Monroe County Master Gardener Association

A Gardener’s Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the yard,

Not a plant was left standing, the ground it was hard.
The tools were all hung in the garage with care
A well deserved rest now that the garden was bare.

The bulbs were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of springtime danced in their heads,
I in my Snuggie, my husband with our cat
Had just settled in for a long winter’s chat.

When out in the hydrangeas there arose such a clatter,
I dropped my seed catalogs to see what was the matter.
Away to the front door I quickly dashed,
Half expecting to find my yard had been trashed.

When I opened the door, it was suddenly clear.
Here was a sleigh and eight tiny reindeer
With a little old gardener so lively and quick
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick!

More quickly than crabgrass his coursers they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name.

“Now Holly! Now Ivy! Now Daisy and Rue!
On Rose, On Petunia, Fern and Lily too!
To the top of the trellis! To the top of the wall!
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all!”

So up to the housetop the reindeer they flew
With a sleighful of gifts and St. Nicholas too.

I closed the front door and was turning around
When he slid down the chimney, hitting the ground.
He was dressed all in red, with Wellies on his feet,
And a poinsettia on his cap made him look really neat.

He stood up quite quickly and went straight to his work
With a composter for Cathy, a Dutch weeder for Dirk.

There were asters for Ann, a pine tree for Paul
And a garden design book for use by us all.
Next came a rain barrel. This was for Rob.
And finally, for me, a ginkgo key fob.

Then laying a trowel aside of his nose
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose.
He ran to his sleigh and gave a quick whistle
And away they all flew like the seeds of globe thistle.

But I heard him exclaim as he drove out of sight,
“Merry Christmas to all gardeners and to all a good night.”

(With apologies to Clement Clark Moore)

(Credit: http://www.hortiholic.com/2011/12/gardeners-night-before-christmas.html)

I predict a shortage of butternut squash in Monroe County:
The hit of our Harvest Brunch is here!

Susan Anderson’s recipe
Butternut Squash Apple Cranberry Casserole

Ingredients
1 large butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
2 large tart cooking apples
½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup chopped pecans
¼ cup (4 tablespoons) butter
1-tablespoon flour
1-teaspoon salt
1-teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg

Preparation
Butter a 2 to 2 ½ – quart-baking dish. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
I washed the squash, put in microwave for 3 minutes for each pound. Then cut off ends, peeled and cubed. Core apples, peel, and cut into thin slices. Toss squash and apples together. Transfer squash and apple slices to the prepared baking dish. Put cranberries on top.

Combine brown sugar, flour, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle on top of squash, apples and cranberries. Sprinkle chopped pecans over all and dot with butter. Cover tightly with foil and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until squash is tender.

Such artistic shots from one of our Master Gardeners. Sorry, Foto Friday is a day late…but Enjoy

.

This was posted on Facebook page of Michigan Master Gardeners Association. I thought I’d pass it on.

http://michiganradio.org/post/scientists-are-looking-survivor-trees-michigan-and-they-want-your-help#.VErGTHHpCzE.facebook

I received this from one of our Master Gardeners to post:

While color abounded at Lake Erie Metropark over the last few weeks, I was quite annoyed at myself for not being able to find anything interesting there last Friday to photograph for Foto Friday. And, after making my way out of the last nature trail with a still-blank card in my camera, I stopped by to see Luc.

Over the last five years, Luc and I have had many one-sided conversations; and, on this particular day, after spending several frustrating hours searching for fall-themed subjects to shoot, I was describing to Luc my wasted afternoon on the park’s trails. He must have understood, because he turned his back to me and started doing these over-the shoulder poses. He even had this look in his eye that said, “I’ve been right here all along, you moron.”

So, just to divert a bit from autumnal photos, here is a headshot of Luc. Thanks for saving the day, buddy.

Luc, a 10-year male bald eagle who came to the park in 2009 after being found injured in the Saginaw Bay area, resides in a permanent display next to the Marshlands Museum and Nature Center at Lake Erie Metropark.

MMGA posted  this link on their Facebook page.  It’s important info to be aware of.

Emerald Ash Borer May Have Spread to Different Tree

What a great selection of Foto Friday pictures sent to me this week…Enjoy…there is some beautiful color out there!

Jennie sent me this photo. Her sister photographed this unopened flower commonly grown here but rare in Vermont where she lives. Can you recognize it?

Yellow Jackets are particularly a problem for us during August through now. I’ve been trying to control two nest under my deck at our camper. They’ve built their home in the ground. As suggested by sites on the yellow jackets, I’ve used a wasp spray to spray the opening. I’ve sprayed several time…no doubt there must be hundreds there, because I still see them going in and out of the ground opening. I’ve also set wasp traps out. These have helped by luring them away from our picnic area. Although many have met their demise, the nest is still active. I am not sensitive to their sting. However I have a friend that is extremely allergic. One happy note…by now the nests have produced a crop of queens and males. By the first frost most will leave the nest and find a wintering spot. They’ll emerge in the spring, but only the new queens will survive the winter. They seldom return and reuse the previous nest. That’s my hope for Spring.

Was sent a large selection of Fall Foto Friday Photos….sound like a tongue twister. Enjoy the beautiful photos sent by a great Master Gardener (and photographer). She says: “EARLY FALL PHOTOS
All photos were taken at Lake Erie Metropark on October 1. You will see spider webs in most of the photos – I even had them on my eye lashes by the time I was done taking all the photos!”

Received these photos last week for Foto Friday….However, I was unavailable to post so we’ll make it a “Memorable Monday”

(another excerpt from “What The Master Gardener Sees”)

You were expecting animal photos?