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Dates to Remember! Thursday, November 13: Brown Bag presentation, by Gina and John Gilliland on Fairy Gardens. and Linda Jones on Planting Bulbs, Extension Office, 6:00.

Thursday, November 13: MGV monthly meeting, Extension Office, 7:00. Note: This is also our annual planning meeting.

Monday, December 1: Wreath Making Workshop, 6:00—8:00. Hancock County Library. See page 8. Thursday, December 4: MGV Christmas Potluck, 6:00 p.m., Birchaven. Please sign up asap. Info on page 3.

Sunday, December 7: Wreath Making Workshop, 2:00—4:00, Hancock County Library.

Tuesday, December 9: Wreath Making Workshop, 6:00—8:00, Hancock County Library

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

2014 MGV State Conference—by Sharon Baker Hammer

9 Winter Plants that Dazzle

Fall Gardening Tips, Landscape Chores

Info on Wreath Making Classes, Potluck, field trip, and more.

Coordinator’s Corner by Bill Jones

Weren’t the fall colors beautiful this year? We had an exceptionally good growing season this year and the gardens and crops did very well although they were a little slower in developing than in previous years. The rate of global warming seems to have slowed in the last few years. If we compare the accumulated growth degree-days as of October 28, we see the following for the past 5 years: 2979, 3174, 3573, 3278, 3622. Thanks to Ruth Furiate for her informative article in the Courier this past month and to Barbara Sherman who will have one on flowering shrubs in November. JoAnn Reeds is preparing an article for December. I would welcome volunteers for January and beyond. These articles provide those of us who have a strong interest in some aspect of gardening but who don’t like to make presentations, a good way to share our interests and experiences. We will be reviewing our past year’s activities at the November meeting and it will be a time for us to recommend any changes we would like to incorporate into our program for next year. Please consider how you may become more involved next year and where you may be willing to share your

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November 2014

Green Thumb Prints Newsletter of the Hancock County

Master Gardener Volunteers Gardening is our Passion . . . Education is our Purpose

OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

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talents and interests. Please remember to get your hours for 2014 into the office before the end of the year. These reports are important for maintaining our Active Status and to help show the contribution we are making to OSU Extension and to the State MGV program. Our inactive members this year are required to obtain10 hours of education in order to remain on the rolls. Happy Thanksgiving!

—Bill

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Thanks and Reminder

Thanks to Cathy Grossman and Randy Greeno for the refreshments at the November planning MGV meeting.

Coordinator’s Corner - Continued

Take care of your garden tools!

Drain the gas from power tools. Run the gas out

of the lawn mower. Service the mower now so it's ready to go in

spring. Sharpen the blade, pull the spark plug, and replace the air filter. Change the oil in spring.

Clean metal tools by removing rust and oiling blades.

Sharpen and lubricate cutting tools. Sand wooden tool handles lightly and rub linseed

oil into wood. Start your snow blower so it's good to go when

the flakes start piling up. Lay in a supply of plant- and hard-surface-

friendly ice melt.

Landscape chores

Give the lawn one last cutting before snow flies. Cut grass shorter -- short grass is less susceptible to snow mold.

Water any plants you added to the landscape during the previous growing season. Continue to irrigate until the ground freezes if rain is scarce. More plants die during their first winter due to lack of moisture.

Add mulch around plantings after the ground freezes. Mulch helps limit soil temperature swings, which can prevent frost heave -- where freeze-thaw cycles push plants out of soil. Candidates for frost heave include Heucheras, shallowly planted bulbs, and perennials added to the landscape late in the season. If roots don't sink deeply into soil before it freezes, plants can heave.

Dig planting holes now for live Christmas trees. Stuff the hole with leaves and cover with a tarp. Store soil you removed from the planting hole in a spot where it won't freeze.

Drain and store hoses. Stash quick connects, watering wands, and other irrigation gear in a frost-free location. If you deal with hard water and spy mineral deposits on irrigation connections, soak in vinegar and wipe with a rag to clean.

Our condolences go out to

Marjorie Miller on the loss of her husband.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Marge and her family.

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Thursday, December 4

Christmas Soup., Salad, Bread Dessert Potluck Mix & Mingle: 6:00

Drinks & Table Service Provided

Set-Up Crew: 5:30 pm: Need Volunteers. Please Help!! Clean-up: Everyone please assist!!!

Location: Birchaven

Once again, Marjorie Miller has graciously volunteered to chair this event. Barb Sherman and Donna Johnson will assist. Please contact one of these individuals if you plan to attend so they will know how many place settings to bring.

Soup Salad Bread # Attendees

Dessert

Please sign up soon!!!!

Sign-up sheet will be passed around at the November meeting.

Marjorie needs to know # of attendees by the end of the next

meeting.

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2014 State MGV Conference By Sharon Baker Hammer

On Saturday, October 18, I set out in the dark of the early morning, headed south to Delaware, Ohio and the 2014 Ohio Master Gardener State Conference. As the sun rose, the landscape along the highway turned from black to gray to soft shades of green and gold and orange.

The Master Gardeners from Delaware, Madison and Union Counties had chosen Ohio Wesleyan University as the conference site, and it is beautiful and convenient campus with wonderful spaces for vendors and sessions. The morning began with refreshments and a quick overview of what the several vendors had to offer: succulents, shrubs and trees, perennials, fairy and dish gardens, aromatherapy items, gourd crafts, garden photographs and ornaments as well as books from some of the featured speakers.

We were treated to the first of two outstanding keynote speakers next. Debra Knapke spoke on “Biophilia,” finding the genius loci, the spirit of the place, where you feel at home and how our gardens can and should reflect our connection to that place. The second keynote speaker, Felder Rushing, spoke after lunch on “Slow Gardening.” A native of Mississippi, his slow drawl and witty observations had us laughing as well as considering the depth of his topic. He shared stories of his experiences in gardening and cooking, and reminded us that the word garden comes from the old English meaning ‘safe place.’

For my first Breakout Session, I had chosen “50 Mile Bouquet,” presented by a lively and intelligent young couple, Steve and Gretel Adams, who grow fresh cut flowers for farmers markets, grocery stores and florists in and around Columbus. Their farm, Sunny Meadows, is seven acres inside the 270 beltway southeast of Columbus where they use sustainable and organic practices. They shared the story of their developing business and some of the varieties with which they have had success – and failures.

In my next session, Amy Enfield, a horticulture educator with Scotts, spoke on growing vegetables and compared the traditional in-ground, container and raised bed methods for yield and maintenance. She emphasized IPM and introduced new organic products, “Nature’s Care,” that will be available next year.

My third session was on daylilies with Charles and Cynthia Lucius, who have an official American Hemerocallis Society Display Garden in Hilliard, Ohio. They covered the basics of daylily cultivation and hybridization and shared some of their favorite varieties, including two that are named for them. Their retail garden, Amity Abloom, is open Saturdays from mid June through mid August, and I certainly plan to visit them next year!

The final session, and the one I had been eagerly anticipating, was by Julie Zickefoose speaking on “Personal Habitat: the Wildlife Friendly Backyard.” Julie spoke about selecting species of plants and trees that provide the best food sources and habitat for birds, as well as beneficial insects. She is a gifted artist, writer and, as we were delighted to discover, singer as she closed her presentation with an original song.

Over 360 Master Gardeners from around the state were in attendance, and everyone agreed it was an outstanding conference. Next year’s conference will be August 28 and 29 at the Maumee Bay State Park, hosted by Lucas County. As it will be another close and convenient location, I hope everyone will put it on their calendars and make plans now to attend. I’m sure it will be another worthwhile and educational experience.

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The Master Gardener Volunteers’ Open House

was held at the Hancock County Library on Saturday, October 11, from 9:30 to 1:00. Noreen Walters organized this event. Below shows the multiple displays that were set up. By showing our activities, we created interest in individuals for our MGV program. Numerous people walked through and viewed our displays.

Thanks to Noreen and all the volunteers who made this a success.

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Flowering quince (Chaenomeles) If you’ve got a black thumb, flowering quince is a good choice. Virtually indestructible, flowering quince tolerates climate extremes and neglect. This deciduous thorny shrub can stretch up to 8 feet wide, makes great natural fencing, and puts on a big show of blossoms in winter. Plant in spring or fall. Snowdrop (Galanthus elwesii) When most other plants are hiding away from winter’s chill, snowdrop is eager to get going. One of the first blossoms of late winter, snowdrops are still shy, preferring to hide away in rock gardens and under taller shrubs. Plant these bulbs in fall. Boxwood (Buxus) Your winter garden will come alive with shapes and forms that add texture. Evergreen boxwood hedges are easy to grow and shape, and make terrific borders for paths and garden outlines. Along with a quintet of arches and some tall conifers, boxwoods have turned this snowed-in landscaping into a fairy tale.

9 Winter Plants That Dazzle Even in Snow

Tired of staring at leafless trees and patches of snow in your yard each winter? Below are nine great plants that add greenery, shapes, and will even blossom in the heart of winter. These

plants make terrific additions to your garden plans.

Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) Winterberry (Ilex verticillata) Winterberry — a deciduous version of holly — loses its leaves in late fall, leaving behind dazzling sprays of lipstick-red berries. Most species of holly are either male or female, so you’ll have to pair them up to get berries. Plant in spring or fall. Witch hazel (Hamamelis) Fragrant in summer, witch hazel puts out clusters of spidery red-and-yellow flowers that blaze like little suns in the midst of winter. You’ll want to find the right place in your garden for this sizable shrub — it can grow up to 15 feet tall and nearly as wide. Plant witch hazel in the fall.

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Camellia (japonica) Like an unexpected gift, some varieties of camellia will surprise you with a showy display of rose-like blossoms in the middle of January. Check with your local greenhouse to select types that are winter-blooming. Evergreen camellias have thick green leaves, will easily grow 10 feet tall, and can live 50-100 years. Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) Looking for that special decoration to impress holiday visitors? Try planting Christmas rose in shady spots along your walkways. This winter-loving plant blossoms from late December through early spring on stout stems that rise above modest snowfalls. Plant this perennial in springtime.

(Continued from page 6) Sweet box (Sarcococca hookeriana) Wishing for some hints of summer in the dead of winter? The thick, evergreen leaves of sweet box cheers up your yard in all seasons. As a bonus, the shrub puts out fragrant, tiny white blossoms in late winter. Plant sweet box near your entry door for aromatic comings and goings. Mock rush (Pennisetum glaucum) Tough, upright ornamental grasses, such as this mock rush (a member of the fountain grass family) poke through winter’s snows and give your garden lots of visual interest. Those tall flower spikes are full of seeds that attract cardinals, juncos, and other over-winter birds. Plant this annual in early spring, and use the seeds to start next year’s crop. Source: FineGardening.com and Houselogic.com

9 Winter Plants That Dazzle Even in Snow—Continued

Finish up your planting. Time is running out! Get the last of the spring- and summer-flowering bulbs into the ground. Pot up a few bulbs for forcing. While the ideal planting window has passed, if you haven't planted garlic yet, you can still tuck it into soil. Be sure to mulch planting beds with a thick layer of chopped leaves, compost, or straw to give cloves extra rooting time before soil freezes.

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2014 Wreath Making Workshops

All classes at Findlay Hancock Library

Please arrive 15 minutes before start time to help set-up

Please plan to stay afterwards to help clean up

Tentative Cutting Dates: Friday, 11/28 and/or Saturday, 11/29. Contact Cathy Grossman if you can help. We will be meeting at the Extension Office prior to cuttings.

Bow Making: Provided by ???(Volunteers needed). Contact Cathy if you can make bows.

Materials Needed: pine cones (baked if possible), dried flowers, holly (with berries if possible), ornamental grasses, euonymus (all varieties), and other interesting greens such as blue spruce, juniper of all kinds, arborvitae of all types. Please sign up to help! The number of helpers will be adjusted as necessary

and will depend upon class enrollment.

Monday, 12/01

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Hancock Co. Library

Sunday, 12/7

2:00—4:00 pm

Hancock Co. Library

Tuesday, 12/9

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Hancock Co. Library

Please volunteer!

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Before the snow flies ——

Invest time in tidying the garden before the snow flies. Time spent outdoors now pays big dividends in spring. You'll not only shorten your to-do list, you'll also ward off some pest and disease problems.

Pull annuals and add them to the compost

pile. For annuals that self-seed, allow seed-laden stems to remain in place through winter unless you plan to sprinkle them elsewhere in the garden.

Store breakable items, like terra-cotta pots, rain gauges, and other garden art before hard freezes settle in. Terra-cotta overwinters fine in an unheated shed or garage. Make sure pots and saucers are dry before storage.

Fall can be a great time to cut back your perennials if you've got the time and energy to get it done. Make sure to leave 2-3 inches of the plant's stem to help protect fresh shoots from animal damage as they first emerge in the spring. It's also a helpful reminder of where plants are in the yard before they start to sprout.

Consider leaving some perennials like coneflower, black-eyed Susan and tall sedums standing. They add interest to the winter garden both by their structure and by attracting birds to their seed heads.

Ornamental grasses should be left standing to protect their crown from a harsh winter.

Keep water gardens covered with a net until gusty fall winds have settled down and leaves aren't blowing around.

Pull stakes and plant supports. Store where they'll freeze to help destroy overwintering pests and diseases.

Use a leaf vacuum or blower to remove leaves along foundations. Removing leaves helps eliminate hiding places for pests and rodents that can gain entry to your home. Allow some leaves to remain beneath shrubs to provide vital winter cover for beneficial insects.

Ugly Gourds? Gourds are beautiful, interesting to work with, there are diverse varieties, and you can get fantastic results. So what happens when we hear from the growers that he is ready to throw them in the compost pile because they are unsightly? Many people don’t realize that the unsightly appearance of the gourds as they slowly dry down is a natural process. Many people have told us — “I tried to grown gourds, but they rotted and I sent them to the compost pile.” However, if we are patient, we may observe that the darker and nastier the mold, the more interesting the patterns will be on the gourds later. If you’re finding some rotty looking gourds from this year or last year, hold off, set them aside, and watch to see what happens. You may find that your patience will reward you! What to do when you have some interesting gourds that have fully dried down? Check out the internet for numerous great instructions on making gourd crafts of your own.

Source:

Cornell University

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FIELD TRIP to STRANAHAN MANOR HOUSE

December 6

A field trip to the STRANAHAN MANOR HOUSE in Toledo is scheduled for Saturday, December 6. We should arrive at the Wild Wood by 9:40 A.M.. Our self-guided tour will begin at 10:00 A.M. Admission to the Manor House is free, but donations are accepted.

Following the Manor House tour, we are lunching at the Greek restaurant, Grape Leaf Diner. Feel free to google this to read their extensive, delicious, and reasonably priced luncheon menu.

Next, is Whiteford Greenhouse, Whiteford Rd., Toledo, that will be beautifully decorated for Christmas. This, too, can be Googled.

Additional information will be available as date approaches.

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Brown Bag training was provided by Randy Greeno. We learned about rain gardens and how they can help to keep pollutants from our yards out of our rivers and streams. He showed us several types of rain gardens and discussed using native plants in them. A portion of his presentation was devoted to rain barrels. He told us how easy it is to make your own rain barrel. Thank you Randy your presentation was easy to understand and offered great information. The meeting was called to order at 7:05pm. Bill Jones presided over the meeting as Marilynn was not able to be in attendance. Bill Jones passed out some materials that were purchased for us through a grant. This included specimens of common household insects and photo cards with pictures of household insects. We were all pretty grossed out by the bed bugs. I notice a lot of scratching after the specimens were passed around. Ruth Furiate is still recovering from surgery. Bill mentioned that we could put a team together to help her with fall cleanup. November meeting will be a planning meeting. Please keep in mind what you would like to keep and what you would like to change in our program. Also consider how you would like to serve the program next year. The President and Treasurer positions will be up for election in February. We will need nominations. The trip to the Manor House at Wildwood Preserve in Toledo will be Saturday December 6th. DON’T FORGET TO LOG YOUR HOURS. THEY ARE DUE AT THE END OF DECEMBER. Barb Sherman and Donna Johnson have volunteered to help Marge with the Christmas Potluck. Lynn Farwig stated that the Shade Tree commission will be holding 2 training sessions. She will get us details regarding these sessions. Bill Lanning has sweet potatoes. They are from plants originally given to him by Dick Schweitzer and Jim Barnhill. Refreshments were fantastic as usual! Thank you Barb Sherman and Marty Davis for the pumpkin cake, cupcakes, cheese ball and meat and cheese tray. Cathy Grossman and Randy Greeno volunteered to bring refreshments for next meeting. November Brown Bag training will be provided by Gilliland’s and Linda Jones. The meeting was adjourned at 7:55pm. Respectfully submitted by Lauri Inkrott

Master Gardener Volunteers Monthly Meeting Minutes

October 9, 2014

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The Master Gardener Green Thumb Print is a publication of the Hancock County Extension Office, 7868 County Road 140, Findlay, OH, 45840, 419-422-3851. The Master Gardener Volunteer Program Coordinator is Bill Jones.

Hancock County Extension embraces human diversity and is committed to ensuring that all research and related educational programs are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. This statement is in accordance with United States Civil Rights Laws and the USDA.

Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Agricultural Administration; Associate Dean, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; Director, Ohio State University Extension; and Gist Chair in Extension Education and Leadership.

For deaf & hard of hearing, please contact Hancock County Extension using your preferred communication (email, relay services, or video relay services). Phone 1-800-750-0750 between 8 am & 5 pm EST Monday-Friday. Inform the operator to dial 419-422-3851.

ATTENTION:

REQUIRED FINGERPRINTING To those who need to obtain the required fingerprinting, (Ann Woolum, Kay Sidaway, Sandy Reinhardt , JoAnn Reeds, Marge Miller, Cheryl Miller, Pam McCloud, Carol Kinn, Donna Johnson, Lauri Inkrott, Christa Gupta, Ruth Furiate, Pat Flinn, Lyn Maa, Dick Deerhake, Bob Campbell), this must be done by December 31 in order for you to continue your service as a MGV. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact Bill Jones. Remember to take the letter Bill forwarded to you along with the required documents listed in the letter. Fingerprinting locations include: Hancock County Sheriff’s Office 200 West Crawford Mondays 10:00—12:00 Fridays 1:00—3:00 Cost for BVI: $35 Hancock County BMV 8210 County Road 140, Suite A Mondays 8:00—6:00 Tuesday—Friday 8:00—5:00 Saturdays 8:00—2:00 Cost for BVI: $32 Owens Community College 3200 Bright Road Mondays—Thursdays 8:00—5:00 Fridays 8:00—4:30 Cost for BVI: $35

Protect your plants from winter

Spray repellent on woody ornamentals that deer typically browse. Protect broadleaf evergreens like rhododendron or mountain laurel by spraying an antitranspirant/antidesiccant like Wilt-Pruf. Temperatures must be above 40 degrees when spraying. Build barriers around plants that typically get flattened by ice and snow sliding off nearby roofs. Using burlap and metal fence posts, erect windbreaks around marginally hardy evergreen plants, especially those in windy locations. Prevent sunscald (freeze/thaw-induced cracking) on young tree trunks and thin-barked trees (like maples and fruit trees) by wrapping with paper tree wrap. You can also use white cloth (to reflect sunlight) about 4 inches wide, or white latex paint. With wraps, overlap layers as you go, and secure ends with several windings of tape. Give nibbling rabbits and voles the brush off by wrapping trunks of saplings with hardware cloth or tree guards. Consider erecting a hardware cloth barrier around newly planted shrubs to prevent damage. Get water heaters into ponds before the water freezes. If your vinyl-lined pond hosts frogs, fill a plastic dish pan with clay soil and sink it in the pond. Frogs will burrow in and hibernate.