Volume9,Issue3,March2017

A Message from our Vice-President ~~~~~~~~ IsuggestthatwestartdoingsomedaydreamingaboutthefactthatSpringiscomingsomeday.Ha!Ha!Hopefully,youhaven'tstartedtogrow“Moss”onyourfeetfromallthewetwinterwe’vehadthisyear.Iknowthatwehaveneededtherainbutgiveusabreak.Ithinkwehavereachedapointwherealittlelessrainwouldbeok.It’sbeenscarylatelywiththeproblemsattheOrovilledamspillway.Ihopeeverythingturnsoutokayforthem.

I’vehadafewfriendstellmethattheirdaffodilsarestartingtocomeupallover.Idon’thavetheminmyyard,butIhaveenjoyedseeingthemhereandthere.Mybackyardhasbeenasloshymess.Can’tgetoutthereyet.

JustareminderthatourTourCommitteeisworkingonatriptoDutchHollowFarmsinModestotoseeanincredibledisplayoftulips.WearegoingtocarpoolthereonThursday,March9th.WewillhavemoreinformationatourClubmeetingonMonday,March6thorcontactmeat684-1285.

Finally,ifyouneedsomethingtofillyourschedule,don’tmisstheCalendarbeginningonpage5.Thereisnochancetogetboredinthespring!

HopetoseeyouattheMarchmeeting.Trytostaydrythebestthatyoucanuntilthen.

Bonnie Jones

Next Meeting ~~~~~

Monday,March6,2017

Bee Keeping

SteveHays(atourregularmeetingplace)

Inside This Issue ~~~

2–MarchSpeaker–SteveHays

2–IncredibleEdible

3–IsItPoisonous?

3–MarchGardenChecklist

4–TourReminder

4–PennyPines

5–Calendar

TheScarecrow|March2017 2

Our March Speaker ~~~~~~~~~

ByJanFetler

SteveHays,Beekeeper

WhatdoesaretiringSacramentoSheriffdowithhisnewsparetime?Raisehoneybeesofcourse.

Inearly2016,SteveHayscontactedtheElkGroveCommunityGardentoaskifhecouldplacebeehivesthereandtoldmembers

thathewoulddonate80%ofthehoneyproducedfromhishivestotheFoodBank.

ThegardenagreedandthehiveswereinstalledinMay,2016.Forthenextfewmonths,thebeeswerebusypollinatingthegarden’sproduceandmakinghoney.

OnAugust25,2016,aspromised,Stevedonated48jarsofhoneyfromhishoneybeehivestotheElkGroveFoodBank.Everyoneisanticipating2017!

JoinusattheMarchmeetingtohearallaboutSteve’ssweethobby.

Thank You! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ByJanFetler

Speakingofspeakers...WhoeversentinthereviewofmyJanuaryFruitTreetalktotheMasterGardenerspeakercoordinatorgavemytalkthebestreviewforthemonthofJanuary!Theresult?ThespeakercoordinatorawardedmethisredroseattheFebruaryMGmeeting—sharingitherewithyou.ThankyouallsomuchforyoursupportandkindnesstotheMasterGardenerprogramandme.

Incredible Edible ~~~~~~~~~~~

ByJanFetler

TahitianSquashor‘Neck’Pumpkin(Curcurbitamoschata).ThisbutternuttypesquashgrowsanincrediblysweetBIGsquash.Eachvigorousvinewillproduce2ormorefruitweighingfrom10to30poundseach.Didwesaybig?LookforitinspecialtyseedcatalogslikePeacefulValley,PinetreeorSustainableSeed.PlantseedoutdoorsinMay.

Babyplantneedsroomtogrow—thisonewillgrowoutoftheraisedplanterandspreadoutontheground.

Skinturnsorangewhenripe.Seedsarecontainedinthebottomofthefruitleavingthe“neck”seed-free.

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TheScarecrow|March2017 3

Is It Poisonous? ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everwonderaboutthesafetyofplantsthataregrowinginyouryard?MostpeopleknowthatOleanderisverytoxic(ifyoudidn’t,youdonow!).Belowareafewdangerousbeauties.

Formoreinformationaboutpoisonousplantsandalotmore,visit:http://ucanr.edu/sites/poisonous_safe_plants/

Thewebsitebreaksplantsdownintocategoriesofdangerfrommajortoxicitytosimpledermatitis.Goodstuff!

Larkspur(andDelphinium).

Azalea(andRhododendrons).

Foxglove.

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March Garden Checklist ~~~

ByJanFetler

Herearesomesuggestionsforgardenchoresthismonth.

• Testthewateringsystemforleaksandpluggedorbrokenparts.Testmonthly.

• Considerinvestinginasmartcontrollerthatadjustswateringbasedontheweather.

• Waterornamentaltreesandshrubsifrainfallisbelownormal.

• Startleekseedsindoors.

• Plantvegetableseedsoutdoors:beets,mustard,lettuce,carrots,chard,radish,turnipsandcilantro.

• Plantpotatoesoutdoors.

• WaittoplanttomatoandeggplantseedlingsuntillateApril.

• Fertilizeblueberries,youngfruittreesandgreen-in-winterlawns.Useaslowreleasefertilizer.

• Testsoilacidity(pH)forblueberries,addsulfurifneeded.Considertestingvegetablegardensoilonceevery3to5yearsforpHandnutrients.

• Divideand/ortransplantsummerorfallbloomingperennialssuchasdayliliesandasters.

TheScarecrow|March2017 4

• Spraygrapesforpowderymildewasshootsbegintogrowanddaytimehightemperaturesare73°Forover(seeGardenGuide).Continueweeklyuntildaytimetemperaturesareover95°F.

• Lookforaphids,slugsandsnails.

Upcoming Tour Reminder ~~~~~

ByBonnieJones

Don’tforget!

DutchHollowFarms,ModestoThursday,March99a–CarpoolfromElkGroveMeetatBurlingtonparkinglot

Itwillbetulipseason.You’llhavetheopportunitytobuybulbsandplants.Wewillalsotakeaone-hourpersonaltouroftheiroperation.

Can’tmaketheMarchmeetingbutwanttogo?Contactme:684-1285

Penny Pines ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ByDianneCadwallader

Weallrecognizethelittlepiggybankbeingpassedaroundatmeetings.Wedutifullyreachintoourwalletstoridourselvesofsparechangetofeedthepiggy.Butwheredoesthatmoneygoandwhyareourdonationssoimportantnow?IdidalittleresearchandfoundsomesaddeningfactsaboutthePineBarkBeetleinvasioninourforests—pleasevisit:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_pine_beetletolearnmoreaboutthedevastationitiscausing.

ThePennyPinesprogramisonesmallwaywecanhelp.Here’swhatIfoundoutaboutitontheUSDAForestServiceWebsite.

Asdestructiveasfiresare,diseaseandinsectinfestationdestroyseventimesmoreforestvegetationannuallythanfires.PennyPines,apartnershipwithNationalGardenClubs,providesahelpinghand.Itisaconservationprograminwhicheveryonecanparticipate.

AtthestartofthisUSForestServiceprogramin1941,seedlingscouldbeproducedforaboutonecenteach.Approximately680seedlingswereusedtoplantatypicalacre.For$68.00,seedlingsfortenacrescouldbepurchased.SitepreparationandplantingcostsweremetthroughregularForestServiceappropriations.

ThePennyPinesprogramwassosuccessfulthatmoneycontributedtopurchaseseedlingssoonfarexceededappropriatedfundsavailableforsitepreparationandfortheactualplantingjob.

In1964,theoriginalcooperativeagreementwasrewrittentoprovidethatfundscontributedunderthePennyPinesprogrambeusedforreforestation,ratherthansolelyforpurchasingseedlings.

OurdonationshelpwithreforestationoftheTahoeNationalForest.Seedlingsaregrownfromlocalseedsandacorns,andreplantedneartheareaswheretheseedswerecollectedtoimprovetheirchanceofsurvival.

Thefundsmayalsobeusedtomaintainexistingtreestandsandimprovewildlifehabitatorreplantburnedorotherwisedamagedforestsinconjunctionwithfederalfunds.

ThePennyPinesReforestationProgramplaysavitalrolebothinrenewingthenationalforestsinCalifornia,andinmultiple-usemanagement.Treeshelpthegroundstorepreciouswater,protectagainstsoilerosion,andaddtothescenicbeautyofthenationalforests.

Throughstatewidedonations,morethan27millionseedlingshavebeenplanted,renewing88,000acresofnationalforestlandinCalifornia--trulyanoutstandingachievement.

Keepthosenickelsanddimescoming!

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TheScarecrow|March2017 5

Gardenism ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For the Birds ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Repurposethatgaragesalefind.

Calendar ~~~~~~~~~~~

Next GOTG Meetings

March6(Monday)6:30pm

Beekeeping–SteveHays

April3(Monday)6:30pm

Herbs–RoseLoveall,MorningSunHerbFarm

May1(Monday)6:30pm

Wildflowers–ChrisWassermann

June5(Monday)6:30pm

GardenChatter–MasterGardeners

Franklin School Garden Club

March13(Monday)2:30till3:30pm

March27(Monday)2:30till3:30pm

April3(Monday)2:30till3:30pm

April24(Monday)2:30till3:30pm

May8(Monday)2:30till3:30pm

GOTG Tour

March9(Thursday)9a

DutchHollowFarms,ModestoCarpoolfromElkGroveMeetatBurlingtonparkinglot

Other Events

March4(Saturday)9atill4p

CymbidiumShowandSaleSacramentoValleyCymbidiumSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

March11(Saturday)9atillNoon

OpenGarden–wanderandaskquestionsaboutveggies,fruit,herbs,landscapeplants.SacramentoCountyMasterGardenersFairOaksHorticultureCenter11549FairOaksBlvd,FairOakshttp://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/Workshop_Schedule/

March11(Saturday)9atill1p(membersonly1st2hours)

SpringPlantSaleUCDavisArboretumMap:http://campusmap.ucdavis.edu/?b=204More:http://publicgarden.ucdavis.edu/plant-sales

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March18(Saturday)9atill5p

VintageTrailerShow/AntiqueFleaMarketOldTownElkGrovePlazaCornerofElkGroveBlvd./RailroadStreetSponsoredbyTheRedDoorAntiquesMore:http://www.thereddoorelkgrove.com/

March19(Sunday)9atill4p

DigIntoSpring-IdeasFairGreenAcresNursery(ElkGroveonly)9220EastStocktonBlvd,ElkGroveMore:http://www.idiggreenacres.com/events/

March18/19(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p

SpringPlantSaleSacramentoPerennialPlantClubShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

March19(Sunday)1till4p

BackyardButterflyGardeningUCDBohartMuseumofEntomology1124AcademicSurgeBuildingCrockerLane,DavisFreeadmissionandparking!http://bohart.ucdavis.edu/

March25(Saturday)9atill3p

SmallandSpecialtyVendor(includingBigOak!)SpringPlantSaleSponsoredbytheSacPerennialPlantClubShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

March25(Saturday)10atill3p

SpringNativePlantSaleCaliforniaNativePlantSocietyElderberryFarmsNursery/SoilBornFarms2140ChaseDrive,RanchoCordovahttp://sacvalleycnps.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20&Itemid=180

April1(Saturday)1ptill4pApril2(Sunday)11atill3p

AfricanVioletShowandSaleCapitolCityAfricanVioletSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

April8(Saturday)9atillNoon

PlantSale(veggies,herbs,flowers,succulents)ElkGroveCommunityGarden10025HamptonOakDrive,ElkGrove

April8(Saturday)TimeTBA

GardensGoneNativeGardenTourCaliforniaNativePlantSocietyhttp://sacvalleycnps.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23&Itemid=179

April8/9(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p

BonsaiSpringShowandSaleAmericanBonsaiAssociationShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

April12(Wednesday)9atillNoon

MidweekOpenGarden–wander,askquestionsaboutveggies,fruit,herbs,landscapeplants.SacramentoCountyMasterGardenersFairOaksHorticultureCenter11549FairOaksBlvd,FairOakshttp://sacmg.ucanr.edu/Fair_Oaks_Horticulture_Center/Workshop_Schedule/

April15/16(Saturday/Sunday)9atill4p

IrisShowandSale(pottedplants)SacramentoIrisSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

April22(Saturday)10atill4pApril23(Sunday)10atill2p

ChrysanthemumShowandSaleChrysanthemumSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

April29(Saturday)10atill4p

RoseShowandSaleSacramentoRoseSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

April29/30(Saturday/Sunday)11atill4p

GardenTour—6beautifulgardensFolsomGardenClubTickets$20Moreinformationandtickets:http://folsomgarden.ipage.com/ftp.ipage.com/Grdn_Tour.html

May6(Saturday)9atill4pMay7(Sunday)10atill4p

CactusandSucculentShowandSaleSacramentoCactusandSucculentSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

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May13(Saturday)9atill3p

GeraniumSaleandShowSacramentoGeraniumClubShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

June17(Saturday)9atill3p

FuchsiaSaleandShowAmericanFuchsiaSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

July15/16(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p

IrisSale(barerootrhizomes)SacramentoIrisSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

July22/23(Saturday/Sunday)10atill4p

BromeliadandCarnivorousPlantShowandSaleSacramentoBromeliad&CarnivorousPlantSocietyShepardGardenCenter3330McKinleyBlvd.,Sacramento

Co-PresidentsKathleenAlbianiandConnieAdamsGeorgiu

Vice-President–BonnieJones

Secretary–DianneCadwallader

Treasurer–LindaLichtenberg

POBox2418ElkGrove,CA95759-2418

http://www.gardenersofthegrove.orgFacebook:

https://www.facebook.com/GOTGElkGrove2016/

GardenersoftheGroveisamemberof:

SacramentoRiverValleyDistrict

CaliforniaGardenClubs,Inc.

PacificRegionofNationalGardenClubs,Inc.

NationalGardenClubsInc.

Support Our Local Friends ~~~~~ BigOakNursery

ElkGroveCommunityGarden

ElkGroveFoodBank

ElkGroveGreenerGardens

ElkGroveHistoricalSociety

GreenAcresNurseryandSupply

TheSecretGarden

UCCEMasterGardeners

~~~ The Scarecrow ~~~ Editor–JanFetler

janfetler@gmail.com

This Month’s Contributors:

BonnieJonesDianneCadwallader

ForthoseofyouwhomissedtheFebruarymeetingonIrrigationatGreenAcres,sharingthisphotoofthechocolatecakestheyservedthatlookedlike(big)ladybeetles.Andtheyweredelicious!