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Anne Arundel County Master Gardener News | |
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May Meeting: Annual Plant Swap
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The May 10 Plant Swap, will be conducted in person at the Dairy Farm pavilion, 97 Dairy Lane, Gambrills. The event will begin at 6:00. Years of Service pins and certificates will be distributed. Concern has been raised about the potential spread of the Asian jumping worm (Amynthas spp.), also commonly known as the crazy worm and snake worm. As gardeners, we’re already trained to look for signs of disease, weeds, root health, and pests when buying, selling, or swapping plants. This diligence gives us confidence that as we bring new plants and soil into our gardens, we’re not bringing problems too. Below are a few things to keep in mind.
- Do not share plants in potted soil from your garden if you know you have jumping worms.
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When the presence of jumping worms/cocoons is unknown, as a precautionary measure, plants can be bare-rooted and potted into sterile potting medium prior to exchange. The University of New Hampshire Extension has a best practice link for Plant Sales and Swaps. https://extension.unh.edu/resource/plant-sales-and-jumping-worms
- Educate yourself and others about jumping worms and good practices to prevent their spread.
HGIC YouTube Channel jumping worm video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMQZbCIt5gw&t=12s and
UME factsheet https://extension.umd.edu/resource/invasive-jumping-worms
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Coordinator's Corner
Rachel Carey, Master Gardener Coordinator
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Hello Master Gardeners, Thank you for welcoming me as your new Coordinator! I started mid-April and since have gathered quite the glossy brochure stack of all your programs.
It’s apparent that this is the best time of year for me to have been onboarded, since Master Gardeners are buzzing around the spring calendar. I’d love to be able to attend some of your events and meet you.
To give you a short heads up about me - I have work history in native plant propagation and sales, eco-landscaping, leading naturalist walks, and supporting woodland owners in reaching their management goals. I think all this will give me a good base on understanding your projects, but there is so much you will school me on, and I look forward to it!
Please don’t hesitate to ask me anything. I am catching up good and steadily, and though I may not know the answers right away, I'm happy to figure them out. careyr@umd.edu, 410 222-3900.
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Master Gardener Project Reports
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The new season for the Apprentice Garden is well underway. The introductory meeting was held in the Harvest Hall at Kinder Farm Park on Wednesday, April 6. Volunteers arrived early and set up the supervised painting stations for the children, snack tables, and conference tables for the parents. The
children’s garden signs will be varnished and hung on the fence at their family’s plot. The parents completed the paperwork, including the UMD official photo release form and family contact information. We reviewed the project “rules”, tentative schedule, and, weekend watering schedule. Parents received information on planning their 8’ by 42” family plot, the timing and spacing of vegetables, plus a
description of inter-planting, succession planting and successive planting. Many thanks to the Master Gardener volunteers who supervised the painting: Kathy Anders, Wendy Boardman, Kathy Enderle, and Lourdes Hergenroeder.
Our group of families is truly international - two Black families, an Asian family, an Hispanic family, a Muslim family and two White families. We are very pleased, and look forward to the diverse gardening backgrounds and the cultural cuisines of our families.
Through April and into early May, one-on-one planning sessions with each family will be part of the Wednesday meeting times to assist with the planned selection of plants, placement and spacing, and expected timing for planting seeds and sets. Volunteers in the Garden assist the families with early planting.
A bag of Leaf-gro was provided for each family plot and used to enrich the sandy soil of the community gardens.
During Volunteer work parties, Master Gardeners finished clearing the winter debris, and sheared the crimson clover cover crop leaving the roots in place to practice low-till techniques. The pathways were weeded, and 3 bales of fresh straw were spread. Thanks to the Master Gardener volunteers who “adopted” the outside-the-fence strips of perennial gardens, and the planned inside-the-fence pollinator gardens. ”Outside”, black- and brown-eyed Susans are growing on the south side, and native goldenrod and milkweed on the north side; tall phlox, peony, and iris by the gate. Snapdragons, sweet alyssum, and zinnias were planted in the “inside” pollinator gardens. A sincere thank you to Kathy Albers, Wendy Boardman, Kathy Enderle, Lourdes Hergenroeder, Kristin Silva and Karen Strange.
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At the beginning of May, potatoes were pushing through the ground, Swiss chard seedlings are growing, lettuces are well established, and the strawberries have begun flowering. The perennial herbs, in the circular garden, rosemary, sage, lavender, thyme and oregano, are doing well, especially the garlic chives planted last season. We are happy to report that the squirrel family has abandoned the shed.
Throughout the season, April through September, the project meets at 6:30PM every Wednesday at the community gardens at Kinder Farm Park in Millersville. Please consider volunteering in the Apprentice Garden. Volunteers, and interns are welcome anytime. You can do the Wednesday meetings, and/or do other-day garden checks and extra watering. Your children are welcome to join you. There is always a sign-in sheet in the garden mailbox for noting your presence and recording your hours. Many thanks.
The names of Apprentice Garden volunteers are provided to the gatekeeper so there is no entry fee for people participating in the Apprentice Garden project. So, please advise Deb if you are new to the project.
You are welcome to join us in the Apprentice Garden in 2022, and if you would like more information, please contact Janet or Deb.
If you would like more information, please contact Janet or Deb.
Co-chaired by Janet Clauson and Deb Fritz
janetclauson301@gmail.com, 410.987.2027
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Greetings from the Dairy Farm Project.
MG workers continue to do a wonderful job keeping our gardens in great shape. Blooming now is Yellow Aster, Tickseed, Columbine, chives, and others. The apple tree on the back side was in full bloom and the amazing scent permeated the entire Village Garden. Many thanks to all our dedicated MGFV’s.
The veggie garden suffered extreme losses of newly planted seedlings due to the serious cold snap that happened. Some survived, but we will try to replant. The peas are still doing fine. At our next session we will plant radish. carrots and beets. We will also try new transplants of what did not make it. We will not plant much more until mid-May.
Pat gave two talks to beginner/novice vegetable gardeners. One was for folks who attended the seed- swap and one was an invitation to the Grow Annapolis Community Garden at Hollywood farm. Both were well attended new gardeners seemed to enjoy the information.
If you are interested in the Dairy Farm Project, please feel welcome. All are invited, including interns.
Our next scheduled work session is Saturday, April 28, from 9:00 – 12:00
We have tools, but please bring your own as well as gloves, water, etc.
NOTE: REGULAR SECHEDULED WORK SESSIONS ARE THE SECOND SATURDAY AND THE FOURTH THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM 9:00 -12:00
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If you have any questions, please contact one of us.
Main Gardens, Malcolm Doying, oldcelt100@aol.com
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Hancock’s Resolution’s Historic Farm Park, 2795 Bayside Beach Road, Pasadena
Master Gardeners can volunteer any Sunday from 12:30-4:00. A plowing demonstration with horse and mule teams will take place on Sunday, May 1 (weather permitting.) Also, on May 1, Himmel’s Garden Center will join Friends of Hancock’s Resolution and have a selection of flowers and herbs available for sale.
Hancock’s Resolution will host a Mother’s Day Tea and Historic Women’s Clothing Demonstrations on Sunday, May 8. Heritage variety teas, ginger and lavender cookies will be served. Dawn Schneider, seamstress and clothing historian will host an education program focusing on late 18thc women’s clothing.
Volunteers are needed throughout the day on Monday, June 6 to facilitate a field trip visit from Jacobsville Elementary School fifth graders. Students will participate in a rotation of farm tasks with one of the rotations hosted by Master Gardeners. Details and exact times to be determined. Contact me if you are interested.
I am happy to report that the vegetable gardens are in good shape despite some evidence of wildlife predation. Lots of natives are emerging with a special abundance of milkweed. Hope you can join me to visit and volunteer.
Nancy Allred, Hancock’s Resolution Project Chair
willnancy3@verizon.net 410-952-9554 (mobile)
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Mulch does Matter in the way it’s applied to the trees we love. Mulch Matters Project is a committee of two: MGs Annie Hillary and Noreen Krispin. We are dedicated to reeducating the public, our neighbors, the HOAs and the Landscaping businesses in the correct way to put that nice mulch around the tree.
We have attended several events in the month of April. The Linthicum Brownie troop listened and participated in how to mulch trees properly. Imagine 7 or 8 little girls running around collecting “trees” that they could mulch incorrectly! They had a method to their -–I won’t say “madness”--because they were too adorable--their contribution was valuable. They told me to show the “before and after” ways to mulch. Of course, as MGs we know the “before” is how the Mulch Matters Project got started. Just look at the landscaped trees and you do not see the trunk flare because it is covered with mulch.
The events at the Earth Day celebrations were well attended. The Mulch Matters Brochure produced by MG Deb Fritz was very popular as an elegant tool for sharing with others. The Poster and flier were produced by a graphic artist friend of Pam Hanna. The flier was the same information as the dynamic poster but used as a hand out to those who came by the MG Mulch Matters tables.
Annie Hillary attended the Chase-Lloyd House Earth Day celebration while Noreen Krispin was at the Quiet Waters Park event. A lot of people are not aware of the problem until they recall the odd shape to the base of the trees—those dreadful ‘mulch volcanoes.’ A few knew and were glad to take the information back to their neighbors or family.
You can have a significant impact on how trees are cared for. We want them to thrive and live their expected years. This effort can be on your own schedule in your own neighborhood or work place.
Join the Mulch Matters campaign by contacting the Extension Office at 410-222-3900, Annie Hillary at ahillary45@gmail.com or Noreen Krispin at noreenkrispin@gmail.com
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2022 is the Year of Soil Health!
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Lawn Best Management Practices and Alternatives
Live Zoom Event
May 25, 2022
12:00-1:30 PM
Registration link - https://umd.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mcAJst8XTH6qx7Nm2-xXOA
IPM for Backyard and Community Vegetable and Fruit Growing
Live Zoom Event
July 19, 2022
9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Registration link - https://umd.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_P_sRam38S_-lF5Xp3aH7AA
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