Monroe County Master Gardener Association

Photo was taken in the greenhouse at Wednesday’s Watch It Grow Garden Tour at the Toledo Zoo. Can you name the plant?

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Naida has sent us some further information on this:

“The World Cup of Gardening” on
Belle Isle was in the works for 2016 or in the future. I found an email
address and inquired and just received notice that it has been
completely shelved for the future.

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Click on the link below for a Map of Bird Migration. Thanks Naida for sending it.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/mesmerizing-migration-watch-118-bird-species-migrate-across-a-map-of-the-western-hemisphere/

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Now here’s some information we can all use:

A gardener’s to do list for March

http://www.rodalesorganiclife.com/garden/gardeners-do-list-march

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More Bluebirds

4 types of butterflies seen on tour last year: Kitty Todd Ohio Metropark Green Ribbon Tours

Monarch advocate group was there and had a tent full of Monarchs- set up for the kids
to go in and learn

next week I have photos from our Lotus Tour

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Naida sent me the following information:

I bet our blog readers will be happy to know that MSU has come up with
an effective fungicide to treat downy mildew in impatiens (link below)
which, if treated in the greenhouse, will reduce the risk or prevent it
entirely. According to the article, it will allow the consumer to even
plant impatiens in an area in which downy mildew was previously. This
is very welcome news but we still will have to be cautious that the
greenhouse producers have followed fungicide recommendations.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/msu_research_brings_healthy_impatiens_back_to_home_gardeners?utm_source=Floriculture+-+MSU+Extension+News+-+03-03-16&utm_campaign=Floriculture+03-03-16&utm_medium=email

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Hello all –
We are asking for your help in promoting this program opportunity to your stakeholders. It is a new vegetable gardening (Smart Gardening) series being offered at the West MI Home & Garden Show.

We are trying to reach out to anyone interested in vegetable gardening, i.e. urban gardeners, school and community gardeners, nutrition programs, etc.
Participants can sign up for one session or all 4; with just one registration they receive a free pass to the H&G show. Registration is also available at the door (space permitting).

Here are two articles that provide more information.
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/vegetable_gardening_series_offered
http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/vegetable_gardening_techniques_to_help_improve_or_start_your_urban_garden

I have also attached a paper copy for registration and promotion.
Thanks for any help you can provide!

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bE-Informed
Monroe Conservation District
February 2016

Monroe Conservation District is hosting a Workshop on Tree Care
Join us on Saturday, March 5th at Calder Dairy Farm 9334 Finzel Road, Carleton from 9:30 am until noon. The topics to be discussed will include: species and site selection, caring for and planting seedlings and transplants, proper trimming techniques, disease identification and treatment. Light refreshments will be served. This workshop is free, although we ask that you register as seating is limited. You may do so by email or by phone at 734.241.7755 Ext. 5
If you haven’t gotten your tree order in, we will be happy to accept them at the workshop.

Western Lake Erie Cluster Workshops
Frog and Toad Listen
Saturday, April 2, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
Crosswinds Marsh, New Boston. Free event.

Local Beach Clean UP
Volunteers needed Saturday, April 30, 9:00 am until noon
Sterling Sate Park and Bolles Harbor Boat Launch

Harmful Algae Blooms Public Forum Reminder

Thursday, March 10, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
An information forum to discuss Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB), the human health risks of HAB toxins, the ecological impact on the Western Lake Erie Basin, and the attempt this region is making to reduce the impact of annual algal blooms. Each panel member will present information on a sub-topic and a Q&A session will conclude the forum.
Panel Members – Ben Lehr: Monroe Conservation District, Jerry Heck: Local conservation farmer, Dr. Laura Johnson: Heidelberg University, Monroe County Health Department Environmental Health Office, Sonia Joshi: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Ecosystems research, and Kevin Czajkowski: University of Toledo.

Public parking available at the Monroe Courthouse as well as in lots on Macomb Street and Washington Street. The Event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but greatly appreciated. To RSVP, contact Catherine Acerboni by replying to this email, 734.241.7755 extension 5 or email Brittany Santure, Western Lake Erie Cluster coordinator, at bsanture@rriearth.org.

Free MOVIE
Farmland: The Evolution of a Tradition
Monday, March 14, 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Monroe County Community College, Administrative building Rm 173
1555 South Raisinville Road, Monroe

And

Thursday, March 17, 7:00 pm
Monroe County Historical Museum
126 Monroe Street, Monroe
Please register with Monroe County Farm Bureau at 734.269.3275, for either showing as seating is limited.

Article: This Is Your Brain on Nature
I found this of interest, I hope you do to.

Below are some great quotes from a recent National Geographic Article. The entire article is available here and also worth a read: This Is Your Brain on Nature.

“When we get closer to nature—be it untouched wilderness or a backyard tree—we do our overstressed brains a favor.”

“Nature nurtures us. It boosts our mood too. According to the attention restoration theory, spending time in nature relieves the stress and mental fatigue caused by the “directed attention” that work and city life require.”

“Imagine a therapy that had no known side effects, was readily available, and could improve your cognitive functioning at zero cost,” the researchers wrote in their paper. It exists, they continued, and it’s called “interacting with nature.”

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Jennie’s brother in Arusha, TZ has a variety of tropical plants. She
thought you might enjoy this recent photo of his home as a different
perspective on poinsettias.

Gail sends me some photos:

my friend rescued this Barr Owl (note the bar markings in the feathers) from her backyard in Grayling MI it had a broken wing and could not fly
they called the DNR who came and took it to a raptor rescue facility…..

photos taken Jan 5 2016
this is 1 of 3 colors of heather that I have………….they are early bloomers
and will even bloom in snow………….

guess who came again to visit. past couple of years- end of January and early Feb.
I got smart this year—went out and set up my feeder
and it worked…………..they are still around and i have gone from 1 pair to 3-

More to follow next Friday

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