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Master Gardeners of Greene County
December 2022
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Table of Contents for December's Newsletter
Free Webcast: Winter Wildlife Survival
Discover Eagle Days
Gardens Aglow
Author's Corner - Bob and Barb Kipfer
Pollinator Champions
Gardening/Horticulture Workshop Videos
Bumblebee Queens
Don't Clean Up Your Gardens Yet
Food Preservation Online Classes
Garden Hour with MU Extension
Newsletters of Interest
Squirrels Plant Trees
Buy Native Trees and Shrubs form MDC
Other Tree Planting Information
Researched Based Garden Links
Birds in Winter
Garden Links
One Last Thought
Get Your Soil Tested Now
Previous Newsletter Link
Need a Speaker for One of Your Meetings or Groups?
Gardening Questions Hotline - Phone, Email and Web Questionnaire
Subscribe to the Newsletter
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** Editor's note: It is getting to be that time of year to get your soil tested. Get it done early so you can have your soil amended before spring planting season. See toward the bottom for more information. | |
Join MDC online Wednesday, December 14, from 12 noon to 1 pm, for a free Wild Webcast. Learn some Strange but True facts about how native critters deal with winter weather. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) invites everyone to learn more details and register in advance for the free MDC Wild Webcast Noon, Wed, Dec 14 here. | |
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'Discover nature with MDC Eagle Days' by Joe Jerek: December 3rd through February, Missouri's winter eagle watching is spectacular with the MDC Eagle Days events around the state or enjoy watching bald eagles on your own. Because of Missouri’s big rivers, many lakes, and abundant wetlands, the state is one of the leading lower 48 states for bald eagle viewing. Learn about Eagle Days Events Near You and Eagle Watching on Your Own, here.
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Have you been to Gardens Aglow?
This is a botanical-themed light festival in the Japanese Mizumoto Stroll Garden Springfield, Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield, MO. For complete event details visit here.
Bring the whole family to walk Gardens Aglow, a botanical-themed light festival in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden. Friends of the Garden donates half of the Gardens Aglow admission proceeds to the maintenance fund for the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden. The remaining admission proceeds furthers Friends of the Garden’s mission to support the Springfield Botanical Gardens.
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AUTHORS CORNER - Bob & Barb Kipfer | |
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'Slime Molds' by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Oct 5, 2022: Today's blog is by our award winning photographer of fungi, Dr. Mark Bower. I asked him to tell us a little about slime molds, with added comments... For lack of a better idea, Slime Molds have been placed in the Kingdom Protista along with amoebas, algae, kelp and other oddballs. Learn more.
'A Fungus Among Us' by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Oct 26, 2022: identified it as a fungus, Akanthomyces tuberculatus, species complex on an unfortunate moth. My understanding was that the fungus parasitizes the host, eventually killing it... learn more with photos and text, continue reading here.
'Red Velvet Mites' by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Nov 1, 2022: Mites are arachnids as are spiders, harvestmen, scorpions and the ever popular ticks. Like ticks they have six legs in the first instar, then graduate to eight legs from then on into adulthood. RVMs are members of the Trombididiidae family of mites which gives us several thousand species to choose from. Learn more.
'Hawkmoths See Humidity' by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter Missouri Master Naturalist™: "Hawkmoths aka hummingbird moths are able to find nectar flowers at night with an unusual sense." Learn more here.
'Tarantula!' by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Nov 11, 2022: Chris Barnhart was hiking Rocky Barrens Conservation Area with Kevin Firth when he got these pictures of a tarantula. Kevin goes there regularly to check on burrows that hold them... This is the Texas brown tarantula (TBT) Aphonopelma hentzi. Learn more with photos and text here.
'Scorpion' by Bob & Barb Kipfer for Springfield Plateau Chapter of the Missouri Master Naturalist™ Nov 16, 2022: This is a vicarious two-part digital field trip to Rocky Barrens Conservation Area with Kevin Firth and Chris Barnhart. This is a striped bark scorpion, Centruroides vittatus, the most common and widely distributed scorpion species in the US. MDC says "This is the only species of scorpion in Missouri. Learn more with photos and text here.
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Pollinator Champions - Online Course
By MSU Extension: Pollinator Champions is a free, self-paced online course offered by MSU. The course is packed full of videos, articles and fun activities to guide you through the amazing world of pollinators and pollination. Everyone is welcome to learn about pollinators for free, but for a small fee, you can receive a certificate and materials to help you give presentations about pollinators. Learn more and start here.
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Gardening/Horticulture Workshops - Videos | |
Sponsored by Springfield Community Gardens (SCG) & USDA:
Couldn't make it to a Zoom Workshop? No worries, our list with 57 videos was updated Sep 27, 2022!
You can access recordings of our Zoom Workshops on our YouTube channel anytime. Workshops presented by Patrick Byers, MU Extension, plus Justine Francesca, Ben Tegeler, Alyssa Hughes, Adam Millsap, Curtis Millsap and others.
Review the topic list, watch one or all here.
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Don’t Spring Into
Garden Cleanup Too Soon!
While it isn't spring yet, I thought this article would help you all out. It tells you more about hibernating bugs and bees, moths and butterflies.
But remove the dead and diseased plant material from garden. 'Garden Pest Integrated Pest Management (IPM) starts with Fall Cleanup' by David Trinklein MU Plant Science & Technology Nov 15, 2022: One of the first tenets of IPM is prevention. Any pest or problem in the garden that can be prevented is one less that will need to be dealt with later. For gardeners, prevention begins with fall garden cleanup. Learn more here.
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This self-paced course provides research based information needed to safely and successfully preserve food at home. Participants of all levels of food preservation experience are welcome, including individuals with little or no previous food preservation experience. This course covers pressure canning, boiling water bath canning, steam canning, dehydration, and freezing. Highlights include preserving salsas, pie fillings, pickling, sweet spreads, and harvesting and storage of produce.
Registration is $30.00
Click here for more information and registration.
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Get your Lawn and Garden Questions Answered at the Garden Hour with MU Extension | |
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Virtual Town Hall: Mandy D. Bish - MU Extension Specialists will address lawn, garden, and insect questions during the 'Garden Hour' with MU Extension. NOW EVERY Wednesday of the month from 12-1pm. The virtual event is free. To register for the virtual event and/or ask a gardening question, please visit.
To see recordings from previous events, please check out the YouTube videos on the MU Extension IPM channel here.
For more information visit. Or contact Mandy D. Bish, MU Plant Science & Technology at (573) 882-9878 or email: bishm@missouri.edu
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'The Garden Spade Newsletter' November 2022 by MU Extension - Articles include: Is That an Invasive Plant?; Fall Garden Cleanup; Spinach; Turkey-foot Hike; Plan for Bee Plantings; Fireplace Ashes; Wheat -Plants that Changed History; What is It?; Kids Ask Dr. Bug; Garden Tips; Upcoming Events, Flyers & More, Details here. (It is a downloadable PDF)
Preserve It Fresh, Preserve It Safe Newsletter November/December 2022 by MU Extension Topics Include: Holiday Preserved Gifts! + Looking for a Local Fresh Food Producer? + Using Salt in Home Preserved Foods + Food Safety Resources + PLUS Interested in learning how to preserve food at home? Or want to brush up on your skills? Try MU Extension's online Food Preservation course! Details here.
'Commercial Horticulture MU Extension Newsletter' Nov 18, 2022 Topics: Irrigation Water Quality Problems in High Tunnels, 2022 Lavender Research Update, Cleaning and Sanitizing Food Contact Surfaces, Making Apple Cider, Great Plains Growers Conference 2023, Upcoming Class Offerings, View Past Issues & Videos, Details plus more here.
National Gardening Newsletter November 26, 2022 - Topics - House Plants 101, How to Grow and Care for Hoyas, Autumn Leaves are Garden Gold, Choosing and Planting a Living Christmas Tree, Forcing Paperwhites Narcissus, Holiday Cactus, Together with the Dahlia Expert and more.
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Buy Native Trees and Shrubs from MDC | |
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Buy native trees and shrubs from Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) State Forest Nursery' Order are being taken through April 15, 2023.
Supplies are limited so order early. For complete details use this MDC link.
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'Right Species, Right Place: Considerations Before You Order Tree Seedlings in Missouri' by Hank Stelzer Forestry State Specialist, MU School of Natural Resources: Missouri is part of the great central hardwood forest region and has more than 160 native tree species. Continue reading here.
'I Bought Native Plants... Now What?' by Holly Dentner from Missouri Conservationist Sept 2022: Your motivation comes from a good place. You want to try something new in your garden or yard... Not to worry! They’re native, and they’re meant to thrive in Missouri’s climate. All you need is some prep work and to make sure you find the right spot to plant them. Before you put on your garden gloves, check out these entry-level tips on working natives into your landscape. Learn more and view the photo gallery at the bottom of the page.
How to plant a tree or shrub correctly. The important message, taking the time and plant your trees and shrubs correctly. Here is more information on that topic. 'Plant with Care' by Penn State Extension: "One of the most important steps you can take to ensure the health and long life of your plants is to plant them correctly." Continue reading to learn more here.
'The Shortleaf Pine in Missouri' by Dan Dey from Missouri Conservationist: November 2022: 'Missouri’s Native Pine', shortleaf pine is the most widely distributed of the southern pines (loblolly, longleaf, and slash pines) and is the only native pine species in Missouri. Restoring a former foundation of the Ozark forest, learn more here.
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Researched Based Gardening Links | |
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Weird And Wonderful Invertebrates' by Deborah Seiler for Xerces Society Oct 20, 2022: With millions of invertebrates on earth – more than 97 percent of the world’s animal species – we’re never far from inspiration at the Xerces Society, we’re sharing staff favorites for wonderful, weird and even legendary invertebrates. Continue here.
'When Plants Protect Plants' by Nancy Lawson, Humane Gardener Oct 29, 2022: Thorny shrubs are a tree's best friends. Enlist these and other plant partners to protect trees from browsing while still feeding an abundance of wildlife. The redbud seemed to appear out of nowhere... I hadn’t noticed the sapling before, probably for the same reason the deer hadn’t: it was surrounded by a patch of dense black raspberries. Read on here.
'Gardening for Deer' by Nancy Lawson, Humane Gardener: Yes, you read that headline right. Deer eat my plants, and I let them. But I also barely notice the nibbling. Here’s why (and how) I favor coexistence over resistance when it comes to these misunderstood animals. Find more strategies for coexisting among hungry mammals. ALSO SEE: Resources added new in 2021 here.
"Don't Rake the Leaves" If you simply must rake the leaves, pile them up along fence rows, place them over your garden or use as mulch around your flower beds or around trees. This will help home the beneficial critters like toads, frogs and salamanders, as well as, feeding birds the worms and bugs that live in the piles of leaves. Read on, 'Leave The Leaves! These Invertebrates Depend On It' Blog by Deborah Seiler Aug 29, 2022 for Xerces Society here.
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'Growing Shiitake Mushrooms' For more information, the MU Center for Agroforestry has an in-depth guide to mushroom growing called “Growing Shiitake Mushrooms in an Agroforestry Practice,” which is available for free download here.
'Growing parsley in home gardens' by UMN Extension: Read here.
Prairie lawns help alleviate climate change and promote biodiversity' by Kirsten Wandrey for Nebraska News Service - Oct 3, 2022: An alternative landscape is growing in popularity among those who find themselves tiring of grass upkeep and hesitant of heavy water usage: the prairie lawn. Also commonly referred to as natural gardens, residential prairies or meadow lawns, a prairie lawn consists of a varied collection of grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees that are native... NOTE: "there are challenges associated with converting to a prairie lawn. For starters, some people may face hesitation from neighborhood homeowners associations (HOAs)"... Plus city /county rules and regulations. Still interested, read here.
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Here are the top invasive plants in the Missouri. Because of their vigorous expansion, these invasive plants are particularly important to identify and control. Provided by The Missouri Prairie Foundation/Grow Native here. | |
ONE LAST THOUGHT Have you been to the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave, Springfield, MO? If not plan a group or family fall's visit today. In addition to the many beautiful floral and demonstration gardens, a number of gardening organizations are headquartered there, including MU Greene County Extension office and the Master Gardeners of Green County Hotline. Questions call 417.891.1515 or tour the gardens and all of the other attractions online. | |
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**Basic soil testing analysis is done by the MU Soil Lab in partnership with our Master Gardeners of Greene County. Results include fertilizer and lime recommendations. Additional tests are available for nutrient management plans, environmental issues, potting mixes, compost, manure and water usage. Each sample should contain a total of 2 cups of dry soil and from 6 to 7 inches deep and about 5 or 6 different areas. Results are typically provided within two weeks.
Bring the soil sample(s) to the Greene (or local county office) County Extension office between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursdays. Master Gardeners can complete the paperwork and submit your test. One of our extension specialists will review your results. In most cases, gardens, lawns and fields should be tested every two years.
The cost is $30 per sample. Feel free to call if you have any questions:
417-874-2963.
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Need a Speaker for a Meeting or Group? |
Master Gardeners of Greene County are unavailable at this time to speak to garden clubs, civic organizations, schools and other groups on a wide variety of topics within the world of gardening, horticulture, landscaping and the environment.
Please keep us in mind for a future date.
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