The

Change in June Meeting Location! Our June 15th meeting will be held at our potential new location at Lake Valley Church, 910 Shady Grove Road. Food trucks at the church will offer a variety of portable food for those who would like to buy lunch before the meeting. Coffee and tea will also be available and cookies for those who don't want a big lunch. The social, lunch and registration time will go from 11:30am to 1:00pm. The meeting will start as usual promptly at 1:00pm in the auditorium. There will also be a short tour of the facility between 12:15 and 12:30 for anyone who would like to check out the rest of the church and the potential meeting rooms. Any questions or comments please call Claudette at 310-251-6383 or email catluver72@aol.com.

2017 Master Gardener Officers and Contact Numbers Claudette Cooper – President – 310-251-6383 catluver72@aol.com Debbie Atchison – 1st Vice President – 922-7670 atchisonds@yahoo.com Jan Hodges – 2nd Vice President – 622-0564 skip.jan.hodges@gmail.com Nancy Morris – Secretary – 952-4913 forecast1313@yahoo.com Tricia Freeman – Treasurer – 525-0432 pfreeman53@gmail.com Diane Daniel – Past President – 922-1656 arhogfans@hotmail.com

June 2017

President’s Corner Wow! Can you believe that half of the year is almost gone? June is the middle of our calendar year, and hopefully those of us who made resolutions when the year started have stuck to them and are accomplishing all kinds of amazing things. Speaking of amazing things . . . For women June is significant because during this month, on the 6th in 1872, one woman charted the way for the development of the most fundamental right that any citizen can exercise. Most of us take it for granted. Some of us don't even exercise it, yet a few people fought very hard for it—the right to vote. Susan Anthony mobilized a group of women to test their status as citizens by voting in the same manner as men, even though they were not legally permitted to do so. Although they got arrested and fined for it, that initial step paved the way for the recognition, For The First Time! Thirty-four years later, we Women Got the Right to Vote!

Garland County Extension Office 236 Woodbine Hot Springs AR 71901 501-623-6841 or 501-623-5756 Website: uaex.edu/garland Email: abates@uaex.edu The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate or need materials in another format, please contact your County Extension office (or other appropriate office) as soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.

Claudette Cooper

FIRST C

Allen’s Corner

2 – Jodi Tooke 4 – Jan Hodges 5 – Elton Gray 5 – Jeri Loy 9 – Gail McClure 9 – Suzanne Mayfield 12 – Ellie Elsenheimer 14 – Charlotte Anthony 16 – Marty Lynch 19 – Juneann Green 24 – Kay Skoog 27 – Karan Tyner 29 – Mary Ann Tomko 29 – Pat Witherspoon

2 – Jeanette Gleason 3 – Carol Scrivner 3 – Ann Kendrick 6 – Jennifer Jennings 8 – Darlene Schreckengost 9 – Cindy Bright 9 – Ruth Osborn 14- Suzy Both 15- Elizabeth Infusino 16- Becky Palwelczak 19- Karen Mason 21- Lin Johnson 23- Gene Parker 25- Deirdre Dudley 25- Emilie Monk 29- Donna Yadron 30- Rita Monsen

Find archived GCMG newsletters under County Extension Office at https://www.uaex.edu/counties/garland/newsletter.aspx

I had a great time at the state Master Gardener Conference, even though I sat on I-30 in a traffic jam for 1-1/2 hours trying to get there! I went to several very good educational classes. Garland County Master Gardeners were well represented and received two awards. Sharon Dent and Hilde Simmons, chairs of the Southern Inspiration Garden, along with many others that work on this project, won Project of the Year. SIG, as it is called, is one of the most visited sights in Garvan Gardens. Jodi Tooke and her staff with our newsletter won Newsletter of the Year—another well-deserved award. Congratulations to volunteers of both of these projects! The annual Field Day at Southwest Research and Extension Center is June 15th. This is the same day as our Garland County Master Gardener monthly meeting. We will be meeting at our trial location and voting on the location that day. If anyone would like more information on the field day, call our office. I wish they were not the same day.

Have fun,

This year Master Gardeners toured five homes in Hot Springs Village. A huge thank-you to Bob and Bonnie Bammes, Mary Ann and Hank Jarvis, Paula and Bruce Zorn, Gretyl Hurley, and Arlene and Clarence Hodgson for opening their garden paradises to us!

Inviting entrance into the Bammes Garden

Everyone’s favorite Redbud

Gretyl Hurley reused a naked umbrella to complement her fairytale garden.

Karin Grisham and Deidre Dudley show off garden hats.

Post-tour master gardener discussion

Sunny bed at the Hodgsons’

Thanks to photographers MaryAnn Tomko and Anne Flueckiger!

Colorful Page Border

Lake Valley Church Nate Hall is the youth pastor at Lake Valley Church and is incorporating gardening with his youth program. Diane Daniel discussed no-till gardening with him. Allen Bates, Diane, and Marty Lynch have been out to visit with Nate about four times to provide mentoring. He has done all the labor.

Hot Springs Middle School HSMS workday was April 18th with much pruning to dismantle wisteria and low tree limbs. Loyd White made rapid destruction of it with his electric pruning tool. One more tool for Claudette's tool collection.

The plants are tomatoes and peppers. The goal of the garden is to make salsa for the youth to give as gifts.

Four scarecrows, one on each corner of the garden made by four groups of girls attracted honking cars as they were installed. Local history tells of the scarecrows kept by the elderly couple who previously owned that garden and property.

Photo by MaryAnn Tomko

Hot Springs Village Residential Yard of the Month

Bruce and MG Paula Zorn with MG Nancy Eyre. and white dogwoods. On the left side yard, the path is lined with azalea, gardenia, and the yellow rose of Texas shrubs. A lovely focal point is a small boxwood garden with a trellis filled with purple clematis in full bloom.

Paths along the backyard offer multiple gardens of sun and shade perennials and an award winning knock out rose garden. One area features a variety of plants to attract butterflies and bees. A major focal point in the backyard is a unique wooden arbor designed and built by Bruce, covered with climbing roses. This trellis served as the background for the couple’s wedding, May 5, 2012. Not only are there numerous flowering shrub and tree species but there is also an herb and several raised bed vegetable gardens. The couple also enjoys blueberries each year planted in one sunny area. The patio at the back is unusually attractive with hanging baskets, flowering pots, and garden art tastefully arranged.

As the May Yard of the Month recipients, the Zorns will have a sign posted in their yard proclaiming their success, a year’s membership to Garvan Woodland Garden, and a certificate of appreciation from the Garland County Master Gardeners.

What a delight to meander along the multiple garden pathways at the home of Bruce and Paula Zorn, 3 Excelso Lane. The entryway garden is especially beautiful with dwarf mondo grass and sensitive fern bordering the walkway. A fountain adds musical charm. The exquisite lawn is bordered by a wide variety of plants and trees: Japanese maples, crape myrtles, white red bud, pencil, magnolia, and pink

To nominate a residential or business yard in Hot Springs Village, please contact Karen Geiger at 501-922-0645. The next viewing is June 6, 2017.

Each month between April and October we select a Hot Springs business and residential yard. Those selected have signs in their “yards” for the month. If you know anyone that has a yard you would like to nominate for consideration as Yard of the Month, contact either the Garland County Extension Office (501-623-6841) or email the name and address to cjd945@sbccglobal.net.

Hot Springs Residential Yard of the Month

L to R: MG Ruth Osborn, homeowners Betty and Bill Wood, and MGs Carole Stone, Jennetta Sanders. Not pictured: Kristen Mangham, Membership and Special Events Coordinator at Garvan Gardens.

Hot Springs Business Yard of the Month

We chose Bill and Betty Wood’s home at 422 Willow Bend Circle as May Residence winners. As you drive up, you are greeted with a bed containing a crape myrtle, Stella de Oro daylilies, small shrubs, and solar lighting. Across from the curved driveway another flower bed contains dwarf gardenia bushes surrounding knock out roses and more Stella de Oro daylilies. Each side of the front has matching topiaries with a ground cedar border between them. Another bed to the right of their sidewalk contains loropetalum, daylilies, lantana, coreopis, hanging glass art, and various other yard art. An inviting sitting area beckons through a side gate with a tinkling water fountain various potted plants. Their backyard abuts a sunroom that can be completely opened into the yard. Turquoise shade awnings create a unique sitting area that can be enjoyed even in the heat of the day

We chose McDonald’s located at 1714 Airport Road as the business of the month. At the entrance and exit from any of the three driveways, each side boasts a row of boxwoods interspersed with nandinas, loropetalum, and a border of liriope and Stella d’Oro daylilies. Awnings and variegated shrubs dominate both ordering stations. The front of the business is landscaped with various shrubs including boxwood, loropetalum, nandina, liriope, and Stella d’Oro daylilies in full bloom.

L to R: Johnae Curry, MG Jennetta Sanders, Manager David Bartlett, and Lyndsi Bartlett. Not pictured: Carole Stone, Ruth Osborn, and Carolyn Davis.

Courthouse & Police Memorial

L to R: James B. Moore, Jr, Pat Osborn, and NMG Barry Horner.

Courthouse & Police Memorial

Courthouse & Police Memorial

Twenty-two MGs assembled to make all three of our areas beautiful with summer color. This mighty group brought terrific attitudes, strong backs and knees, and creativity. If you thrive on praise—and who doesn't—we got lots of it! Sheriff McCormick personally came out to admire the memorial and thank us for our work to dress it up for their memorial ceremony the following Tuesday night. District Judge Ralph Ohm also visited before court started to tell us what a terrific job we were doing. After the historic courthouse was completed, a female employee came outside to tell us they had been watching the work from their office windows and really appreciated how nice we made it look. So, what did we do? Work included pulling winter pansies and weeds, planting and fertilizing summer color for both courthouses and the police memorial, mulching and trimming the police memorial area, and watering new plants where no sprinkler system exists. All together, we put 200 new plants in the ground! Extra points go to Carol Scrivner and her helpers who created lovely new silk flower arrangements for the bronze urns at the memorial.

Back L to R: Elizabeth McAnally, Pam Connor, Paula Page, Barb Smith, Anne Fulbright, Carol Scrivner, Deby Prince, Sunshine Spielvogle, Wayne Patterson, Jeff Finney, Kay Skoog, Mary Tom Taylor Front L to R: Sheila Springs, Kay Adams, Sherry Davis, Lin Johnson, Michael Carr, Linda Doherty Not Shown: Chair Shelia McLarty

COMO Deadheaded, weeded and trimmed hedges. Stop by to see our work!

Front: Sherry Davis, Pam McCoy. Back, L to R: Sue Bristow, Laura Young, Elizabeth McAnally, Becky Pawelczak, Paula Jackson and Stephanie Ballard. Not pictured: Burley Freeman

Garden Essential Maintenance Service

These GEMS answered the call for help from the horticulture crew at Garvan. Planting around the Grand Lawn was completed with the hard work of this good-looking crew. The garden is looking very colorful with the addition of hundreds of annuals and will be a delightful place for all plant lovers.

L to R: Sheila Springs, Carol Scrivner, Kay Adams, and Loretta West.

State of the Year Project Award

Sharon Dent and Hilde Simmons accepted for the Southern Inspiration Garden committee’s Project of the Year Award.

Ouachita Children’s Center We worked on Friday instead of our usual day due to rain and storms. We cleaned beds, tended perennials, planted front porch urns, and planted annuals.

L to R: Karen Mason, Becky Pawelczak, Ann Hiers, Pat Osborn, Millie Wilson. Photographer: Laura Young.

Farmers’ Market/Triangle Ten hardy MGs met at the Farmers’ Market to pull spent Fall plants and weeds before planting Spring plants to provide color. A new plant we used was red okra—great for summer heat and hot sun. Then we went to the Triangle to pull any weeds that had the nerve to grow after we planted there last month.

Those joining in the fun were Lin Johnson, Suzanne Mayfield, Elizabeth McAnally, Pam McCoy, Carol Scrivner, Mary Ann Schnipper, Sunshine Spielvogle, Sallye Waddell, Paula Wallace and Pat Zeller.

Hot Springs Ask A MG

Experienced MG Sherry Matthews coached NMG

Rachel Houston recently at the booth.

Garden Therapy We helped seniors plant sedums. We had prepared our clay pots with Modge-Podge on colorful napkins and let them dry for the last month. Today, we had sedums from the GC Master Gardeners Plant Sale and used them to create a fun planting for the seniors’ homes.

L to R: Sarah Harris, Rita Monsen, Ann Kendrick, Karen Geiger, Kumar Maruthar, Yetta Freeman, Emilie Stewart, and Tonie Atkinson.

Extension Office Loyd, Sherry, Jodi, Don and James pulled pansies and planted flowers including lantanas (some in the dirt and/or root systems). Not pictured is Nelson Ford and Kumar Maruthur.

Hot Springs Xeriscape We got rained out on Saturday and rescheduled our workday—there was so much to do! We pulled weeds and planted some leftover rudbekia, coleus, and dragon wing begonias from the plant sale. We pulled up spent pansies around the bed perimeter. Dierdre Dudley donated a 2-year-old Japanese Maple, and Tricia Freeman donated multiple begonias she propagated at home. We planted them, and some mondo grass around the bench and mulched that area as well. Daylilies, phlox, Solomon Seal, wild pennywart, and nandinas are there also. The development of the bench is really coming together! It WAS just a bench on a cement slab and Master Gardeners have turned it into a place of beauty. We mulched the inside of the garden and covered up the irrigation lines after repairing them earlier in the week. We had asked Allen to look at our struggling Rose of Sharon the month before, and he said we should replant it. We voted that it would be better to move it elsewhere but we’d wait until Fall as that would be a better time and, besides, it had perked up. Karan Tyner showed up to say hello and observe, even though she had just had surgery on her arm which was all bandaged up. Anne Fulbright pulled weeds on another day and made some recommendations. We value her knowledge and experience. We also discussed Xeriscape Day plans! Sherry Matthews brought the remaining wildflower bundles she had put together from home, so that's done! Sunshine Spielvogle won the drawing for a hanging basket which was fun. Whew! As you can see, there's a wealth of talent in our group and a lot of committee members are really contributing in different ways—and it certainly shows!

Remember to join us on Saturday, June 17, for Xeriscape Day from 10am – noon.

L to R, front: Deidre Dudley, Sunshine Spielvogle, Sherry Matthews and Karin Grisham L to R, back: Tricia and Burley Freeman, Jennifer Jennings, Stephanie Ballard and Becky Pawelczak

Patricia Freeman planted begonias and mondo grass at the bench.

City Greenhouse

We had a special treat for May. After working 2 hours in the greenhouse areas, we went across to the compost facility where Dennis Brunson, the Industrial Pretreatment Coordinator for the City of Hot Springs Municipal Utilities department told us that Hot Springs was the first municipality in Arkansas that collected brush, trees, and yard waste to prepare compost available free of charge (you shovel) or for minimal cost per truck or trailer load. The facility on Davidson Drive occupies over 160 acres and includes the sewage and water treatment facilities in addition to the composting area. Dennis went over waste water treatment as it pertains to compost preparation, explaining each step in detail, stressing testing measures taken between each step and of the final product, thus assuring that the compost we use so freely is ready to use and of the highest quality. He briefly talked about Hot Springs' excellent drinking water which is also prepared within the complex—a most interesting discussion!

Dennis Brunsen, Industrial Pre-Treatment Coordinator

Lin Johnson and Sheila McLarty repot.

Hot Springs Village Xeriscape

The MGs are all hiding in the bushes but their gardening skill is plain to see! Look at these beautiful blooms! Spirea, and Yucca are wonderful!

Hot Springs Village Xeriscape

Beautiful daylilies put on quite a show—like the Rockettes all in a row!

.

Photo by MaryAnn Tomko

Hot Springs Village Xeriscape

Check out the Oak Leaf Hydrangea!

Southern Inspiration Garden May was eventful for us! We met three times to pull spent winter annuals, prune and deadhead, and spread four front loader scoops full of mulch. Kathy and Al Edmonson came by also, planted more perennials, trimmed boxwoods and moved plants into better locations. The biggest part of the mulch spreading was done by an outstanding crew who came while many SIG committee members were at the 2017 MG Conference in Little Rock. Thank you! We all—those who currently work, those who have developed this special place and supported it through the years, including the Edmonsons and Garvan's staff past and present—can be proud that we were acknowledged as the 2017 ARKANSAS MASTER GARDENER PROJECT OF THE YEAR FOR COUNTIES WITH OVER 50 MEMBERS.

Southern Inspiration Garden

Roger braves deep foliage for trimming.

Southern Inspiration Garden

Pam Woollis with visitor Landon fixing Thomas the Train.

Southern Inspiration Garden

Kay Adams’s granddaughter Abby checked out the Southern Inspiration Garden. Perhaps she’ll become a Master Gardener too!

Meet a Master Gardener Hilde Simmons: Mentor Extraordinaire

By: Julia Milano

and strawberries, which is what the kids wanted. We tried radishes, carrots and onions too. Later, I had a plot in the community garden for vegetables. I had a flower garden at home and became interested in prairie flowers. When we were contemplating moving to Arkansas, I read Janet Carson’s Saturday column in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. I sent her an email asking about Arkansas’ native flowers. She responded within an hour and recommended that I read Carl Hunter’s classic books. I couldn’t believe that such a renowned gardening expert would respond so quickly on a Saturday afternoon. After moving to Hot Springs Village, I realized that nothing I had previously known about gardening would apply in Arkansas. It was time to become an Arkansas Master Gardener.” Today, Hilde is mainly active at Garvan Gardens working at the Southern Inspiration Garden, as a docent, with GEMS, and as a golf cart driver during the Holiday Lights. She is also part of the City Greenhouse crew and a member of County 76. In 2014 and 2015, she worked as mentoring chair and co-chair respectively. I am one of the grateful people she mentored. Garden and landscape have been an essential part of the travels which she and her husband Jerry have undertaken in recent years. “We love to use the reciprocal privileges that come with our Garvan membership to see botanical gardens during our trips out of Arkansas and make a point of choosing routes that allow us to see a diverse number of both destination gardens and interesting landscapes.” When asked why she gardens, Hilde said, “It brings me joy and I love the beauty of flowers which don’t talk back. If you give any plant the right setting and nutrition, they silently reward you by blooming.”

Hilde arrives for our lunch after spending the morning working at Garvan Gardens where her passions are the Southern Inspiration Garden and plant propagation. After our food arrives, I ask her to share some early gardening memories. “I grew up in a small German town called Oberstreu, three miles from the East German border which today of course is part of a United Germany. Many families in the town owned small community gardens down by the river. Our garden was the exclusive domain of my mother and her days revolved around it. Whether it’s a flower garden or a vegetable garden, in Germany, gardening is a cultural prerogative. During my childhood, it was assumed you would grow your own produce. That produce provided the jellies, jams and pickles we ate all year and using cold frames, my mother gardened throughout the winter months.” “After I married my husband and moved to the United States, we lived in Illinois. My first garden was primarily roses, peas

Send Newsletter submissions by the 21st of each month to garlandcountymgnewsletter@gmail.com

State Master Gardener Conference Pulaski County hosted this year’s conference—A Capitol Idea!—in Little Rock May 21-23 at the DoubleTree Hotel. Attendees enjoyed garden tours, seminars, a silent auction, an Art & Garden Fair, and a sustainable feast at Heifer International. Several MGs chose to share garden stories in “Sharing Garden D.I.R.T. (Details, Information, Recollections and Tales) which will be stored in the archives at the Butler Center for Arkansas History. The Welcome Banquet featured Jane Hankins (Artist, Sculptor, Author) whose theme was “I Have Magical Creatures in My Garden.” The Keynote Speaker was Erica Glasener Goldstein—“A Passion for the Gardening Life”—and Dr. Jim Collins closed the conference with “Reflections of a Newly Retired Horticulturist.” The Master Gardener website (https://www.uaex.edu/yard-garden/master-gardeners/awards.aspx) lists state annual awards—you’ll recognize a few from Garland County! We look forward to next year’s conference in Fort Smith!

Monthly MG Radio Show Listen in to Dick Antoine’s ‘Talk of the Town’ on KZNG 1340 AM and 105.5 FM from 8-8:30am on second Mondays. GCMGs will address: Jun - Xeriscaping Jul - Pest Control Aug - Sunflowers & rudbeckia Sep - Composting Oct - Fall Vegetables Nov - Winterizing Dec - Propogation

Saturday MG: Class of 2017 Held in Hope, AR July 8, 15, 22, 29 and August 5, 2017 Registration deadline is June 1, 2017 Call or e-mail Allen Bates with questions at 501-623-6841 or abates@uaex.edu

Know It To Grow It Reminder: Alicia Baucom and Rita Monsen will present “From Garden to Centerpiece” with demonstraton using flora from your yard to create beautiful arrangements for your home. Date/Time: Wednesday, June 7 at 1pm Location: Garland County Public Library Registration Requested but not required.

Photo by Hilde Simmons

Date/Day & Time Name & Location June 6 & 13 Tue. 9:30-12 p.m. Counts as education for GCMG

2017 Docent Training: GWG Summer Interest

June 7 Wed. 1-3pm Counts as education for GCMG

GWG Know It to Grow It: From Garden to Centerpiece, Alicia Baucom and Rita Monsen. GCPL.

June 8 Thurs Counts as education for GCMG

GWG Gardening For Pollinators Janet Carson w/ Jon Zawislak and Pat Gipson, will present the case for attracting pollinators to your home garden. $35 members, $50 non-members (lunch included)

June 9 Fri must have 3 years active in MG Counts as education for GCMG

Advanced Training Class, Madison County (more information later)

June 17 Sat, 10am-noon Counts as education for GCMG

Xeriscape Day at GCMG Xeriscape Garden near Hollywood Park

June 19-21 Counts as education for GCMG

2017 MG trip to Oklahoma (more information later)

June 20 Tues Counts as education for GCMG

GWG 101 “Spice Things Up How to Spice Up Your Own Culinary Garden” Garden Manager Minnie Shelor presents a practical guide to growing food at home. Free to member, $15 non-members.

June 23 Fri must have 3 years active in MG Counts as education for GCMG

Advanced Training Class, Pope County (more information later)

July 8-Aug. 5 Sat training for 2017 Consecutive Saturday MG training in Hope, AR $75 plus county dues. If you know of anyone that needs Saturday training let them know.

July 18 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Counts as education for GCMG

GWG 101 Workshop "Beat the Heat: Gardening in the Shade", Minnie Shelor shares top performers for shade. Free to Members, $15 Non-members

July 29, Sat, 10am – noon Counts as education for GCMG

Know It to Grow It: Chickens in Your Backyard. Carla Hardwick shares how to get started and care for your flock. GCPL.

Aug 4 Fri Counts as education for GCMG

Rice Expo (more information later)

Aug. 14 Mon 2 p.m. Board meeting at First United Methodist Church Aug. 18 Fri Counts as education for GCMG

½ day seminars for new MGs and their mentors. Fayetteville

Aug. 19 Sat Counts as education for GCMG

½ day seminars for new Mgers and their mentors. Batesville

Aug. 20 Sun Counts as education for GCMG

½ day seminars for new Mgers and their mentors. Little Rock

Aug 21 Mon Counts as education for GCMG

½ day seminars for new Mgers and their mentors. Hope

Aug. 22, Tue 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Counts as education for GCMG

GWG 101 Workshop "Water You Waiting For? Minnie Shelor shares simple ways to add water features to your garden. Free to Members, $15 Non-members

Aug. 25 Sat. Counts as education for GCMG

Ouachita Hosta & Shade Plant Society meeting at The Garland County Library.

Sept. 2 Sat. Hot Springs Iris Society's Annual Rhizome Sale at the Farmers' Market Sept. 19 & 26 Tue. 9:30-12 p.m. Counts as education for GCMG

2017 Docent Training: GWG Early Fall Interest

Sept. 26-27 Tues/Wed Counts as education for GCMG

PNG (Leadership) at the AR 4-H center.Open to all, not just officers. Learn about lots of topics. (more information later)

If you have any items to add please e-mail Lin Johnson at linjd@sbcglobal.net

Calendar of Events GCMG= Garland County Master Gardeners GCL= Garland County Library **Register for Know It to Grow It classes online at gclibrary.com or call 501-623-4161.

GWG = Garvan Woodland Gardens *Sign-up for GWG classes online at garvangardens.org or call 262-9300.