Dear Master Gardeners,
It's been another crazy year when we didn't have live meetings in January and February where we would normally collect dues for 2022. So... this is your friendly reminder that your dues are due at this time. Please make your checks payable to MCMG in the amount of $20. and mail to:
Mary Nenarella 245 Henderson Road Pinson, TN 38366
When your check is received, I will send you an email as your receipt for payment. If there is any reason you may have to go to an inactive status for 2022, please contact our Extension Agent, Celeste Scott at 731-668-8543.
July Tasks
Vegetable and Fruits
- Pumpkins should be planted by early July
- Order seed for Fall-Cool season planting
- Keep weeding!
- Record your harvests and keep up with better producing varieties
- Late July, start seeding for fall cool-season transplants.
- Remove blackberry floricanes after fruiting
- Monitor for diseases, lots of harvest if plants remain healthy
Grass and Ornamentals
- Propagation of many ornamentals by layering is an easy way to expand the garden. Hydrangea, viburnums, weigela, and climbing roses are a few ornamentals that layer easily. Fasten a limb
to the ground with a brick or other heavy object and cover with soil- Deadhead hydrangea arborescens for continued bloom
- Raise the height of the mower to reduce stress on your
- lawn
- Keep pinching chrysanthemum and asters till mid month
- Deadhead perennials to lengthen bloom time. Remove fading flowers to a leaf node or new bud
- Cut-back by 1/3 annuals that are getting leggy. Give them a shot of fertilizer to help them bloom into fall
- Cut flowers for bouquets in the early morning and immediately place in water
July Flower of the Month
Poisonous Plants to Dogs
- Autumn Crocus Bleeding Heart Foxglove.
- Iris Larkspur Lily-of-the-Valley
- Monkshood Star o Bethlehem Rhubarb
- Black Locust Elderberry Oak trees
- Moonseed Azaleas Daphne
- Golden Chain Jasmine Lantana camara (Red Sage)
- Laurels Rhododendrons Wisteria
- Yew Castor Bean Daffodil
- Hyacinth Elephant Ear Dieffenbachia
- (Dumb Cane)
- Narcissus Oleander Rosary Pea
- Water Hemlock Buttercups Jimson
- Weed (Thorn Apple)
- Nightshade Poison Hemlock Jack-in-
- the-Pulpit
- Mayapple Mistletoe Wild and
- cultivated cherries
*Reference: Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
To view the Madison County Master Gardener online directory, log into your account at https://temg.tennessee.edu/ In the upper left-hand corner, choose “Home,” then “County Dashboard,” and then “County Roster.” Everyone who has given permission to publish their information
is listed there. While logged into your account, you can also manage your accountinformation and settings by clicking the “Profile” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
Another awards banquet is in the books. We had great attendance and enjoyed celebrating the achievements of our fellow Master Gardeners. The highlight of the evening was welcoming 28 newly certified Madison County Master Gardeners. Carol Dix and Georgia Morehead were part of the founding group, and they were recognized with 25-year pins and emeritus status.
Congratulations to Nancy Blair for being named Master Gardener of the Year for 2022. This is a much-deserved honor, and we thank Nancy for her dedicated service.
Our plant sale was a huge success with more than $11,000 in net profits. Thank you to the plant sale team and to all members who donated plants. These funds allow us to give back to the community through donations and scholarships.
Pinson Mounds State Park has been added as an approved project. Dedra Irwin, Park Ranger and Master Gardener, has great plans for the park, including a medicine wheel garden.
I look forward to seeing everyone at the June meeting where Carol Reese will present our program.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
Carol Reese is a retired UT Extension Horticulture Specialist. She's spoken at many gardening symposia across the US, blending equal parts gardening knowledge, natural lore, and quirky humor. Her B.S. and M.S. in Horticulture are from Mississippi State University, and she could also add her Phd. if she “had ever written that damn dissertation!” There she taught classes in Plant Materials, and co-taught Landscape Design for non-LA majors alongside a “real” landscape architect.
She is a prolific writer and has produced innumerable newspaper columns andmagazine articles, and was the Q&A columnist for Horticulture Magazine “back in the day”. She attributes her love of horticulture to being raised on a farm by generations of opinionated plant nuts, including a grandfather who dynamited his garden spot each spring to “break up his hard pan”.
Carol’s very personal appreciation of natural lore is at least partially a result of her near daily rambles through the wild areas near her home with her motley collection of mutts, aka known as the strong-willed breed of “Amalgamations”. Yes, they are a hunting breed, mostly of newly planted bulbs.
Light in the Garden – Why should you hold a compass in your hand when you plant? Magical moments are often about the light, yet too few consider how best to set up those moments when designing or placing plants in the landscape. This presentation will help you site those plants that glow when placed just so, as well as those plants that serve as living stained glass. See how breaking a few “rules” of plant placement can create intriguing compositions of light and shadow. It is a scientific fact that your design can physically affect eye function, allowing you to see more color and fuller detail. These ideas can create a day of garden moments that spangle, sparkle, shimmer and glow as the sun moves through the sky.
Dear Master Gardeners,
It's been another crazy year when we didn't have live meetings in January and February where we would normally collect dues for 2022. So... this is your friendly reminder that your dues are due at this time.
Please make your checks payable to MCMG in the amount of $20. and mail to: Mary Nenarella, 245 Henderson Rd., Pinson, TN 38366
When your check is received, I will send you an email as your receipt for payment.
If there is any reason you may have to go to an inactive status for 2022, please contact our Extension Agent, Celeste Scott at 731-668-8543.
June Tasks
Vegetable and Fruit Garden
• Scout for pests and disease at least weekly
• Remove cool season crops and manage soil, prevent weed growth
• Fertilize blueberries and other small fruits
• Plant watermelon, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes
• Continue weeding and monitor water
• Continue succession planting
• Provide support for tomatoes with stakes, cages, or twine
• Keep an eye on plant health and ready with fungicide if needed
Lawn and Garden
-
Continue planting annuals. Many seeds can still be direct sown
-
Trim catmint after flush of flowers to promote second flush
-
Harvest most herbs before flowering. This is when they contain the most essential oils
-
Remove yellow foliage from daffodils, surprise lilies and spider lilies. If removed while green, next year’s bloom may be affected
-
Water plants in the morning. Deep watering is better than frequent shallow watering. Most plants need 1 inch of rainfall per week. Adjust watering accordingly
-
Many plants are susceptible to powdery mildew. Check out this link for more information: https:// extension.Tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/ sp370b.pdf
To view the Madison County Master Gardener online directory, log into your account at https://temg.tennessee.edu/ In the upper left-hand corner, choose “Home,” then “County Dashboard,” and then “County Roster.” Everyone who has given permission to publish their
information is listed there. While logged into your account, you can also manage your account information and settings by clicking the “Profile” icon in the upper right- hand corner
of the page.
It’s time to start your spring adventure in the garden!
Congratulations to all who completed the Tennessee Smart Yards Program. Members who completed the requirements during the month of April will be receiving their yard signs at our awards banquet.
Our spring projects are calling your name. I hope you have signed up to volunteer at next week’s plant sale. A big thank you to the plant sale team for their hard work again this year to make our fundraiser a success.
Our awards banquet is shaping up to be an exciting event. Since our plant sale preparation overlaps the usual monthly meeting date, the banquet will be held on Thursday, May 12, at 6:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in downtown Jackson. Food will be catered by Jack Baudo and Mama Baudo’s Chow Bella. Since COVID prevented last year’s event, we will be recognizing lots of members for their accomplishments and will be having a graduation ceremony for new certified members.
Registration is open for the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener State Conference June 9th through 11th in Kingsport, Tennessee. Visit https://mastergardener.tennessee.edu/ for details.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
To view the Madison County Master Gardener online directory, log into your account at https://temg.tennessee.edu/ In the upper left-hand corner, choose “Home,” then “County Dashboard,” and then “County Roster.” Everyone who has given permission to publish their information is listed there. While logged into your account, you can also manage your account information and settings by clicking the “Profile” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
If you are a certified Madison County Master Gardener, it’s time to renew your annual membership. Dues for 2022 are $20 per certified member and can be mailed to Mary Nenarella, 245 Henderson Road, Pinson TN 38366. Interns do not owe annual dues
From UT Gardens e-newsletteer
Submitted by Celeste Luckey Scott, UT Extension Madison County
Zinnias are a longtime favorite of
home gardeners. They come in a
wide variety of colors and flower
forms ranging from single, to fully
double, cactus flowered, and even
crested. They are easy to grow from
seed, relish full sun, are loved by
pollinators and have a long vase life
for cut stems. They also are tough
and drought tolerant, requiring little
to no additional watering once
established. What more could a
gardener ask for than a flower that
has attributes like these? How about
disease resistance? The typical garden zinnia, Zinnia elegans, falls short in one category,disease resistance. It is susceptible to a wide range of foliar diseases including powdery mildew, cercospora leaf spot, alternaria leaf spot and bacterial leaf spot. Some Z. elegans cultivars claim resistance to these diseases, yet none can compare to the clean foliage offered by the hybrid Profusion and Zahara series. You can read the full article at
May Task Reminder
Home Vegetable Garden
-
Harvest cool season crops
-
Prepare beds for transplants
-
Transplant warm season crops and plan for succession seeding of direct sown seed
-
Peppers and eggplant like warmer soil they will be happier if planted a week or 2 behind tomatoes and other transplants
-
Young transplants need water and a starter boost of fertilizer
-
Set up stakes, trellises, cages or other supports now to be ready for future growth.
- Weed, weed, weed
Yard and Flowering Gardens
-
Plant dill, parsley, fennel, butterfly weed and others to encourage butterflies and pollinators to your garden
-
Plant vinca and caladiums after night temps are above 60. They like warm soil.
-
Prune early flowering shrubs such as azalea, forsythia, flowering quince, and loropetalum. Only prune if needed and select branches down in the shrub rather than prune to look like meatballs
-
Early May is a good time to cut back on rosemary, lavender, rue, artemisia, and Santolina.
Parker’s Crossroad Work Day
An energetic group of Master Gardeners and garden supervisor Ms. Cheryl braved the chill to tackle weeds, mulch, and brick pavers at Parkers Crossroads on 4-9-2022. Parkers Crossroads was the site of battle during the Civil War but continues as an historical site for the public and veterans. The group worked on the Medicinal Garden, groomed shrubs, and placed barriers around trees. Work will continue on 4-23-2022. The group finished the morning with a short walk on the walking trail and watched a red fox having fun in the tall grass. This project promotes education, history, gardening, and honors veterans past and present
United Way Ladies Luncheon
The Master Gardeners of Madison County participated on 4-6-22 and 4-7-22 with advisor Celeste Scott in the First Ladies Luncheon, a major fundraiser for United
Way for fourteen counties in West TN., decorating the entrance to the Jackson Fairground Expo Building as well as a luncheon table. We were assisted by Morris Nursery providing our flowering plants and shrubs. The five gardeners included: Dianne Harris, chairman, Nikki Pritchard, Ambassador, Peggy Allen, Diana Montemayor, and Marilyn Howell. The mission of United Way is ..."to advocate for equity through uniting agencies in ways that improve each person's access to health, education, and financial stability." It is such
a blessing that our group is able to contribute as well as interact with so many groups. This was a luncheon for 800 persons (the largest ever done in West TN.) benefiting 14 counties
What a great turnout we had in March for our first in-person meeting for 2022. It was great to see everyone to visit and enjoy a meal together. Join us April 7th for our in-person meeting and add-a-dish. Our presentation will explain the Tennessee Smart Yard program.
Plant sale time is here!! It’s time for you to be in full swing getting your plants ready to bring to our biggest fundraiser of the year. If you haven’t already done so, go to our website http://madisoncountymg.org/ and click the Signup button under the Projects tab to choose a volunteer shift.
The plant sale team has worked hard to implement changes this year to make the process more efficient. Plant labels are waterproof, so you can go ahead and apply those to your containers early. Look for the announcement with details in this newsletter .
The spring cleanup for Liberty Garden Park will be 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 9th. Bring your tools, water bottles, and garden gloves.
Registration is open for the Tennessee Extension Master Gardener State Conference June 9th through 11th in Kingsport, Tennessee. Visit https://mastergardener.tennessee.edu/ for details.
Our last order of Madison County Master Gardener apparel/logo items was placed in 2017. We will be planning another order soon. Stay tuned for details.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
Our membership meeting scheduled for April 7 is going to be a little different. The Madison County Master Gardeners are going to be focused on certification for Tennessee Smart Yards throughout the entire month. Do you already have a Smart Yard???? Our own Celeste Scott will show us how to see just how close we may already be. Then, throughout the month of April, Thursdays at 10am will be workshops to help us complete certification. Upon completion each member will earn at least 10 hours of education and 5 hours of service. If you complete in April, you will receive your Tennessee Smart Yard Sign for free at the May awards banquet.
To view the Madison County Master Gardener online directory, log into your account athttps://temg.tennessee.edu/ In the upper left-hand corner, choose “Home,” then “County Dashboard,” and then “County Roster.” Everyone who has given permission to publish their information is listed there. While logged into your account, you can also manage your account information and settings by clicking the “Profile” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
If you are a certified Madison County Master Gardener, it’s time to renew your annual membership. Dues for 2022 are $20 per certified member and can be mailed to Mary Nenarella, 245 Henderson Road, Pinson TN 38366. Interns do not owe annual dues
The Spring Plant Sale is coming soon! Every MCMG member and intern is encouraged to participate in some way to support this fundraiser. The Plant Sale Team and Celeste have been posting plant sale information as well as “Sign Up” opportunities on the web page. Please take time to read this information.
It is not too late to be potting things up for the sale. Please do not wait until just a few days ahead as it takes plants some time to adjust to being repotted. Make sure that your plants are weed free and well groomed.
We are trying something new this year with labels. They will be waterproof and will stick directly to the pot. Judy Rice will be the contact person for labels and plans to have someone at the Extension Office to aid in label making.
Remember that we have a “Garden Art” section at the sale. Hand crafted items such as painted watering cans, stepping stones, sun catchers and bird houses have been sold successfully in the past. Any gently used or new garden tools and accessories are also welcome.
In addition to being a fundraiser for our educational programs, the plant sale is an educational outreach tool. Our plants are for the most part member tested and are good performers in our location. That knowledge coupled with great pricing encourages many in the community to try gardening when they may be not very knowledgeable about plant selection.
Plant Description Labels!
___no more popsicle sticks, no more stapling, no more sticking the label on a separate card.
___This year we will be using waterproof labels that can be stuck directly onto your container and, yes, they are costly so please try to be conservative and mindful of that.
____You may request your labels to be printed for you or you can pick up blank labels and print them yourself. Beginning in April, a volunteer from our plant label team will be at the extension office to be available for assistance. Days and times will be announced later.
____The plant descriptions list will be accessible on our website soon. It’s going to look a little different but will have the same information.
____Remember that your labels should already be on your containers when you drop them off for the sale When you drop off your plants for the plant sale, your label should be stuck on the container. Make sure your containers are clean of dust/dirt before you place the label on it.
____This should be a timesaver for everyone and a plus for shoppers! madisoncountymg.org.
I’ll coordinate printing and when/where to pick up your labels.
_____Email your list or any questions to me at trice@eplus.net call/text her at 731-695-1424.
Cutoff date for label requests is April 29.
Master Gardener's Project of the Month: Liberty Garden Park Spring Clean-Up Day:
If you are looking for a fun and
fulfilling project to get a few Service
Hours....The Liberty Garden Park
Spring Clean-up Day is Saturday April
9th 9:00-12:00. This is a collaborative
effort between the Madison County
Master Gardeners, Toyota Boshoku,
Evergreen Garden Club and Liberty
Garden Park Conservancy. Bring a
water bottle, hand tools, and
gloves. Once you arrive at the Park,
you will need to sign a release for the City of Jackson -- can never get away from the paperwork!! Come on out, get a few hours and have some fun!!
As background, Liberty Garden Park and Arboretum is a 14.5 acre area serving as a living memorial to 9/11. Along with the very heavily used walking trail, the park includes a Veteran Memorial Wall, the open Freedom Plaza, a beautiful limestone Gazebo and well over 100 varieties of trees and plants. In the works is a gorgeous limestone stage for the Children's Area. Liberty Garden Park has been an on-going project for the Master Gardeners and a passion of project manager Jack Baudo.
Photo contest winners
Photo contest winners for week of February 2, Early Signs of Spring”, were Kim Shea and Martha Morris.
Photo contest winners Congratulations to our photo contest winners. We had a 4- way tie the week of
February 20.
Featuring bird houses and feeding stations for the week of March 6, our winning photos are from Martha Morris.
The hardest part of this program is getting it started on paper.
I first heard of the smart yard at a master gardener meeting in 2020. I watched one video and then got "really busy" with other things.
In the fall of 2021, our master gardeners were again encouraged to complete our smart yard program. I had been "really busy" with selling our home of 14 years with 6 acres and downsizing into 1 acre. I moved many, many, many pots of plants from the previous yard. The new yard had not been properly tended for many years. I drew a layout of where I needed to place the plants When it rained, I would watch how the water flowed and where it pooled.
Also, at that time most everything was presented on Zoom. I got "really busy "and watched 100 hours of garden/yard related videos. Part of those hours were watching the nine foundation principles of the smart yard series. They were very informative but I realized I had many of those principles on the new yard. But I kept putting off printing the smart yard workbook, interactive spreadsheet and checklist yardstick from the website at tnyards.utk.edu because I was "really busy".
The early part of 2022 I wasn't really busy so I got it printed off and read. I kept adding up inches I had completed. The layout I had drawn counted. Right plant, right place was accomplished as I had planted the plants I had moved or bought at the fall sale. My hubby and I had spread six loads of mulch and that was in the managing soils and mulch categories. Don set up the two rain barrels and hung up a rain gage. All those were inches on my smart yardstick.
Our trees produced small leaves but five neighbors were happy to help me fill my new compost bins. They would have their leaves in piles and we would
attach our Agrifab yard vacuum to the golf cart and clean their
yard. We picked up thirteen large loads. In the category of
reduce, reuse recycle I easily added six inches.
We had installed a purple martin pole, house and gourds and
three blue bird houses. That counted in the provide for wildlife category. We enlarged the driveway. Instead of paving we used small, gray crushed stones. This made a permeable surface for water drainage from one of the house downspouts. That added inches in the reduce stormwater and pollutants category.
Do you see that starting the paperwork was the hardest part? Because I was adding inches to the yardstick and didn't know it. My project this spring is to buy more plants for the rain garden. I certified my yard in February but haven't received the yard sign.
We moved to a very small town in Benton County. I have divided
plants with neighbors and talk plants very often. Big Sandy has a
small soup kitchen and an after-school program for children. I wash dishes one day a week there. They built five raised beds this month where I will help teach the children how to raise their own food. I have been asked to speak in May to a local church group. I think that will be a good time to introduce Tennessee Smart Yards to this community.
We have all been hearing lately about the Tennessee Smart Yard program. But what can I do that will be effective, well simply use the actions/practices that can be adopted in your landscaping to benefit you and the environment? There are nine categories with various actions per category that you can do to achieve thirty-six inches towards the certification of your yard showing that you are helping to keep our Tennessee communities healthy and natural.
You say, how can I do this, well several items you are already doing, but you must identify those items on the practices listed on the Tennessee Smart Yard actions. Start by going to www.tnyards.utk.edu , and under the “Resources” tab choose, “Start your path to a Certified yard.” Watch the nine online module videos. There is even an excel spreadsheet that you can use to note all your progress with the various items to be accomplish for certification. You can also refer to this website for the yardstick listing all the nine modules: https://tiny.utk.edu/tnsyyardstick.
As you know from your original Master Gardner training, we were introduced early in our training about erosion. Celeste Scott told us that we need to “Slow that water down!” We can do this by making a rain garden in our landscape to help prevent and control erosion. So, this is one of the first items I did as a Master Gardner. I have a natural ravine that starts just off my front yard and driveway area which is a decent size yard. Shortly after moving to this property, I noticed that during heavy downpours that the ravine was eroding a little more each time. After starting the Master Gardner training, I started working at the beginning of this ravine and made a water garden to catch and hold water until it could permeate into the ground. It did take some time to even out the ravine to where I could take some decorative landscaping concrete blocks to make a holding wall. I
lined the rain garden with a permeable cloth for the lining
and then poured pea gravel on top of the cloth. Next, I
used larger gravel and some natural stones as the major
water break to keep the current from eroding my pea
gravel. The retaining wall had to be re-enforced to make
it stable and stop that water, but I did have a small
overflow area, which we learned is called a “freeboard.” The freeboard area had to have larger gravel to help stop
erosion from what water that may not have time to seep into the ground. You can place plants in the area to help
absorb the water, but I made mine without plants. I even lined the ditch further downhill with more of this heavier
lava rock to control erosion in the ditch.
You can read more about building a rain garden, at the website: ag.tennessee.edu/watersheds/documents/D22
Here is a picture of the water garden that I made. A picture does not do it justice though.
To view the Madison County Master Gardener online directory, log into your account at 
https://temg.tennessee.edu/ In the upper left-hand corner, choose “Home,” then “County Dashboard,” and then “County Roster.” Everyone who has given permission to publish their information is listed there. While logged into your account, you can also manage your account information and settings by clicking the “Profile” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
If you are a certified Madison County Master Gardener, it’s time to renew your annual membership. Dues for 2022 are $20 per certified member and can be mailed to Mary Nenarella, 245 Henderson Road, Pinson TN 38366. Interns do not owe annual dues
For our plant sale, we would like to see more garden art. I will be sharing an article in our newsletters for easy, inexpensive garden art that can be done quickly and brought in for the sale. Today's project is a solar lamp for the garden. This project cost about $2.50 and that includes the little shepherd rod.
For this project you will need:
* light shades from ceiling fans (or colored glass vase)
* solar light (Dollar Tree) with stem removed
* floral wire
* small shepherd rod (Dollar Tree)
Wrap the floral wire around the neck of the light shade, just under the collar. Pull the wire over to the opposite side, making a hanger. Place the Solar light inside. The light can be secured in place with permanent adhesive, such as E6000 or GE Silicone II (permanent adhesive in all weather conditions).
Hang on the Shepherd rod. These lights can sell for $5 each. If you use a thicker wire and add a few beads, they can sell for $8.
Here are two I quickly made this week:
I am also including ideas from crafting blogs. By the way, the white column hangers are available at Dollar General.
If you have any questions, or want a demonstration, contact me at lori4christ@yahoo.com
Mona Miller is our new Projects Coordinator.
Mona grew up in East Tennessee and graduated in 1985 from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a BS in Mechanical Engineering. Procter and Gamble brought her to Jackson where she worked for 7 years till she went into Management Consulting.
With a more flexible schedule, Mona's interest in plants, gardening and landscaping took off. In the Spring of 2000, Mona participated in one of the early Master Gardener Training Programs. At that time, there was no on-going program. Upon completion of the class, participants were required to complete some type of gardening project that would benefit the community or a non-profit. Years passed and Mona become involved with the Evergreen Garden Club -- she is currently the president. She encouraged members to take the Master Gardener class and discovered there is a Madison County Master Gardeners Group!!
Mona heard so many positive things about the group and the class, she decided to take it again in the Fall of 2019!! After graduating and certifying, Mona worked with the 2020 Interns as part of the Growth Team. Mona's favorite part of being a Master Gardener is learning from and sharing with all the wonderful MG she has met over the years.
EcoLOGICAL Gardening Symposium
Greetings! We hope you will join us for our EcoLOGICAL Gardening Symposium on March 5, 2022 here on the UTIA campus in Knoxville. This year’s speakers will showcase some of the best practices for gardening in a LOGICAL way because making your home landscape both beautiful and functional just makes sense. UT Gardens Knoxville! When: Saturday March 5, 2022; 8:30 am - 3:30 pm. FEATURED SPEAKERS Jessica Walliser: Modern Companion Planting for the Vegetable Garden Carol Reese: Native Plants: Facts and Fallacies Dr. Andy Pulte: Put Garden Inspiration to Practical Use Mike Ross, SITES AP, ASLA: Of Biodiversity and Butterflies: Planting Design and Conservation for Pollinators Kelly Smith Trimble: Wildly Productive Gardens Pre-registration is required for this full day event and includes a light breakfast and box lunch. Registrations are limited to ensure ample space for safe physical distancing and masks are encouraged. Please register at https://tiny.utk.edu/EcoLOGICALGardening to reserve your spot. Registration fees and silent auction proceeds will go to support the UT Gardens Education Program at the Knoxville location of the State Botanical Garden of Tennessee. Make plans to join us today!
Facebook Photo Contest Winners
We want to congratulate our first 2 winners of the photo contest from our FB page
Francis Bobbitt was the winner for Indoor Plants
Patricia Lewis submitted her winning picture for Winter Wonderland.
MARCH FEATURE GARDEN
Since Mark Carter is presenting our program for the monthly meeting in March, I thought it would be a good time to share some of our water feature photos with you. These are a reminder of how beautiful things will be in the spring. Carter's Nursery designed and installed a pond and pondless waterfall for us, and we spend countless hours enjoying both.
We are going to try this again! Tyler will meet with us (hopefully) for our February meeting by zoom (watch for the link in your email). We are moving our membership and awards banquet to a little later date so hopefully we can have a large crowd and be together safely again. You will be hearing more about that in next month’s newsletter and on our FB page.
Meet Tyler Taylor at our February membership meeting. Tyler is currently the greenhouse manager at Memphis Botanic Garden. He will be discussing the care and maintenance of house plants and topicals. He comes to us with a plethora of knowledge and says he’s looking forward to meeting some new plant people.
Tyler is a Memphis native growing up in the gardens of his grandpap, picking blackberries, and peepaw’s giant tomato patches. He continued to cultivate a passion for plants throughout college and spearheaded a 2acre urban farm and community garden in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis. In 2017 Tyler moved to Oregon and worked with his cousin who is a Master Grower in a medicinal cannabis operation. There he learned about growing in sealed off growing environments and the role of “playing nature”. He fine-tuned his understanding of creating a growing environment beyond the rhizosphere and developed what he calls an annoying tag line “don’t cultivate plants, cultivate an environment for plants”.
To view the Madison County Master Gardener online directory, log into your account at https://temg.tennessee.edu/ In the upper left-hand corner, choose “Home,” then “County Dashboard,” and then “County Roster.” Everyone who has given permission
to publish their information is listed there.
While logged into your account, you can also manage your account information and settings by clicking the “Profile” icon in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
If you are a certified Madison County Master Gardener, it’s time to renew your annual membership. Dues for 2022 are $20 per certified member and can be mailed to Mary Nenarella, 245 Henderson Road, Pinson TN 38366. Interns do not owe annual dues
Parker’s Crossroad Project
This is a brief discussion of a
new project at Parker’s Crossroad located just off I-40, approximately 15 miles from Huntingdon, and about the same distance from Lexington, and approximately 25 miles from Jackson. During the Civil War, Parker's Crossroad was a site for a major conflict between the North and the South. One hundred and fifty-seven years later this site has been chosen as a National
Military Cemetery to celebrate patriotism and devotion and preserve each soldier's attempt
to preserve freedom for all.
Master Gardeners starting with Celeste Scott, and most recently guidance from Jason Reeves, have begun to assist coordinating appropriate landscape of the former battlefields, walking trails, and seasonal plantings. Did you know that many tourists don't know what a turnip or turnip greens are??? One young man asked me for a turnip as a souvenir. OKAY, I gave it to him??? Remember, a responsibility of a Master Gardener is to educate :). We have begun an herb garden and now there is money :) for more landscaping plants as well as a watering system.
This project for Master Gardeners draws persons off the interstate including soldiers and lay persons off from all over the United States to use the walking trails, study natural flora, walk dogs on leashes, ride bicycles, look for future burial sites, and use state of the art year around water fountains and bathrooms. This project is incorporating college history professors, Civil War buffs, soldiers, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, local citizens, children, as well as Master Gardeners. You may be devoted to special projects, but as a Master Gardener and a citizen of the United States, please consider volunteering.
Peggy Allen, Madison County Master Gardener
Chipping of the Greens
The Madison County Master Gardeners were back again at the Chipping of the Green after a break last year due to the pandemic. The number of trees chipped was far less than other years due to a shortage of live trees for sale before Christmas. There were 234 trees chipped and it produced about 200 bags of mulch. It was breezy and cold but seven Master Gardeners and JD from the City of Jackson were able to get the mulch bagged and ready for free pick up.
Dr. Hayes was our first customer, picking up a couple bags to spread around plants near his front door because it smells so good!
Earthquake Cake
INGREDIENTS
1 box German Chocolate Cake Mix (do not prepare as directed on box, prepare as directed below)
1/3 cup oil
3 eggs
1 and 1/3 cup water
2/3 cup shredded coconut
2/3 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup butter
8 oz cream cheese
1-pound powdered sugar (3 and 3/4 cups)
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch pan.
Sprinkle the coconut, chocolate chips, and pecans on the bottom of the pan. Mix the German chocolate cake mix with the oil, eggs, and water.
Pour the cake mix on top of the coconut/chocolate chip/pecan layer.
In a saucepan, melt the butter and cream cheese.
Beat in 1 pound of powdered sugar until it’s smooth to the butter/cream cheese.
Spread this mixture on top of the uncooked German chocolate cake in the pan, and swirl into the cake mix using a knife.
Bake for 35-45 minutes. It is done when it doesn’t wobble in the pan if you shake it. The toothpick test shouldn’t work because the cake should be more gooey in nature. ENJOY!!
January Speaker: Tyler Taylor, Memphis Botanical Garden
In 2017 Tyler moved to Oregon and worked with his cousin who is a Master Grower in a medicinal cannabis operation. There he learned about growing in sealed off growing environments and the role of “playing nature”. He fine-tuned his understanding of creating a growing environment beyond the rhizosphere and developed what he calls an annoying tag line “don’t cultivate plants, cultivate an environment for plants”.
Meet Tyler Taylor at our January membership meeting. Tyler is currently the greenhouse manager at Memphis Botanical Garden. He will be discussing the care and maintenance of house plants and tropicals. He comes to us with a plethora of knowledge and says he’s looking forward to meeting some new plant people. Tyler is a Memphis native growing up in the gardens of his grandpap picking blackberries and peepaw’s giant tomato patches. He continued to cultivate a passion for plants throughout college and spearheaded a 2acre urban farm and community garden in the Normal Station neighborhood of Memphis
Care and Maintenance of House Plants and Tropicals
So the general theme for the entire discussion is going to be "Nuance." If there's anything I've learned about caring for such a wide variety of plants it's that there are very few "General Rules of Thumb" that run through all the various species. -I'm going to break down the various classifications of what we consider "Tropicals." The differing pseudo-subcategories like "Arid Tropicals" and "Humidity Tropicals." -I'm going to expound upon the very broad strokes that we paint with on plant care tags like "Low, Medium, Bright Light" and "Dry between waterings, consistently moist, moderate water, wet" and what those mean for various plants [some of them will have the same info on the tag "Moderate Water" but what that actually looks like can be pretty different between two different plants with the same care info." -I'll cover a broad range of houseplants, the care that they require, how that care differs based off of your grow environment [on the patio during summer, or in a sunroom in the winter, or dry-dormant in an attic/garage]. -I'll cover the various fertilization techniques for houseplants. I'll bring samples of the soils and also a few different plants. -I'll cover the things to consider when a plant transitions from the greenhouse that it was produced in to your home, and the major differences between those environments and how that change affects a lot of different plants. -I will briefly touch on pests, insecticides/miticides/fungicides.
-And I will try to leave a 10-15min window for questions at the end, and I will happily linger and 'nerd-out' with anyone who wants to pick my brain for botanical info.
History Clubs Do Service Project at Liberty Garden Park
Nov 2, 2021 - The history department’s Delta-Psi chapter of Phi Alpha Theta and Rutledge Honorary History Club co-sponsored a community service project at Liberty Garden Park and Arboretum on November 2, 2021, as part of Union University’s Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service. Dr. Stephen Carls organized the activity at Union, while Tammy Buchanan-Anderson and Jack Baudo served as coordinators for the Jackson community. Members of the Madison County Master Gardeners and City of Jackson park employees also participated in the cleanup event.
The Union University team at the park consisted of both faculty and students. In addition to Carls, history department faculty members who worked were Drs. Henry Allen, Keith Bates, and David Thomas. The student participants included Anne Adams, Sandra Allen, Elizabeth Blevins, Joe Gee, Abigail Gilbert, Anna Guelcher, Noah Kea, Logan Sherrod, and Nick Terra.
There were several projects that occupied the Union volunteers. Some put mulch around trees and shrubs. Others trimmed tree branches with anvil loppers and pole saws or picked up broken branches and twigs. Another group swept sidewalk areas and raked. A couple of students were also tasked with putting loose bricks in piles for city workers to pick up and repurpose.
Homemade chocolate chip cookies, candy, and bottled water made up the refreshments for the occasion.
Union University's history department work volunteers join with project coordinators for a photo at the beginning of their community service project at Liberty Garden Park on November 2, 2021. They are: (front row, left to right) Dr. David Thomas, Elizabeth Blevins, Joe Gee, Anna Guelcher, Anne Adams, Logan Sherrod, and Noah Kea; (second row, left to right) Dr. Henry Allen, Abigail Gilbert, Sandra Allen, Nicholas Terra, and Dr. Keith Bates; (back row, left to right) project coordinators Tammy Buchanan-Anderson, Dr. Stephen Carls, and Jack Baudo.
As the year winds down, I would like to say a personal thank-you to the project leaders and all the volunteers who gave their time for Madison County Master Gardener projects during 2021. Even though we continued to deal with the pandemic, our members went the extra mile. Transitioning between in-person and virtual meetings wasn’t always easy for everyone, but attendance was good and our program presentations were outstanding. Nancy Blair, our vice president of programs, already has several speakers lined up for 2022, and they will be excellent. An outstanding slate of board members will be serving our organization in 2022, and it will be my honor to serve as president for one more year. Fingers crossed that we will be able to resume in-person meetings and our popular add-a-dish in January. There will be a presentation on house plants by Tyler Taylor with Memphis Botanic Garden that you won’t want to miss. In February, we will celebrate accomplishments of members for 2021 and will welcome new certified members who are graduating interns.
Charlotte Jaquet, President 
Lexington Downtown Planters
Tennessee Extension Master Gardeners joined the Lexington High School FFA members to take out the summer plantings and replace with cool season plants in the Lexington downtown planters. This is a new project for Madison County Master Gardeners 
Knocking around Nacogdoches
....Carol Reese
I may have known more than the average Joan because of my farm background and family’s love of plants, but still, I am a relative newcomer to the world of plant geeks. I formally took up the study of horticulture in my mid-thirties and had a lot of catching up to do. Luckily, plant folks love to share plants and knowledge and I was greedy.
Around the circles of welcoming hard-core enthusiasts floated the names of horticultural giants that have moved the needle of plant collecting/sharing, and of striving always to educate anyone with an interest. Dr. David Creech is one of those giants. Even a brief summary of his lifetime would swallow this page, but Google him up and gawk! His impressive career at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas started in September, 1978 and he “ain’t done yet”! (My colloquialism, not his!)
Though I’ve met him a few times at conferences around the country and had a little correspondence with him over the years, I didn’t know the half of his contributions until my recent good fortune to be invited to the SFA Gardens to lecture to its enthusiastic and diverse supporters.
He is the noted woody ornamental guru I expected, but I had no idea of his work in fruits. He is THE blueberry expert in Texas, and maintains a collection of varieties at the SFA gardens along with a beautiful muscadine vineyard, a field of seventy different cultivars of figs, and an extensive planting of kiwi that has successfully cropped for several years now - with just a couple of weather-related missed years.
I expected to see an overwhelming number of rare plants from his many collecting trips overseas and in Mexico over the years, but somehow had missed that he had amassed an enormous repository of Taxodiums (bald cypress). Hundreds lined the waterways that drained through the campus, serving both as bank stabilization anchors, but also as a place to evaluate and select interesting variants on this genetically diverse plant for growth habit, foliage density and color, or general vigor and tolerance of challenging weather.
I was shocked at the number of Japanese maple cultivars that were prospering in the shadier regions of the extensive and varied SFA gardens. Did they not know that Zone 8b should have restricted their numbers to very few? I realized that this assumption of mine had to be reconsidered and now consider this to be a goldmine of information for those hoping to expand their collections in the deep south.
The plants were interesting enough, but their backstories created many entertaining moments of awe, humor, or even dismay about who profited when they were successfully introduced to the commercial trade. I am not known for being quiet, but on this occasion, I struggled to have the good sense to be quiet and listen. Dr. Jared Barnes gave me two hours of precious time that day, as he was just finishing classes and preparing for a horticulture student party/bonfire at his home that evening. He is one of our own, and the youngest of the master gardener interns ever to turn up in the classes I taught in west Tennessee over the years. At age 15, he begged his mother to take him, and she decided to sign them both up. All these years, I thought the reverse. After Jared finished his doctorate at the prestigious horticultural mecca of North Carolina State University (home of the Raulston Arboretum) he accepted a position at SFA and rapidly shot into the ranks of rising horticultural stars and has already assembled many prestigious awards. His high-energy, creative presentations have put him in deservedly high demand across the nation.
His leadership and the work of his enthusiastic students have led to his development of the Plantery, and the Sprout Garden. Foodscaping is a focal point they have created a deliciously beautiful vegetable garden. The immaculate state of these gardens and greenhouses reflect the beauty of the students ‘energy and passion. I smile yet when I think of their glow, and bold, clever questions.
The town of Nacogdoches is small and picturesque, easy to navigate, and has plenty of diverse food and entertainment options because of the sprawling university. The gardens are in its midst and many of its citizens were seen walking or having lunch at outdoor seating scattered through throughout, taking in the art and beauty provided as freely as air. https://www.visitnacogdoches.org/things-to-do/
There was much left unexplored, especially for the different seasons of interests that would spotlight different collections in the gardens, so I do hope this visit won’t be my last.
https://www.sfasu.edu/academics/colleges/forestry-agriculture/research-outreach/sfa-gardens
I’m looking forward to seeing everyone at our upcoming fall plant sale and Bicentennial Heritage Festival. Make note that our monthly meeting on Thursday, October 7, will begin 30 minutes earlier than usual. We will start at 6:00 p.m. to be able to enjoy a tour of UT Gardens led by Celeste and Jason. Bring a chair to gather around and visit after the tour. The end of the year is almost here. As a reminder, all volunteer service and continued education hours should be entered into the TEMG database by November 12. Please guesstimate hours that will be achieved through the months of November and December and include those with your report. Annual minimums are 25 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of continued education. Those who have been certified as Madison County Master Gardeners for more than ten years require 15 hours of combined volunteer and/or continued education annually. The reporting deadline will be here before you know it, so be sure to log on
and update your information. https://temg.tennessee.edu
Charlotte Jaquet,
President
October Tasks
Vegetable and Fruits
• Early fall is the driest time of the year in Tn. Be prepared to meet crop water needs
• Most cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower should be transplanted by mid-month
• Row covers can reduce insects on your cool season crops
• It’s time to select fruit cultivars for fall or early spring planting
• September through November is time to plant garlic
• Remove warm season crops as they finish producing. If the plants were healthy, they can go into the compost pile
• Fast growing fall crops may need a side dressing of fertilizer after established
Lawn and Ornamentals
• Plan fall pot planting of ornamental cabbages, kale, pansies and violas • Keep dead-heading blooming flowers to ensure continued bloom
• Collect seed from annuals and perennials for sharing or next year sowing. Store in paper instead of plastic
• This is not a time to fertilize and encourage new growth. Allow plants to naturally harden off and prepare for colder weather
• watch for pest on pumpkins, gourds, squash, and melons. Cucumber beetles can be controlled with Sevin
• Harvest pumpkins when the color deepens and skin hardens. Wash fruits in a weak bleach solution and store in a cool dry location until ready for use
• Gourds are better left on the vine until the vine starts to die back
• Order and purchase bulbs before October 1. Store in cool, dry location until planting 
A new Madison County Master Gardener training class started on August 17. The 19 interns are from different areas of West Tennessee and have varied backgrounds and interests. I’m excited for them to join us and be a part of our wonderful organization.
As always, a big thank you goes to the volunteers who have been diligently working on projects around town. Please check out the Madison County Master Gardener website for volunteer service opportunities.
Don’t miss this month’s meeting. Mark Carter from Carter’s Nursery, Pond and Patio will be discussing water features. Mark and his team have designed and built two water features for us, and they provide a peaceful and tranquil setting in our landscape. He will also give us details on their upcoming Moonlight Pond Tour scheduled for September 18.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
PROGRAM NOTES from Nancy Blair
September Speaker: Mark Carter, Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio Program: Water Features
Mark Carter lives and gardens in Jackson. Mark is the owner/operator and lead designer of Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio, a 7-acre nursery/garden center and landscape design/build firm here in Jackson, Tennessee. Mark has been designing beautiful water features and landscapes all around the mid-south since 1989. Mark was one of the founding board members of the Certified Aquascape Contractors Program, is an accomplished writer and speaker, and does a live weekly radio garden segment on Fridays from 9-11 a.m. on WNWS 101.5 FM in Jackson. You can contact Mark at his nursery office by phone at 731-424-2206 or online at www.cartercountry.com
Nancy Blair Vice President, Programming
September Educational Opportunities
Tuesdays: 9:00 a.m. Facebook Live in the UT Garden with Jason and Celeste
9/3 9:00 a.m. Facebook Live with Celeste. Season Extension in the Veggie Garden. Madison County Master Gardener Facebook page
9/17-9/18 Western Region TEMG Conference, Clarksville, TN Register at https://secure.touchnet.com/C21610_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp? PRODUCTID=1671&SINGLESTORE=true
9/20 12:00 noon Gardener Toolshed with Celeste. Seed Collection and Storage. Register for Zoom or catch on Facebook
9/24 10:00 a.m. Friday Focus. Zoom tour Lebanon, OH Arboretums. Register https://extension.Tennessee.edu/MasterGardener/
9/27 12:00 noon Gardener Toolshed with Celeste. Pressing and Preserving Flowers. Register for Zoom or catch on Facebook
September Tasks
Vegetable and Fruits
• Early fall is the driest time of the year in Tn. Be prepared to meet crop water needs
• Most cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower should be transplanted by mid-month
• Row covers can reduce insects on your cool season crops
• It’s time to select fruit cultivars for fall or early spring planting
• September through November is time to plant garlic
• Remove warm season crops as they finish producing. If the plants were healthy, they can go into the compost pile
• Fast growing fall crops may need a side dressing of fertilizer after established
Lawn and Ornamentals
• Plan fall pot planting of ornamental cabbages, kale, pansies and violas
• Keep dead-heading blooming flowers to ensure continued bloom
• Collect seed from annuals and perennials for sharing or next year sowing. Store in paper instead of plastic
• This is not a time to fertilize and encourage new growth. Allow plants to naturally harden off and prepare for colder weather
• watch for pest on pumpkins, gourds, squash, and melons. Cucumber beetles can be controlled with Sevin
• Harvest pumpkins when the color deepens and skin hardens. Wash fruits in a weak bleach solution and store in a cool dry location until ready for use
• Gourds are better left on the vine until the vine starts to die back
• Order and purchase bulbs before October 1. Store in cool, dry location until planting
Gardening Safety
Manuel McKnight
Avoiding or minimizing garden mishaps was the goal of this attempt at writing about garden safety. I have found that I need as much help being safe as anyone else. Maybe it helped you as well.
This final article will be about garden machinery.
Tillers are designed to rip and tear through soil. In the process, they can also damage our bodies. The shaking and jerking, especially when tilling virgin soil can cause soreness and pain in various parts of the body. The larger the tiller, the harder it can be to handle. Front tine tillers are the least desirable. Rear tine tillers are better. Rear tine tillers with counter rotating tines are the easiest to use on level ground. Adjustable handles will make the tiller fit you. High rear facing exhaust pipes could be a problem as the fumes could blow into the operator’s face on windy days.
Small tractors with mowers and PTO are extremely dangerous. The manufacturer adds many safety features to avoid injuries. Disabling or bypassing these features can cause harm or dismemberment or death. No man or woman is strong enough to counteract the forces of even the smallest tractor mower. The safety option most often bypassed is the seat switch. The seat switch will disengage the mower or kill the engine should the operator leave the seat. Getting a foot damaged by rotating blades is thus minimized. Making contact with a rotating shaft from the PTO is minimized because the engine cannot output power if it is not running. New tractor mowers are designed to be safer. Please read the operator’s manual.
Most manufacturers have developed battery operated versions of their tillers and garden tractors. These will be more prevalent in the market place as the reliability and run time increases. As of today, they can be purchased or researched online.
The board invites all Madison County Master Gardeners to submit articles to the newsletter. .
M. McKnight
Master Gardener training classes are scheduled to begin August 10. This year’s classes will be a combination of in-person and online.
Our Growth Team, led by Mona Miller, has been contacting active interns to guide them along toward certification. If you would like to be a part of the Growth Team, we would love to have you.
As always, please check the SignUp page on the Madison County Master Gardener website to participate in volunteer opportunities.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
PROGRAM NOTES from Nancy Blair
August 5th
Cut Flower Harvest, Handling, & Arrangement with UT Extension Agent Celeste Scott, and UT Gardens- Jackson Curator Jason Reeves
You don’t want to miss this month’s CEU opportunity at the MCMGs August meeting! With Summer well under way and flower blooms abounding, this is the perfect time to talk about Harvesting, Handling, and Arrangement of cut flower from the garden. We will have examples of various arrangement styles to view, as well as live demonstrations. This session will hopefully get many of you ready for a HANDS-ON WORKSHOP that will take place on the following day, Friday August 6th at the WTREC. We have approximately 60 slots available to MCMG Members only. This workshop is being sponsored by the MCMG Board of Directors and comes at NO COST! Flowers, Vases, and supplies will be provided. If you are interested in putting concepts learned from our meeting into practice, make sure to SIGN-UP ASAP by clicking this link
This month’s speaker Celeste Scott
I grew up on a production row crop and beef cattle farm in what used to be a very rural area of south Gibson County. I was pretty much a daddy’s farm girl. I went to work with my dad whenever my mom would let me, and I still remember her warning me not to go in the hog houses unless I wanted to get my hair washed when I got home. I loved horses, which I still do, and got one of my own when I was 10. Each year I raised and cared for chickens, hogs, and a steer that I showed and auctioned in our county fair until the year I graduated high school. Even though my mom wasn’t much of a gardener, I somehow decided that I loved flowers!! I planted my first cut flower bed after seeing my Sunday school teacher’s garden and realizing that people grew plants for fun not just to eat! My family also grew a truck crop patch of tomatoes and sweet corn that my siblings and I each had an opportunity to care for and use the money made to help us with college expenses, but I was the only one ever referred to by the locals as the ‘Tomato Girl.’ I also worked at a local plant nursery during high school. On a side note (no pun intended) I love music! I play the piano, flute, and was in high school marching band color guard. I loved band so much, that I joined the ‘Band of Blue’ at MTSU, and to be truthful, that is the real reason I decided to go to college in Murfreesboro. I LOVED their band!!
At MTSU I majored in Plant & Soil Science with a minor in Biology and was a leader in the School of Agriculture and College of Basic & Applied Sciences at MTSU. After graduation, I joined TN Farmers Co-op as a management trainee, and went on to work for First Farmers Co-op in Lexington, TN as their showroom manager. I have now been with UT Extension as a county horticulture agent for 7 years and have enjoyed helping Extension carry out their mission of providing “Real.Life.Solutions.” to the residents of TN in the area of horticulture through outreach & education. My husband and I live on my family’s farm in Gibson County with our two children Lane 6 and Ellie RaeLynn 3. Life is fun and full of surprises!!
Union University Master Gardener project by Donald Collomp
I enrolled in the Madison County Master Gardener training in 2019 and was certified in the Spring of 2020 just before Covid Pandemic set in and many events ceased.
One day I was walking on the Union University campus in March 2021, (which I am an alumnus of (1993), and I noticed that there were two triangular shaped beds that were not really improved except a few flowers at the end corners and around the tree trunks. These few flowers were planted by a parent of a student from what I was told. They were not taken care of and many were dead or dying and got no more care for than what Mother Nature gave them. I wanted to really enhance and beautify these two triangular flower beds for the enjoyment of all who walked past them and hopefully inspire people.
I contacted the Union University Maintenance dept and asked if I could improve the two specific triangular flower beds since I am a Master Gardener and alumni. The Union Maintenance supervisor asked a few questions and wanted to let the Administration know of my plans.
That’s when the real work started, the planning and layout of creating a from scratch flowerbed. I asked Celeste Scott and Jason Reeves their opinions of design and types of flowers for the beds before starting but ultimately the project was all on me. The designing, all of the ground prep work, planting and caring for all plants and upkeep of the beds.
I first started on 14 April 2021 by spraying the odd and end grasses that had started taking over in both flowerbeds. I had to spray again two days later and then started tilling a day afterwards. There were a lot of weeds and grasses that I raked up and disposed of out of these two beds after the spraying. I purchased a load of compost and took a load of new dirt to both beds and mixed them together with my tiller. After tilling the compost and new dirt, I started shaping the contour of the beds. This gave it a tiered look for my various plants and raised the plants higher than the sidewalk levels. I planted some annuals (wide varieties) on the lower but also on the upper level according to the size of plants I choose to plant. I planted some perennials (Cannas, Irises and Spiraea bushes). I used a load of red colored mulch on one of the flowerbeds to differentiate an upper level of plants and also with some brown mulch to finish around the edges of the whole flowerbed. I also wanted to incorporate in one of the flowerbeds, the Union University initials which I planted using Red Leaf Wax Begonia’s with a white aluminum frame surrounding them.
I have thirty-five hours of prepping the soil, putting in new compost and dirt, tilling, contouring the beds, planting and mulching the two beds from start to finish. There are roughly 250 plants that I planted from April to late May. I encourage anyone to go take a walk along the Great Lawn Sidewalk and the two triangular beds that are located on the main walkway between the Logos Library, Jennings and Providence Halls. I already have plans on changing up the plantings of the beds for a different look next year!
It was so exciting to see everyone in person for our June monthly meeting. We had 112 in-person attendees and 14 Zoom attendees. I am glad we could offer virtual attendance for those who could not join us in person.
Jason Reeves took this picture as we were getting started with the meeting. Look at all those smiling faces!
Manuel McKnight, Vice President of Projects, has been working hard to make sure our projects are running 
smoothly. We will be adding new volunteer opportunities at various projects, both old and new, so please keep checking the Sign Up page on the Madison County Master Gardener website to sign up and participate in those events.
There will not be a July meeting, but we will see everyone on August 5th at 6:30 p.m. Celeste will make an announcement closer to the meeting date regarding the bring-a-dish portion of our meeting and whether the meeting will be offered virtually.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
Madison County Master Gardener yearly membership dues are $20.00 and should be paid now. Please make your check payable to MCMG and mail it to:
Mary Nenarella
245 Henderson Rd.
Pinson, TN 38366
You will receive an email receipt unless you request a receipt by mail.
Please note: Interns and those who are working towards certification do NOT pay dues.
Summer Celebration 2021
Join Us Online for Summer Celebration 2021This year, Summer Celebration is coming to your home. Join us online for a LIVE TOUR of the UT Gardens-Jackson, followed by educational presentations covering a variety of landscaping, ornamental, and horticultural topics. Live Content Begins on Thursday July 8, 2021 at 9am.
Preview the program and register now (https://westtn.tennessee.edu/summer- celebration-2021/),then use this same link to attend!
•Presentations will cover landscaping for pollinators, moss lawns, mushrooms in the
yard, watering tips, medicinal herbs, and much, much more! •Special guests include UT Ag Research Dean Hongwei Xin, UT Extension Dean Ashley Stokes, and Mr. Morgan Adcock, TN Nursery and Landscape Association president.
June 2021
President’s Message
Another successful plant sale is in the books. Madison County Master Gardeners were able to see a net profit of $10,927.44 from this year’s sale. Thank you to everyone who helped make that happen. The plants donated by our members were healthy and beautiful and sold out quickly. The plant sale team once again made it look easy, but the work and planning that goes into the sale is amazing.
Our fundraising efforts allow us to give back to the community. We have awarded a $2,500 scholarship to this year’s winner, Nicole McRae, a senior from South Side High School in Jackson. Nicole has been active in her school’s agriculture programs and will be attending JSCC and then UT Martin to pursue a degree in agriculture.
Remember to check out volunteer and education opportunities at madisoncountymg.org. Interns who attended classes in the fall of 2019 and 2020 need to make sure they are making plans to complete their 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of continued education before the end of this year. Our Growth Team will be reaching out to interns to answer any questions they may have and to guide them along in their journey to become certified Master Gardeners.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
Madison County Master Gardener yearly membership dues are $20.00 and should be paid now. Please make your check payable to MCMG and mail it to:
Mary Nenarella
245 Henderson Rd.
Pinson, TN 38366
You will receive an email receipt unless you request a receipt by mail.
Please note: Interns and those who are working towards certification do NOT pay dues.
Is a greenhouse or cold frame worth it?
by Jenifer Trimble
Last year I started volunteering at the West Tennessee Research and Education Center (WTREC). I was so excited to work in the greenhouse because I am thinking about getting a greenhouse. The WTREC has a greenhouse and a cold frame. Here is what I have found out.
I did not realize that there is a difference between a greenhouse and a cold frame. I thought all structures that have a door to grow plants are a greenhouse. Well, there is a difference. Greenhouse is a structure that can be heated or cooled. A greenhouse is a micro climate. Cold frame is a structure that is not heated or cooled. A cold frame is used to extend a growing season by a few weeks. It also protects plants from adverse weather (usually excessive cold) or wetness.
The cost A greenhouse could be expensive. The cost depends on how big the greenhouse will be, the materials used, heating and cooling methods. How tall, how long, how wide will the greenhouse be? How many door and windows will your greenhouse have? What type of flooring will you have? Will you use gas, solar, or electricity to cool or heat the greenhouse? A cold frame usually cost less and require less maintenance. You will need to consider the size, material just as you do for the greenhouse.
What will you be growing You have to decide if you only want to grow plants from one zone different than where you live or to start or extend the growing season by a few weeks or to store potted plants over winter, a cold frame might work for you. Growing plants that are more than one growing zone from the zone you live in or you want to grow plants year-round or start seeds early, a greenhouse might be what you want.
Other considerations Since cold frames usually don't have power, you will need a way to release the heat: will you have windows or doors? Since a green house has power you can have automatic windows and fans to help control the temperature. What type of flooring will you have: concrete, pavers, dirt, or maybe landscape fabric? How will the water drain from when you water the plants? I have realized that a flat floor does not let the water run off. My recommendation is to have the floor slightly sloped to allow the water to run off. Standing water can also cause mold and other unwanted stuff growing on the floor. On a sunny, cold day, a greenhouse can get really hot. The sun makes a big difference on how it feels inside a structure where the ambient air temperature is raised from the sun’s radiation. I was shocked that on cold days and the sun was-shinning on the greenhouse, that I was sweating. On cold and overcast day, the greenhouse stayed comfortable.
Examples of cold frames
Examples of a greenhouse
May 2021
President’s Message
It’s a wonderful time to be a gardener. Springtime is beautiful as the plants awaken, and we are blessed with warmer weather and longer days to enjoy the outdoors.
Plant sale time is upon us. Thank you to the members who have been readying their plants for our biggest fundraiser of the year. As always, our Plant Sale Team and their volunteer members are behind the scenes making sure the sale comes off without a hitch.
Our project leaders are busy organizing and scheduling work days, so be sure to check our website www.madisoncountymg.org for volunteer opportunities that are available.
Come Unity Café garden in downtown Jackson is the class project for the 2020 Master Gardener interns. The café recently received a donated greenhouse from Lowe’s and some of the interns were on hand to help with the construction.
Jack Baudo and Tammy Buchanan held a cleanup day at Liberty Park Garden on April 10. The event was well attended, and we appreciate everyone’s participation.
If you haven’t paid your $20 dues payment for this year, please send that to our treasurer, Mary Nenarella, 245 Henderson Road, Pinson, TN 38366. Make your check payable to MCMG. You will receive an email receipt unless you request a receipt by mail. REMEMBER: Interns and those who are working toward certification DO NOT pay dues.
Charlotte Jaquet, President
Program Notes
from Nancy Blair
Melody Rose is the Horticulture Extension Agent in Greene County and coordinator of the Big Spring Master Gardener Association. She has experience with Burly Tobacco Production, Fruits & Veggies Production, and Adult Leadership and Volunteer Development. A few of her many interests include Appalachian Natives, Woodland habitats, Viticulture and Oenology.
Melody will be sharing a presentation with us titled ‘The Power of Plants’ This discussion takes a deeper look at the chemical pathways that plants possess and how they have been put to use throughout history.
Proven Winners Twist ‘n Plant auger. Let this solid steel auger d
o the work for you. It drills the perfect size hole to plant in your landscape or containers. Fits in a ½-inch or larger drill (18V minimum). As with any tool, use caution. Keep drill on the lowest setting to avoid risk of damage to your wrist in rough ground or heavy clay. Available in three sizes. Check out this information video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNTGJxsjOm4&t=3s
April: Virginia Bluebells
Submitted by Jason Reeves, horticulturist, UT Gardens, Jackson
From the moment the blue green mouse-ear shaped leaves break the soil in the spring until they disappear in the summer, these plants provide immense pleasure," says Allan Armitage in his second edition of Herbaceous Perennial Plants. I could not agree more! 
I fell in love with Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) the first time I saw them more than 30 years ago. The gardener shared some plants with me, and I haven't been without since. My home garden would not be complete without Virginia bluebells or our native columbine, Aquilegia canadensis. These two wildflowers have become my favorites because they thrive and naturalize with little or no care while putting on a great spring show.
Garden Safety
To get into the aspects of being safe while gardening does not focus solely on the home garden.
As Master Gardeners, we should take into consideration gardening at public places. Our methods are tried and true. We can make things grow. We can make a garden space beautifuland neat. But are we thinking about the public’s use of the garden space and what that truly entails?
In reality, we probably should be wearing dish washing gloves in public gardens, especiallywhile working the soil. I am not going to use words that might offend or disgust anyone.
We’ll start with the animals that might traffic a public garden. Most of us will not touch a wild animal in a zoo. One that has been cared for and confirmed free of any problems that mightcross over to humans. We will however, readily stick our bare hands into soil that is not sterileand has been crossed and used many times by any number of wild animals. Probably within the last 12 hours.
Then we consider the possibilities of the human use factor. One scenario is the person who needs a cool place to sit down at 1am after a few too many at the local pub. There’s nothing wrong with a public location for resting. There might arise a need for one to rid oneself of some of things ingested from the pub that the body wants to eliminate. A possible place could be into the soil of the darkest area of the location. The soil is strong and quickly absorbs most of the things and the plants quickly use some of it. The rest resides in the soil. There is also the possibility that an animal might take it in and move it to another place in the same location.
When it comes to digging in the dirt, I’m going to be one of the first in line. But I’ll be there with my gardening protective gear and practices. As I’ve learned to garden in locations other than my own yard, there are certain things a gardener needs think about to protect the largest organ - the skin. My assessment today contains 3 elements - location, animal usage and human usage.
My protective gear is a good pair of gloves and plenty of hand sanitizer. My practices include keeping my hands away from my eyes, nose, mouth and ears. I hope this wasn’t to graphic and no one will be turned off from gardening. It’s like driving.
Ninety-nine percent of the time, we’re going to be ok. As long as we take a few precautions and be aware of some problems that could be introduced into the soil. Most of which, we can avoid with knowledge and preparation.
M. McKnight
Safety is one of the things in life that some of us take for granted. We don’t really take it seriously until something happens. For me, since I’ve been a certified gray-haired person, safety is a real thing, a thing that comes first and foremost in 90% of everything I do. I am striving for 100% and accidents still happen to me.
On a daily basis, I am reading warnings on bags of fertilizer, various chemicals that I use to control scale, mites and other infestations that could happen. Even though most things seem to be harmless at first site, when reading the cautions and warnings on the packages, it is clear
that most packaged gardening products should be handled with caution. I urge you to read the packaging. This should be done with any new product that you try and any old product that you might be familiar with that has a new redesigned package.
Gloves and masks are a dime-a-dozen and should be used. I am guilty of not wearing gloves and enjoying the feel of dirt and some gardening chemicals only to experience itching or minor swelling several hours later. I have also had nasal irritation after a day of gardening with no mask on windy days. I’ve got to do a better job of protecting myself. Sometimes, I wonder if the medicine I take could react with gardening chemicals or even insect repellent through the moisture and oil on my skin. Unfortunately, medicine interaction is not tested on any garden chemical that I am aware of. And if it was, we could not afford to buy it. It’s up to us to think ahead and take precautions.
We are at the beginning of the annual push to clear our yards of weeds and repair our gardens from the winter weather and early spring rains. Some of us will use chemicals. Some of us will use muscle along with hand tools and machines. Chemicals could influence our blood chemistry in ways that may take time to reveal the damage done. Machines, in my opinion, are the most hazardous and any injury is almost always immediately painful and could require a visit to a doctor. Hand tools can hurt also, but in most cases, they are not as painful or as long term as a machine injury. Machines and hand tools can cause overexertion of muscles and joints and can be very painful and also require a trip to the doctor. Pay close attention to the manufacturer’s warnings labels on hand tools and machinery. Check your tools for broken or cracked wood handles. Also check how secure the working end is to the handle.
Hopefully, this will serve as a reminder to my gardening friends and myself that we should be aware that a new year brings new successes. But also brings new challenges to be safe so that we garden in comfort and suffer no ill effects from it.
Our Board invites all of our members to share their gardening successes and product hit-or-miss experiences through the newsletter. I will explore more safety objectives in the future as I learn more to share with you. In the meantime - don’t rush, enjoy gardening and be safe.
M. McKnight
Organ and Tissue Donation Facts
. In 2020, 39,035 transplants brought renewed life to patients and their families and communities (from 12,588 decrease and 5,728 living donors).
. More than 107,000 men, women and children are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Over 3,000 are Tennesseans!
. Another person is added to the national organ transplant waiting list every 10 minutes.
. On average, 20 people will die each day because the organ they need are not donated in time.
. More than 80% of patients on the waiting list are waiting for a kidney. The average waiting time for a kidney from a decreased donor is 3 to 5 years.
. One organ donor may save up to 8 lives with their gift of organs: Heart, Lungs, Kidneys, Pancreas, Liver, and Intestines.
. One tissue donor could improve the lives of up to 75 people with their gift of tissue: Eye tissue, Skin Tissue, Heart Valves, Nerves, Pericardium, Veins and Blood Vessels, Bone and Connective Tissues.
. Each year, there are approximately 30,000 tissue donors and more than 1.75 million tissue transplants; the surgical need for donated tissue is steadily rising.
. More than 85,000 corneas are provided for sight-restoring corneal transplants each year.
. To register your decision to save and improve lives, visit:
DonateLifeTN.org
BeTheGift.com
Apple Health App/RegisterMe.org
Department of Safety/DMV
Advance Directives/Living Wills
William (Bill) Lee Bobbitt
Mr. William (Bill) Lee Bobbitt of Lexington, TN passed away on February 20, 2021, at the age of 85. He was born December 19, 1935 in Jackson, TN, to the late William Luther and Ione Thompson Bobbitt. He was married to Frances (Buck) Bobbitt on September 9, 1961 in Lexington, TN.
Bill graduated from Lexington High School in 1953 and graduated from the University of Memphis with a B.S. degree. He briefly taught school in Henderson County, and later moved to Memphis where he was employed by the National Bank of Commerce. He left banking to become an insurance adjustor for State Farm and then Ohio Casualty. As an employee of Ohio Casualty in 1969 he moved with his family back to his beloved hometown of Lexington. Later in his career he returned to teaching and was employed by Henderson County and the Lexington City Systems. He was an avid sports fan and a loyal supporter of the Memphis Tigers basketball and football teams. High school football was a passion. He officiated high school games throughout West Tennessee for 50 years. He loved baseball, particularly the St. Louis Cardinals.
Bill was a member of Lexington First United Methodist Church. He served in many leadership positions, volunteered at the food pantry, and traveled with the mission team for many years.
One of Bill’s hobbies was growing orchids. He enjoyed sharing the blooms from his plants with friends for numerous occasions. Upon retirement he, along with his wife Frances, became Master Gardeners with the Madison County group. Together they were selected as Master Gardeners of the Year in 2015. One of Bill’s greatest joys was traveling. He and Frances traveled extensively in the United States and all over the world.
Bill is survived by his wife Frances of Lexington; two sons William (Alla) Bobbitt, Jr. of Silver Spring, MD; Robert Bobbitt of Jackson, TN; two grandchildren, Arthur Bobbitt and Olivia Lemieux; and a brother John (Linda) Bobbitt of Lexington.
Our friend Bill was loved by all who knew him, and he will be missed by our entire Master Gardener community. Notes to Frances can be mailed to 125 Poplar Lane, Lexington, TN 38351.
Jenifer Trimble is a Retired Air Force Veteran with 20 years of logistics experience and working alongside other branches of the military. Jenifer was born at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana in March of 1972. So, you can say the military has always been in her blood from birth. Jenifer has a Bachelor of Science from Southern Illinois University and an Associate in Applied Science Logistics from the Community College of the Air Force. Jenifer and her husband, Richard, who is also retired military moved to Bells, Tennessee back in 2016. In her free time, Jenifer likes to garden with her three cats by her side. After years of only being able to grow weeds, she decided to continue her education and take the Master Gardener class to cut down on the weeds and increase the garden's crop yield. Besides gardening, Jenifer also volunteers at the Crockett County Senior Center. She also enjoys crocheting and quilting.
Marion Cone
I was born and raised in Middle Tennessee where I taught school for 30 years. We moved to Jackson 20 years ago for my husband's job. In the early 2000s, I went through MG training. Because life got in the way, I didn't complete the required service and education hours. Thank goodness I returned! I can't express my gratitude enough for everything I gained from Celeste's leadership!
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