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The Garden Fence

Harford County

Master Gardeners Bimonthly

Newsletter Feb/Mar 2020

“All hail the glory of winter, because he is upon us.” (Source unknown.) The feeders are full, bird baths are heated. The Christmas tree is beside the greenhouse, creating an extra refuge for many small animals. I am anxious, I try to relax with a good book and a warm beverage. But I am waiting… it is January 10th and my catalogues are not here yet. Why am I nervous, they always come, right? Patience… As gardeners, we need winter. Time to rest, rebuild our strength and spirt. We look within ourselves to find comfort, warmth, peace and harmony. Patience… Winter is late dawns, the first snow. It is a reminder of how much we have seen and done. It is a hope of things that will be new again. It is only three months. Patience… Gardening slowly builds within us a lifelong accumulation of experience and knowledge. “Patience is a virtue” Ronnie Grevey ’16 Photo: Edwin Remsberg UME

President’s Message

Inside this Issue President’s Message

Winterberry Fact Sheet

Don't sleep on this plant fact

2019 Holiday Party Collage

What to do with the dear,

hungry deer

Autumn Olive

Interesting Web Sites for

Master Gardeners

Larry Franz Woodland Walk

Plants May Let Out

Ultrasonic Squeals When

Stressed

Master Gardener Inclement

Weather Policy

Continuing Education

Opportunities

Harford County Master

Gardener Calendar

Officers Ronnie Grevey, President

Anne Bredlow, Vice President

Kim Poehling, Secretary

Carol Linthicum, Secretary

Greg Murray, Treasurer

Steve O’Brien, Newsletter

Editor

Ginny Smith, Newsletter &

Continuing Education

Quick Links

Harford County Extension

Office

Home & Garden Info Center

VMS Login

Harford County Master

Gardener Calendar

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Common Name: Winterberry - Genus Species: Ilex verticillata - Family: Aquifoliaceae

Winterberry is a deciduous holly that is native to eastern North America where it typically occurs in swamps, damp thickets, low woods and along ponds and streams. Winterberries are dioecious (separate male and female plants). Only fertilized female flowers will produce the attractive red berries that are the signature of the species.

The attractive bright red fruit of winterberry is eaten by small mammals and more than 48 species of birds. Berries provide considerable impact and interest to the winter landscape. Although

this shrub species is a good provider of wildlife food, its fruits are poisonous to humans.

Winterberry is an erect moderate sized shrub growing to heights of 5 to 15 feet tall. The dense branches of this shrub grow in a zigzag pattern with an upright spreading crown. The twigs are slender, with gray to gray-brown color and small buds. In the wild, it often suckers to form large thickets or colonies.

Elliptic to obovate, toothed dark green leaves (2-3” long) in some years may turn attractive shades of maroon. Relatively inconspicuous, greenish-white flowers appear in the leaf axils in late spring. Flowers, if properly pollinated, give way to a crop of bright red berries (1/4 “diameter) in late summer to fall. Berries are quite showy and will persist throughout the winter and often into early spring. Only fertilized female

flowers will produce the attractive red berries that are the signature of the plant. Generally, one male plant will be sufficient for fertilizing 6-10 female plants. Prune to shape the shrub in early spring just before new growth begins.

Genus name comes from the Latin name Quercus ilex; many shrubs in the genus, Ilex, have evergreen leaves.

Excellent in shrub borders, native plant areas, or bird gardens.

Native Plants Committee, submitted by Bea Filburn ‘13

In addition to being a great preservative for beer, Hops (Humulus lupulus) are a fantastic soporific (sleep aid). Sachets or pillows of hops are a popular folk remedy for insomnia. Some stories tell of field workers asleep in the fields after a long day of harvesting because of the powerful sleep-inducing effect. From the weekly newsletter of LandscapeHub

Winterberry Fact Sheet

Don't sleep on this plant fact

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MG Holiday Party Co-coordinators: Kathy Bender ’19 and Keirstin Bueche ‘19 Photographs: Ginger Huller ’14 and Ronnie Grevey ‘16

2019 Holiday Party Collage

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Lunaria- Despite a cage with crossed sticks, the deer nibbled it

away. Currently hiding under a milk crate, in hopes of survival!

September pepper plant is

only 2 ½ feet tall. Note: eaten branches.

When I first talked to Joyce about writing this article, I thought it would be a breeze. I've been growing flowers, fruits, berries and vegetables on the same property for 34 years now. While deer are prevalent,

they've never been an insurmountable problem. I thought I'd go through this summer season to re-test all my deer-proofing methods. I was in for a very rude shock. However, I discovered there are ways to mitigate the damage without resorting to a gun. This year, deer decimated my flower beds and vegetable. Though a resident ground hog may have taken a nibble or two, I believe deer are by far the major culprits. Here is a short list of the crop damage they caused: No corn survived. First planting of green beans was devoured, as were carrot tops. Leaves of squash, cucumber, pumpkin, cantaloupe and watermelon were eaten to the point that the

pumpkins, lopes and watermelon all died before fruiting. Tomato plants were eaten so badly that 30 out of 36 never bore fruit. The remaining six did not bear tomatoes until October. Fifty percent of the pepper plants were “pruned” so severely they died. In the flower beds, everything was fair game, including plants not usually ravaged by deer. Tulips, of course, were nipped in the bud. Mums, lunaria, rudbeckia, shasta and most annuals including marigolds and pansies were eaten. I once had so many lunaria (money plant) that I ripped them out. Now I have one which is in an upside-down milk crate inside of a cage in hopes it will survive. There was one bright spot. While deer ravished all varieties of petunias, they did not care for calibrachoa (million bells). I will plant more of them next year. Here are some methods I used this past summer in my attempt to thwart the little munchers.

1. Mechanical control, which includes caging, covering and fencing.

a. Caging individual plants can work, but if the plant is tasty enough, you'll have to use cages with small 2" x 2" openings. Each cage must be braced with rebar or T-posts pounded deeply into the ground or the deer will press against the cage and wiggle it around so they can nibble tasty leaves. I use the 6-foot metal T-posts, pounded about 6-to-8 inches into the ground. Even with that strong support, some of my four-foot tall tomato cages made of 4” x 4” wire were bent completely out of shape as the “bambits” nibbled as far inside

the cage as they could reach. They had already “pruned” all branches which extend beyond the cage.

September tomato- too short to stake or cage due to browsing.

What to do with the dear, hungry deer

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b. Floating row covers can be used on rows or beds. Deer netting will work when thrown over berry bushes. You may have to check both regularly to make sure the deer haven’t “adjusted” them to enable a little extra nibbling. Our strawberries are planted on a hill behind the house and have never been bothered by deer – until this year. Thankfully, it was post-harvest when they pruned all the leaves – right down to the crowns in July. I put row covers over as much area as possible and the plants have

successfully begun to grow back. Even though I have spread the daughters out, you can still see in the photos how sparse the outside of the beds are where the row covers did not reach.

c. I have also used snow fencing, but quickly discovered the deer will jump in and out if there's too much space between sides of the fenced area. Deer can clear a 4' fence from a standstill. The trick is to deceive them by leaning the fence at an angle, so it looks wide as well as tall or by spacing the sides of the protected area close together. For my green beans, I placed the fencing about 12” apart. It was challenging to harvest the beans and I was able to harvest a healthy, bountiful second planting of beans.

A plain rope fence strung from T-posts or rebar can work, especially if you hang bright reflective aluminum pie pans every few feet. Some people swear deer dislike anything white. They use white plastic ribbon strung about 3' off the ground...that's eye level for browsing deer. Experiment with heights. Maybe using the rope on top and the white ribbon below would create enough confusion to discourage curious deer.

I have used solar-powered red lights that blink at night. I have found them effective only if you change their position and location about once every other week or so. This winter I’ll be testing the effectiveness of solar-powered motion-sensitive lights to discourage night-time browsing.

2) Spray remedies such as eggs or milk can be used as a deterrent. I've used such mixes on tulips and lilies (oriental, stargazer and daylily) with great success. I was so frustrated toward the end of the season to use it on select pepper and tomato plants. Surprisingly, it worked there also. The spray does not need to be re-applied every time it rains, but occasionally resprayed to accommodate plant growth. The two recipes I’ve tried are included below.

A naturalist friend, Ms. Hood, suggested dusting dry or powdered milk onto the soil over freshly planted bulbs. I plan to modify that slightly by adding hot pepper flakes. Hopefully it will also discourage squirrels.

Watching the destruction of my gardens this summer, I wondered why the deer were so invasive this year. That’s the key word: invasive. My theory is that so much of their natural habitat has been overtaken by unpalatable invasive species that the deer really have little to eat in the wild. Japanese stilt grass is everywhere in the woods and has choked out native grasses. Maybe the deer are turning to my garden for “comfort food.” Following is a “deer-deterrent” spray I’ve used with good results:

Blueberry bed 15’X15’ enclosed by snow fencing. It’s an experiment. Will deer jump into a small area?

They can, but will they?

Right side of strawberry bed had row cover. Notice

closeness of my house.

Center section of the photo: Strawberries protected but

not perimeter.

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Home Remedy Deer Repellent 1 egg OR 1-2 cups of milk ½ cup milk 1 gallon of hot water 1 Tablespoon each cooking oil, dish soap 1-2 Tablespoons garlic powder 1 gallon hot water 1-2 Tablespoons hot sauce (optional)

As a last resort, I have been told that feeding the deer in a location away from the gardens, especially in winter, may redirect them to that location. For example, throw some corn or apples along a wooded perimeter or fence line. I tried that two winters ago and had less damage. I will definitely try it again this winter. If it works again, I’ll feed them all year long. It’s cheaper than feeding them in my vegetable garden and flower bed!

Jeanine Smetana ‘04

Re-examination of Autumn Olive Shrubs: subterranean immunology Elaeagnus umbellata, commonly known as Autumn Olive, is considered to be

an invasive, non-native species on the American continent. This shrub is native to Eurasia and was brought to North America in 1830 for the purposes of preventing erosion of un-vegetated dry, sandy soils with low-pH and as a wildlife attractant. In the 1940s the U.S. Soil Conservation Service advised the planting of Autumn Olive as windbreaks and to stabilize strip mine soil. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Autumn Olive provides a winter food source in the form of lycopene rich berries to a variety of songbirds such as thrushes, cardinals, Cedar waxwings, Evening Grosbeak, sparrows, Bobwhite, Ruffed grouse, Ring-necked Pheasants, wild turkeys, and Mallards. When flowering this plant provides nectar to Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and Sphinx Moths and provides nesting

habitat and protective cover for songbirds. The University of West Virginia Extension Service details this shrub as a food source for upland game birds, two migratory game birds, twenty non-game birds, and four mammals. In contrast, the Missouri Department of Conservation states that Autumn Olive is an invasive shrub that “degrades native wildlife habitat” and recommends chemical control

with the herbicides 2,4-D, dicamba, or a 50/50 mix of triclopyr and diesel fuel. This conflicting information entreats one to investigate further the role of this plant in our local

environment. This shrub represents a complex symbiotic relationship below ground as well as above, which involves this plant, nitrogen fixing gram positive, aerobic Frankia actinomycetes, and aerobic arbuscular mycorrhiza belonging to phylum Glomeromycota. In fact, with further examination, one can see that this plant represents a complex beneficial triad of symbiotic organisms, the products of which may benefit humanity both directly and indirectly.

Editor notes: 1. The above are the first two paragraphs of Lucy Howard’s report. To access Lucy’s full report link

to Elaeagnus umbellata ‘Autumn Olive’ essay. Note: Full report will be available for viewing on MG’s web page for a limited time.

2. Above images are from Plant Invaders of Mid-Atlantic Natural Areas which identifies Elaeagnus umbellata as invasive and recommends not planting and eradicating existing species.

Authored October 8, 2014: Lucy Howard, past MG; Submitted by Eleanor Cone ‘98

Autumn Olive- Invasive Species? Maybe Not?

Directions: Shake it all up and let sit overnight. It’s ready to spray in the morning. Warning: it will clog a sprayer, so make sure you clean up afterwards

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Source: Adopted most of the following list from “The Newsletter of the Baldwin County (Alabama) Master Gardener, Inc., – Grass Roots.” Harford County Maryland Master Gardeners customized the original list to include Maryland area web sites.

Note: The URLs listed below are subject to change at any time. If the link fails to connect, use an internet search engine to search for web pages corresponding to the topic’s description text.

https://consumerhort.org/ National Initiative for Consumer Horticulture (NICH) – promotes benefits and value of horticulture. Nurtures a passion and appreciation for plants and increase the demand for gardening. https://extension.umd.edu/harford-county University of Maryland Extension Service Harford County headquarters. https://mdhorticulture.org/ Horticulture Society of Maryland - Be a part of an organization that supports horticulture programs and education in Maryland since 1969. https://www.psla.umd.edu/ College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture. https://www.mnlga.org/ Mid-Atlantic Nursey Trade show (MANTS) – This organizations offers a volunteer Certified Professional Horticulture program for those who desire to demonstrate proficiency in horticulture. https://marylandgrows.umd.edu/ University of Maryland Extension Home & garden Information Center – Would you like to visit beautiful gardens, and become part of an organization that support horticultural programs in Maryland? This is your website. https://extension.umd.edu/learn/ask-gardening University of Maryland Extension – Ask a Gardening Expert – Have a plant question? U of MD has the answers. https://extension.umd.edu/news/newsletters/branching-out - University of Maryland Extension Branching Out newsletters ` https://extension.umd.edu/news University of Maryland Extension – News articles https://mdflora.org/nurseries.html Maryland Native Plant Society Appreciation Conservation Education – Information on where to purchase, planting Natives plants in Maryland. The website contains nurseys from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Delaware. https://news.maryland.gov/mda/press-release/ Department of Agriculture in Maryland – Keep abreast with state of Maryland agricultural news from Annapolis. https://www.seedyourfuture.org/our_story Seed Your Future – Is a movement to promote and inspire people to pursue careers in the field of horticulture.

Note: The above is only a small portion of the “Interesting Web Sites for Master Gardeners”. To access the full list, link to Interesting Web Sites for Master Gardeners.

Eleanor Cone, ’98 and Kathy Bender ‘19

Interesting Web Sites for Master Gardeners

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The Larry Franz Woodland Walk at Liriodendron (aka Lirio) has been a Master Gardener project since 1997. It was established by Master Gardener Joyce Humbert (Class of 1997). Back then, there were very few Harford County MG’s – 29. But the garden project was enthusiastically accepted. MG Jerry Hudgens was exceptionally helpful recommending hardy and durable native plants and ferns. After Joyce Humbert became less active, in 2003 I took over. Adding plants is top priority. There are over 230 plants/shrubs and 30 ferns. Another priority is providing an educational aspect by having plant labels and an educational brochure in the mailbox. The garden is rustic and unlike one you would find at Longwood Gardens. Despite the deer, who decide what we plant, the garden is very active. Many Master Gardeners are not aware of the Larry Franz history, beauty, and support needs. Nestled within the woodland area behind the mansion the hidden location even hides from our MG workers. Participation has been in decline. It is a short walk to the garden when you park at the Mansion, walk left of the porch and follow the Larry Franz Woodland Walk signs. Lirio garden’s biggest need is for 5 or 6 more volunteers every week. If you decide to volunteer, the happy work (both easy and somewhat harder) occurs every Tuesday at 9 am starting in April. April is the best time as the spring ephemerals are blooming. Volunteers bring gloves, their favorite weeding tool, kneeling pad, and drinking water. Lirio has garden carts and larger tools. Weeding is the biggest task all year long. Sorry, I have no control over weeds and deer, but suggestions are always welcome! A bonus: every workday is also educational! We always take time to learn about the plants, especially those in bloom. Most sessions wrap up by 12 pm. Lirio volunteers usually earn approximately 2 hours of volunteer time. And sometimes one hour of education. The rain policy is difficult to determine since it doesn’t always rain in the same places in Harford County. Best if you text or call me at 410-652-1338 prior to 8:30 am. If you want to know why the garden is called the Larry Franz Woodland Walk, come volunteer and you’ll learn!

Anne Lee. ‘98

Human ears can’t hear them, but other plants or animals might By Katherine J. Wu, smithsonian.com, December 9, 2019 https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-record-stressed-out-plants-emitting-ultrasonic-squeals-180973716/

If a drought-parched plant lets out a scream, but it’s at a frequency too high to hear, does it count as a cry of distress? According to a study posted on the preprint server bioRxiv last week, the answer could very well be yes. (And we’re not talking about folkloric mandrakes.)

Do Plants Make Ultrasonic Squeals When Stressed?

Larry Franz Woodland Walk

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For the first time, researchers appear to have evidence that, like animals, plants can audibly vocalize their agony when deprived of water or forced to endure bodily harm. The study, which has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal, adds another dimension to scientists’ growing understanding of how plants detect and interact with their surroundings—despite lacking many of the sensory organs their faunal counterparts deploy.

In recent years, it’s become abundantly clear that plants are far more sensitive than researchers once gave them credit for. They respond when touched by insects, turn toward sources of light, and some even sniff out other plants. Others are even sensitive to anesthetics, suggesting that they’re capable of experiencing something akin to “pain.”

“Plants are not just robotic, stimulus-response devices,” Frantisek Baluska of the University of Bonn in Germany told Joanna Klein at the New York Times last year. “They’re living organisms which have their own problems.”

Actually, making that anguish audible, however, is another matter entirely. To test that possibility, a team led by Itzhak Khait, a plant scientist at Tel Aviv University in Israel, placed microphones capable of detecting ultrasonic frequencies four inches from tomato and tobacco plants, then either stopped watering them or snipped their stems.

Measuring in the range of 20 to 150 kilohertz, the researchers found that even happy, healthy plants made the occasional noise. But when cut, tobacco plants emitted an average of 15 sounds within an hour of being cut, while tomato plants produced 25 sounds. Stress from drought—brought on by up to ten days without water—elicited about 11 squeals per hour from the tobacco plants, and about 35 from the tomato plants.

The shrieks were also surprisingly informative. When the team fed the recordings into a machine learning model, it was able to use the sounds’ intensity and frequency distinguish whether they were related to dryness or physical harm, or were just regular, day-to-day chatter. One odd pattern? Thirsty tobacco makes a bigger ruckus than tobacco that’s been snipped, reports Adam Vaughan at New Scientist.

Researchers aren't yet sure how plants produce these sounds, but Khait and his colleagues propose one possibility in their paper. As water travels through the plants’ xylem tubes, which help keep them hydrated, air bubbles will form and explode, generating small vibrations. Previous studies have picked up these waves, but only through devices attached directly to plants. Still, the process, called cavitation, could explain longer-range sound production as well, as Edward Farmer, a plant biologist at the University of Lausanne in Switzerland who wasn’t involved in the study, tells Vaughan. But Farmer also remains cautious about the recordings, which may have picked up ambient noise as well. Even drying soil can produce faint sounds, reports Nicolette Lanese for Live Science.

All this stress-induced “screaming” wasn’t in a range detectable by human ears. But organisms that can hear ultrasonic frequencies—like mice, bats or perhaps other plants—could hear the plants' cries from as far as 15 feet away.

It’s not yet clear how ubiquitous stressed squeals are among plants, though the researchers have started to listen in on some other species. Plants also experience many kinds of stress, such as those brought on by extreme temperatures or salinity, and may not always react in the same way,

Microphones picked up ultrasonic sounds produced when tomato or tobacco plants were cut or dried out. (joffi / Pixabay by CC0)

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Anne Visscher, a plant biologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens in the United Kingdom who wasn’t involved in the study, told Vaughan. And any ideas on what purpose the sounds might serve—from warning other plants to passing information onto animals—remains speculative, she adds.

For now, it’s useful to simply know what plants are truly capable of. Something to chew on, perhaps, the next time you’re pruning your tomato plants.

Vicky Ghaemi, ‘19

The Master Gardener Inclement Weather Policy is as follows: 1. When Harford County schools are closed due to weather (or other circumstances), Master

Gardener meetings and activities are cancelled. 2. When Harford County schools are opening two (2) hours late, Master Gardener meetings and

activities remain scheduled. Individuals are urged to use discretion when travelling to Master Gardener events, especially in questionable weather conditions. Please notify your committee chairperson you will not be attending so you are accounted for.

January 29, February 5, 12, 19, & 26, March 4, 11, 18 & 25 (1 – hour WEBINARS) Woods in Your Backyard Series (Weds. 7:00 pm- 8:00 pm) Penn State Extension Teaches the stewardship of land! Explore planning and implementing simple stewardship practices on your lot to create and enhance natural areas and make a positive impact in the environment. Cost is $45.00. To register go to Penn State Extension website. January 29 - March 11 (1 – hour WEBINARS) Tree Tenders Training 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Penn State Extension Join other residents and start to restore and maintain the tree canopy in your community. Cost $40.00. To register go to Penn State Extension website. February 7 all day Today’s Horticulture Symposium Longwood Gardens Enjoy a day of Longwood fun and Master Gardeners at the annual fundraiser for the Professional Hort Program at Longwood. The classes this year include a history of oaks, motivating homeowners to plant pollinator plants, growing houseplants in Amazon corporate offices, African wisdom for food sovereignty, and landscape design. Cost: $149.00 https://longwoodgardens.org/events-performances/events/todays-horticulture-symposium

Continuing Education Opportunities

Master Gardener Inclement Weather Policy

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February 4 – 18 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Tuesdays (3 sessions) Creating a Blooming Winter Landscape Batula Room A succession of hardy flowers can adorn your garden and entertain you with color and fragrance throughout the colder months. Learn how these shrubs, perennials, and bulbs survive, thrive and bloom in our climate. Learn how to plant them ad how to design the winter garden for maximum affect in sun and shade. Cost is $89.00. To register go to www.longwoodgardens.org or call 610-388-5454. February 9 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Nature and Nosh Anita C. Leight Estuary Interactions between aliens and natives. A holistic approach to managing invasive plant species. Understanding the impacts of invasive species is important for making sound management decisions in both your backyard and in larger areas of wildlife habitat. Invasive species can have community-wide effects on plant diversity, insect, and bird populations and even soil biota and nutrient cycling. To register: www.harfordcountymd.gov/225/Parks-Recreation February 9 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm Grasses to the Masses Workshop Anita C. Leight Estuary No worries about water spills in your home! Learn what submerged aquatic vegetation is, why it is important to the Bay, and how you can help restore bay grasses. In this free workshop for volunteers, you will set up your own grow kit IN OUR GREENHOUSE, sign up for maintenance days, and then help plant the grasses in the Otter Point Creek in the spring. No experience necessary. To register: www.harfordcountymd.gov/225/Parks-Recreation February 11 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm Floral Love is in the Air Rehoboth Beach Public Library Delaware Botanic Garden is offering this special workshop at the library! The workshop will feature techniques for preparing fresh bouquets by Garden team member Jan Poli. She will demonstrate assembling fresh flowers and natural elements for a beautiful arrangement. Participants will learn floral design tips and make their own bouquets. Refreshments are provided. Space is limited to 30. Registration is $75.00 which includes all supplies. For tickets go to delawaregardens.org/new-events. February 15 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Starting Native Seeds The Natural History Society of Maryland Learn how to grow native plants from seed – a great way to populate your garden with native plants without breaking the bank. Learn tips and techniques for seed starting both indoors and outside and requirements for germination, including the right seeds starting media, and techniques ranging from simple sowing in the soil to scarify and cold treating seeds. Take home seeds to start your own plants. To register go online – https://marylandnature.wildapricot.org/event Cost is $30.00 NHSM or $40.00 non-member.

Photo: Direct Gardener

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February 19 & 20 all day Chesapeake Green Horticulture Symposium Maritime Institute, Linthicum Heights, MD Two superb days full of new and engaging speakers teaching professionals in the landscape trade but open to homeowners as well. Five concurrent, educational tracks. Cost: $155.00 www.mnlga.org February 20 7:00 pm Inexpensive Indoor Seed Starting/Kick Start Your Spring Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church Joppatowne Continuing with our planning and just when those seed catalogs are calling you. MG Lou Sedlak will show how to “start ‘er up”! Hosting: Hazel Morgan and Tracy Suit February 21 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Green Matters Symposium Silver Spring Civic Building Practical solutions to help shift the focus of gardening and landscape design away from merely aesthetics and towards creating and managing sustainable landscapes. Attendees will learn ecological gardening and maintenance practices that lead to a “greener” and more resilient garden. To register for (Course #71640) call 301-962-1451. Cost after January 11 - $110. February 22 10:00 am – 11:30am One of a Kind Bird Nesting Balls Main House Wet Lab This spring birds will be working hard to build intricate nests for their soon to be laid eggs. Providing a housewarming gift in the form of a nesting ball with much needed materials can give them a head start. Create two colorful nesting balls using a variety of natural and recycled materials from the garden and home. Cost: $25.00 Visit www.mtcubacenter.org for more information. February 28 8:30-3:30 pm Manor View Farm & Perennial Farm Education Seminar The Sheppard Pratt Conference Center in Towson, MD Join industry experts, for day of education on insect wars, reliable plants, vines and climbers and plant exploration. And more. Cost: $110.00 register at www.manorview.com February 28 10:00 am - 12:00 pm The Front yard Revolution Main House Lecture Room Move beyond boring, look-alike foundation planting of Japanese barberry, burning bush, and Bradford pear. Substitute these invasive plants with native trees, shrubs and perennials that feature multi-seasonal interest, support songbirds, and provide wildlife habitat. With the knowledge gained in this class, transform your landscape from an ecological desert to a beautiful, bountiful oasis, one plant at a time. Cost: $29.00 Visit www.mtcubacenter.org for more information.

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March 7, 2020 8:30 am – 2:00 pm (Note: If Harford County schools are closed on 3/7 due to weather, event will be held March 14) Food, Farmers, & Community: Farming Forward Symposium

North Harford High School, 211 Pylesville Road, Pylesville, MD Registration and $10 fee required at TICKETS.HARFORD.EDU, click on “Lectures & Speaker Events”. Event includes keynote address by Joe Ligo, Series Producer, Maryland Farm and Harvest, Maryland Public Television; four breakout sessions; and breakfast and lunch by Laurrapin Caters, featuring local agricultural products. March 14, 2020 8:30 am – 4:00 pm GardenWise Central York Middle School Goal of GardenWise is to share research-based information about sustainable gardening and environmental stewardship. Speakers on pollinators, invasive plants, and the importance of bats. Additional breakout sessions on herbs, biopesticides, tree care, tree and shrub identification, native plants and more will be offered. Vendors and educational displays! Cost is $65.00 by February 7, 2020; after $75.00. To register https://www.cvent.com/events/gardenwise/event March 16 – May 18 9:00 am – 3:30 pm Master Naturalist Volunteer Training Become a Maryland Master Naturalist Volunteer this spring! The University of Maryland Extension created this program and Oregon Ridge Nature Center is a host site for the Piedmont Region. Participants complete 60 hours of hand-on learning in natural history, environmental interpretation and conservation stewardship with expert instructors. Final certification is awarded following 40-hours of volunteer service at Oregon Ridge Nature Center. To apply stop by the Nature Center for an application or visit the website at https://extension.umd.edu/masternaturalist See Piedmont Region link. Class size is limited. Cost; $250.00 For more information contact Jessica Jeannetta at 410-887-1815. March 21 9:00 am – 3:00pm Native Species & the Web of Life Oregon Ridge Lodge

Join environmental professionals and experts for a day of presentations and interactive lessons. They will discuss the relationships among native species and the go web of life. Lunch and refreshments; environmental product services and displays. Pre-registration required by March 6, 2020. Cost is $50.00 or $90.00 for two people. To register go to Baltimore County Forestry Board website.

March 26 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm Making Insects: A Guide to Restoring the Little Things that Run the World Wolf Hall 204 - DeMeester Recital Hall, York College of Pa. Dr. Doug Tallamy will describe simple changes to our landscape and our attitudes to support the insects that play an essential role in our lives. Cost is $0 but you must have YCPT tickets.com Register to obtain tickets. For questions contact Karl Kleiner at kkleiner@ycp.edu http://www.ycp.edu/news-and-events

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SAVE THE DATE FOR THE 2020 MARYLANDMASTER GARDENER CONFERENCE!

JUNE 13, 2020 SHERATON BALTIMORE NORTH (TOWSON) For more details as they become available - go.umd.edu/mgconference2020

Joyce Browning | Urban Horticulturist

Master Gardener Coordinator Harford County Office

The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic

information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

February-March Harford County Master Gardener Calendar

The below Calendar entries are only a small sample of the scheduled Master Gardener events. Please refer to the following link to view the entire Harford County Master Gardener calendar https://calendar.google.com/calendar/b/3?cid=bWFzdGVyZ2FyZGVuZXJzaGNAZ21haWwuY29t MG Stephanie Flash is the contact for changes and additions to our new calendar. Please send calendar requests, changes or additions to mastergardenershc@gmail.com

February 6 7 pm Monthly MG Meeting Extension Office

February 6 5:30 pm Veterans Garden Planning Mtg. Extension Office

February 7 All day Longwood Symposium Cont Education

February 19 1-3om Book Club Triumph of Seeds Extension Office

February 19 3-5pm Open Forum Extension Office

February 27 10 – 11:30 am Steering Committee Extension Office

March 5 10 am Monthly MG Meeting Extension Office

March 7 All day Ag Symposium Continuing Ed

March 26 10 – 11:30 am Steering Committee Extension Office