Milkweed seeds require cold stratification. Here's what that means. In nature milkweed plants scatter their seeds in late autumn when the coming cold would kill any seedlings that germinated. Milkweed seeds are programmed to delay germination. Exposure to winter temperatures soften or crack their hard outer shells. In late spring, as temperatures rise, their dormancy is broken and they will start to germinate.
Many species of milkweed are quite easy to grow from seed. Head outside in the autumn, or even in the early winter, and sprinkle the seeds around the garden. Burying the seeds can reduce germination rates since milkweed seeds need light to germinate. Just drop the seeds in the garden and press them down with your hand. Once you've sprinkled the seeds over the soil there's nothing else to do but wait. In spring, they'll germinate and begin to grow. Once the seedlings are a few inches tall, you can transplant them to different areas of the garden. [If you want to transplant move them before they get big as the root system starts to dig in early.] Be sure the new plants stay well-watered until they're established. Milkweeds are hardy plants that will survive with very little care. (Penn State Extension) If you want to start seeds in the spring, separate them from the coma (white fluff) and store them in a cool area before until you are ready to stratify them to copy the nature process as noted above. In February, carefully place seeds between moist paper towels to be refrigerated for 3-6 weeks before planting. At that time they can be planted. Peat pots make transplanting later easier. Prepare the pot and and gently water until damp. Place a few seeds on top and gently press down with your finger as they need light to germinate. Water gently, as needed, from the bottom. To prevent fungus, don't overwater. They should sprout in about 10-15 days. Put your pots in a sunny window, greenhouse, or under a grow light. These should should germinate and sprout within 10-15 days after planting. Plant out in the garden after last freeze date. It is best to transplant milkweed in the spring when the plant is small. Transplant on a day that is cloudy or during the cooler morning/evening hours. This will make it less stressful on the plant. #milkweed #nativeplants #milkweedseeds #gardening #butterflygardens #monarchbutterflies #monarchs Excited shouts announcing, “There’s a butterfly!” rang through the house on the morning of William Bundy’s birthday. Over the next three hours William, his sister Sarah and family watched the remaining chrysalises eclose (hatch). William had the honor and joy of releasing the first beautiful Monarch on his birthday! A precious cargo of five chrysalises had made the 100 mile trip from Chambersburg to Leesport and spent the night secure in their cage. Master Gardener Peg Bundy wanted to share the awesome transformation of chrysalis to butterfly on her grandson’s 12th birthday. Grownups and kids alike have fewer chances these days to experience awesome moments. Recent research has documented that experiencing awe helps us to be happier and produces positive effects on our health. Awe is the wonder you feel such as seeing a beautiful sunset or watching a newly born butterfly float away from your finger. In Franklin County, family, friends and neighbors of numerous Master Gardeners have raised and released more than 200 Monarchs this year. Beginning in late summer an informal network of Monarch (Danaus plexippus) butterfly nurseries began; some started with eggs, some with the caterpillars. Others were given chrysalises, the capsules that the caterpillar folds into before hatching (eclosing) into a butterfly. Bundy’s last four chrysalises are headed to Richmond, Virginia, for another grandchild’s birthday. “I am very excited about the number of people who have participated in Monarch conservation this year,” said Master Gardener Laurie Collins. She noted that the local 2016 Monarch rescues began in late July when Juanita Kauffman, Master Gardener and co-chair of the local “Save the Monarch” project, watched as a monarch laid eggs on milkweed. Collins urged her to collect the eggs and raise the Monarchs and she agreed. At a Master Gardener Lunch and Learn program the next day, the volunteers learned about the many challenges the Monarchs face from eggs to mature butterflies. As eggs and caterpillars, many are lost to predators and pathogens in a very short time. By bringing them inside, their survival rate can increase by as much as 90 percent. As adults, their survival rate is impacted by the loss of habitat in both the United States and their overwintering area in Mexico. Master Gardener Bill Stead attended the program and came away with a deeper understanding of the Monarch situation. “Since I was a child I have known about the general story but had never really grasped the many details of the annual Monarch butterfly migration.” He noted the immense distances Monarchs travel to and from a very small cluster of trees in Mexico and was “touched and impressed with the efforts of the locals in Mexico to protect the trees and watch over their quests. Nature seems to be against these fragile but tough creatures including the harsh winters in Mexico and numerous predators. With the odds so much against them, it's nice to believe that some good force is looking out for them.” Kauffman shared her story about finding the eggs and many listened as Collins quickly explained the simple basics of what was involved with hand raising the butterflies. “Within 24 hours it seemed as if the monarch caterpillar population exploded throughout Franklin County as folks went home and started checking their milkweed,” Collins noted with a smile. Collins, very knowledgeable about pollinators including Monarchs, spent quite a bit of time responding to emails, texts and phone calls about raising butterflies. A free class for the public was quickly put together, and four days later the room was filled. JoHanna Walters, Waynesboro, has been collecting caterpillars and raising the butterflies since she was six years old. She brought her caterpillars to the program in Mason jars. She was relieved to learn that day she was not to blame for three of the 17 chrysalises that did not eclose. Growing milkweed even in small patches, Kauffman pointed out, provides a host plant for the eggs and caterpillars as well as nectar for the butterflies. Ensuring a supply of milkweed is the first step in hand raising Monarchs. Locating wild stands of milkweed and protecting them from spraying or removal is also important. People in the community are fascinated with the caterpillar to butterfly process and attendees at pollinator and butterfly programs go home and participate in different ways. Some change gardening practices or incorporate pollinator-friendly plants in their gardens. Others try caring for the caterpillars until they are released as butterflies. The hand raising efforts have moved beyond Monarchs to black swallowtail butterflies and variegated fritillaries. Jen Mack, Chambersburg, reported to Collins that her mother had attended the class and called to have Mack help identify a caterpillar she found on one of her violets. A variegated fritillary butterfly was the final determination. She convinced her mother to care for it until it eclosed. “Several days later she called to tell me she cleaned the cage, dampened a paper towel and added more violets,” she told Collins. “She learned all those instructions from your class. I thought you should know how well you are doing teaching." “Some people have asked me why I get involved with hand raising monarchs; why not let nature take its course? If it were natural reasons they are in declining numbers, then I would live with that,” Collins said. She pointed out that the primary reasons for the decline are caused by people, not nature, including loss of habitat through development, farming practices along migration routes, pesticide use and illegal logging in their overwintering sanctuaries in Mexico. She added, “It's only fair that people play a part in giving them a little boost up.” Later in the day William’s birthday party trekked to the pollinator garden and released the remaining butterflies. Immediately the search began on the milkweed to find caterpillars. Eureka! The cycle begins again and new Monarch butterfly keepers are born. Carol Kagan At what is becoming an annual event, Franklin County Master Gardeners hosted a South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP)/Gleaning Project event where 30 volunteers planted 150 4-gallon buckets with a vegetable and an herb to be distributed to families through the SCCAP regular produce distributing community partners - improving fresh food access and grow-your-own-know-how.
“We are very pleased to be able to host and contribute to this important community outreach project,” said Donna Scherer, Franklin County Master Gardener Coordinator. Ten Master Gardeners, Cathy Campbell, Bill Dorman, Colleen Johnson, Diane Keeney, Don Knode, Ray Larson, Billy Morningstar, Donna Scherer, Ron Schlecht and Walter Springer, gathered at their greenhouse and helped 20 other volunteers plant the container gardens. Donations from the community included compost from Harry Rotz Jr., Chambersburg, potting mix donation from Jan & Jerry Althoff, Countryside Gardens, Gettysburg, buckets from Cathy Jo Byers Wallick, Shippensburg, and plants from the Master Gardener program in Chambersburg. According to Don Knode, Master Gardener Container Gardening Co-Chair, “The Franklin County Master Gardener Program recently began a partnership with the local SCCAP to aid their goal of removing one family at a time out of poverty through education of gardening techniques. SCCAP members have shown a great deal of enthusiasm, and it has been encouraging to teach these techniques and see the positive results of our commitment to this common goal. The results of our participation with SCCAP have allowed families to eat from fresh vegetables and herbs that they did not have to purchase.” An important aspect of this community outreach program is to provide ongoing support throughout the growing season. The buckets were labeled with contact info for Franklin County Master Gardeners, including a link to the “Community Container Gardens” Facebook group page that links gardeners to Master Gardeners who can help with problems they may encounter. Labels also included a phone number and email for the “Ask a Master Gardener” program in Franklin County. Additionally, the Healthy Franklin County program’s Nutrition Task Force Community Garden Committee is trying to gauge interest in community gardens from area residents. Community gardens can be used for education, recreation, mental and physical rehabilitation and can provide access to healthy foods. Community gardens can also provide opportunities for neighborhood improvement. "We believe everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy fresh, nutritious food. And learning something new like gardening takes lots of practice and support. Which is why we're all here working together today. Plus, it's tons of fun!" said Jay Eury, Director of The Gleaning Project of South Central PA, a SCCAP Community Solution. Get more information about these organizations on the Internet. The Gleaning Project - http://www.thegleaningproject.org South Central Community Action Programs - http://www.sccap.org Healthy Franklin County - http://www.healthyfranklincounty.org Summer – hot, humid, sun-baking. Working in the garden, mowing, playing your favorite sport or marking off honey-do list items brings out the sweat. The weather man, newspaper and doctors all say to stay hydrated. We need to drink liquids but it’s important to limit caffeine and alcohol intake. What to do? Drink herbal teas! Herbal iced teas are refreshing. Serve with ice, a fresh herbal sprig or slice of fruit, sit back and take a break. The teas are healthy and caffeine-free. Caffeine, a diuretic, can worsen dehydration and the stimulation can overwork what may already be a stressed cardio system. Please note that green tea, although considered to have healthful benefits, contains caffeine. Making herbal tea is easy. You can use purchased herbal tea or tea bags or use fresh herbs either purchased or home-grown. Fresh and dried herbs can be used singly or in blends that can include flowers, citrus peels and spices. Easy to Make - Iced Tea It is best to use non-metallic containers for making tea as metal can affect the taste. Use cold water to make tea. Be careful when adding boiling or hot water to glass or ceramic containers. Add water with the container in the sink and avoid breakage. For iced tea, the amount of tea is increased over that of hot tea since the tea will be diluted by the ice that is added. For one cup with dried herbs, add boiling water to 2 Tablespoons of herbs. Dried herbs have a more concentrated taste than fresh. For fresh herbs, use 3 Tablespoons of finely minced leaves. Add boiling water and steep for 3-5 minutes. Strain and let the tea cool. Pour over ice and serve with an herbal sprig or slice of fruit. Consider using a stevia leaf from your plant for sweetner. Stevia is said to be over 30 times sweeter than sugar. Try one-eight of a teaspoon of the herb per cup and adjust accordingly. Two Tablespoons approximately equals one cup of sugar. For a pitcher, rinse the pitcher with hot water. Add boiling water to the tea using the same measurements but add “one for the pot.” Steep for 3-5 minutes, strain and let cool. Add ice just before serving. Fruit or herbal sprigs added to the pitcher are a nice touch. Making herbal tea is easy. You can use purchased herbal tea or tea bags or use fresh herbs either purchased or home-grown. Fresh and dried herbs can be used singly or in blends that can include flowers, citrus peels and spices. Easy to Make - Iced Tea It is best to use non-metallic containers for making tea as metal can affect the taste. Use cold water to make tea. Be careful when adding boiling or hot water to glass or ceramic containers. Add water with the container in the sink and avoid breakage. For iced tea, the amount of tea is increased over that of hot tea since the tea will be diluted by the ice that is added. For one cup with dried herbs, add boiling water to 2 Tablespoons of herbs. Dried herbs have a more concentrated taste than fresh. For fresh herbs, use 3 Tablespoons of finely minced leaves. Add boiling water and steep for 3-5 minutes. Strain and let the tea cool. Pour over ice and serve with an herbal sprig or slice of fruit. Consider using a stevia leaf from your plant for sweetner. Stevia is said to be over 30 times sweeter than sugar. Try one-eight of a teaspoon of the herb per cup and adjust accordingly. Two Tablespoons approximately equals one cup of sugar. For a pitcher, rinse the pitcher with hot water. Add boiling water to the tea using the same measurements but add “one for the pot.” Steep for 3-5 minutes, strain and let cool. Add ice just before serving. Fruit or herbal sprigs added to the pitcher are a nice touch. Freedom or Liberty Teas In early American times, when the colonists refrained from drinking English teas in protest of taxes, they turned to teas made from native bushes and herbs such as strawberry and raspberry leaves, mints, clover and bee balm. Here’s an interesting combination you might want to try. Marigold and Mint Tea 10 cups water 3 herbal tea bags (try mint, lemon, ginger) or decaffeinated green tea 2 star anise 1 cup fresh mint leaves 1 cup edible marigold petals (pluck and wash the flower heads thoroughly) 1 cup sugar or 2 Tbsps. Stevia Bring 4 cups of water to a boil, add the tea bags and anise stars. Remove from the stove and steep for 1- minutes. Add the mint and marigold petals and steep for another hour. Remove the tea bags, anise, mint and marigold leaves. In a separate pan heat 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar (or stevia leaves) and stir until dissolved. Remove from the stove and cool. To serve, combine the steeped tea, sweet syrup and remaining 5 cups of water in a pitcher or other glass container. Refresh with fresh mint and marigold petals. Refrigerate overnight. Serve over ice and garnish with mint and marigold petals. Some Plants for Teas
Dill - Savory – Blackberry - Bee balm – Sage Lemongrass - Mints - Marjoram - Lemon verbena Rosemary – Borage - Lemon balm Thyme - Strawberry – Chamomile Winter – cold and stormy. But anyone shoveling snow can confirm that we still sweat in winter and we need to drink liquids. Follow the same directions as above to make a cup or pot of hot tea, reducing the measurements to 1 Tablespoon of dried herbs and 2 Tablespoons of fresh minced herbs for a cup of tea. Don't want to brew tea? Try adding some herbs to your water bottle or glass. Try mint, lemon balm or basil (imparts a licorice taste). Pick a few springs, rinse, crush them gently and slip them into the water. Shake or stir. In just a few minutes you will have a flavored infusion. You can even add a little non-flavored carbonated water. When planning your garden this year, include some tea herbs for both summer and winter enjoyment. ~ Carol Kagan Are You Herb Deprived? Thinking about how to incorporate herbs into your landscape? You should be for many reasons. Most herbs are high in anti-oxidants that benefit your health when used in cooking, and the health of your garden benefits too, because herbs attract legions of beneficial insects. Our ancestors lived and cooked with herbs for generations. You can become part of that continuum by interplanting them in flower borders and containers and at the same time supporting our bird, butterfly and insect populations. Edible landscaping is the practice of incorporating food-producing plants in the landscape and herbs are some of the most useful and beautiful additions. Landscape designer and author of "The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping," Rosalind Creasy notes that "I liken herbs to edible plants with training wheels. They are really easy to grow and fit into most any landscape.” Try a big container or half barrel full of parsley, sage, basil, rosemary, chives and thyme. With the advent of the internet we have all learned that there are many herbs from around the world that can be used to enhance the flavors in the dishes we cook. Lavender is one example of a garden plant that few of us think to cook with, but can be used in cookies, ice cream or Herbs de Provence; a blend of herbs with many uses in the kitchen. What are Herbs? An herb is a useful plant whose leaves, blossoms, or stems are used as an ingredient in cooking, dyes, cosmetics, medicine or a combination of these applications. Herbs include perennials, which are permanent plants in the garden, biennials generally live only two seasons, and annuals live for only one season. Most annual herbs tolerate very little frost, and some like basil and nasturtium tolerate none. Some half-hardy annuals survive temperatures in the high 20’s. Hardy perennials like chives and sage tolerate winter temps that dip well below 0° F. My potted chives have survived many winters in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Rosemary and lavender are half-hardy plants and can be killed at temperatures below 15° F. Pests and diseases seldom bother herbs. Even deer! Most herbs are relatively low growing and a few plants in a bed by themselves will appear insignificant. Instead, it would be much better to make 4-5 foot wide beds with multiple plantings of the same herb, or create a planting area around a patio so those enjoying the outdoor space will be able to experience the fragrances. Another consideration is the setting and scale of the space and landscaping aesthetics of color theory, form and texture should be followed. Consider unity, line, scale, color and formal or informal styles. Designers use tight lines when designing herb gardens. Classic designs of brick or stone paths, low hedges of box, or rows of curly parsley or chives serve as dividers often in geometric patterns. A more informal setting will have an overflow of plants on stepping stones or gravel paths and a riot of color with no apparent organization that gives the feel of a cottage garden. Place shorter herbs and flowers at the front of the border and taller herbs in the back and add a few stepping stones for easy access. Site an herb bed where it receives full sun. Most herbs will become straggly if they do not get enough sun. All that is needed for most herbs to thrive is lots of sun, good soil drainage and occasional harvesting. However, the following herbs are shade tolerant. Chervil, chives cilantro daylily, nasturtium, parsley, salad burnet, sweet woodruff and viola, and others like the Mediterranean herbs such as fennel, lavender, oregano, rosemary, sage sweet marjoram and thyme are quite drought tolerant. Herbs are low in maintenance and need little fertilizer. The easiest way to keep culinary herbs healthy and vigorous is to harvest them often. Other types need only a spring pruning to renew woody growth and remove winter damage. For optimal growth, combine perennial herbs in a flower garden with other perennial plants that have similar cultural requirements such as easy to grow coneflower, gaillardia, daylily, yarrow goldenrod, coreopsis and compact varieties of joe pye weed. Examples: • Try combinations of herbs and flowers, like red basil with white zinnias. • Golden and purple sages with yellow and lavender million bells. • Use gray foliage herbs between more powerfully colored flowers. • Fragrant lavenders are nice growing along paths. • A border of gray sage, oregano and sweet marjoram interplanted with pink geraniums. • A border of pineapple sage and red beebalm interplanted with flowering red salvia. • Enjoy a comforting cup of chamomile tea with German chamomile from your tea garden. • Bronze fennel, red basil and red perilla with white cosmos. •The ferny foliage of fennel and dill provide a great backdrop for flowers like dahlia, black-eyed Susans and geraniums. The combinations are endless and just need a little imagination. Consider scattering seeds of flowering annuals from old seed packets around your herb garden, some may become yearly volunteers where they will blend wonderfully. Start small, maybe begin with oregano, sage and thyme, chives and basil. Try a big container or half barrel full of parsley, sage, basil, rosemary, chives and thyme. Reference: "The Complete Book of Edible Landscaping," Rosalind Creasy LINKS Take a tour of Well-Sweep Herb Farm located in NJ and be inspired by learning more about herbs and their uses. They have lots of suggestions of what to grow and how to use. Take a trip to the National Herb Garden at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington D.C. Be sure to include Cilantro in your garden. It’s the International Herb Society’s 2017 Herb of the Year and has multiple uses: medicinal, culinary, aromatic and ornamental. Visit Rosalind Creasy’s blog for tips on Edible Landscaping - Angela Weathers, Master Gardener It's that time of year again. Look at the helpful guide below to help you know how to handle found baby birds. Here's a list of wildlife rehabilitators close to Franklin County, PA.
2017 Note: This year the first week in May is starting out cool and damp much like last year. Hold off on planting warm weather plants such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants as well as herbs like basil, summer savory and salad burnet even though we most likely will not have a frost. Evening temperatures are forecast to be in the lower 40’s and, depending on garden location, may dip into the 30’s and daytime temperatures in the mid 60’s. The 2017 Master Gardener Plant Sale is May 20,2017, from 9 am – 1 pm. Come early for the best selections. Bring your wagons and boxes. Publish date: May 12, 2016 It’s been a cool, mostly cloudy spring in Franklin County and this means a later planting date. Home gardeners often plan to transplant seedlings after May 12th, the last estimated frost date for our area. More important than a date on the calendar is soil temperature. This year gardeners need to wait to allow the soil to warm up and the low air temperatures in the foreseeable forecast are consistently in the fifties or warmer. “Soil temperature is a factor which few of us consider important enough to check before planting yet it probably the most important factor affecting … seedling growth,” writes Dr. Jerry Parsons, Texas Extension Horticulturist. Warm soil allows plant roots to grow out into the bed quickly. For the best start to the garden season, plant vegetables when the soil temperatures are best to do so. Plants are sensitive to temperature both above and below ground. If the soil temperature is not right transplants just sit there, biding their time until it warms up. This affects root development and can stunt growth throughout the growing season. Cool temperatures can also invite rot. During the week of May 11 in Fayetteville, Pa., the soil temperature in a sunny, raised bed was only 54° F. Soil temperatures will vary among different areas in a garden and between different yards. Soil in sunny areas and raised beds will warm the quickest. Use a soil thermometer and take the temperature at 2-3” deep around 10 to 11 a.m. Temperatures vary during the day with the lowest soil readings just after dawn and the highest in mid-afternoon. It is best to get a consistent reading over a period of four to five days. The best temperature for transplanting local warm season crops is 60° to 65° F. These include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cantaloupes, watermelons, pumpkins and squash. Beans can go in at 55° to 60° F. but okra needs 70° F. or more. The plants from the Master Gardener greenhouse will be offered at the Annual Plant Sale held on Saturday, May 21st from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Soil and air temperatures should be best by that time. There are more than 40 varieties of tomatoes and more than 20 peppers plus seven different eggplants offered for sale this year. ~ Carol Kagan, Master Gardener Originally published March 31, 2016 Forsythia and hyacinths were blooming during an unseasonably warm December 2015. Home gardeners phoned the Horticulture Help Desk at Penn State Extension, Franklin County, wanting to know if there was anything they should do. Master Gardeners who answered the calls were able to tell them not to worry. Plants that were tricked into blooming as if winter was over may have fewer blooms this coming spring but will most likely survive. Penn State Extension, a part of Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, is an educational network that gives people in Pennsylvania's 67 counties access to the University's research-based resources, information and expertise. The Penn State Master Gardener volunteer program supports the outreach mission of Penn State Extension by using that information to educate the public and our communities on best practices in horticulture and environmental stewardship. “We are not trying to sell a particular product or service,” said Extension Educator for Cumberland County Annette MaCoy in an interview at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. “We are trying to give the … home gardener … good solid information from an environmentally sound point of view. We try to give them all the options and steer them toward what are the best recommendations to produce a healthy productive garden.” According to Nancy Knauss, State Coordinator for the Master Gardener program, there are currently more than 3,100 Master Gardeners in Pennsylvania. In 2015 they volunteered over 187,000 hours, reaching 250,405 adults and 44,219 youth. In Franklin County there are 74 certified Master Gardeners this year plus six Apprentices who have finished their 18 weeks of training classes. They are trained by Penn State University faculty and Extension staff, learning about gardening from a research-based point of view. To maintain their certification they are required to volunteer a minimum of 20 hours of work and take 10 hours of advanced training each year. Covering the Help Desk is one way Master Gardeners help Extension. After training, they volunteer their time to provide horticulture outreach and education to the residents of the county in which they live. They serve the home gardening public by answering questions, giving classes and workshops, speaking to groups, maintaining demonstration gardens and in many other ways. On January 15, the Pennsylvania Farm Show Master Gardener Pesticide Education booth assisted more than 1,300 visitors. The Master Gardener program was initiated in 1972 in Seattle, Washington. David Gibby, an Extension Agent in King County, is credited for designing the program to meet the demand for reliable home gardening information. It was so successful in the state of Washington that it was adopted by all 50 States, Korea and three Canadian provinces. Each month local calendars and bulletin boards advertise classes and workshops presented by Master Gardeners. For 2016 the full-year schedule of over 50 classes and workshops runs the gamut of gardening topics with repeats of popular annual ones such as Herbs, Simply Succulents, Turfgrass, Cornhusk Wreaths and Dolls, and Composting plus Hypertufa: Mud Pies for Grown-ups, the hands-on “make and take” workshop to create garden pots. New offerings include Daylilies, Butterfly Garden Design, Pesticides for Home Gardeners, Crafting with Succulents and more. "This year we are presenting new offerings suggested at last year's programs," said Donna Scherer, Master Gardener Coordinator for Franklin County. "The few family-friendly programs last year were successful, and parents requested more, so we added six new programs." Family-friendly programs are opportunities for parents to work and learn along with their children. While some programs are for ages 8 and up, several are planned for younger ages. There is a workshop making flower seed balls in April, Bug ID class in June and Worms Ate My Homework (Worm Composting) in the fall. The Victory Garden, a hands-on vegetable gardening workshop for the public, runs from April to October. This program is a combination of weekly classes plus hands-on work in the garden. Participants take home garden-grown produce and the know-how to grow their own. This is also an excellent opportunity for groups that want to establish community garden programs to take the workshop and learn from the ground up. Container gardening is among the most popular speaker topics requested by county groups along with information on pollinators and butterflies. Master Gardeners with special interest and information about topics attend meetings and give presentations. The historic and local significance of the Gass Garden is another topic of interest. Presentations and demonstrations are also provided to libraries, school classes and home-school groups on other topics. "I always find the groups who invite me to speak ask great questions, are enthusiastic and appreciative,” said Master Gardener Laurie Collins. “My favorite part is when people approach afterwards and tell me what they learned from my presentation. That's when I know I've achieved my goal; to educate." In Franklin County, Master Gardeners are fortunate to have space for eight different demonstration gardens. The Victory Garden workshop and the 4-H Garden Club have designated areas for their programs. There are also Herb, Sun Perennial and Drought-Tolerant gardens plus the Woodland Meadow Native Habitat area. The Pollinator Friendly Garden is part of a state-wide network established to regularly document which bees and pollinating insects are visiting the plants. The data is sent to the College of Agricultural Sciences where researchers collate the information for research on pollinators. This garden is now an official Monarch Waystation that provides resources necessary for Monarchs to produce successive generations and sustain their migration. Our newest garden is the historical Gass Garden, celebrating a native son who played a leading role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Located near the entrance of the Extension office it features plants found during the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Archaeological finds unearthed during work in the garden include coins dating back to the 1600's plus arrowheads and a small knife. Special Events: Spring Plant Sale and Tomato Day To support the Franklin County Master Gardeners’ demonstration gardens, programs and events, each year they hold a Spring Plant Sale in May. It offers greenhouse grown vegetables and annuals as well as a wide variety of perennials. What makes this sale so special? The greenhouse plants, grown on the Extension grounds, are primarily heirloom vegetables and flowers as well as other hard-to-find plants. The perennials, from ground covers and daylilies, to sun and shade plants including irises, trees, shrubs and hardy herbs, are all obtained by dividing plants from local gardens. There are typically more than 2,500 plants that over-wintering to be available next spring. Since 2000, Master Gardeners have hosted an Annual Tomato Day in August. In addition to blind tomato taste testing and judging by the public, the day usually includes a special display table for hot peppers, from mild to medium to super-hot, a large display of fresh floral centerpieces and contests for the largest tomato and best salsa. For information on how to become a Penn State Master Gardener, or to receive notification about programs and events, call the Franklin County Extension Office (717-263-9226). To register for classes or workshops, call the Extension Office. Credit cards are accepted. ~ Carol Kagan, Master Gardener The steamer trunk from Great Aunt Lucille’s attic, an antique platter, and a rusty tool from a local auction carry a sense of history, of the past and the people who used them. This holds true for plants, too. Plants can bring to mind historical events or places and times past. Witness Trees are reminders of historic events and places. Locally, witness trees can be found in Gettysburg standing for hundreds of years and being present during the Civil War battle. The Gass Garden at the Agricultural Heritage Building on Franklin Farm Lane, Chambersburg, memorializes the leading role of a native son, Patrick Gass (pronounced Goss), in an important event in U.S. history – the Lewis and Clarke Expedition of 1804-1806. The garden presents a horticultural and historical experience, including educational signage, which demonstrates the importance of plants and agriculture in a young and expanding America. A variety of plants, either found during the expedition or documented to be growing locally in the 18th and early 19th century, are growing in the garden. This year some of these historically-linked plants will be available for sale at the May 20 Master Gardener plant sale. Featured in the Gass Garden is the beautiful pink- to pale lavender-flowered Wild Cleome (Cleome serrulata seen above) that was found and collected over 200 years ago by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The expedition collected three pressed specimens which are still preserved in Philadelphia’s Lewis and Clark Herbarium. Teresa Prendusi, U.S. Forest Service Regional Botanist, notes that this is “one of the showiest wildflowers in the western and prairie regions of the United States.” The nectar-filled blossoms of this plant, also known as Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, attract a variety of pollinators including bees, butterflies, wasps and hummingbirds. This species has a long blooming season lasting from June through September and can grow up to 4 feet tall. Gardeners can expect lots of seeds to plant for next year’s blooms. It is drought-tolerant, does not like a damp location and grows in sun or part shade. The Prairie Wild Rose (Rosa arkansana), a plant specimen collected during the Expedition, also grows in the Gass Garden. In May this low shrub begins to bloom with pink flowers which are heavily fragrant. Blooms continue until August and the autumn foliage turns orange-red. The bright red rose hips provide food for birds and wildlife in winter. Once established, plants spread by rhizomes and the roots extend deep into the soil. This habit gives it resistance to drought and fire. The Prairie Wild Rose was among the few species that fared well during the 1930’s droughts in the American Dust Bowl. This plant is also the floral emblem of North Dakota. The Oregon Grape Holly (Mahonia aquifolium) is an evergreen shrub with smooth, glossy leaves. Also a plant specimen collected on the expedition it is known that Native Americans made a yellow dye from the bark of this shrubby species. The Latin name honors Bernard McMahon, an 18th-19th century American horticulturalist. It is the floral emblem of Oregon. It has bright yellow flowers early in the spring. Tom Butzler, Penn State Educator, notes that flowers are “very attractive and visible above the evergreen foliage. The bright yellow blooms, along with their slight fragrance, not only draw the attention of a passerby but also many early season pollinators.” The plant does well in shade or part shade but is best placed away from winter winds. To get the most berries, plant more than one plant in the yard. Wild hydrangea plants (Hydrangea arborescens) produce large white flowers during the summer. This is a plant of the historical period that the Gass Garden commemorate. The ‘Annabelle’ variety also has an interesting back story. In 1910, young Harriet Kirkpatrick was horseback riding through the woods near her home in Anna, Illinois, when she noticed a wild hydrangea. Its snowball-like blooms were much larger than the others. She dug it up, planted it in her garden and shared cuttings with friends. In the 1960's horticulturist J.C. McDaniel propagated it in his nursery and it was introduced as ‘Annabelle’ after the belle of Anna who discovered it. 'Annabelle', the best known cultivar of this native shrub species, is one of the most cold-hardy of the hydrangeas. It blooms early to late summer and is usually 3 to 4 feet tall. Although it can grow in full sun with consistent watering it blooms better in partial shade in our area. Even our vegetables have interesting histories. New to our greenhouse inventory this year is the Cherokee Chocolate tomato. These very productive plants, bearing 12 oz. fruits, are a variety of the Cherokee Purple plant from Tennessee cultivated by the Cherokee tribe. Cherokee Chocolate has developed a great following among celebrity chefs because of its exceptionally rich, complex tomato flavors and wonderful chocolaty appearance. The Amish and Mennonite communities have contributed heirloom varieties of peppers and tomatoes. As with most heirlooms, they may not be pretty but they taste great. The Hinkel Hatz pepper is named for fruits the size and shape of chicken hearts – a translation of hinkel hatz. It is a rare Pennsylvania Dutch heirloom dating to before 1880. The peppers are usually red or yellow, though an even more rare orange variant exists preserved among a small group of Mennonite farmers in Maxatawy, Pennsylvania. This has been cultivated for over 150 years. The peppers were traditionally used in pickled form as well as cooked and pureed into a "pepper vinegar" similar to Tabasco sauce. The first heirloom tomato to achieve "cult status," the Brandywine is a pink, Amish variety from the 1880’s. Burpee® listed a Brandywine in their 1886 catalog and Johnson and Stokes listed a variety called Brandywine in 1889. The seed was sent to Seed Savers Exchange collection from Ohio in 1982 with information that the Sudduth-Hill family had been seed saving for over 80 years. The Amish Paste tomato variety may have originated in the 1870’s with the Amish in Medford, Wisconsin. Later, Amish Paste was “discovered” in the heart of Lancaster County, PA, when seeds were acquired by Heirloom Seeds from Lancaster Amish farms. Fish peppers date to the early 1800's when they were grown by African Americans in Philadelphia and Baltimore. They were used by black chefs to make white paprika for fish and shellfish cream sauces, a secret ingredient passed down through oral history. The white pods were used where red peppers would detract from the dish's appearance. The story of these peppers’ mid-1900's rediscovery may be due to a barter made by men trading bees for seeds. In the 1940’s, Horace Pippin of West Chester, Pennsylvania, sought a unique remedy for his war wounds. Learning that bee stings may relieve the pain of his wounds, Pippin bought bees from H. Ralph Weaver. In exchange, Pippin offered what he had -- tons of interesting vegetable seeds, including the rare fish pepper. It was made available to the public in the 1995 Seed Savers Exchange Yearbook. Statistics bear out the significant increase in human population and the millions of acres each year that are taken from native habitat for housing, commercial and industrial uses. Along with these numbers research shows that birds and their food sources are in great decline.
Today suburban landscapes are becoming the lifelines for plants and animals that have lost their native habitat to development. As development continues wildlife is forced to depend upon our human-dominated landscapes for their continued survival. What is planted in home landscapes plays an important role in determining the future of wildlife. “[G]ardeners have the power to make a significant contribution” toward variety in both plants and animals wrote Dr. Douglas Tallamy in his book, “Bringing Nature Home.” Establishing areas of biodiversity is important to saving our wildlife. “Biodiversity refers to the richness or variety of animal, plant, and other life in a given area, from the tiniest snail or plant to the largest predator,” wrote Dr. James Finley, Professor of Forest Resources at Penn State. Biodiversity embraces all living things, including humans, and how their existence and survival are interconnected. What each plant and animal provides and needs creates a web of interdependence. As an example, plants need insects for pollination and insects need plants for food. Birds need insects and the berries and seeds from plants as food. Tallamy, Professor of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware, notes that historically home gardens focused on creating beautiful surroundings, expressing artistic talents with design, and making areas for fun and relaxation. Recent trends show a new focus on design to provide refuge for wildlife and support animals including birds, pollinators and other insects as well as native plants. The Herb Society of America's Green Bridges Program™ promotes the idea that individuals can contribute to building a national chain of yards, gardens and communities that support biodiversity, especially for native plants and pollinators. There are four key things that home gardeners can do to support biodiversity: add native plants, support pollinators, reduce lawn area and create an environment that supports the needs of wildlife. One of the most important things to do is to add native plants, those that grow naturally in our area. Native plants are the most hardy and likely to thrive with less disease or insect problems. Some native plants also filter air and water as well as help maintain soil health. Many ornamental plants, though beautiful, are from Asia and Europe and are avoided by native insects. Tallamy describes the importance of native plants by explaining that “[a]ll animals get their energy directly from plants, or by eating something that has already eaten a plant. The group of animals most responsible for passing energy from plants to the animals that can’t eat plants is insects. This is what makes insects such vital components of healthy ecosystems. ” Insects, as reported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service, make up 99.5% of pollinators. “Pollinators are the very foundation of biodiversity. Almost 90% of flowering plants require animal assisted pollination,” said Laurie Collins, Master Gardener. “In addition to one third of our food, they pollinate other species of plants that provide food and shelter to wildlife.” Collins also noted that pollinators – bees, other insects, butterflies, birds, bats, and mice – need the plants for shelter and food. Adding host and nectar plants that support pollinators is only half the solution. Correct use of herbicides and insecticides is just as important. A typical suburban lawn does not support biodiversity. Cornell University reports that compared to native vegetation, non-native heavily treated turfgrass is a biodiversity wasteland. While some sources suggest replacing lawns with native grass, Dr. Peter Landschoot, Director of Graduate Studies in Agronomy at Penn State, notes in our area native grasses are warm-season species. “They stay dormant for most of the year and become overrun by weeds.” He says that property owners need to be comfortable with having grass at heights of 6-18 inches, not always welcome in residential neighborhoods. Instead convert lawn areas by adding native trees and understory plants to the landscape. This can be along the perimeter or in small areas throughout the property. Tallamy notes that studies show that modest increases in the native plant cover in suburban yards significantly increases the number and species of breeding birds. Additionally, by using lawn space for native plants home owners can reduce the costs of lawn maintenance such as heavy watering, mowing, pesticide and fertilizer applications. Native trees such as white oaks (Quercus alba), black willows (Salix nigra), red maples (Acer rubrum), green ashes (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), and river birches (Betula nigra), under-planted with woody perennials like serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), and blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are excellent choices for Pennsylvania properties. Landscape design can help reverse the human-caused habitat loss by providing some or all of the four needs of wildlife: food, water, shelter and nesting areas. The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) website has practical suggestions for meeting those needs. Once gardeners have met these needs they can apply to the NWF for a Garden for Wildlife ™ certification. Providing food can be as simple as seed and suet feeders but including native plants with seeds and berries is important as well. Bird baths are typical for home gardens but rain gardens or ponds can provide water sources that serve frogs and other wildlife. Providing water year-round is important and for bird baths can be accomplished with a heat source or by swapping out containers during the day. A rock wall, evergreen tree, wooded area or water garden offers cover from predators. From plain to decorative, birdhouses are some of the best nesting areas when placed correctly. Other nesting sites include mature and evergreen trees, dead trees and even caterpillar host plants such as milkweed. It is also important to make the garden safe for wildlife by protecting the air, water and soil by eliminating or reducing herbicide and pesticide use and adding compost to the soil. The shifting relationship between humans and the environment has changed the balance of nature. Home gardens are an important building block, along with community gardens, parks and other natural spaces, to replacing lost habitat. Gardeners can help restore some of nature’s balance by designing their landscape with the needs of wildlife in mind. - Carol Kagan, Penn State Master Gardener |
AuthorCarol Rhoades Kagan, Chambersburg, PA CategoriesArchives
November 2020
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2023 Franklin County Master Garden Plant Sale | our blog & notes |