mosquitoeshellip

One goal of the Bioblitz is to determine

what lives here and to use that data for land use

management Another goal is to educate people

about biodiversity landscaping to preserve it and

reducing habitat fragmentation The site has lawn

farm fields woods and stream to survey

The Bioblitz will be at the Museum in

West Friendship Maryland on April 26 2014

Questions can be directed to Ann Coren Chairper-

son Ecosystem Landscaping Committee Transiti-

tion Howard County at anncorenhotmailcom

SUBMITTED BY ANN COREN


Ask a Master Gardener 2014

This year there will be Ask a

Master Gardener sites at three librar-

ies Miller Library will have a plant

clinic on Mondays and Saturdays

every week Glenwood Library will

have a Saturday clinic once a month

and Central Library will have a Sat-

urday clinic twice a month To vol-

unteer to work a clinic please con-

tact the coordinator in charge of the

library where you want to work

AAMG is a fun way to earn

some volunteer hours and to talk to

the public about one of our favorite

topics- gardening It is also a fun

way to get to know some of your

fellow master gardeners Volunteers

do not have to know everything

about gardening - most questions are

fairly basic A list has been compiled

of the most frequently asked ques-

tions There should be a copy of

those questions with the materials

Each site has a small box of

reference materials and most experi-

enced MGs bring a couple of their

favorite references There are also

notebooks with copies of HGIC pub-

lications for reference Most of these

are for your reference only Please

encourage clients to access this in-

formation and print what they want

There is Wi-Fi available at

Miller library so many MGs bring

an iPad or laptop which is useful for

accessing the HGIC website or

ipmnet website

Two volunteers are needed

for each session Many interns have

already signed up at the volunteer

fair so we need experienced MGs to

pair with each of them If you let the

coordinator know you are new you

will be paired with an experienced

person so you can learn the ropes

Monday evening hours are from 7-

830 Saturday morning hours are

from 1000 am to 1200 noon

Central

Please contact Barbara Smith to sign up for Cen-tral Library at herm-barbsmithgmailcom or 4107471311 All dates are on a Saturday

April 12 April 26 May 10 May 24 June 14 June 28 July 12 July 26

August 9 August 23

September 13 September 27

Glenwood

Please contact Clare Open-shaw to sign up for Glen-wood AAMG hello-clarecomcastnet or 4105312107 All dates are on a Saturday

April 19 May 17 June 21 July 19

August 16 September 20

Miller

Miller plant clinic (AAMG) operates on Monday eve-nings and Saturday morn-ings every week starting April 6 and ending Septem-ber 30 Monday evening hours are from 7-830 Satur-day morning hours are from 1000 to 1200 Please contact Barbara White to volunteer or if you have questions about the program barbarawhite17yahoocom 4107507949 (before 900 pm)

SUBMITTED BY BARBARA WHITE MG


The Howard County Master Gardeners are once again hosting a Native Plant Sale in the courtyard as part of GreenFest Vendor sign-up is in progress and three of the returning vendors want you to know that you may place preorders with them Keystone Wildflowers specializes in native wildflowers and grasses Contact Bill at httpwwwkeystonewildflowerscom to place an order Willow Oak Flowers and Herbs httpwwwwillowoakherbscom will be our herb vendor Besides their culinary use many of the herbs are great pollinator plants eg Allium Bo-rage Oregano Rosemary Mints Hyssop Fennels Dill Terra is returning with more lovely native plants and herbs and you can contact her at terragroundsfornaturecom Please come to the 2014 GreenFest and take the opportunity to add to your native plant collection We hope to see you there The Howard County Bay-Wise Team


Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera tun-

cata or Zygocactus truncates) a lovely gift to

receive or give The Christmas cactus is a tropi-

cal plant not a desert plant that blooms at Christ-

mas with cascading blooms at the end of seg-

mented leaves There are also Thanksgiving

cacti and Easter cacti with similar blooms Easy

to maintain propagate and prune

After your gift stops blooming place the

plant in bright indirect light away from drafts

and high heat Place plant on a tray of rocks with

water for humidity Turn the plant often to keep

a nice shape Water only when the soil is drymdash

too much water causes white spots on the leaves

and leaf drop During winter and fall water less frequently If your plant leaves look wilted or limp it is most

likely suffering from lack of water or too much direct sun light The solution to limp leaves is to water spar-

ingly (little at a time) every few days and the plant will be revived As a tropical epiphyte plant from a tropical

area it absorbs water and nutrients from the air but here we have to create a somewhat similar environment

To get blooms for the holiday a dormant period is required In autumn move the plant to a cool (45-

50F) place and water after testing the soil for moisture The Christmas cactus starts to bloom in early winter

As the tips of the leaves become darker green you will see buds When the buds appear move the plant to a

warmer area A weak feed (20-20-20) should be applied to the water after the buds form and then feed for 2 ndash

3 weeks Overfeeding results in less blooms A holiday bloom requires proper light exposure correct tem-

peratures humidity and limited watering The plant is thermo-photoperiodic and sets its blooms when the day

and night length are the same and when temperatures are 50 ndash 60F in early November for several weeks It

requires dark periods of 12 hours each night in mid November 6 ndash 8 weeks or until buds form Do not use

plant grow lights at night ndash or plant will not bloom

A month after blooming or around March when new growth starts is a good time to prune Trim plant

to a desirable shape by cutting at the leaf joints Pruning forces the plant to branch out and become fuller and

bushier Keep the plant in indirect light and water only when dry

Propagation is an easy process done in the summer from cuttings or from seed Cut off a leaf with at

least 3 segments and set aside to dry a bit One part soil two parts peat moss or compost and one part sand or

perlite is the growth medium to create Put several leaf cuttings into the soil after dipping them into a rooting

hormone Since this is done in the summer set the plant outside in the shade or in dappled light-- it will flour-

ish but remember to bring it inside before frost

By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus


News from the State Office

Save the date MG Annual Training Day will be Thursday 52914 at the University of Maryland College Park

Whatrsquos killing the bees and what to do about it is one of the most important topics of concern for MGs and people every-

where Because there is so much controversy on this complicated topic and itrsquos an area of such large concern we have

chosen a U of MD Research Scientist whorsquos in the thick of the controversy to help us understand what exactly is going

on ndashto separate the facts from hype

Keynote Speaker Dr Dennis VanEnglesdorp Research Scientist from the University of MD

Keynote Why we Need Bees Leading apiarist and U of MD Research Scientist Dennis vanEngelsdorp will look at

these gentle misunderstood creatures importance in agricultural and natural ecosystems and the alarming evidence of

their mysterious decline He will cover the latest theories behind honey bee losses the evidence supporting these theo-

ries and present ways in which all of us can help ensure a robust and health pollinator supply in our own communities

This talk will have important ramifications for all aspects of what MGs do

Featured speaker David Haskell Professor of Biology U of the South

The Forest Unseen Learn how the speakerrsquos research and study on one square meter of forest for one year contains

amazing revelations for our past present and future ―Invite a great rush of wonder into your life as you learn from

Haskellsrsquo personal and scientific insights His research and teaching examine the evolution and conservation of animals

especially forest-dwelling birds and invertebrates

Workshops This year yoursquoll have more workshops that ever before as we present 39 different sessions in 3 different

time periods No matter what your interest we have classes yoursquoll enjoy and learn from

GIEI classes on Greens Community Gardens Herbs Unusual Vegetables Seed Saving Cucurbits Backyard Chickens

Native Plants Turf to Natives Native Meadows Native Ground Covers Showy Ferns Plant Picks for Pollinators

Propagating Native Shrubs

Entomology Pollinator Yards Climate Change on Insects Pesticides on Insects Scale Insects

Plants and Design New Plants from the National Arboretum Pruning Accenting your Landscape with Color Founda-

tion Plants American Gardens Small Space Gardening Raingardens Climate Change and the Gardener

Naturalist Bird Migration Geology Naturersquos Puzzle Snakes Ecology of Oak forests as well as some of the topics

listed above

Nuts and Bolts Grant Writing Top Gardening Apps

We also have diagnostic disease labs and plant walk as well as a great talk on both Youth GardeningNutrition and on

Garden Soils

Full schedule list of workshops list of speakers with their biographical information and information and order form for

MG Identity Merchandise will be available in early March Registration will also open up at this time and close at the

very beginning of May Registration Fee will remain at $69 ndash the same price it has been for the past 4 years So watch

your mail in early March for your printed schedule and registration form Decide what merchandise yoursquod like to get and

which classes yoursquod like to take and then register using the hard copy or register on line Registration will open early-

mid March (Continued on page 12)

Advanced Training Classes amp

MG Annual Training Day


ADVANCED TRAINING CLASSES

Native Plant Essentials

This course will serve as the basic introductory course to all of the MG Advanced Training native plant classes and

as a survey course for folks who want to know what itrsquos all about Our presenter Sara Tangren PhD will consider

whatrsquos native and why soils ecology climate and the concept of native plant communities Why are native plants

important and what does their preservation and success mean for all of us We will also have a hands-on component

at the end of the day with either identification exercises or a field walk to observe geology soil and natural plant

communities

Presenter Sara Tangren PhD Registration Fee $35

Registration Form

NEW COURSE

Native Landscaping for Maryland Shade Gardens

In 2014 we will offer Native Landscaping for Maryland Shade Gardens (for both wet and dry areas) in three different loca-

tions one in the piedmont one in the coastal plain (Eastern shore) and one in the coastal plain (southern Maryland) In 2015 we

will offer Native Landscaping for Maryland Sun Gardens (both wet and dry) in three different locations

Course Description (Shade Gardens) In each of these workshops we will have 3 days to explore the beautiful and diverse

plants native of your region and practice using them to design sustainable native shade gardens In this course you will

1 Learn how the ecology and history of Marylandrsquos flora can inform native landscape design decisions today

2 Learn the most useful shade garden plants for your area including identification cultural requirements wildlife use and

more You will also learn basic research skills that will enable to expand your plant palette in the future

3 Enjoy field trip(s) to observe native gardens and

4 Practic shade garden design by selecting plants that are appropriate to site conditions (moisture pH) provide year-round

interest and benefit wildlife and wild plant populations

Registration Form

(Continued from page 11)

(Continued on page 13)

Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311

Anne Arundel Co Dairy Farm

(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20

930-330 Reg Deadline 313

Piedmont (Howard Co)

UME Howard Co Ellicott City

Tuesdays Apr 22 Apr 29 May 6

930am-330pm

Registration Deadline

41414

Coastal Plain (Kent Co)

Adkins Arboretum

Thursdays Jun 5 Jun 12 Jun 19

10am-4pm


52314

Coastal Plain (Southern MD)

UME Calvert Co Prince Frederick

Tuesdays Sept 20 Oct 7 Oct 14 Registration Deadline

92314



More classes will be announced soon including

EntomologyEcological IPM with Mike Raupp ndash Baltimore Co June

Intensive Techniques and Small Space Vegetable Gardening- Kent Co June

Vegetable Plant and Pest Diagnosis ndash July in Montgomery and Prince Georgersquos Counties

Plant Diseases ndash September in Frederick Co

Youth Vegetable GardeningmdashSeptember in Montgomery and Anne Arundel Counties



SUBMITTED BY ROBIN HESSEY MG

2014 Continuing Education Speaker Series Updates Programs

We are pleased to feature fellow Master Gardener Sylvia Huestis as our Continuing Education Speaker on Tuesday

March 11 930 to 1130 am at the Extension office Please participate in this opportunity to learn and discuss building

and maintaining rain gardens MG volunteers working youth education or other community rain garden projects are en-

couraged to attend Also please note the new date for the Robinson Nature Center tour is Wednesday September 10

Rain Gardens Sylvia Huestis MG Tuesday March 18

UrbMat Chad Van Erbe Head of Production UrbnEarth Tuesday April 8

Ornaments in the Garden Pat Ferensic MG Tuesday May 13

Ellicott City Gardens Tour sponsored by the Horticultural Society of Maryland

Sunday June 1 10 am ndash 4 pm

Horticultural topic TBD Dr Roger Lawson retired Agricultural Research Service USDA former National Program

Leader for Horticultural Crops and Branch Chief Floral and Nursery Corp Tuesday July 8

Robinson Nature Center Tour at Robinson Nature Center Wednesday September 10

NOTE DATE CHANGE

Flower Transfer Betsy Grater MG Tuesday October 14

Global Warming Dr Sara Via Dept of Biology and Dept of Entomology University of Maryland College Park and

Climate Reality Leadership Corps

SUBMITTED BY KARIN DELAITSCH

Editorrsquos note This date is new The old date that appears in the hard copy of the March Looseleaf is incorrect




March 2014 Looseleaf 1 From Georgiarsquos Desk 3 Whipps 4 GIEI 5 Mt Pleasant 6 Conservation Stewardship 8 Ask a Master Gardener 9 Bay-Wise 11 News from State Office

Suzette Holiday MG Editor webbratshotmailcom 410-903-6809

GIEI Vegetable Gardening by Jerry Kissel


Kings Contrivance Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Dawn Linthicum at 410-381-9600

Deterring Deer and Other Critters by Kent Phillips


Miller Library

Contact Ann Hackling for information 410-313-1950

GIEI Starting a Vegetable Garden by Jerry Kissel

Saturday March 8 at 1000 am

River Hill Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Maureen Cogan at 410-531-1749

Baywise Landscaping by Baywise Team


Oakland Mills Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Brigitta Warren at 410-730-4610

Native Plants in the Home Landscape by Pat Greenwald

Thursday March 20 at 1200 noon

Howard Community College

Contact Gina Guilliford for information 443-518-4542

Hot Composting by Kent Phillips


Hickory Ridge Community Center

Please confirm attendance with Joan Lancos at 410-730-7327

SUBMITTED BY ANN VIETH

Public Education for March

The Earth Forum of Howard County will present ―Gardens Galore on Sunday March 16 from

200 to 430 pm This session will feature different types of gardens in keeping with the Earth Forumrsquos

focus ―Food for Today and Tomorrow It is anticipated that Howard County Master Gardeners will play a

prominent role in the March 16 program Detailed information will be posted at wwwearthforumhcorg

when it becomes available

The Forums will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Howard County and are free and open to

all For further information contact earthforumfirstpreshcorg or call 410-730-3545

BY MICHELLE CONNOLLY

Earth Forum of Howard County

ldquoGardens Galorerdquo Sunday March 16 2014 200mdash430 PM

First Presbyterian Church Columbia MD

Pruning Presentation Master Gardener Joe DiGiovanni will be

presenting ―Pruning to the ―Friends of

Patuxent at the National Wildlife Visitors

Center at the Patuxent Research Center on

Saturday March 1 at 1030 am The pres-

entation is open to the public For direc-

tions and additional information check the

web site

Please submit items for the April Looseleaf by Thursday March 6








ing the gardens




































counts












CALL FOR PLANTS

























Center






squash)













posting on March 26



Jerry Kissel






















ing activities




around the farm


































before visiting)








wwwhcconservancyorg






















can do about it







MPEA at 4103136209




















provided)





welcome









4103136209









teers


















gathering































pant











mosquitoeshellip



















































ipmnet website












Central



August 9 August 23


Glenwood




Miller









































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE















ing the gardens




































counts












CALL FOR PLANTS

























Center






squash)













posting on March 26



Jerry Kissel






















ing activities




around the farm


































before visiting)








wwwhcconservancyorg






















can do about it







MPEA at 4103136209




















provided)





welcome









4103136209









teers


















gathering































pant











mosquitoeshellip



















































ipmnet website












Central



August 9 August 23


Glenwood




Miller









































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE



























Center






squash)













posting on March 26



Jerry Kissel






















ing activities




around the farm


































before visiting)








wwwhcconservancyorg






















can do about it







MPEA at 4103136209




















provided)





welcome









4103136209









teers


















gathering































pant











mosquitoeshellip



















































ipmnet website












Central



August 9 August 23


Glenwood




Miller









































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE




























ing activities




around the farm


































before visiting)








wwwhcconservancyorg






















can do about it







MPEA at 4103136209




















provided)





welcome









4103136209









teers


















gathering































pant











mosquitoeshellip



















































ipmnet website












Central



August 9 August 23


Glenwood




Miller









































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE
























can do about it







MPEA at 4103136209




















provided)





welcome









4103136209









teers


















gathering































pant











mosquitoeshellip



















































ipmnet website












Central



August 9 August 23


Glenwood




Miller









































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE













teers


















gathering































pant











mosquitoeshellip



















































ipmnet website












Central



August 9 August 23


Glenwood




Miller









































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE














































ipmnet website












Central



August 9 August 23


Glenwood




Miller









































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE














































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE












































By JanWms-Nguyen MG

Christmas Cactus




























listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE



































listed above



Garden Soils

















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE
















communities


Registration Form

NEW COURSE













Registration Form



Cylburn Arboretum

(Baltimore)

Saturday March 15

930-330

Reg Deadline 37

UME Washington Co

(Boonsboro)

Tuesday March 18

930-330

Reg Deadline 311


(Gambrills)

Thursday March 20





930am-330pm


41414


Adkins Arboretum


10am-4pm


52314




92314

























NOTE DATE CHANGE































NOTE DATE CHANGE











Documents

LOOSELEAF - University Of Maryland...ties for Master Gardeners to volunteer with school programs at the Conservancy. The first of these will take place on Thursday, March 27 from 9:30-12