June 2011 Archives

Save the date!

The Ramsey County Cooperative Weed Management Area group invites you to attend an invasive plant field trip! 

The tour will be held at
Ramsey County's Battle Creek Regional Park
Tuesday, July 19
9:00 am - Noon

Master Gardeners from ANY county welcome. CE hours: 3

We will hike through the park to get a close-up look at invasive plants that are beginning to move into our area: narrowleaf bittercress, Japanese knotweed and Japanese hedge parsley.  We will also see garlic mustard.  Potted and pressed samples of other new invasive plant species that are on our watch list will be available to see.

Bring a water bottle and lunch if you'd like. Some extra water will be available.  Please wear sturdy shoes and dress for the weather and off trail hiking!

Carpooling recommended!  We will meet in the Point Douglas Road parking lot at 9:00 am sharp.  To get there, take Lower Afton Road to Point Douglas Road South and turn north.
Click HERE for the Map Link.

Please indicate whether you'd be interested in an extra, short, after lunch trip to Maplewood Nature Center to see an Oriental bittersweet and Japanese barberry infestation.

Questions / RSVP to:
Carole Gernes
Ramsey County Cooperative Weed Management Area Coordinator
Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
carole.gernes@rwmwd.org

As you are out and about this summer, keep a lookout for common/European buckthorn trees with witches' broom/yellows disease symptoms.

Laura Van Riper, Terrestrial Invasive Species Coordinator of the Division of Ecological and Water Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reports: "Research to identify biocontrol insects for buckthorn has been on-going since 2001. A phytoplasma disease was detected in potential biocontrol insects and Rhamnus species in Europe. It has not been reported in the US. We need to know if this phytoplasma is already present in North America."

We need your help! Click Buckthorn phytoplasma flyer.pdf for details and photos.

If you think you have found evidence of this condition, please contact Dr. Roger Becker, University of Minnesota (becke003@umn.edu)

Wednesday, July 20, 2011 - 9am - 2:30pm
Saint Anthony City Hall, 3301 Silver Lake Road, Saint Anthony Village, MN 55418

Cost: Free, but registration is required by July 11th.

To register or to receive more information, please contact Fortin Consulting, Inc. at 763-478-3606 or kseniya@fortinconsulting.com. 

In this class:

• Become certified in Turfgrass Maintenance Best Practices
• Learn how to improve your summer maintenance program and save money
• Protect our rivers and lakes
• Earn 5.5 Master Gardener Continuing Education credit hours
  
  

The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) invites property managers, private maintenance companies, schools, Master Gardener volunteers and park departments to attend this workshop. Attendees have the opportunity to attain MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) Level One Certification in Turfgrass Maintenance Best Practices.

Certified individuals are listed on the MPCA website.

Topics include: equipment calibration, selection and application of fertilizers and pesticides, mowing techniques, best practices for turfgrass management, and an introduction to the "Turfgrass Maintenance with Reduced Environmental Impacts Manual."

 
By attending the workshop, you will receive a copy of the "Turfgrass Maintenance with Reduced Environmental Impacts Manual" and a complementary lunch. Don't miss this great opportunity!

Priority registration will be given to businesses and individuals located or working in the MWMO (view map at: www.mwmo.org/map.pdf).

To register or to receive more information on the content of the class, please contact Fortin Consulting, Inc. at 763-478-3606 or kseniya@fortinconsulting.com. 

Major Funding Sponsor: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 319 Funds through the Clean Water Act administered by the MPCA.

Contact information:
Kristi Martin at Carlson Wagonlit Group Travel - Tel: 800-533-0324
Larry Cipolla, UMN Ext Master Gardener - Hennepin Cty
larryc@cci4360.com 

************

From Larry Cipolla, Former MG State Advisory Board President and UMN Ext Master Gardener - Hennepin Cty:

On behalf of the State Master Gardener program and the Minnesota State Horticultural Society, I would like to invite you to join me and our many local experts on this very special garden and cultural tour of Singapore and Vietnam. We will tour a wide range of tropical public and private gardens, including a visit to one of the largest collections of Orchids in the world.

The tour will include travel by air, boat, bus, train, and even some walking. Ever taken a ride on the world's largest Ferris wheel? We will and you can too. We will enjoy Chandon champagne, chocolates, and strawberries as we do. We will go on a night safari to experience the sights and sounds of wildlife in a tropical jungle. We will take some refreshments at the famous Raffles Hotel. We will stay overnight on a traditional Chinese-style Junk in Halong Bay (Gulf of Tongkin). You will even learn how to cook Vietnamese food in one of the premier cooking schools in Hanoi. And, just in case you like to shop, there will be time to shop for silk clothes, Batik shirts, ceramics, and pretty much whatever you are looking for. Leave space in your suitcase!

 Want to learn more? Click Singapore & Vietnam Tour.pdf to download the brochure. It details this 12-night 13-day journey to one of the most modern countries and one of the most picturesque in all of SE Asia. The tour is limited to 20 people.

 I look forward to having you join us!

Larry Cipolla, UMN Ext Master Gardener in Hennepin County
larryc@cci4360.com

From Gary Johnson and Dave Hanson, UMN Department of Forestry
Contact information: Gary Johnson - johns054@umn.edu.

Volunteers needed in  Mora, Mankato, Saint Cloud, Worthington, Royalton, Bemidji, Starbuck and Brainerd

Calling all tree huggers! Become a Community Tree Inventory Volunteer and help communities prepare for invasive pests by understanding how vulnerable they are to EAB. While not exclusively focused on ash trees (you'll be learning and evaluating all trees), you will learn such valuable skills as:

• Identifying trees
• Measuring trees
• Determining the condition and value of trees
• How to work with communities and homeowners as a Community Tree Inventory Volunteer

No experience or special knowledge required - just dedication volunteers who want to help your community. (Master Gardeners - get your friends and neighbors involved!)

Training:

• 12-16 hrs education / training and counts toward Master Gardener continuing education hours
• Taught by Urban Forestry staff - Gary Johnson & Dave Hanson
• No class fees
• Training includes an actual inventory of a city block

Provided:

• T-shirts identifying you as a Community Tree Inventory Volunteer
• Year-round technical support from faculty and staff
• City support at regional resource centers including a dedicated site to pick up maps, enter data, etc.

No minimum volunteer hours required. However, hours spent volunteering as a Community Tree Inventory Volunteer may be counted as Master Gardener volunteer hours. A category will be added to the online reporting tool.

ADDITIONAL TRAINING AVAILABLE
8.5 hrs continuing education to become a Community Outreach Volunteers about urban forestry. By completing both the 12-16 hours and the additional 8. 5 hours of education, you will be certified as a Tree Care Advisor.

Master Gardener Summer School in Andover was a day of great education including hands-on opportunities with turfgrass, diagnostics, tree pruning, noxious weeds, and fruits. Fifty-two Master Gardeners completed the day and earned 7.5 hours of continuing education that they can REALLY use!

Some comments from the post Summer School survey:

"Instructors knowledge was wonderful and they were all very good at sharing their knowledge. A winning combination."

"The Turf class by Bob was excellent! I finally figured out how to tell creeping Bent from a Rough Bluegrass! Yeah!"

"What a great way to share the latest and greatest field tested information. As new research comes in it changes how we practice gardening. This summer school session was a great way for us to obtain this cutting edge knowledge. Being able to bring this knowledge back to our MG peers and our community - priceless!"


Saturday, July 30
8:15 am - 4:30 pm
South Central College
1920 Lee Boulevard
North Mankato, Minnesota 55304
Max: 100 attendees
http://www.regonline.com/MGSSMankato

Saturday, August 20
8:15 am - 4:30 pm
Central Lakes College - Brainerd Campus
501 West College Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401
Max: 100 attendees
http://www.regonline.com/MGSSBrainerd

Answer from John Loegering, Associate Professor -- UMC Agriculture/Nat Resources

There is no way to move an active nest. Either you wait or you just kill the babies . . . both are messy.  THEN, clean the old nest from the building.  Nothing says 'try to nest here' more than an old nest.

Dissuading swallows in the first place is all about harassment.  Do not let them start a nest.  If they start, knock it down.  Knock it down twice a day during building and they get the hint after a few days. . . . . usually.  Some are more stubborn than others (just like people).

A good place to nest is just that, so any place a swallow has nested before is a good place for another to try.  It is very unlikely it is the same bird coming back.

Some of you know I have long been a proponent of vermicomposting and find worms quite interesting! I had a worm bin for quite a few years, but no longer keep one. There's a great bit of news for all of you who are worm-lovers including some very cool, one-of-a-kind video of worms doing their thing. Cick here. 

EAB Volunteer Survey

Contact information:
Essam Dabaan, APHIS / USDA; Tel: 952-854-6725; Fax: 952-853-1492; Email: Essam.Dabaan@aphis.usda.gov

The EAB Volunteer survey website has just been updated and the new web site is at the following address: http://beetledetectives.com/index.php.

This site is specific for the special volunteer survey by organizations that agreed to endorse and encourage their members to participate in the survey.

Both the paper form and electronic submission option can be accessed by clicking at  Report your findings. Under contact information, choose MN from the drop down menu and under organization menu, select your organization's name, fill out the EAB report section (attach pictures if available) and click submit at the bottom of the page.

The EAB fact sheet with identification information is available as well. In addition, there are several informational EAB and ALB videos available for viewing.

Thank you for your information on EAB!

Photo credit: Emerald Ash Borer by Jeff Hahn, University of Minnesota Extension, 2010.

The following information can be easily printed by clicking on the printer icon in the right corner of this window.

Saturday, June 11, 2011
8:15 am - 4:30 pm

Extension Regional Center
550 Bunker Lake Blvd NW
Andover, Minnesota 55304
Directions to Andover site 2011.pdf (building opens at 8:00 am)

AGENDA
8:15 - 8:45 am - Registration & sign up for afternoon break out sessions

8:45 am - noon - General session & hot topic updates
Presenters:

1. Bob Mugaas: Low Maintenance Turfgrasses
2. Jeff Hahn: Update on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
   
3. Michelle Grabowski: New & Emerging Tree Diseases
   
4. Kathy Zuzek: Beyond the Emerald Ash Borer - Replacement Trees for Ash
   

Noon - 1:30 pm Lunch (provided) & Resource / Poster Session

Breakout Sessions  / Hands-on - 1:30 - 4:30 pm
1:30 - 2:45 pm  Breakout Session I
2:45 - 3:15 pm Break
3:15 - 4:30 pm Breakout Session II

Each of the following will be taught during Session I (1:30 - 2:45 pm) and Session II (3:15 - 4:30). Students choose two sessions:

1. Jeff Hahn & Michelle Grabowski: Diagnosing Plant Problems in the Landscape & Garden
   
2. Kathy Zuzek: Pruning Trees and Shrubs
3. Bob Mugaas: Building Confidence in Your Turfgrass & Weedy Grass ID
   
4. Karl Foord: Care & Maintenance of Small Fruits
5. Lynne Hagen - Train-the-Trainer Session: Invasive, Noxious or Obnoxious Weeds: What's the Difference?

Here's a great graphic about home gardening:
http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/infographic-home-gardening-in-the-us

Master Gardeners planted the Children's Garden section of the Dept. of Horticultural Science Garden to use as a teaching garden for 9-10 years olds attending the University's Gopher Adventures discovery camp. Master Gardeners will teach two section of class once a week for 11 weeks. Any Master Gardener can volunteer to join in the fun. Topics include:

Garden Basics, Soil Sleuths, Watering, plant part, Birds and butterflies, Reduce/Reuse /Recycle, Eat what you sow, and many more.

Click on the schedule to the right for a large, printable (and readable) schedule.

If you would like to volunteer for one or more of theses youth teaching opportunities, please call Bridget at 612-625-4211.

Click here to see a video of the planted garden taken June 6.
P1130051.MOV

Thanks to all who have already registered for MG Summer School.

LAST CHANCE FOR ANDOVER: Registration for Andover classes closes today. This is the only session that will be held in the Twin Cities. The price is $25 for a full day of Continuing Ed, including lunch.

Registration:
Andover, June 11: http://www.regonline.com/MGSSAndover

Change of title: Michelle and Jeff will be presenting on "Diagnosing Plant Problems in the Landscape and Garden".

TREE SELECTION CLASS
June 23, 2011 - 6:30 - 9:30 pm
Room 19 Green Hall
UMN - St. Paul campus
Class fee: $15

CONTACT:
REBECCA KOETTER
rebeccak@umn.edu

Another update is around the corner! This training is a "Train-the-Trainer" style workshop on a new presentation that's been put together on Tree Selection. Become part of the TCA Talk Force! Do not have to be a TCA to participate. After you complete this training you are welcome to take the Powerpoint presentation venues and deliver it yourself. 

Are you in need of a presentation for a Master Gardener clinic or Plant Sale?  Would you like to offer a class through Community Ed?  If so, this will be a perfect canned presentation that can be used!!

To Register: Please complete the following and send with your check for $15, payable to the
University of Minnesota, to:

TCA Tree Selection
1530 Cleveland Ave N
St. Paul, MN 55108-6112

Name ____________________________________________________

Address __________________________________________________

City / State / Zip ____________________________________________

Daytime phone: ( _________) _________________________________

Email: ____________________________________________________

___ Yes I would like a CD of the Powerpoint to teach!! 
(Check the box if you want one)

Location: Class  will be located in room 19 of Green Hall, St. Paul campus. See map for building and parking locations-  http://campusmaps.umn.edu/tc/map.php?extent=stpaul

Class minimum is 10.  If necessary, a reschedule date is September 15th. 

Hope to see you there!