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Sherburne Junior Master Gardener activity days will kick-off soon and happen several days the spring and summer of 2012 for kids interested in gardening. Click here for a flyer with more details:
2012_Sherburne_JMG_Program_FLYER.pdf
Here are some of the things we have done in the past:
In 2010 & 2009 we had a really active Junior Master Gardener program in Sherburne County. The kids planted 4 planter boxes at the Sherburne County Government Center in Elk River and planned, planted and cared for 6 plots at the Elk River Community Garden. Two of those plots were dedicated to the U of M MN Landscape Arboretum's summer exhibit "Powerhouse Plants: Incredible Edibles" - Veggies by the Yard project. The kids are growing garden plots called "Salad Lovers" and "First Timers". They also helped to grow and record data from four MG Variety Trials. The MG Variety Trials included growing Sunflowers, Mini Pumpkins, Bok Choi, and Bush Beans this year. The kids will observe how the plants grow over the summer, record information about the produce and sample some of the produce as well. In the remaining space in their garden plots, they planted a raised bed and are trying some square foot gardening concepts. The kids also learned about container gardening and planted their own 5 gallon container pail to care for through the summer. and did some community service garden projects on the Sherburne County Fairgrounds.
Due to budget cuts no long-term program was planned for 2011, but youth were invited to take part in the one-day event "Kids Garden Expo" held in conjunction with the "Garden Expo" held in April 2011. There were about 20 kids who took part in that fun day.
Plans for 2012 are to offer something similar to the 2011 Kids Garden Expo only have it in the summertime so we can do some outdoor gardening activities.
Continue to check back here for the latest info OR "Friend" us on Facebook to learn about the latest happenings at:
http://www.facebook.com/SherburneMasterGardeners
Held in May each year at the Sherburne County Fairgrounds in Elk River. The 2012 MG and 4-H Plant sale will be on Saturday, May 19, 2012.
This is a great opportunity to get nice and reasonably priced plants for your home and garden. We often have many types of plants, including flowers, bushes, shrubs, perennials, annuals, bulbs, herbs, vegetable seedlings and more!
All proceeds benefit the Sherburne County 4-H Camp and the Sherburne County Master Gardener Program. Thank you to all who came out and made our 2011 Plant Sale a huge success!
Website link to 2012 Plant Sale Flyer and Map of location:
http://www.extension.umn.edu/county/Sherburne/news/2012PlantSale.pdf
New this year, Sherburne County Master Gardeners will be hosting a day of tours at local gardens in our county. Come out and enjoy the day, get some great ideas for your next garden project and talk with Master Gardeners at some of the stops.
Click here for a flyer with more details about this exciting day!
2012_SherburneMG_GARDEN_TOUR_FLYER.pdf
Thanks to all who came out to our 8th Annual Garden Expo event hosted by the Sherburne County Master Gardeners held on April 14, 2012 at the Big Lake High School. We hope to see you again in 2013!
Our 2012 event featured Keynote Speaker Carrol Henderson, well-known Birder, Minnesota author, and naturalist. Carrol shared ideas from his own experiences and his best-selling book by the same title, "Landscaping for Wildlife". His presentation explained how to attract songbirds, hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard and landscape.
Participants also learned from Master Gardeners and local garden experts on a variety of yard and garden topics in three break-out seminars. The 2012 topics included:
* Landscaping for Wildlife
* Restore Your Shore
* Entryway Gardens
* Drying Food, a Sustainable Option
* Container Water Gardens
* Discovering Your Roots
* Garden Art
* Clematis: New & Unusual Varieties
* Corrective Pruning of Trees & Shrubs
* Kitchen Garden Nightmares? We can help!
The event also featured garden vendor booths, educational displays, and an opportunity to talk with Master Gardeners. 2012 event brochure:
2012 Garden Expo Vendors and Educational Displays:
Friend us on Facebook to learn about the latest happenings at:
http://www.facebook.com/SherburneMasterGardeners
Located west of the Elk River Library along the sidewalk, and across from the city hall complex on Orono Parkway in Elk River, MN.
You are invited to visit this special garden that was design just for pollinators! It was developed in 2008 with funds from a University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener Grant. Designed by a Sherburne County Master Gardener volunteer and installed with the help of other Sherburne County Master Gardeners.
The purpose of this special garden is to increase public awareness of the importance of pollinators in our lives and provide a learning environment to view them. Plants include native and hybrid perennials, bi-annuals, annual, and herbs. All have been selected because they provide nectar or are host plants to the many pollinators we see in Minnesota, including bees and wasps (they do over 80% of our pollinating), butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds. For example, the milkweed plants provide both nectar and are host to the Monarch butterfly caterpillar.
The plants are symmetrical in keeping with the butterfly design, with labels on the right giving the common name and on the left, the Latin name. Some are in bloom this season, while others will bloom as they mature over the next couple of years. As you visit, watch for evidence of pollinators in action.
Year one view after planting.
Year two view.
Close-up view.