Shades of Green
From Gardeners to Gardeners
Inside this issue:
Extension Office Garden
1
Facts about Worms
4
Small Gardens
5
Master Gardeners Bring Vision, Hard Work
and Beauty to the Extension Office Garden
In October of 2012
two Athens Area
Master Gardeners
Intro to Herb Gardening
6
started transplanting
Vegetable Garden Calendar 7
a few flower plants
to the garden plot
Q & A: Cold and Camellias 7
beside the AthensClarke
County
Gardening Events
8
Cooperative
Extension office.
Amanda’s Slice
8
During the following
Outdoor Water Use for
months, their vision
Clarke County
9
for the garden
continued
to
Outdoor Water Use
10
develop, and what
began as a simple project quickly evolved into a full-scale
wildflower garden! We recently asked Master Gardeners
Kristi D. Sego and John Aitkens to share their experiences
creating the office garden, their passion for new projects
and their plans to expand the garden this year.
First, tell us about your gardening experience and
your connection to the Extension office.
JOHN: I inherited gardening genes from my Dad who
has gardened and landscaped for most of his 98 years.
That said, I learn something new about gardening every
day! Also, volunteering a four-hour shift each week at the
Extension office certainly helps my gardening efforts at
home.
KRISTI: I caught the gardening bug early, and by the fifth
grade I was gardening with our neighbor. In my first career
I was an art teacher focusing on painting and sculpture,
and I believe this experience influences my style of
gardening today. The Extension office grows interesting
vegetables and blueberries, and our flower garden
complements it by adding to the varieties of plants we can
grow from seed. The office garden has expanded my
gardening abilities and opportunities. Hopefully it will be a
learning tool for all of us as more Master Gardeners
become involved!
How did the idea for the office garden come about?
Why did you want to be involved?
JOHN: It was Kristi's idea, and a great one. The back
garden actually got started with the four raised vegetable
beds two years ago. Kristi then created a layout of plants
and seeds early last year which we both contributed to
from our own gardens. She is a master at growing annuals
from seeds she has saved from her garden!
“It was a nonstop
show all
summer!”
commented
Master Gardener
Kristi Sego of the
Athens-Clarke
County office
garden. Sego
started the
wildflower garden
using stubs from
her own garden in
Bogart, GA.
KRISTI: I started a
garden at our new
home in Bogart. I
waited for buds and
blooms but saw only
stubs and hoof
prints….deer were a
new experience for
me! After several
years of frustration I
decided to remove
all deer attracting
plants and replace
them with conifers
and deer resistant
plants. I hated throwing away the live stubs so I asked
(Continued on page 2.)
Master Gardeners Bring Vision, Hard Work and Beauty to Extension Office Garden, continued…
brought a collection of plants from home and developed
some perennial beds. We kept bringing more and more,
and in the spring the garden popped with all the plants we
started. We added zinnias and marigolds for summer color.
It was a non-stop show all summer. I also recently added a
“country” garden fence to separate the walkway and a
series of flower beds. I must say we have soared with the
project in such a short time!
Were there any other challenges that you faced in the
design and implementation of starting the garden?
JOHN: Initially prepping the garden's soil was a major
challenge. It was your basic Georgia red clay that had
never been worked, so after deep tilling we added ACC
Landfill compost and wood chip mulch.
KRISTI: My first effort before starting the wildflower
garden was removing debris from an old property fence
line and adding fertilizer and lime to the area. Our soil test
showed no fertility and very low pH in the back garden.
The rainy summer made everything jump, but of course
with so much growth came a lot of deadheading and spent
plant removal.
What is your favorite part of the garden itself? What is
the most rewarding aspect of being part of this huge
project?
This past summer vibrant zinnias added a burst of color to plot
behind the Agriculture and Natural Resources building.
Amanda if I could move some plants to the office garden
just to see them bloom. With an affirmative and John’s
mutual interest we began. I moved the rest of the “deer
food,” and now I enjoy my former garden plants in a new
place!
What was your initial vision for the garden? What
have you accomplished so far?
JOHN: Amanda, the county Extension agent, Kristi and I
felt that the Extension office should "walk the talk."
Amanda already had a wonderful vegetable garden in front
so we just continued it around the building. This spring
will only be its first full year, and we are anxious to see
how it has matured. But as with all gardens, you are
constantly changing it, adding and subtracting plants and
features.
KRISTI: Initially, I was pretty short-sighted. I just wanted
to move a few plants to see them bloom! It didn’t take
very long to suspect a huge plan was developing as garden
projects often go. As I planted my wildflower garden at
home I began bringing extra seeds over to the office
garden and started a row or two of wildflowers. John
JOHN: I am partial to the raised vegetable beds, but it will
be very rewarding to see the whole garden come to life this
spring.
KRISTI: I find the garden, as a whole, joyful. The more
color the better! I also find peace with the cool and quiet
shade portion that runs along a narrow strip on the north
side of the building. It is a mixture of mosses, ferns,
spring ephemerals, hosta and other shade lovers.
(Continued on page 3.)
The office
garden’s
latest
addition is
the country
fence that
Sego
(pictured)
constructed
in
December.
The fence is
made from
holly and
cedar.
2
Master Gardeners Bring Vision, Hard Work and Beauty to Extension Office Garden, continued…
Athens Area Master Gardeners John Aitkens and Kristi Sego created a wildflower garden at the Athens-Clarke County Extension office last
year. This past summer, Extension staff, volunteers and community members all enjoyed the beautiful blooms resulting from their hard work.
KRISTI CONT’D: My reward comes from a well-grown
plant, overall composition and the pleasure that the garden
gives to others. If it brings smiles and uplifts spirits, it is
worth all the effort.
What new projects would you like to start in the
garden this upcoming growing season?
JOHN: I would like to see an AAMGA garden party held
there late spring/early summer so we can show it off!
KRISTI: Now that the garden growing areas are
established, we need to maintain them. There is also a
sitting area at the garden entrance, and I’d like to see some
structural projects in that area. I’d like to see more annual
bed definition, a few bean teepees and an arbor or two.
For fun seeds this summer I have some new zinnia colors,
a few flowering vines and a mixture of sunflowers!
I think John’s idea of an AAMGA garden party is a good
one!
3
Facts about Our Friendly Worms!
By Lisa Sehannie
We have wrapped up 2013, and it was a very good year for
our worms! More importantly, it was a great year for
landfills. Remember, all the food scraps that you have been
placing in your worm bin are not making their way to the
landfill. That is awesome! We must recognize this
accomplishment and the good work we and our team of
worms have done and will continue to do!
Over the past few months, many of us have started our
worm bins and passed several milestones along the way: 1)
feeding our worms, 2) seeing their hard work turn into a
very rich soil-like substance, and 3) finally sifting through the
rich compost to separate our hard working little worms from
the compost.
One of the Master Composters’ major accomplishments of
2013 was the sheer number of people we talked to about
our worm bins. At every opportunity, we discuss the
benefits composting has on society as a whole and the
different composting methods. In these conversations I
always bring up the idea of vermicomposting. Many people
find composting with worms a new and interesting topic.
Children and adults alike are simply fascinated by the
squirmy little critters, and they bombard me with questions
like, “Do worms have teeth?” and “How much will a worm
eat in one day?”. In this article we will review some basic
facts about worms and set the record straight about a few
myths. Let’s look at five questions about our Worker
Worms!
Do worms have teeth?
The answer to this question is no! The mouth of a worm
is not equipped with teeth.
If they do not have teeth, how do they eat their
food?
Red wigglers eat by first softening the food with moisture.
The food then enters the worm’s gizzard where it is further
broken down.
How much do red wigglers eat?
Red wigglers do like to eat! And once they have settled
into their new home and the conditions are to their liking,
they can eat about half of their weight in food each day.
How do worms react to being handled as they are
separated from the compost?
Worms do not appreciate being man-handled! As you
separate your worms from their castings, try to be gentle.
Imagine that if they are handled too roughly, they will
actually let out a very foul smelling liquid.
Do red wigglers like to be exposed to light?
Red wigglers can be considered the vampires of the
insect world! They do not like to be exposed to light as they
are photosensitive. If you ever open your worm bin in the
light, you will see any worms near the top quickly burying
themselves in the material below to avoid the light. Because
they are so opposed to light, they also do their best work in
the dark. This is important to know when setting up your
bin in order to provide the worms with the best
(Continued on page 6.)
4
Small Gardens: Dwarf varieties, proper planning help gardeners
with limited space
By Frank M. Watson
U nfortunately,
many would-be
gardeners forgo planting a vegetable
garden because they don’t think they
have enough space. This need not be
the case, since many vegetable
varieties can be planted in small
spaces. Alternative growing practices
can also reduce the amount of space
needed to grow a backyard (or back
porch) garden.
Tomatoes are a garden favorite but
many people assume they require a lot
of garden growing space. Actually,
many types of tomatoes don't need
much space to grow. Often, size
differences in tomato plants are
distinguished by the terms determinate
and indeterminate.
Determinate tomatoes grow to a
certain size, and then produce flowers
and fruit. There can be varying degrees
of determinate tomatoes. Those that
are strongly determinate are often
called patio tomatoes because they can
be grown in a pot. This makes
growing tomatoes possible for
apartment dwellers who just have a
patio or terrace. Some of these
varieties grow just 1 to 2 feet tall.
Indeterminate tomatoes, on the other
hand, keep growing and setting flowers
and fruit throughout the growing
season.
Watermelon and cantaloupe usually
require a lot of space to grow. The
vining nature of these plants quickly
covers some real estate. Fortunately,
both fruits have dwarf varieties that
require less room to grow. Often these
dwarf varieties are called bush or short
-internode types. The vines of these
varieties don’t elongate like typical
watermelon or cantaloupe varieties so
they take up much less garden space.
With proper care and water, they will
You don't have to have a large garden plot to plant vegetables. Some tomato varieties can be
grown in buckets. And, viney vegetables like cucumbers can be trained to grow up a trellis.
Image credit: Sharon Dowdy.
produce fruit the same size as standard
or long-internode types.
immature leaves, before the plants
become very large.
Beans and southern peas are also
available in bush varieties that require
less space and offer excellent yields.
Start planning your garden spot
now to be sure you allow plants the
room they need to grow while
providing the biggest harvest of
homegrown vegetables for your
family. For more help planning your
next garden, see the University of
Georgia Cooperative Extension
publication “Vegetable Gardening in
Georgia” or contact your local UGA
Extension agent at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.
An alternative method for growing
vining crops like cantaloupe and
cucumber is to grow vertically.
Vining crops can be trained on a trellis
or wire frame. Use a cloth or net sling
to support the fruit. Cantaloupe,
particularly, will slip from the vine
when ripe and may be damaged if not
supported while growing on a trellis.
Many vegetables grow in small spaces
without gardeners having to search for
special varieties or use special cultural
practices. These include lettuce,
mustard, onions, radish and spinach.
Vegetables that are harvested as leaves,
such as collards and kale, can be grown
in small spaces, too. Just harvest
(Frank Watson is
the University of
Georgia
Cooperative
Extension agent in
Wilkes County,
Ga.)
5
Facts about Our Friendly Worms, continued… By Lisa Sehannie
possible working and living environment.
and my friendly, hard-working worms, have a safe and happy
new year! See you and your worms in 2014!
Do red wigglers have eyes?
Red wigglers are not equipped with eyes. However, they (Lisa Sehannie is a Master Composter volunteer for the UGA Athensdo have the ability to sense light at their ends. Because they Clarke County Cooperative Extension.)
are photosensitive, they move away as soon as they feel the
light. In the event that the worms are exposed to light for a
long period of time, they actually become paralyzed. Paralysis
can occur after being exposed to light in as little as an hour
or so.
Well, it may be time to say goodbye in this article, but it is
time to welcome in a brand new year: the year of 2014! 2013
has been a truly wonderful year. Every contribution, small
and large, has a positive impact and will improve our
community as a whole.
I am looking forward to the upcoming year and all the good
work these little worms are going to do! On behalf of myself
An Introduction to Herb Gardening
by Whitney Horne
We’d like to introduce a new column to
Shades of Green all about herb gardening!
Master Gardener Whitney Horne will offer
some herb gardening wisdom in each of our
upcoming monthly issues. Her future topics
include planning the herb garden, what to
plant, when to harvest and growing herbs in
extreme temperatures.
The pros of having your herb garden
during the winter are endless! It is so
wonderful to still have abundantly
fresh, home grown herbs when you
need them.
Hello everyone! Some of you may be
interested in winter herb gardening. It
can be done!
While we do not have severe
temperatures in Georgia for long
periods of time, the weather, as we all
know, is still unpredictable. Despite
the fluctuations in temperature during
the winter months, you can still
maintain a harvestable herb garden
with just a little preparation on those
cold snaps or random snow days.
There are several options for keeping
an herb garden in the cold season, and
we’ll explore these options in the next
few months.
Believe it or not, winter gardening in
Georgia can be easier than spring or
fall. Stay tuned to find out why. In
future articles, we will discuss herb
garden planning, what to plant,
when to harvest, and preparations
for extreme temperatures. We will
also review proper lighting options
for indoor arrangements.
Briefly, we are going to discuss the
most popular herbs to grown during
the winter, just to get you started.
 Sweet basil
 Chives
 Rosemary
 Sage
 Parsley
 Thyme
 Dill
 Mint
 Lemon Balm
 Coriander
 Tarragon
Choose herbs that you want to use or
herbs that you know your family will
appreciate. If you are using indoor
containers, you could grow a perfect
gift for someone who enjoys a specific
fresh herb during those cold months.
Get started, and I’ll fill you in on the
rest next month!
(Whitney Horne is a Master Gardener from
Camden County.)
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Vegetable Garden Calendar: January
By Wayne J. McLaurin, Darbie M. Grandberry and Willie O. Chance
It may not feel like spring yet, but it’s

not too early to begin thinking about
your garden! January is the perfect time
to get ahead and set yourself up for a
great spring garden!

Make a garden plan. Plan the
garden to include various vitamin
groups.

Consider planting a few new
varieties along with the old
favorites.

Plan the amount of each
vegetable to be planted,
including enough to can and
freeze. Allow about 1/10 acre of
garden space for each member of
the family (Ask your county
Extension agent about So Easy to
Preserve.).

Buy enough quality seed for two
or three plantings to lengthen the
season of production.

Take soil samples if you have
not already done so, and take them
to your county Extension office
for analysis.
Apply manure or compost and
plow it under if you did not do so
in the fall.

Apply lime, sulfur and fertilizer
according to the soil-test results
and vegetable requirements. Buy
100 pounds of fertilizer for each
1/10 acre to be planted (if manure
is not available, buy at least half
again more). Use 5-10-10 or 6-1212 analysis, depending on soil test
and vegetable requirements.

Get plant beds or seed boxes
ready for growing plants such as
cool season vegetables. Have beds
ready for planting in early
February.

Check on your compost pile and
make sure it is ready for use in the
spring.

Go by your county extension
office and get copies of Georgia
Extension gardening publications.
(Wayne J. McLaurin, Darbie M.
Grandberry and Willie O. Chance are
University of Georgia horticulturalists.)
Q & A: Cold Weather Damage to Camellias
By Amanda Tedrow
Question: With all the extreme
freezes that have hit this area in the
past couple of months, how do you
tell if your camellias have been
badly damaged? My shrubs have
darkened leaves now. Will those
dark leaves die soon?
- Betty P., Athens
Camellias prefer to live in zones 7, 8
and 9, but there are varieties that will
grow in colder temperatures. The
darkened leaves are probably just
winter color and should green up as
spring arrives. But if you want to check
to see if they are still alive, you can
scratch the stems or undersides of the
leaves with your fingernail. A healthy
living stem will reveal green tissue in
the scratched area.
These large shrubs prefer a part-sun
exposure with moist, well-drained,
slightly acidic soil. The flower buds are
the most likely part of the plant to be
injured by cold temperatures.
According to Alabama Cooperative
Extension, "camellias in a northern or
western exposure, unless otherwise
protected from intense morning sun,
will usually stand more cold weather
than those in an eastern or southern
exposure."
So you may want to check the
placement of your camellia plants. If
the shrubs are newly planted or if they
are receiving excessive amounts of sun
or winter winds, their acclimation may
be less than ideal.
(Amanda Tedrow is
the UGA Cooperative
Extension
Agricultural &
Natural Resources
agent in
Athens-Clarke
County.)
7
Gardening Events in Our Area
Hosted by the Athens Council on
Aging, the Seniors Garden Club
meets every Thursday from 10:00—
11:30 AM. Meetings are FREE. Contact
706-549-4850 for more information.
The State Botanical Garden is holding
a Winter Tree Identification elective
class on Saturday, January 25th from
9:00 AM–1:00 PM. Learn to identify
trees by studying twigs, bark, leaf
scars, fruits and tree form! Students
will participate in classroom exercises
and a field trip to the deciduous
woods in garden grounds. The course
is $50. Register by visiting the garden
website or call 706-542-1244.
The Botanical Garden will also be
holding an Orchard Fruit Production
class on Saturday, January 25th from
1:00 PM—5:00 PM. Learn how to
expand fruit production in your
orchard! The class will include
pruning,
seasonal
maintenance,
spraying and pest and disease care.
The course is $25 Register by visiting
the garden website or call 706-5421244.
Auction on Saturday, February 22nd
from 8:00 AM—3:30 PM. Registration
is $84 or $75 for GPPA & Garden
Members $74. To register, visit the
event registration site or call 404-8765859.
On Wednesday, January 29th the
State Botanical Garden will be offering
the Certificate in Native Plants—
Orientation for New Participants. This
introduction to the Certificate
program is FREE and will be held from
9:00 AM—10:30 AM. Learn about the
variety of volunteer opportunities
available to CNP participants.
Information on field trips will also be
provided.
Chattahoochee Technical College and
UGA Cooperative Extension are
hosting the North Georgia Gardening
Symposium on Thursday, February
27th in Acworth, GA. Held from 8:00
AM—4:15 PM, the symposium will
include talks on spring gardening,
Japanese maples, flowers, pestresistant plants and more. Pesticide
applicators may be eligible for
Recertification Credit. The cost is $35
and includes two tickets to Smith
Gilbert Gardens. To register call 770528-4550 or visit the registration
website.
The
Georgia
Perennial
Plant
Association and the Atlanta Botanical
Garden are hosting the Inspired
Gardener Symposium and Silent
Amanda’s Slice - New Year’s Resolutions for Gardeners
Now that the busy holiday season has come
and gone, I’m starting to think of new ideas
for my garden. But before I delve into new
project plans, I need to remember my
gardening New Year’s resolution: I would like
to keep better records.
It seems like such a simple task. Recording my
planting and pruning schedule is much easier
than actually planting and pruning! But year
after year, this goal of record keeping remains
unattained.
In addition to recording my soil preparation
routine, garden chores, and my pruning and
watering schedule, I’d also love to keep a
bloom calendar for my perennials. If I make it
a habit, after a few years I’ll be able to
analyze my calendar for blooming trends.
On behalf of the Athens-Clarke County
Cooperative Extension office, Happy New
Year, and best of luck with sticking to your
own gardening resolutions!
All gardening is landscape painting. - William Kent
8
9
Outdoor Water Restrictions:
Barrow, Oconee & Jackson Counties
Outdoor water use for Barrow, Oconee, and Jackson Counties is now limited to three days per week with even
number addresses allowed to water on Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday and odd number addresses allowed to
water on Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. The ban on watering between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM remains in effect
for all scheduled watering days. No outdoor watering is allowed on Fridays other than exemptions below.
THE FOLLOWING USES ARE EXEMPT FROM ALL HOURLY/DAY OF THE WEEK RESTRICTIONS:
·
Drip Irrigation
·
New installations of plants and turf (with a permit)
·
Soaker Hoses
·
Grey Water, Rainwater and AC Condensation Reuse
·
Hand Watering
·
Golf Course - Tee and Green Irrigation
·
Food Gardens
·
Plants for sale, resale, or installation
Please be aware that water restrictions are subject to change.
For more information and additional exemptions please contact your county’s water conservation department.
Helpful information online:
Find My Local Extension Office
Georgia Turf
Upcoming Trainings
Pest Management Handbook
SE Ornamental Horticulture
Production & IPM Blog
Bugwood – Pest Images
Pesticide Applicator Info
Georgia Certified Landscape
Professional
Landscape Alerts Online
Free Online Webinars
Georgia Certified Plant
Professional
Extension Publications
Mission Statement
Visit us online:
The Cooperative Extension’s mission is to respond to the people’s
needs and interest in Agriculture, the Environment, Families,
and 4-H/Youth in Athens-Clarke County
with unbiased, research-based education and information.
Athens-Clarke County
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Like us:
Athens-Clarke
Agriculture &
Natural Resources
Follow us:
Athens-Clarke County Cooperative Extension
2152 West Broad Street
Athens, GA 30606
Phone: (706) 613-3640
Fax: (706) 613-3643
E-mail: atedrow@uga.edu
@ACCExtension
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