Queen Anne’s County Master Gardener Newsletter
The Watering Can
V O L U M E
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE:
Coordinators
2
1 4 ,
I S S U E
3
M A R C H
2 0 1 2
MG Meeting: Chesapeake Bay Foundation,
Wednesday, March 21st
Corner
MG Directory
2
MG Monthly
Meetings
3
Garden Affair
4
Garden Affair-
4
Plant Sale
Grow It Eat It
5
Project Clean
Stream
6
Soil Testing
Program
6
Horticultural
Lecture Series
7
Educational
Opportunities
8-9
Volunteer
Opportunities
9
Calendar
10-11
The Chesapeake Bay
Estuary provides an
array of ecosystem
services. Because of
this, resources at the
county, state and federal level are
dedicated to improving and
maintaining the health of this
ecosystem and its tributaries. The
focus of many such resources is
water quality, which can be
hampered by the various types of
land use within the Chesapeake
Bay Watershed. Essential to
managing water quality, is
knowledge of the
complex
network of land characteristics
and nutrient transport processes
which affect nutrients to the
Chesapeake Bay and its
tributaries.
On
Wednesday,
March 21st, we will be
Rachel Melvin joined by Alan Girard,
Eastern Shore Director,
Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).
Mr. Girard will discuss, the new Watershed
Implementation
Plans
(WIP’s) and Total Maximum Daily
Load (TMDL’s) set forth to help improve the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Wednesday, March 21st
9:30 to 11:30 am at
Tilghman Terrace
104 Tilghman Ave
Centreville, Md. 21617
MG of the Month: Carol Jelich
Carol Jelich, a resident of
Queenstown, joined the
Queen Anne’s County Master
Gardeners with the class of
1998. Since joining Carol has
been an incredibly active
Master Gardener, who is a
member of the Bay-Wise
committee and Speakers
Bureau. Additionally, Carol
regularly writes for our
monthly newsletters.
Annually, Carol volunteers
over 200 hours with the
Master Gardeners. Thank
you Carol for all of your
hard work and dedication
to the QAC MG’s!
Coordinator’s Corner
PAGE 2
Rachel Melvin,
Master Gardener
Coordinator
Well spring has certainly sprung, with the warm
temperatures and the blooming daffodils I can hardly wait
to get the garden in working
order. So far, I have started a
variety of peppers, tomatoes,
squash, cucumbers, watermelons, beans and broccoli. I
know that everyone reading
this is just as eager to get outside and get their hands dirty.
Just a few reminders, start a
few extra plants for the garden affair, the more variety
the better. It is also a great time to do
divisions of house plants that you’ve
set aside for the Garden Affair. Also,
remember to label everything so you
don’t get them confused. Popsicle
sticks or cutting up milk cartons are a
great way to make a label marker for
plants. It is also a perfect time to volunteer for a specific part of the Garden
Affair that interests you the most. See
pages 4 & 9 for more information on
the garden affair.
Submitted by Julie Tompkins,
with additions by Neenah
What a creative
way to label
herbs!
UPDATE YOUR
CONTACT INFO!
Please send any changes
to Rachel Melvin at
Directory
2012
rmelvin1@umd.edu,
505 Railroad Ave,
Suite 4,
Centreville, MD 21617
or fax: (410) 758-3687
Just another great reason to
come to the March Master
Gardener monthly meeting!
Carol Jelich for helping teach the Hypertufa class at Adkins
Arboretum. Sue D’Camera for helping at St. Martins. Linda
Doub and John Ittu for helping with Grow It Eat It Classes.
Edith Lewis and Betty McAtee for being hostesses at the February MG Meeting. As
always, thanks is due to all of you, but if we missed a deserved thank you or if you
wish to express your appreciation to someone, please let Rachel know and it shall be
acknowledged in the next newsletter.
Thanks To:
THE
WATERING
CAN
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3
PAGE 3
Date
Topic
Time
Place
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
State of the Chesapeake Bay
Speaker: Alan Girard
CBF
9:30am to 11:30 am
Tilghman
Terrace
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Oyster Gardening
Speaker: Don Webster
9:30am to 11:30 am
Wye Research
and Education
Center
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Stink Bugs
Speaker: MG Jim Persels
9:30am to 11:30 am
Tilghman
Terrace
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Picnic
11:30 am to 2 pm
QAC 4-H Park
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Tools in the Garden
Speaker: MG Joe Jelich
9:30am to 11:30 am
Tilghman
Terrace
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Beekeeping
Speaker: MG Dick Crane
9:30am to 11:30 am
Tilghman
Terrace
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Topic: ?
Speaker: ?
9:30am to 11:30 am
Tilghman
Terrace
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
* Week early due to Holiday*
Planning for 2013
9:30am to 11:30 am
Tilghman
Terrace
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
* Week early due to Holiday*
Holiday Luncheon
Place???
Tilghman Terrace
104 Tilghman Ave
Centreville, Md. 21617
From South of Centreville
Follow 213 N. into town. Turn right at first light onto Water street
and **pass the PNC bank on your right. Tilghman Ave will be the
next street on your right. Turn right onto Tilghman Ave. Street
Parking is available as well as in the back.
From North of Centreville
Follow 213 S. into town. Turn Left on E. Water St. **Follow
directions above.
Parking on street and in rear of building
Hey Look…...
Directions to the Monthly
Meetings
All MG Monthly Meetings
start at 9:30am and run
through 11:30am
PAGE 4
5th Annual ‘A Garden Affair’ Update
Submitted by: MG Susan Seth, Garden Affair Chairperson
Spring is always such a busy time. Before
we know it Garden Affair will be here. I’m
always making lists to help me remember
everything. Here is an initial check list to
make sure we will be ready for Garden
Affair.
To Do:
_____Circle Saturday, 12 on the calendar for
Garden Affair.
_____Select and sign up for activity on Garden
Affair sign up list.
_____Start seeds for plant sale.
_____Get pots ready to divide perennials.
_____Start cuttings or divisions of house
plants.
_____Put aside items for the green elephant
sale–garden related magazines and
books, pots and planters, tools, etc.
_____Mark Thursday, May 10 on the calendar
to help with clean up of demonstration
garden and Wright’s Chance garden.
Perhaps you have additional items related to
your Garden Affair duties to add to your
check list. Maybe I should add :
____Pray for good weather!
Upcoming Garden Affair Meetings:
Tuesday, March 13th at 9:30am at the Extension Office
Monday, April 9th at 9:30am at the Extension Office
Monday, May 7th at 9:30am at the Extension Office
Saturday, May 12th from 10am to 2pm- 5th Annual ‘A Garden Affair’
at the Centreville Library & Historic Wright’s Chance
Plant Sale
visible label, which extends above the plant. Tabs
can be made by cutting milk cartons or clear soft
submitted by MG Jane Smith, Plant Sale Chairperson drink bottles up into short lengths with a pointed
bottom. Use a permanent marker or Sharpie to
write on them. Popsicle sticks or tongue depressors
Spring and the Garden Affair are coming also work well. More information about the color of
and it’s time to be thinking of our upcoming plant the bloom, bloom time, growing conditions, size, sun/
sale. The plant sale is a wonderful opportunity to shade requirements, etc. can be written on a label or
share our garden’s bounty with the public and with masking tape which can be attached to the side of the
fellow Master Gardeners while raising some much pot. Provide as much information as possible. It is
needed funds for our program. It is also an occasion helpful to the plant sale volunteers and to the gardento share gardening information with interested gar- er who purchases the plant. Last year, there were a
deners in a very hands-on fashion.
number of plants that simply could not be identified
The success of the plant sale depends on at all.
each of our Master Gardeners taking the time to diIf you have an excess of pots at home, please
vide and pot plants from their garden or their house. bring them to the March Master Gardener meeting to
The sale also needs plants that you have grown from share. We will also need plant trays on the day of the
seed. We are looking for healthy, attractive, pruned, sale for plant display and customer use.
well-labeled plants to attract experienced and brand Do not put prices on your plants. We will price the
new gardeners alike. Plants on the invasion plant plant items.
list are discouraged. Please make your plans now to
Thank you for your support of the Garden
make your contribution to this important event.
Affair plant sale. Master Gardeners and Garden AfHealthy plants should be labeled with the fair visitors look forward to shopping at the event.
Latin and common names of the plant on an easily Many visitors say they mark their calendar for the
event each year.
THE
WATERING
CAN
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3
Grow It Eat It
Centreville Free Library
Wednesday, March 21st , Time: 7 to 8pm
Topic-Waterworks: Container Gardening & Beyond
Wednesday, April 18th , Time: 7 to 8pm
Topic-Growing healthy habits with children in the
garden
Monday, May 7th , Time: 7 to 8pm
Topic: Veggie Garden IPM: knowing your friends &
foes in the garden
Monday, June 11th , Time: 7 to 8pm
Topic-Composting made simple
Stevensville Free Library
Thursday, March 22nd, Time: 6:30 to 7:30pm,
Topic- Container Gardening & Beyond
Tuesday, April 24th , Time: 6:30 to 7:30pm
Topic: Rain barrels, soaker hoses and drip irrigation
Tuesday, May 15th , Time: 6:30 to 7:30pm
Topic: Veggie Garden IPM: knowing your friends &
foes in the garden
Wednesday, June 13th , Time: 6:30 to 7:30pm
Topic- Composting made simple
Sudlersville Memorial Library
Tuesday, March 13th , Time: 6:30 to 7:30pm
Topic-12 Simple steps to starting a veggie garden
& early spring veggies
Tuesday, April 10th, Time: 6:30 to 7:30pm
Topic: How to grow lettuce & herbs
Tuesday, May 8th , Time: 6:30 to 7:30pm
Topic- Composting made simple & knowing your
friends & foes in the garden
For more Grow It Eat It news visit www.growit.umd.edu
Who say’s you
need a lot of space
to grow veggies?
Why not convert
old unused gutters
into a salad bar or
herb garden?
PAGE 5
News from Jon Traunfeld….
2012 will be the year of Leafy Greens for
UME’s GIEI program
Calling all artists and graphic designers… This year our
Grow It Eat It program will focus on Leafy Greens and we
are challenging MG’s to design an official GIEI illustrated
poster based on the selected theme each year. Wouldn’t it
be cool to have a 2012 Leafy Greens poster! As added inspiration (if you are interested) our lettuce seeds packets
say “Lettuce” help You! Also a great link, http://
victorygardenoftomorrow.com/
March Grow It Eat It Tips:
Amend soil according to soil test results, which
may call for adding lime or other nutrients. When
the ground can be worked, dig in that layer of well
-aged manure, compost, mushroom soil, or leaf
mold to improve soil texture and fertility.
Put up trellises and teepees for peas, pole beans
and other climbers. Waiting until plants come up
can harm plant roots.
Harden off leeks, shallots, and onions in cold
frame, or set outside on a porch or protected area,
a few hours a day at first, before bringing them in
at dusk; then gradually working up to eight hours
a day. Do this for about a week, before transplanting in the garden. (Follow this same procedure for
any crop started indoors.)
As soon as soil can be worked, plant potatoes,
peas, onion sets, leeks and other cool weather
crops, including beets, Chinese cabbage, kale mustard and turnips.
Apply water around the base of seedlings when
planting that contains a soluble fertilizer. This will
help roots grow strong.
Sow more seeds of spinach, lettuce, arugula and
other salad greens in cold frames or in the vegetable bed, under row covers.
Start seeds of eggplant, pepper (if not started in
February) broccoli and cabbage indoors under
lights, to be ready for planting outdoors in six to
eight
PAGE 6
Submitted by: MG Jim Persels
On Saturday, April 14, 2012, from 9-12
a.m., the community will once again come together
to help clean up the Corsica River watershed. Volunteers are needed at four designated sites.
Centreville City Wharf
Millstream Park
North Brook
Symphony Village at the Bioswale
Join in the fun at the site of your choice. Gloves and trash containers will be provided.
Contact Jim Persels at 410-758-6513 for further information.
Sponsored by Corsica River Conservancy in cooperation
with the University of Maryland Extension
As part of a program to encourage Bay-Wise friendly landscape practices, the Corsica River Conservancy (CRC) is offering to provide FREE soil testing to the first 50 Corsica River
Watershed residents that apply between March 12th-26th (one sample per household).
Stop by the University of Maryland Extension Office for your Soil Testing Kit.
On Monday, April 9th from 6:30 to 7:30 pm there will be a workshop in the meeting room
at Centreville Library where Master Gardeners will discuss how to use the soil test results
in setting up your lawn care program.
Sample many areas of your yard
3” deep for Turf
Mix together in a clean bucket
Remove all rocks, debris & plant material
Air dry Sample
1 to 2 cups of soil
Bring Sample into UME Office by March 26th
Any additional sample will cost $13
THE
WATERING
CAN
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3
PAGE 7
PAGE 8
Educational Opportunities
Adkins Arboretum
To register call Phone: 302.239.4244
Saturday, March 10, 2012 10:00 am - 11:30
o r
g o
t o h t t p : / /
am Favorite Perennials Registration
www.mtcubacenter.org/education/
required. Fee: $15 members, $20 general
continuing-education/
public
Sunday, March 25, 2012 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Horticultural Society of Maryland
Tuesday, March 7th. Time 7:30pm
Made for Each Other: The Biology of the
"Personal Habitat: Creating a Haven
Human-Animal Bond Registration required.
for Wildlife (And Yourself)"
Fee: $15 members, $20 general public
Tuesday, April 10th. Time 7:30pm
Friday, March 30, 2012 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
"Nonstop Plants: A Garden for 365
Spring Greens Fee: Members: $15 or $35 for
Days"
all three in the series; General public: $20 or
Tuesday, May 8th. Time 7:30pm
$45 for all three in the series.
"Don’t be a Drip! Using water wisely
Sunday, April 1, 2012 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
in the garden"
Foraging Registration required. Fee: $15
Members are required to show a
members, $20 general public
current MEMBERSHIP CARD for free
Thursday, April 5, 2012 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
admission to lectures Guest of memSunset Walk with Nick Carter Registration
bers also receive free admission.
required. This walk is free with admission
Admission for non-member is $10
($5 adults, $2 students ages 6-18, payable
All classes are held at The Vollmer
upon arrival).
Center Cylburn Arboretum 4915
To register for classes visit http://
Greenspring Ave. Baltimore,
www.adkinsarboretum.org/
MD.21209
programs_events/ or call 410-634-2847
Mt. Cuba
Now offers online courses for around $40 Irvine Nature Center
Wednesdays, March 21 through
per
session.
Go
to
http://
April 11, 7 – 9 p.m. and Saturday,
www.mtcubacenter.org/education/distance
April 14, 9 a.m. – 2. Beekeepers
-learning/
short course. p.m. $40 members,
Saturday, March 10 Time: 10:00 am – 2:00
$50 non-members. To register call
pm A Look at Lichens Cost: $25 (Bring your
443-738-9224
own bag lunch)
News from the State MG Office
Master Gardener Annual Training
Day Wed. 5/23/12 You don’t want to miss this one!
Keynote Speaker: Tracy DiSabato-Aust
Featured Speaker: Doug Tallamy, Ph.D.
Many GIEI Talks including irrigation, Chinese vegetable cooking demo, organic gardening,
nutrition, Great horticulture topics like pruning with Dr. Gouin, plant diseases, ferns, Plant
ID, Microbes- the Life Beneath Our Feet, and so much more. Website and Registration forms
will be available at: http://www.mastergardener.umd.edu/MGAnTrDay2012/index.cfm
THE
WATERING
CAN
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3
PAGE 9
Volunteer Opportunities
A Garden Affair: Just a little over 2
months until our 5th Annual ‘A
Garden Affair,’ which means we’ll
need many hands to make it another
successful event. Here are some ways
you can help:
Balloons: We’ll need 1
person to help Marty.
This is a really easy, early morning activity, that is
perfect for someone who
can’t stay all day. This position
requires someone willing to help
Marty transport the balloons from
Edwards Pharmacy to Garden
Affair and to distribute them
around the event.
Set-up/Clean-up: This is the
perfect way to help if you can’t
spend the entire day with us. Setup begins at 8am sharp and only
takes about 2 hours.
Bake Sale: This is a great way to
lend a hand, especially if you can’t
be there for the event. Bake a
batch of your favorite cookies or
brownies!
Children’s Activities: Do you
love doing crafts? Always, wanted
to help but have never been
available? Then this is the activity
for you!
Greeters: We’ll need 2 to 3 more
people to help with the greeters
table. Greeters are the face to the
Garden Affair.
They are
responsible for making everyone
feel welcome, they hand out
important information describing
our event, they direct participants
to the happenings of the day and
keep track of how many
community members visit our
event. Additionally, they make
sure that everyone signs up to win
a door prize!
Tables/Chairs/Tents: If you are
helping with a particular booth or
activity don’t forget to help out by
bringing your own, table, chairs
or tent. The supply that we get
from the county is limited so
every little bit helps!
Earth Day at Greensboro
Elementary School: Each year
we are asked to help with Earth
Day by doing “Who polluted the
Bay.” This hands on activity is a
great way for elementary students to understand the impacts to
the Bay. We only need 2 people to
help. This event will be all day on
Thursday, April 19th from 8:30 to
3pm and lunch will be provided.
Mutt Strut: This is the kick off
event to the “Ask a MG” series in
Chestertown on Saturday, April
21st in Wilmer Park. Contact Sabine Harvey if interested.
Demo garden Schedule:
Thursday,
March
Centreville
Library
garden at 9:30am
Thursday,
April
Centreville
Library
garden at 9:30am
Thursday,
May
Centreville
Library
garden at 9:30am
15th:
Rain
19th:
Rain
10th:
Rain
Bay-Wise: Kent Island Federation
of Arts will be sponsoring a “Garden
by the Sea” tour June 9th & 10th.
This tour will include 2 Bay-Wise
Gardens. We will need 2-3 people
to set up a Bay-Wise information
booth at MG Nick Stoer’s home one
of the days. If interested
please plan to attend the
B a y - Wi s e
M o n th ly
meeting on Wednesday,
March 21st at 12pm at
the Extension office.
Plant Clinics: This year in
addition to our Plant Clinic at
the Chestertown Farmers
market, we will be trying to
start a plant clinic at the
Stevensville farmers market.
In order for this to move forward we need a chairperson.
Join us for our next meeting on
Wednesday, April 4th at the
Extension Office at 9:30am
Chestertown Plant Clinic
Dates:
Sat., May 5th
Sat., May 19th
Sat., May 26th
(Chestertown Tea
Party Booth)
Sat., June 2nd
Sat., June 16th
Sat., June 30th
Sat., July 14th
Sat., July 28th
Sat., August 11th
Sat., August 25th
Sat., Sept 8th
Sat., Sept 22nd
Hostesses
for
Monthly
Meetings: We are still looking
for a few hostess/hostesses for
our upcoming MG Monthly
meetings. These are the dates
in which we need
someone.
Wed., April 18th
Wed., July 18th
Wed., Sept 19th
Wed., Oct 17th
PAGE 10
March 2012
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2 Kent Co Hort
Lecture 10am
3
4
5 Bay-Wise
Advanced
Training
6
7
8
9 Kent Co Hort
Lecture 10am
10
11 Daylight
Savings
Time
12 Bay-Wise
Advanced
Training
13 Garden
Affair Meeting
9:30am at
Extension
Office; GIEI
ClassSudlersville
6:30-7:30pm
14
15 Demo Garden
work-Rain Garden Centreville
Library
16 Kent Co Hort
Lecture 10am
17
18
19
20
21 MG Monthly
Meeting
GIEI Class Centreville 7-8pm
22 GIEI Class
23 Kent Co Hort
Stevensville 6:30- Lecture 10am
7:30pm
24
25
26
27
28
29
31
Upcoming Meetings and Trips
Fri, March 10th: Kent Co. Hort Lecture Series
10am see page 7
Mon, March 12th: Bay-Wise Advanced Training
Tue, March 13th: Garden Affair Meeting
9:30am at Extension Office see page 4
Thur, March 15th: Demogarden work-Rain
Garden 9:30 am
Fri, March 17th: Kent Co. Hort Lecture Series
10am see page 7
Wed, March 21st: MG Monthly meeting see
page 3
Wed, March 21st: GIEI class Centreville 78pm
THE WATERING CAN
30 Kent Co Hort
Lecture 10am
Thur, March 22nd: GIEI class Stevensville,
6:30 to 7:30 pm
Fri, March 23rd: Kent Co. Hort Lecture
Series 10am see page 7
Fri, March 30th: Kent Co. Hort Lecture Series 10am see page 7
PAGE 11
VOLUME 14, ISSUE 3
Sun
2
Mon
3
Tue
4
Wed
5
Thu
6 Office Closed
Fri
7
Sat
April 2012
1
13
21 Mutt StrutChestertown
12 GIEI Mt.
Harmon 11:30am
20
28
8
19 Bay Day at
Greensboro Elementary school
27
14 Adkins Arboretum Plant Sale
Booth 9am; Project Clean
Stream Centreville
18 MG Monthly
Meeting at
9:30am WREC;
Bay-Wise meeting
at WREC 12pm ;
GIEI at Centreville
7-8pm
26
9 Garden Affair
10 Grow It Eat It
11
Meeting 9:30 am at (GIEI) Sudlersville
Extension Office;
6:30-7:30pm
Lawn Care Class
Centreville Library
6:30 to 7:30 pm
17
25
15
23
30
24 GIEIStevensville
Library 6:307:30pm
16 EAC Meeting at
Extension Office
4:30 pm
22
29
April Newsletter Deadline:
Monday, March 19th
Send submissions to Rachel:
Our Next Field trip will be to
Seaberry Farms on
Tuesday, May 1st.
rmelvin1@umd.edu
University of Maryland Extension
505 Railroad Avenue, Suite 4
Centreville MD, 21617
Phone: (410) 758-0166
Fax: (410) 758-3687
e
t th
a
p
n u h MG
g
i
S arc
!!
M ting !
e
Me
http://queenannes.umd.edu/
QACMG Website:
http://queenannes.umd.edu/QACMG/
index.cfm
Master Gardener Coordinator,
Queen Anne’s County
It is the policy of the University of Maryland and University of Maryland Extension, that no person shall be
subjected to discrimination on the grounds of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, age,
marital or parental status, or disability. Equal opportunity employers and equal access programs.
University of Maryland Extension
Queen Anne’s County
505 Railroad Ave.
Suite 4
Centreville, MD 21617
Vision Statement: A healthier world through environmental stewardship