8 April 2010
Volume 23 Number 4 April 2010
A Message from our President
Dolores May
I was so pleased with the turnout for the March chapter meeting. Nearly 60 master gardeners and community members came to the presentation. That might break our attendance records. James Cassidy spoke about “Controlling Pests in the Organic Vegetable Garden.” As always, he entertained and informed. We also had a record short business meeting. Thank you to those of you who did stay for it and vote on the Board’s motion.
Community members have come to the February and March chapter presentations since we started publicizing them online and in the local papers. In the past, we’ve rarely had nonmaster gardeners come. Let’s hope more people attend as we increase our visibility. Please encourage your friends and neighbors to come and learn from the speakers.
Some of our members don’t come to the meetings because they don’t drive at night. Are any of you willing to bring other members to the meetings? Let me know if you need a ride or if you’re willing to drive someone else. We’ll have to find a way to get you all together. Any ideas on how to do that?
The Fall Fling Committee is working hard on getting speakers and on all the other million details that make our Fall Fling such a success. The next meeting is April 5, at 1:00 pm, Academy Building,
Room 214. New class members are welcome to attend and learn about our annual educational program.
If anyone wants to volunteer for one of the subcommittees, call Linda Yerbick.
Kathy Arquette started her Gardener’s Exercise class on March 11. She showed us ways to build our strength and stretch our muscles so we don’t injure ourselves pulling out all those weeds. I couldn’t imagine the hardest part of the class would be to lift my ring fingers up as we pressed our hands into the carpeted floor. I barely raised them 1/8 inch. Forget flabby arms, my ring fingers are pitiful. She also talked about the science and safety of exercise and how to incorporate both sides of your brain. I’m looking forward to the next two classes. Kathy’s a fun and knowledgeable instructor.
Remember to look in your attics, garages, and sheds for wonderful antiques for the Country Store and to talk with Eileen Sproule about growing plants for the Plant Sale.
N
OTES FROM NEIL
Neil Bell, County Extension Agent
8 April 2010
Many of the chapter members may be familiar with the name of a new insect pest which appeared last summer in western Oregon: the Spotted-wing Drosophila. If you have heard of this pest before, or especially if you have not, I thought I would give an update on the status of this new pest. Drosophila is the genus name for a number of species of fruit flies, including the common fruit fly, D. melanogaster, which all of us know as the annoying fruit fly that can be found in compost bins and on over-ripe fruit in the kitchen in summer and fall. The spotted-wing Drosophila is D. suzukii, a species native to Japan which is also found in China and south-east Asia. Unlike the common fruit fly, D. suzukii lays eggs on and infests ripening fruit still on the plant. This species was unknown in North America until being found in California in 2008. The larvae of the fly were found in ripening strawberries and raspberries in Santa Cruz County, a big surprise since no one had found fruit flies to be a pest of anything other than over-ripe or fermenting fruit. Since then, it has spread up and down the entire west coast from British Columbia into Mexico.
Last summer, this pest became a serious potential issue in Oregon for growers of a wide array of fruit. The best-known local problem involved the loss of approximately 20% of a ripening peach crop at a Salem-area orchard. I first encountered this pest in September, when a client from west Salem brought a sample of very mushy strawberries from their home garden to the Marion County Extension office. In these strawberries were several larvae which I did not recognize. I took the sample to the Department of Agriculture, which confirmed that it was D. suzukii. Another sample, this time of fall-fruiting raspberries, was subsequently brought to the Polk County office a couple of weeks later. It too, was infested with several larvae which had turned the fruit to mush.
The problem with this pest is that it of course attacks fruit before it is picked, and renders it totally inedible. The other issue is the range of crops it is known to infest, which includes strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, plums, peaches and apparently wine grapes. Since it attacks blackberries, there is unfortunately a lot of potential habitat for it in the thousands of acres of Himalayan blackberry all over the Willamette Valley. The climate here is considered very suitable for the survival and reproduction of D. suzukii, so now that it is present in the Valley, it remains to be seen how much of a pest it will prove to be for fruit growers and also home gardeners of a very wide range of crops. Master Gardeners on the desk should however be aware that as it has already shown up in home garden samples last year, it is very likely to do so again this spring and summer. The earliest-ripening crop for which it is likely to be a problem is strawberries, which will be ready to pick in late May or early June.
There is much more information which I encourage all Master Gardeners to look up available at the OSU Horticulture Department Spotted Wing Drosophila web page, http://swd.hort.oregonstate.edu/home. One way or another, we are all going to get an education about the biology and behavior of this insect in the very near future.
8 April 2010
8 April 2010
Brunk House
On April 16th from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon there will be a hands-on demonstration of lasagna gardening. We will open up a new bed. All MG's are invited, especially the new class. For questions contact Allan Blazier.
March Board & Chapter Meeting Highlights
Board Meeting March 3rd
· For several years, Falls City Library had not followed our criteria for receiving donations and were removed from donation list; new staff has agreed to follow our criteria
· Passed a motion to donate $200 to Falls City Library
· OMGA Demo Garden Directory—Judy will forward forms to Nick and Linda (Fairgrounds), Lois (Gentle House), Allan (Brunk House) and
Carol (Arboretum)
· Will discuss Master Gardener of the Year and Behind the Scenes awards at April meeting
· Fairgrounds budget cuts may require us to apply for reduced or free rental of buildings in future
· Board scheduled a special meeting for May 20 if the service district measure does not pass; will cancel if it does pass
Chapter Meeting March 10th
· James Cassidy talked about controlling pests in organic vegetable gardens
· Nearly 60 people attended—may be a record
· Passed Board’s motion to donate $200 to Falls City Library
Please Note: The staff at Polk County Fairgrounds is reminding Master Gardeners to please comply with the 10 mph speed limit. They ask that we drive 10 mph at all times. Also, until the fairgrounds dry more thoroughly, please do not park in grassy areas, instead please park on paved areas.
Polk County Master Gardener Class of 2010
Front Row
Kyle Piering, Jessica Sipe, Diane Watne, Jeanne Wheeler, Carole Allen, Teresa Othmer,
Karen Rudelitsch, Judy Phipps
Back Row
Terry Ungricht, Allen Combs, Judy Bennett, Janice Ames, Janelle Graham, Barbara Park,
Lynne Rainwater, Janice Henry-Colvin
Membership Directory Update
Ø Marcia Plass, change in email address to .
8 April 2010
Friends of Bush Gardens
27th Annual Benefit
Spring Plant Sale
Sponsored by 13th Street Nursery
§ fabulous selection of perennials
§ unusual trees and shrubs (including dwarf conifers)
§ huge variety of herbs, native plants, and favorite roses (both old and new)
§ large selection of popular, organically-grown tomatoes
§ organically-grown basil and novel vegetable starts
§ select annuals for planters and beds
§ hanging baskets
§ tulip bulbs (dug from Bush’s Pasture Park)
§ and much more, including garden art
Special Feature! Rhododendron Flower Show & Sale
Do you want to know the names of your rhododendrons or what ails them? Bring a cutting or just plain show up for a real treat. Once again, the Friends of Bush Gardens Plant Sale will include an impressive display of rhododendron blossoms. The Willamette Chapter of the American Rhododendron Society will be gathering early blooming rhododendron trusses or flower clusters from throughout the central Willamette Valley. These will be displayed with identification and literature, as well as images of later blooming rhodys and companion plants. Both rhodys and companion plants will be available during the plant sale. In addition, a large grove of very old rhodys will be in bloom in Bush’s Pasture Park just a short walk from the plant sale.
Friday, April 23: 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Saturday, April 24: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday, April 25: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bush's Pasture Park, Salem, Oregon
Enter off High Street
All proceeds benefit the gardens and
Conservatory in Bush's Pasture Park
Visa and Master Card Accepted
For more information, call 503-588-2410
To volunteer, call Mary 503-581-6647
PCMG SPRING PLANT SALE
Greetings from the Plant Sale Perennial Team. Hope you are getting out in this great weather! Here are some things you need to know if you are contributing plants to the plant sale:
1) If potting up plants at home, please label the plant with its botanical name, as the perennials are organized alphabetically by botanical name at the plant sale. Include complete information: how tall, how wide, bloom time, color, sun or shade, dry or wet, etc. If you would like help with labeling, we can type up labels for you, just let us know ahead of time.
2) If you are physically unable to dig, please let us know and we will see if we can arrange a dig at your home.
3) For common perennials, please limit your contribution to 6 to12 plants. If you are unsure about a plant, call or email one of us.
4) Please try to pot up no later than a month before the sale. Plants need to have their roots established.
5) Pots are available behind the MUPS building at the Fairgrounds.
6) If you need soil, please contact one of us or a Plant Sale co-chair to find out how to get it. It will not be available at the Fairgrounds as in years past.
We hope to hear from you soon!
The Plant Sale Perennial Team
Luella Newkirk, 503-364-0438,
Pat Gonzalez, Please add Phone, email
Sandy Davis, Please add Phone, email
Deanna Musgraves, Please add Phone, email
One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. ~W.E. Johns, The Passing Show
8 April 2010
Wildflower Walk
Saturday - April 10, 2010
10:00 am – 12:00 noon
Members of the Willamette Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon will lead a wildflower walk through Bush Park and Deepwood Estate. Nearly two dozen native wildflowers will be in bloom. Participants should meet at the Deepwood parking lot off 12th Street. This event is free and open to the public. For information, call John Savage after 7:00 pm at 503-399-8615.
Fairground Volunteers
The MG volunteers are back at work at the Fairgrounds' gardens every Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, weather permitting. For more information, contact Nick and Linda Yerbick, Chairpersons.
Don't wear perfume in the garden, unless you want to be pollinated by bees!
~Anne Raver
Wildflower ID
April 27 & 28 and May 1, 2010
Learn how to identify common flowers of forest, field, woodland, and riparian areas native to Oregon in this three-part class. Dr. Morris Johnson, Professor Emeritus at Western Oregon University, will explain the basics of plant identification, focusing on plant families.
The April 27 and 28 classes will be held from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at Straub Environmental Learning Center, 1320 A Street NE, next to Olinger Pool, near North Salem High School. Details about the May 1 field trip will be announced in the classes.
The cost is $5 for the series and is open to the public. Registration is required. To register, call 503-391-4145.
The Friends of Straub Environmental Learning Center and the Willamette Valley Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Oregon are co-sponsoring the class.
Fall Fling
A Fall Fling Gardening Festival meeting will be held Monday, April 5, 2010, at 1:00 pm in Room 214 at the Academy Building.
8 April 2010
8 April 2010
April’s Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, April 14, 7:00 pm
Carol Adelman from Adelman Peony Gardens will talk about selecting and growing peonies on Wednesday, April 14, at the OSU Extension Polk County Master Gardeners' April chapter meeting to be held at 7:00 pm in the Polk County Fairgrounds' Arts and Crafts Building. The public is welcome, so please feel free to bring guests. For more information, call Luella Newkirk.
Notes from Gail
v Congratulations to the 16 members of the Polk County Master Gardener Class of 2010. You’ve made it through the training. You are a great group of people! I look forward to getting to know you better at the Extension Office. Take advantage of the learning opportunities as you complete your payback requirements and get to know your fellow MGs.