TALBOT COUNTY • 28577 MARY’S COURT, SUITE 1 • EASTON, MD 21601 • (410) 822-1244 • FAX (410) 822-5627
IN THE GARDEN
Talbot County Master Gardener Newsletter
Volume X, Issue III
Summer 2015
From the Desk of Mikaela Boley
Our inundation of rain seems like both a blessing and a curse– I haven’t had to water
the garden, but it feels more soggy and more humid than ever before. The yard is
In this Issue:
ponding in places that water has never been before. It feels like Mother Nature shows
us a different face every year and every season— and we never seem prepared to
2– Recipes and Light Fare handle her moods.
3— Beat the Heat
4—5 Sissinghurst
6— Bay-Wise Updates
7— Ask Mikaela
8— 9 MG Events and
Announcements
More than anything, I
must have flowers,
always, always.”
-Unknown
The rain is a great opportunity to find those troubled wet-spots, and to plant shrubs and
perennials that enjoy having wet feet. It might make you conscious of runoff, and
determine that certain garden beds may need native plants that can handle the
inundation. Or it may offer insight to which downspouts should get a rain barrel that
might redirect water to a better source.
One of my favorite teachers told me the best way to evaluate the landscape was to
watch it in the rain— it shows you the imperfections, and to pay attention to the flow of
water. It illuminates the strategy of the landscape, and may help you plan accordingly.
Cheers!
Mikaela Boley
Common milkweed, or Asclepias incarnate, is an important
source for monarch butterflies. Milkweed is a colonizer that
enjoys ditches, road shoulders, fields, etc. Please leave
these plants alone to provide food for the monarch, and
places for them to lay their eggs.
Educating People to Help Themselves
Local Governments • U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
The University of Maryland is equal opportunity. The University of Maryland, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources programs are open to all and will not discriminate against anyone
because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, or national origin, marital status, genetic information, or political affiliation, or gender
identity and expression. Inquiries regarding compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973; and the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990; or related legal requirements should be directed to the Director of Human Resources Management, Office of the Dean, College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Symons Hall, College Park, MD 20742.
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Summer Eating
Courtesy of Mikaela Boley and Joan Dickson
6oz wide egg noodles
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen peas
3 Tbsp butter
1 small red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups milk
1 x 5 oz can solid white tuna, drained
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Stove Top Tuna Noodle Casserole
Joan Dickson
Cook noodles according to package directions, adding peas the last two minutes of
cooking. Drain, return to pan. Melt butter in medium saucepan. Add onion, garlic, and
pepper. Cook and stir over medium heat about three minutes or until onion is just tender.
Stir flour in until blended. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly.
Remove from heat. Add tuna and 1/4 cup of cheese. Pour tuna mixture over noodles and
peas in pan. Toss gently to combine. Add additional milk, 1 Tbsp at a time, to desired
consistency. Season to taste with salt. Drizzle with lemon juice. Sprinkle with remaining
cheese. (4 servings)
Try Yellow Summer Squash…
Roasted–- pair with zucchini, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and pepper. Bake in oven at 325
degrees, or rolled up into tinfoil for the grill.
Skillet— heat olive oil in a skillet, and fry squash for 4-5 minutes. Add basil, salt, pepper, or
other favorite flavors and cook for additional 4 minutes.
Fresh— thinly slice squash and pair with fresh greens (such as arugula). Squeeze lemon juice
over vegetables, and drizzle with olive oil. Finish with parmesan cheese and pepper to taste.
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Beat the Heat
Ways to Keep Cool in Summer
By: Mikaela Boley, Master Gardener Coordinator
Summer is wonderful for vacations, trips to the beach, taking a boat out on the water, and for getting
some extra hours of daylight. But in the dead of summer, the heat can be almost unbearable. I’m not
talking just about human beings— plants suffer too! Here are some tips for keeping both yourself and
the garden cooler to survive the really tough temperatures:
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Turf: Let it go brown. Grass goes dormant in distress or in times where resources are
scarce. We’ve been convinced that the quintessential landscape includes bright green grass at all
times, but this isn’t always true. Only irrigate in dire circumstances. According to the EPA,
irrigation is estimated to account for nearly one-third of residential water use nationwide, which is
nearly 9 billion gallons per day (EPA WaterSense partnership program).
Mulch: Mulching helps retain moisture, protect the soil, and prevent the roots from drying
out. But be careful not to mulch more than a 3 inch layer– too much mulch might prevent rainfall
from reaching the soil underneath, and soak up too much water.
Shade: In periods of extreme heat, partial shade might give your plants a much needed
respite. Using shade cloth, sheer curtains, or some other semi-transparent cloth will reduce
temperatures and sun scalding. These can be staked temporarily for the hotter months, but be
careful of high winds or storms that can whisk your cloth away.
Hardscapes: Brick, stone, or concrete absorb extra heat, and is released even after the sun
sets. Lawn, compost, or organic mulch are much cooler. Consider these materials for larger or
more exposed areas.
Containers: Containers are wonderful alternatives for those with limited spaces, or look
great as decoration. However, these planters also dry out quickly. Take into consideration your
needs: clay and terra cotta pots dry out quickly, and are heavy. Plastic pots are lighter, and retain
moisture (but you still need drainage holes in the bottom). Dark or black plastic will absorb sun,
and potentially overheat the plant’s roots. Smaller pots will dry out more quickly versus larger
pots, which has more soil for water retention. Be sure to think about your needs, and perhaps use
a self-watering container or use a friend when you leave the house for vacation.
Watering: The best time to water is in the mornings. Watering in the evening keeps the
plants too wet and humid overnight, running risk of disease and rot. Watering in the afternoon has
a higher rate of evaporation, and could possibly burn leaves from water droplets. A good soaking
is preferable, and avoid overhead watering if possible.
Body: Lastly, do not forget about yourself. Avoid spending large amounts of time outdoors
from 10-4pm, which is when we get the most direct sunlight and heat. Wear sunscreen with SPF
30+, large brimmed hat, and long-sleeved shirts made of cotton or other breathable material. Stay
hydrated and wear clothing of light color, to avoid sunstroke and dehydration. Try staying in
shaded locations if you must work during hot or sunny days.
Additional tips can be found in Mother Earth News“13 Ways to Beat the Heat” (www.motherearthnews.com)
US EPA– WaterSense, www.epa.gov/watersense/
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Master Gardening– British Style
By Rachel Papkin
Last winter, when my husband and I were making the final arrangements for a trip to
Norway, we realized that as our British Airways flight stopped in London, we could be in
England in mid-May. It was (for us) an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the great
gardens of England in the Spring. Several weeks later I had the good fortune to meet and
talk to Anna Pavord, the garden ‘correspondent’ for The Independent who recommended
that we visit Sissinghurst, Great DIxter, Hidcote Manor and the Royal Botanical Gardens
at Kew. We did, and they are all different.
Part I: Sissisnghurst King Edward I reportedly slept at Sissinghurst in 1305 but when
Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson purchased the property in 1930 for
some £12000+, it was a derelict castle. They proceeded to renovate the castle buildings
and design a garden, actually a series of thoughtfully themed garden rooms separated by
walls or boxwood hedges. Ms. or Mrs. Sackville-West (she never went by Nicolson)
selected her plants with care and placed them artfully. Little is left to chance--or to nature.
(Strong winds the night before we visited had dislodged several Rosa banksiae lutea (a
climbing yellow rose) from the trellises and the opening of the garden was delayed until the
staff had removed their remains and any lingering debris from the premises.)
Above: The infamous White Garden
Right: Gardener taking out Rosa banksiae
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(continued from pg. 4)
Although the elegant White Garden is the most ‘famous’ of
the rooms, the purple border and ‘violet’ bed are larger
and (the day we were there) subtle pinks and purples
dominated the garden. Wisteria climbed the walls, saucer
magnolias bloomed pink and tulips in all shades of
purple-from palest lavender to almost black popped up all
over. The cottage garden with its topiary trees, on the
other hand, almost gaudy with yellow and orange flowers,
was much brighter than anything I expected to see in a
classic ‘English’ garden. There is more of course. In
addition to the ‘rooms’, Sissinghurst is home to a lime
walk, a meadow, formal gardens, an herb garden and an
organic vegetable garden, produce from which is served
in the Castle Restaurant.
I was curious if anything had been changed and if so, what and when I asked one of the
gardeners whether the gardens were exactly as they were in Ms. S-W’s days, I learned that
they are not but that they will be. Vita opened the gardens to the public in May, 1938, and by
the 70's they had been well, trampled. In order to handle the traffic, paths were installed
between the garden rooms that had been designed originally as a series of parterres. At
present, work to return the rooms to their original states is underway.
The Sackville-West-Nicolsons were a part of the Bloomsbury Group, an avant-garde group
of intellectual that included Virginia Woolf, her husband Leonard, John Maynard Keynes and
H.G. Wells. They had ample funds, lived well and entertained among others Queen Mother
and Winston Churchill at SIssinghurst. Interestingly, they never lived in the same house as
their children who stayed with their nanny in another structure on the property. My husband
says that is why Vita S-W could have such a nice garden.
Top: the Clock Tower at
Sissinghurst
Above: Flowers from the “violet
bed”
Left: A view of the formal gardens
from the tower
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Bay-Wise Updates 2015:
Written by: Lynn Freeburger
Photo Credit: Pam Keeton
For the first six months of the year the
Talbot County Bay-Wise team has
completed 8 Bay-Wise certifications and 2
Bay-Wise consultations.
We certified two Master Gardeners and
three special gardens:
The Frederick Douglass Park on Talbot
Street in St. Michaels.
The St Michaels Museum at St Mary's
Square
The Oxford Community Center.
From left to right: Lynn Freeburger, Mikaela
Boley, Lisa Ghezzi, and Marie Davis certifying
the Oxford Community Center rain garden.
Kudos to Delores Bowens for getting two leads - one was the Frederick Douglass Park
- and acting on them immediately.
A special thanks goes out to Lisa Ghezzi for energizing the team and setting up a
series of specialized Bay-Wise meetings at the homes of our Bay-Wise
consultants. So far we have learned about the new ditch planting program in Talbot
County and about rain gardens and retention ponds.
Upcoming sessions will include: composting, ditches for the homeowner, reducing lawn
areas, planting for wildlife and vegetable gardening. We have also held a certification
coaching session.
The team is ready to go.
If your garden hasn't been Bay-Wise certified, let us know.
Upcoming Bay-Wise Meetings:
 July 14th– Deb Danser’s “Ditch Gardens”
 August 11th– Pam Keeton “Composting”
 September 8th– Mary Revell “Reducing Lawn”
 October 13th– Janet Friedberg “Planting for Wildlife”
Not on the Bay-Wise reflector’s list? Contact Mikaela Boley to get your email on the
list for exclusive Bay-Wise meeting details.
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Ask Your Horticulturist:
Dear Mikaela,
I found this beetle on a Callery Pear tree in my landscape. I
believe it was chewing on the trunk, and I used a Bonide
brand of insecticide to try and kill it. I would like to know what
it is, and how I get it to stop feeding on my trees. I also have
several Callery Pear in close vicinity, and want to know if I
should be worried about them as well.
-Beetle Blues
Dear Beetle Blues,
First of all, do not go crazy with the insecticide. You are doing
the right thing by getting a positive I.D. so that you can start a
more efficient IPM program. Since you are unsure of the
pest’s habits and lifecycle, you may be wasting money (and
harming beneficial insects) by spraying willy-nilly.
Secondly, I believe the pest belongs to the metallic wood
boring beetle family. More specifically, I believe it to be
Buprestis rufipes, or the red-legged wood borer. It may be
mistaken for the Emerald Ash Borer, which is receiving a lot
of attention in the news. However, the EAB is much smaller
and a solid green color. The distinctive markings on this
beetle helps me identify the species.
Mikaela
Boley
is
the
Horticulturist
and
Master
Gardener
Coordinator
for
University
of
Maryland
Extension in Talbot County.
The Extension Office often has
questions from homeowners
and members of the public
regarding home gardening,
soil testing, plant and insect
identification, plus much more.
Do you have a question that
needs answering? Want to talk
gardening or get advice for
environmentally
friendly
practices in the residential
landscape?
Please contact Mikaela Boley,
A wood boring beetle is an indication of a weakened tree. It
may be that the tree is sick, has lost branches, diseased, etc.
If you nurse the health of the tree by providing proper care,
fertilization, and watering, that is your best chance. Some
professional tree care companies might be able to apply the
proper systemic or topical insecticide for treatment.
-Mikaela
Right: Photo credited to David T. Almquist,
University of Florida , Bugwood.org
Home
Horticulturist
and
Master Gardener Coordinator
at (410) 822-1244 ext. 12, or
by email mboley@umd.edu.
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Upcoming Events
and Dates 2015
Talbot County Fair– July 8th-11th
Horticulture Therapy
It’s summer, and we are ready for the annual Talbot
County Fair! We will be supporting the fair by
showcasing Master Gardener activities from 4-8pm
July 8th-10th, and 10-4pm on July 11th.
We are continuing to do horticulture therapy
at The Pines in Easton.
If you are interested in serving at the Master
Gardener table, please email mboley@umd.edu for
schedule and sign-up.
Visits are every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the
month– visits are 30-45 minutes. Gatherings
are at 2:30pm. Grab a partner and sign up for
the following dates:
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July 9th and 23rd
August 13th and 27th
September 10th and 24th
Talbot County Master Gardener
Monthly Meetings
Contact Mikaela at mboley@umd.edu to
sign up.
July 20th— Talbot County Library (Easton)
Putting a twist on our meeting by having it in the
evening– we will be joined by guest speaker Eric
Beuhl, who is our Extension Sea Grant specialist.
Time: 5:30pm-7:30pm
DID YOU KNOW...
August 19th— TBD
Date and speaker to be determined– stay tuned for
news and updates concerning the August meeting.
Time: 9:30AM
September TBD— FIELD TRIP
We will be combining our meeting with a field trip to
our local Blades Orchard to enjoy a tour, question and
answer session, and including orders of Master
Gardener business. Potential cost: $10 per person.
Master Gardeners have a Facebook
page? You can find us online at by
clicking here. Or, search “Talbot County
Master Gardeners” and follow our page!
We include photos from recent activities,
advice, and recent news items.
Remember to “Like” us!
Please contact Mikaela Boley, Master Gardener Coordinator with any question or to volunteer to help
with a program at mboley@umd.edu or 410-822-1244.
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Bay-Wise Meetings
Meetings for Bay-Wise members have been planned for this season, and we are going to take on
consultations and certifications as we get into this busy time of year.
Please keep these dates on your calendar for Bay-Wise meetings:
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July 14th
August 11th
September 8th
October 13th
Do you like solving mysteries?
Diagnosing plants, diseases, landscape issues, and other mysteries is kind of like solving horticulture
crimes. If you enjoy solving puzzles, you might want to consider getting on the “asktalbotmg” reflector list.
This is a Master Gardener exclusive email list, where you are able to share pictures and problems with other
like-minded people. Have a plant you can’t I.D.? Share it with the group, and get input from your fellow
Talbot Master Gardeners.
To get on the “asktalbotmg” reflector list, please email Mikaela at mboley@umd.edu.
Moving into the future!
Starting August 2015, the Master Gardener Newsletter will be moving towards digital delivery. Some hard
copies of the newsletter may be offered in limited numbers, but this move will save on paper, printing costs,
and time. We will be emailing, as well as offering the newsletter archive on our website:
http://www.extension.umd.edu/talbot-county.
You may unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time, by contacting Mikaela Boley by email at
mboley@umd.edu, calling 410-822-1244, or a written request sent to: 28577 Mary’s Court– Suite 1,
Easton, MD 21601.
Do you have newsletter item?
We accept news items, poems, gardening advice,
recipes, book reviews, and everything gardening!
Please send to Mikaela Boley at mboley@umd.edu.
ASK YOUR HORTICULTURIST:
Is there a garden
bothering you?
“Ask Mikaela”
mboley@umd.edu
question
that
is
The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against
anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry,
national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.
If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, call our University of Maryland
Extension Office at 410-822-1244
You can also visit the Maryland Master Gardeners website at: http:/extension.umd.edu/mg
and the Talbot County Extension website at: http:/extension.umd.edu/talbot-county
Current Resident Or:
University of Maryland Extension
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Easton, MD 21601
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