Monroe County Master Gardener Association

I’m not the best writer but here’s a short post with some photos:

I’ve made major changes to my garden this year. Much hard work has gone into it. But I used some advice I gave on a presentation to help me manage all the work. Now that I’m 70, it’s harder to do a full day.

First off what do I benefit from gardening as a senior? It’s low impact exercise and I’m not sitting idle around the house. All that digging and moving things improves my strength and dexterity. I get the benefit of all that fresh air and sunshine. It takes some focusing and keeps the mind sharp. It also requires you to increase your attention span on one area at a time. Although, I often find myself jumping from project to pulling weeds. Gardening has always help me with stress. It lowers the level of stress that I have. Mainly because it gets my mind focused on something else rather than what may be stressing me out.
I’m sure all this exercise reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke. However, don’t stay in the heat too long.

Now to begin with a few stretching exercises. Bending, lunging, stretching out my side will all help avoid injury during my digging. Next, I get out the tools. They include my favorite shovel and a wagon (or wheel barrel). I use these every time I plan to do a project. The wagon carries the heavy plants, soil and fertilizer. It saves trips back and forth into the garage as well.

I’ve also prepared the garden for low maintenance. I’ve replaced many of my jumbled up beds full of various plants into massed plantings of single varieties. I take a morning walk through the garden and “pull as I go” the weeds that pop up overnight. After that, I begin any changes needed. Early morning is best to do a large project. The sun is not out yet, there’s shade, and it’s cool. I’ve been planting shrubs, such as hydrangeas and roses. They seem to requires less maintenance.

I’ve adjusted my type of gardening as well. I vertical garden, making it easier to reach, water, and there are few weeds. Raised beds also help with the bending. As so many of you have visited my garden, you will remember the multiple seating areas I’ve placed around the yard. It sure helps for a quick break.

I have 3 watering areas right now, but hope to do some drip irrigation next year. Each of the hoses are non kinking, and are on an automatic hose reel. It runs with the water pressure. I’m not cranking that hose; which saves my back. I try to keep plants within my reach for watering. Self watering containers also help.

Adding walkways to move along also help. You should try and avoid tripping hazards. However, my walkways don’t follow that tip. My problem is I love aesthetics, it’s the designer in me, So you can see there are a few tripping hazards in my pathways.

That’s not the only advice I don’t follow. Gloves should be worn. Although often, I like to just get my hands in that soil. I’m more concerned with a good shoe to wear. They should be comfortable and protective.

After all this, take a great break and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Photos and Story by Gail K.

Hello- Let’s go back to Paul’s native garden and take a closer look at the plants he has in the garden.
As always, Paul has information available for people to take for referencing to start their own native garden…………

Ready?? follow me—–Paul’s garden offers many pathways- let’s travel down this one
and see where it takes us.

A mass planting of Ergrostis spectabilil – Purple love grass. Paul uses many native grasses in his landscape. He does use non native plants as well. Diversity is a key to design in a Garden.
Paul wasn’t sure-this may be a Wolfeye Dogwood. Remember when we toured the Taylor Gardens I think this was a plant we saw there. It is stunning especially in a shaded area.
Throughout the garden are artistic accents which add structure:

As we move on, did you note the thistle that is growing next to the
spider web?? Paul says the finches love that plant. Not what we typically
plant in our gardens……….

What do you see—-It changes as you change from where you are viewing–
another attribute of an interesting garden…………

NOTE:
For those who might be interested. I found pictures from another tour at Paul’s
the difference is unreal……………our Blog dated July 28 2014. If you click on July 2014 you will see that tour.

Photo & story by Gail K.
Paul’s & Gerard’s river garden tour 8-18-18
It was a beautiful August day with a gentle breeze and sunny skies. I went about an hour before the tour to offer help; by doing so I also hoped to beat the rising heat, humidity

Since I was early, Paul & Gerard treated me to an elevated view of the vista!!! Ok
I’m impressed, as if I already wasn’t. From the 2nd story porch, I enjoyed a panoramic view-
clearly seeing the structure of the garden beds & paths.

As Paul readied for the tour, I trekked off for the short time I had left. Now in the backyard along the river, I was greeted by this squirrel who just sat there
posing for me.
Here are some views of the river from the backyard………so relaxing

Hearing car doors I return to the front entry-I find Chris and Gerard deep in
discussion on vegetable gardening.

OK–ready??? Let’s start the tour:

the group listened as Paul spoke to the importance of using native plants.


Entering the rear of the property, Paul & Gerard discussed the various plants;
as we intently followed winding paths in and out; from shady to sunny; from lower to higher levels in the garden.

After the tour, we each went off to explore as we wished. Seemed that we all had areas we wanted to go back to.
here are some of my finds………..

Thank you Paul, Gerard & Stanley for allowing us to spend time in your wonderful garden. Next week more photos from their garden; focusing more on specifics….in the mean time, garden on!!!!!

Here are some photos from the tour at MCCC:

The group was met by Andy McCain MCCC program coordinator and Nick Beaudrie student intern.
Nick described as he passed out detailed information-just what his job–a student intern involves. The two of them gave a very informative talk on the program as a whole. An example of the labels used for each crop–allowing collection of detailed data which is then analyzed and used later as reference.




In this view, can you see the plots along the top edge?????……….the 12 acre college farm is also home to crop plots which are managed by the MSU Dept. of Entomology & 3 of its graduate students. They have planted corn and soybeans and do testing of various treatments used to control pests and insects in the soil–documenting the effects on each. These results can then be shared with farmers and those who develop products for use in farm fields.

In addition to the cherry tomatos, the group also planted Okra- Kale, variety of peppers, eggplant, cabbage, broccoli, greenbeans, lettuce, cucumbers and squash. All crops are donated to a variety
of charitable food banks. The group listened as Nick & Andy spoke of using ornamental kale
as a food source.

In addition to crops, they have planted flowers to entice the pollinators. This project created another collaborative-one with the Monroe Bee Keepers Club who after much controversy, erected this bee hive.
Some good honey coming soon–which can also be shared with the group.

This is a great project–long overdue for our farming community and I personally hope that the grant can be extended to continue this after the 2 yr. time frame. Connie and Gail are going to do some outreach and hopefully bring a like project to the south county area. Andy and Nick- Keep up the good work. Further reading on this venture can be found in the Monroe Evening News articles on June 9 & July 14, 2018.

Naida sent this information to share:
Five Seasons:

The Gardens of Piet Oudolf

https://shoutout.wix.com/so/57MLOqKK0?cid=9abd027f-eb5e-4c20-9f39-c35465a85d23#/main

I was asked to share this with our Master Gardeners and Horticulture Club by Chris K.

Gail gives us another photo display:
Gail recently attended an exhibit titled “COMMUNITY” by Rebecca Louise Law @ the Toledo Museum of Art.
She learned of this while driving to the Leila Garden tour, from horticulture club member Sandy Rabie.
It just so happened that Sandy had helped with the tying of the flower garlands. She shared,someone from Toledo saw an exhibit by Ms. Law in England and invited her to bring her exhibit to Toledo- she accepted. Ms. Law uses local plant material for her display. It makes her “artwork” truly unique yet very personal. Here aresome pics from Gail.

The exhibit located in a room-behind glass doors has strategic lighting from the ceiling.
Looking into the room there is an appearance of shimmering gold strands. Once in, you smell the various nectar, pollen and stages of decomp. from the multitude of material used. The museum’s employees (with allergies) held handkerchiefs to their noses. I visited soon after the opening; June 16th. so I cannot predict what it is like now.

As much as I could tell you what I saw, this exhibit encourages self interpretation. COMMUNITY- the title of the exhibit; was perfect. They control the numbers in the room and base it on a 20 minute cycle. I took a bit longer :)… For as much as you connect with the exhibit as an individual, cautiously weaving around the displays while trying to not miss a thing, there are others all around you. You feel you can share with complete strangers what you see. It’s amazing how we can see the same yet see it differently. In that short moment of time, a community was formed.

I was intrigued by the set up. At first glance chaos-the ceiling laden with the various strands of color & composition; hanging long or short – some as garlands, others in clumps or lonely individuals– and then you enter the canvas and realize, there had to be a remarkable sense of organization to create this unique work of art.

I would encourage a visit. Avoid exhibit fee-go Thursday night (5pm), just parking…..
go early-plenty to see from glass blowing, a sculpture garden, other exhibits and gift shop.

There was so many beautiful things to see at Frederick Meijer Gardens. Here are a few more Photos from Gail.

Here are 3 maps that show the over 300 acres that utilize over 800 volunteers. I would encourage people to visit there gardens:


Not only were our senses awakened but our minds. The docent filled our heads with information. We grabbed material to read and spoke with each other as we tested our knowledge on the names of the man plants.
Oh, I almost forgot the most valuable lesson of the day:

Gail sends us this article and photos:
Bold & vivid colors in the entry gardens,set the stage–our senses were sparked and would finally explode as we attempted to take it all in. This cycle repeated each time we entered a new vista. Yet, we each ended the day having achieved our own personal experience with an individual interpretation of what we had seen that day. I hope you enjoy some extra pics from our tour of the Meijer Gardens.

The Tropical room had many orchids. Flitting about the room were 6 varieties of tropical birds.

Beautiful flowers along with the massive well known horse sculpture.

Various sculptures were scattered in the gardens:

These trees were planted in the Japanese Garden area. They are purposefully planted on an angle or slant, which is often seen in Japanese gardens

Stay tuned for some additional photos from the tour next Photo Friday

Meijer garden tour article written by Jennie and photos by Gail. Thanks to both of you for your contributions.

We were wowed by the knockout colors of the grand entrance flowerbeds as we drove into Meijer gardens. Apparently the plan is to continue the wow right up to the doors of the conservatory but that part is currently under construction.

We will henceforth notice how the sculptures inside the conservatory are chosen to enhance the plants, like armadillos and a javelina in the Western Hemisphere arid room.

Outdoors, the plants are chosen to set off the sculptures, often enclosing even the larger works in an outdoor garden room of green tree and shrub walls with various appropriate groundcovers. Even the terrazzo floor in the conservatory is considered a sculpture with specially colored stones and mother-of-pearl fragments setting off the many imbedded bronze designs that suggest a “forest floor” under the canopy of the concrete “tree” forms that support the roof.

The largest insectivorous plant collection, the largest tropical conservatory in the state, superlatives stacked up! The Victorian room illustrated the historical development of botany and gardening that flourished in that era, and we learned the importance of the Wardian Case in successfully importing exotic species by ship.

A sophisticated cafeteria decorated with blown glass Dale Chihuly flowers, an interesting gift shop, a library, all on the first floor. We could easily have spent the whole day in that building, but the weather was moderate and vast gardens beckoned outside!

The tram was well worth taking as an overview of the outdoor display areas and helped us decide to return to the American Farm garden and the expansive new Japanese garden, before finishing up in the Children’s garden, our senses already overwhelmed even before we saw the oversized tongue, nose and ear denoting the sensory garden areas in it.

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