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The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.
LOOSELEAF | MAY 2019
A Publication of the University of Maryland Extension Howard County Master Gardeners
3300 NORTH RIDGE ROAD, SUITE 240 | ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043 410)313-2707 | FAX (410)313-2712
http://www.extension.umd.edu/mg/locations/howard-county-master-gardeners
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FROM GEORGIA'S DESK ...
The data isn't complete regarding contacts made with GreenFest clients, although it appeared that the
traffic was quite steady throughout the day until about 3:00 pm. Fortunately, the weather improved
perhaps contributing to good attendance. In spite of being in a new site, and encountering some
challenges regarding space for the MG activities including AAMG, B-W, and fund-raising indoors, the
event provided good opportunities for educational, helpful communications with clients. The outdoor
folks, including native plant sales and GIEI, seemed to have convenient and adequate space. We'll wait
to see whether the 2020 event returns to Galleria or the SET building, but in any case, we will need to
give more thought and improve planning for next year.
With thanks to Ana Marie Layton and Kate Reilly, we now have copies of our MG brochure
translated into Spanish. These were printed and distributed to all the Maryland MG programs by the
state MG office. These are a great addition to our educational publications.
With the changes in the VMS activity codes, it is appropriate to remind everyone that we have a list of
current MG Howard programs and activities, and the coordinators’ contact information. Any new
programs/activities must be approved, so please be mindful that if you are considering initiating or
participating in any new program, a short description of the activity must be submitted to me. I welcome
innovation, but we must be cautious about expanding our capacity.
Enjoy spring and happy gardening!
— Georgia Eacker, MG Coordinator, WSA Liaison, 410-313-1913, [email protected]
INSIDE —
2 Conservation Stewardship (MPEA)
3 Backyard Birds: American Redstart
4 Calendar Highlights
4 Diversity Committee Report
6 Enchanted Garden News
7 Latin for Gardeners: Asclepias incarnata
8 Whipps Garden News & Sale
10 Grow It Eat It News
11 Recipe: Charred Allium Dip
12 Book Review: Cabaret of Plants
Asclep
ias incarn
ata
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 2
MPEA BANNER BY HOCO REC & PARKS DESIGN DIVISION
NATIVE SHRUB PLANTING
Volunteers have worked diligently to clear out invasive Autumn olive, Japanese barberry, and other invasive plants from a half-acre spot within the Woodcock Habitat Management Area. Now there is enough cleared area to plant a mixture of native plants with the goal to create a scrub-shrub ecosystem. During this event, we will install and shelter a small variety of native shrubs in the center of the site plus small trees around the edge adjacent to the forest. We’ll also take time to recount and admire the prior efforts by our intern and volunteers to prepare for this occasion.
No experience necessary • One-time volunteers welcome Wear long pants and water-resistant boots or shoes • Gloves and tools provided
We start at 9:00am at the South Wind Circle trailhead. Take Route 29 to Route 108 west toward Clarksville, or Route 32 to Route 108 east. Turn onto Trotter Road, go about one mile to South Wind Circle. Enter the circle and proceed to trailhead opposite Misty Top Path.
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The MPEA (Middle Patuxent Environmental Area) comprises a diversity of habitat types, including upland and bottomland hardwood forest, fields, wetlands, ponds and riparian habitats. MGs partner with Howard Co Recreation & Parks for the Conservation Stewardship Project from March to November (except July and August) on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
Next Up at the MPEA — June 25 • Barberry Busting (4
th Tuesday at South Wind Circle Trailhead)
— Clare Openshaw, MG 2012, [email protected]
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FIRST MONARCH OF THE SEASON! I found this butterfly in my garden a few days ago, and was surprised as anyone.
It’s so nice to see a Monarch this early. I simply had to take a photo.
— Deborah Fuller, MG 2016, [email protected]
Come help us create a scrub-shrub ecosystem!
Tuesday (May 28) • 9 - 11:30am South Wind Circle Trailhead
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 3
BACKYARD BIRDS: AMERICAN REDSTART
Anyone who has ever heard me talk about birds knows that the American Redstart is my favorite
warbler. Redstarts regularly feed in shrubs at around eye level making them easy to observe as
they move constantly from branch to branch. It is also our most distinctively patterned warbler in
Halloween themed black and orange colors that inspired its Central American nickname of
candelita or ‘little torch’. The birds reveal their orange tail, wing and underwing patches by quickly
fanning their wings and tail. This flash of color scares insects into moving so the birds can dart in
for a snack. You can enjoy the dance of this ‘startle’ hunting technique on the short ‘On the hunt’
video on this website (although I have never been lucky enough to observe multiple redstarts on
the ground): https://coleswildbird.com/tag/how-do-i-attract-american-redstarts/
American redstarts build their nests in shrubs and are vulnerable to brown cowbirds parasitizing
their nests. Cowbirds lay their eggs in other bird’s nests for them to raise. When the young
cowbirds hatch, they push the host bird’s babies from the nest. Although redstarts breed in
Howard County, they need large (>1000 acres) undisturbed areas of woodland to successfully
breed, so have been impacted by housing developments and forest fragmentation.
How to attract American Redstarts: like most warblers, redstarts are insectivores and need the
large quantities of insects that native shrubs and trees provide. This will keep them in tiptop
condition for breeding and migrating. I see them feeding in native viburnums, dogwoods, highbush
blueberry, chokecherry and spice bush. Warblers usually feed in or close to larger trees that can
provide cover from aerial predators.
— Clare Walker, MG 2015, [email protected]
WarblerLady CC BY-ND 2.0
The striking colors of the
American Redstart
Henry T. McLin CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Even a glance of the
distinctive ink dipped tail
with orange or yellow allows
identification.
Jeremy Meyer CC BY 2.0
Females have the same
patterns, just in duller
colors.
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 4
DIVERSITY COMMITTEE REPORT
What our 2018 Data Tell Us
The Committee for Diversity and Inclusion analyzed 2018 demographic data submitted by MGs. While the MG group is 97% white, we hope the results and conclusions will guide us in improving outreach to diverse populations in our county and to increase the diversity in the HC MG program.
Howard County residents are 52% white, 20% Black/African American, 19% Asian, and 7% Hispanic (independent of race). The success of reaching these groups varies significantly by age.
Our youth activities are effectively reaching representative percentages of these populations. But our family activities present a mixed picture, with different events drawing different ethnic crowds. For brevity we won’t discuss those results here.
Our activities that primarily serve adults last year reached 3/4 the numbers expected among Asians, but only half the expected numbers of African Americans and Hispanics. According to the data you provided, the programs below did quite well with adults of particular demographics.
Most successful programs with our 20% Black/African American population:
Urban Garden Westside Shelter 40% of contacts
MD Food Bank Vegetable Garden 35%
Ask-a-Master-Gardener at East Branch 22% (compare to 6% at Miller)
Community Gardens 22%
Rake & Take Coordination 22%
It’s All on the MG Electronic Calendar:
Meetings, Events, Volunteer Options!
Go to the Howard County page of the Maryland MG website. Our calendar is in the upper right-hand
column under the link to LooseLeaf. Look there for dates, times, locations and contact information for MG
activities in Howard County. Just click on a specific listing for details. Click here to go directly to the MG
Calendar. It’s time to earn volunteer hours! Tuesdays and Wednesdays are work days at The Enchanted
Garden (demonstration garden). Thursdays are work days at Whipps. Multiple Plant Clinics and
Compost Demos are also listed along with who to contact if you want to volunteer.
You may also want to help during an MG talk or presentation by collecting attendee demographics for the
speaker (to earn volunteer or continuing ed hours!).
MAY ACTIVITES 1 Diversity meeting at UME
2 Square Foot Gardening at Miller Library
2 Fruit Trees talk at Savage Library
5 Native Plant Sale at Robinson Nature Center
6 Bay-Wise Meeting at UME
6 Native Plant talk, River Hill Community Center
10-11 Whipps Plant Sale
20 LooseLeaf Deadline for June!
28 Conservation Stewardship at MPEA (Shrub Planting)
29 Weeds & Pests talk at Ekridge Library
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 5
Most successful programs with our 19% Asian population:
Composting at Enchanted Garden 54% of contacts
Ask-a-Master-Gardener at Elkridge 35%
Ask-a-Master-Gardener at Miller 30%
Ask-a-Master-Gardener at East 23%
Ask-a-Master-Gardener at Central 22%
Most successful programs with our 7% Hispanic population:
Ask-a-Master-Gardener at East Branch 14% (compare to 1% at Miller)
Rake & Take Coordination 14%
Greenfest at HCC 9%
For Ask-a-Master-Gardener alone (only program providing site-by-site comparison), the differences between library branches were striking (see table).
In order to understand the AAMG and other results, we examined the demographic distribution in Howard County. We used the U.S. 2010 Census data from individual tracts in Howard County, which revealed the ethnic distribution in our county, and surrounding our public libraries, is far from even.
Specific libraries serve vastly different populations:
Miller Branch serves an area that is up to 30% Asian, with only about a quarter the county average of Black and Hispanic residents.
East and Central Branches serve an area up to 35% Black/African American and almost 20% Hispanic, with below average numbers of other ethnicities.
Glenwood Branch serves an area that is 86% white, with numbers of other ethnicities well below half the county average.
The data show which events currently draw diverse audiences, and suggest we should keep county demographics in mind when organizing events. Example, the East Branch provides us a venue to reach Black and Hispanic populations in high numbers. To serve a more diverse population, and draw more diverse applicants to our program, we need to reach out to the audiences where they are most likely to attend our events.
Questions regarding the data and conclusions can be directed to the Committee for Diversity and Inclusion.
— Kate Reilly and Ana Maria Layton, MG 2019. [email protected], [email protected]
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 6
MG DAY IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN AT MILLER LIBRARY
The Farmers’ Market is a very popular
event at the Miller Branch of the Howard
County Library System. It runs every
Wednesday afternoon, and many of the
customers stroll over to visit the library’s
Enchanted Garden after they shop. So
we decided to hold our annual MG Day
in the Garden on Wednesday, June 26
from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.
Send a note to Ann Hackeling if you can
join us to help answer questions about
growing vegetables, natives, herbs, plants
for pollinators and fruits. We will also talk
with visitors about the benefits of
backyard composting. This event is a
comprehensive public education
opportunity.
The Enchanted Garden illustrates all of
our six focus areas: GIEI, Bay-wise,
Composting, Plant Clinics, Pollinators and
Natives. It’s an ideal demonstration area
to talk with county residents about their
landscapes and the Master Gardener
program.
Mark your calendar for June 26 and plan to join your MG colleagues during this community outreach
opportunity. Let me know via email if you can join us!
—Ann Hackeling, MG 2013, [email protected]
MORE IDEAS FOR CONTINUING ED HOURS!
Check out this link for a variety of webinars and advanced training options
to help you complete your continuing education requirement for 2019.
Remember that you'll need a minimum of 10 hours by the end of
the year to maintain your MG certification (unless of course you are a 2019 Intern!).
The link will take you to the MG pages of the University of MD Extension website.
http://extension.umd.edu/mg/volunteer-resources/continuing-education
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 7
LATIN FOR GARDENERS
May’s Native Maryland Plant
Asclepias incarnata (uh-SKLEE-pee-us in-kar-NAY-tuh)
Common Name: Swamp Milkweed
It’s May and so much is blooming – it’s a great time to be outside! Like some of you, I’m remembering
the rains from last May and wondering what this May could hold in terms of weather. My plan is to
plant more natives that can tolerate wet areas - this beautiful pink milkweed is one of them. If you have
a moist sunny spot, I’d suggest you try swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata. I planted mine directly
outside my sunporch window allowing me to see the ‘magic’ as it happens. To appreciate milkweed’s
beauty be sure to take a close look at its complex flower structure.
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 8
As Master Gardeners we know that by planting any Asclepias sp. we’re supporting the lifecycle of the
amazing Danaus plexippus, better known as the Monarch butterfly. The monarch caterpillar relies on
milkweed species to develop and without it the life cycle of the butterfly is broken – no more Monarchs.
— Alison Milligan, MG 2013, [email protected]
WHIPPS GARDEN CEMETERY— DAFFODIL DAY
The eleventh annual Daffodil Day on April 6 at Whipps
Garden Cemetery was successful. The daffodils slowly peaked their
heads—peaking about a week after Daffodil Day! Nevertheless, the
cemetery was colorful with blooming potted tete-a-tete daffodils,
Virginia bluebells, helleborus, and other spring potted plants. Over
1,000 yellow daffodils surrounded the entrance this year, followed by
a sea of bright yellow celandine poppies, blue Virginia bluebells, and
other spring blooming bulbs and trees. Master Gardener
presentations were done by Judy Petersen and Robert Glascock.
Betty Walke Whipps gave a walking tour of Whipps.
People were amazed at the condition of the cemetery, thanks to the
many volunteers who have come out every Thursday for the past month to mulch, spread wood chips and weed the
gardens. It is always a pleasure to welcome so many neighbors come for a visit, many for the first time.
Whipps also participated in the 2019 Howard County GreenFest; thanks to volunteers Pam Peters, Lisa Geisler, Robert
Glascock, Katherine McCarter, and Betty Walke Whipps for staffing our table.
Thanks again to all volunteers who have spent time preparing Whipps for Daffodil Day and upcoming events as well
as coming every week. Watch for more to come on the Yahoo listserv. You may contact me via email, or by phone or text
at 410-274-7795. — Aleta Gravelle, MG 2009, [email protected]
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 9
WHIPPS GARDEN PLANT SALE
Ellicott City’s only public garden-park, run entirely by
volunteers—the Whipps Garden Cemetery—will hold its
annual fund-raiser Plant Sale at the First Lutheran
Church, corner of Chatham and Frederick Road in
Dunloggin. The plant sale features many unusual and
hard-to-find varieties, including many butterfly, shade-
loving, deer-resistant plants and flowering shrubs. Many of
the plants are donated from the gardens of Master
Gardeners. Free compost bins for Howard County
residents will be available on Saturday from 12-2p.
The restoration of the 19th century cemetery into a garden
park began in 1987. Today, the park is maintained by the
Howard County Master Gardeners and is open to the
public daily. It is owned by a non-profit organization, the
Friends of the Whipps Cemetery and Memorial Gardens,
Inc. Begun as a family burial ground in 1855, Whipps is no
longer an active cemetery; the last burial was in 1915.
All proceeds from the annual plant sale go for the up-
keep of the one-acre Whipps garden-park, and fund such
projects as keeping fresh wood chips on all of the
pathways, signage for trees, shrubs, and selected
perennials. Weeding, mulching, planting, and general
nurturing of the garden is done by Master Gardeners and
other community volunteers, including two garden clubs—
Cross Country and Branch & Twig. Those who maintain the park welcome additional volunteers, including student groups and
families, who would like to “adopt” a small area to care for. Volunteers work every Thursday from 9am until Noon, weather
permitting, March through October.
For more information about volunteer opportunities or the upcoming Plant Sale, call, email or text Aleta Gravelle at 410-274-7795, [email protected]
— Lisa Geisler, MG 2014, [email protected]
— A CALL FOR PLANTS — Donations of your extra garden perennials & small shrubs
We invite your donations of extra garden perennials
and small shrubs to be delivered to Whipps Cemetery
(3651 St. John’s Lane and place behind Acuba near
parking pad). Please bring (potted up and labeled)
whatever lovely plants you have just a few too many
of in your gardens. Please label Sun or Shade, Native
or Non-native. Your plants will be happily bought by
other gardeners at reasonable, even, we've been
told, LOW prices. We just want to share with others,
and make a little money to keep the Whipps gardens
growing and glowing. Contact Aleta Gravelle at
[email protected] with questions.
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 10
Happy Spring, MGs!
There is nothing better than the beginning of the grow season. While April 20th was our official last frost
date, we can consider ourselves lucky that warmer temperatures this month has allowed us to get a
super head start. My lettuce, broccoli, radishes, kales, and bok choy will be ready to harvest soon and
then it’ll be transplant time for the warm season crops. Bring on the cukes, green beans, tomatoes and
corn!
GIEI had a blast at GreenFest on April 13th.
Fellow MGs Secethia Davis, Janice Kneeland,
Sharon Smith, Pamela Peters, Stephanie Hamel,
and Ann Coren were an awesome team to work with!
Kent Phillips donated his lettuce box for display that
demonstrated how to easily grow lettuce in a
container. What a beauty it was! A true rabbit’s
dream! By the time the day was done we had over
75 visitors stop by and the inspiration was flowing!
2019 is the Year of the Allium. Edible crops in this
family include all varieties of onions, leeks, chives,
shallots, and garlic. At GreenFest we educated
visitors on how easy alliums are to grow and their
numerous uses after harvest. We demonstrated how
to grow bunching onions and chives in pots. Our “little growers” planted bulbing onions sets in grow pots
made from newspaper and also enjoyed making radish microgreen necklaces as a bonus planting
activity. We gave out various allium seed packs and it was pure joy to see adults and children alike with
smiles on their faces with the excitement to grow at home!
Want to grow some alliums in your neck of the
woods this season?
Find more info here:
https://extension.umd.edu/mg/volunteer-resources/year.
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/onions
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/leeks
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/chives
https://extension.umd.edu/learn/shallots
https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/garlic Also, on next page, is a recipe that really makes our beloved alliums shine.
— Erica Jones, MG 2018, [email protected]
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 11
Charred Allium Dip Courtesy of Chef Erica Jones (Yields about 1 ⅔ cups)
Ingredients:
● 1 shallot, thinly sliced
● 1 leek, thinly sliced
● 2 scallions, thoroughly cleaned, thinly sliced
● 2 tablespoons olive oil
● Kosher salt
● 1 garlic clove, grated
● ½ cup mayonnaise
● ½ cup sour cream
● 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
● 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
● Freshly ground black pepper
Method:
● Heat broiler to High.
● On a sheet pan, toss shallot, leek, and scallions with olive oil and season with salt, to taste.
● Broil, tossing occasionally, until charred 10–15 minutes. Don’t be afraid let them get really brown. Caramelization means flavor!
● Remove from oven and let cool completely.
● In a bowl, combine garlic, mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, and thyme.
● Add the cooled alliums to the mixture until well combined and then season with salt and pepper to taste.
● Cover and refrigerate to allow flavors to meet each other. 4 hours minimum, or overnight for maximum flavor payoff.
● Serve alongside your favorite potato chip, toasted baguette slices, or fresh vegetables. Broccoli, sugar snap peas, and carrots pair very nicely.
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What is a Native Plant?
It is a common misconception that species are native to politically-defined regions. A plant
species is actually native to the eco-region where it has evolved in concert with soils,
climate, fauna and other members of the plant community. This process of adaptation and
evolution is ongoing and helps to perpetuate species even as conditions change. Even
within its home ecoregion, a species is native to specific sets of conditions. Salt marsh
grasses, for example, are native to saline water and periodic inundation.
Source: Home and Garden Information Center
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Native Plants and Climate Change (Sara Tangren, April 24, 2019) http://extension.umd.edu/learn/native-plants-and-climate-change
Whether in natural areas or in our gardens, climate change is affecting native plants. According to the Maryland Climate Summary, our temperatures are expected to increase 5 to 11F by 2100.
Higher temperatures cause native plants to experience more heat-related stress. Heat stress causes higher water demand, a situation made worse by longer droughts.
Higher atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 levels preferentially promote the growth of invasive plant species, decreasing the space needed to support natural areas.
Elongated growing seasons cause earlier leaf out and bloom times, which in turn affects the animal species synchronized to the life cycles of native plants, especially pollinators.
LooseLeaf • May 2019 • page 12
BOOK REVIEW: THE CABARET OF PLANTS (2015)
Richard Mabey is a renowned naturalist and science
writer, arguably Britain’s foremost nature writer. The
contents of this book circle the globe as he explores the
age-old relationships between plants and humans. This
book is masterfully and delightfully filled with botanical
history ranging from the ice age through modern times.
The work of scientists, artists, and writers through the ages
is called on as Mabey contemplates on the multitude of
variations on the centrality of plants to human beings. The
natural world has an important place in human myth,
religious practice, as symbols of war and peace, in our
passage through birth, life, and death.
Mabey has a writing style that captivates as well as informs
and encourages the imagination. He sees his book as a
challenge to the more prosaic viewpoint of plants as purely
vegetative. Mabey’s worldview positions plants as “authors
of their own lives” thus worthy of ‘being-hood’ in and of
themselves. They communicate with each other and with us
as well if we have the openness to see them scientifically,
socially, and metaphorically.
The book is weighty, but it does not need to be taken in one
sitting. Rather, I found that I could choose any one of the 29 chapters and enjoy it as a stand-alone. The book
contains a multitude of color plates adding interest to the content. There are drawings of preserved portions of
plants, botanical drawings as well as the work of artists like van Gogh. Plant intelligence and pollination, the
tree of life and the Celtic bush, and the language of plants are coupled with musings on Keats, Wordsworth,
Coleridge, Margaret Mee, and Linnaeus.
There is a fulsome appendix of additional sources and suggestions for further readings, a detailed list of the
color plates, and a well-organized and thorough index. This is not a boring read. And now I am going to go out
and really see Wordsworth’s daffodils —
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
— Pattee Fletcher, MG 2014, [email protected]
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