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Spring is a great time to wake up your compost bins or start a new one! Compost is the wonderful result of what simply happens when nature works to recycle our yard and kitchen scraps. It can be a hands off process where you add and mix as fits in your schedule or an almost baking process that is more hands-on. Bins come in many shapes, sizes, colors, and materials, and is also a simple DIY project! Add an equal amount by volume of “green” – nitrogen rich ma-terials, and “brown” carbon rich mate-rials. The “Yes-No” chart is a reminder of items to include or leave out. When in doubt, leave it out. Weeds are not recommended as your compost pile might not get hot enough to kill the seeds and you don’t want to be intro-ducing plants you don’t want into your garden beds. I know my compost pile doesn’t get to extreme temperatures, because I have pumpkin “volunteers” from some Halloween pumpkins add-ed at the end of the fall last year (see picture below with link to site about sprouts coming up in your compost).

The HGIC fact sheet on Backyard Composting has some FAQs to trou-bleshoot common issues.

I n s i d e t h i s i s s u e :

Backyard Composting

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Maryland Gold-

en Aster

2

Tillandsias 2-3

Kissing Bug 4-5

Dogwood Pow-dery Mildew

5

Book Review 6

Photo 6

My Delightful Experience

7-9

If They Grow It,

They Will Eat It

9-10

Environmental

Stewardship

Event

11

Seasonal Reci-

pes

12-13

Important Up-

coming Calen-

dar Events

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Backyard Composting—A Gardener’s Delight! Submitted by: Nicole Basenback

https://images.app.goo.gl/ykMmG8dGqYcAkotC6

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Picture and information provided by: Sara Tangren University of Maryland Extension, Native Plant Specialist

Maryland Golden Aster Chrysopsis mariana

Aster Family

Flowering: Bright yellow blossom s in September and October.

Preferred Conditions: Well-drained soil, full sun or light shade.

Appearance: In sum m er, dark green, silver-haired foliage is a beautiful backdrop prior to and during bloom. One to two feet tall. In winter, low-growing rosettes are semi-evergreen.

Care Notes: Needs well-drained condi-tions and should not be over-watered. Self-sows. Plants may only live 3 or 4 years so it is important to keep a few of the seedlings if you wish to perpetuate the species in your garden.

Points of Interest: This genus is very drought tolerant and supports many polli-nators. Like many drought tolerant plants, it is covered in fine, webby hairs. When the seeds blow away in November, beautiful strawflowers are left behind.

Tillandsias By: Macy Hovland, Master Gardener

Tillandsias are Bromeliads. They are often called air plants because they grow with no soil. From Georgia to South America these tropical plants grow attached to trees but they are not parasites. They are epiphytes, taking no nutrition from the tree. Instead, they absorb their water and nutri-ents from the air through leaf scales called trichomes. The roots serve to anchor the plant to the tree. Browned roots and lower leaves may be trimmed off. In a home environment they do not need the roots to be attached and the plants can be displayed in shells, especially sea urchin shells,

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glass globes, strung on wires (not copper), or just sitting on a window sill. If used in a terrarium, keep the top off for air circulation. Tillandsias can be attached to woods which are resistant to rot such as grapevine wreaths, cork bark, manzanita, cedar or de-salted driftwood. Plants can be mounted using fishing line, wires, hot glue, or any kind of waterproof glue. Spanish moss is a Til-landsia and is sometimes used to conceal the glue on mounted plants. Take care that any decora-tive moisture-holding moss does not rot the base of a mounted plant.

They are called air plants but they need more than that. They need water and nutrition as they had in their natural environments. Xeric plants with fuzzy leaves may have grown in hotter drier areas and the fuzzy leaves capture more moisture but infrequently. Mesic plants with glossy leaves may have grown in rain forests and are used to frequent watering. Misting sometimes works, but it is best to soak the plants facedown in water for about an hour, then shake out the water. Orchid or Bromeliad fertilizer (no urea nitrogen) may be added to the soak water. If put-ting them in an enclosure like a glass globe be sure they are very well dried so the crown does not rot. If plants have been ignored, give them a longer soak. Do not submerge blooms. When plants bloom they can produce pups. After blooming once, the mother plant can decline.

A good source for more information is Bromeliads: A Cultural Manual, published by The Bromeli-ad Society International, Inc. It is available through the website, www.bsi.org, under the “Members “tab.

These Tillandsias have been happily growing in the shower window with filtered morning sun-light. Some are glued on driftwood and some are hanging in twisted wires. They get showered while waiting for warm water to travel from the water heater.

Photo on the left: In the wire is Tillandsia bulbosa, Tillandsia Cocoensis and Spanish moss Tilland-sia usneoides.

Mounted to driftwood on the sill is Tillandsia Cocoensis, Tillandsia funckiana, and Tillandsia ionanatha. These have smooth foliage.

The photo on the right is Tillandsia Seleriana. It is the only fuzzy plant and needs less water and more light.

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Kissing Bug and Wheel Bug, Neither Name Screams “Assassin” By Mary Antonelli, Master Gardener Program Coordinator

I have gotten a few calls recently from residents of St. Mary’s County who have seen “kissing bugs” in their yard, and one was even bitten one. Callers are asking whether or not kissing bugs carry a dangerous disease? Upon doing some research to find an answer to these inquiries, I have learned some very interesting facts about them that I would like to share with you here.

First, kissing bugs are sometimes confused with wheel bugs because they are both types of “Assassin bugs”, which are part of the family Reduviide. Kissing bugs (also called “cone-nosed bugs” and “bloodsuckers”) of the Triatomine genus can carry Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite that causes Chagas disease. Wheel bugs do not carry the parasite. Both bugs can bite and pack a pretty powerful punch. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Chagas disease is an im-portant health problem mainly in Central and South America (as far south as Argentina) and only isolated cases of the disease have been reported in North America.

Each genus looks different, but all Assassin bugs’ bodies are equipped with a long inverted proboscis (piercing, sucking “beak”), elongated head, hairy front legs for capturing prey, and a charac-teristically wide abdomen that extends the width of their wings. All of these features contribute to their abilities to be very good preda-tors of caterpillars, moths, and pests like aphids. Most kill their prey by sucking the fluids out of them, but some are strictly blood-sucking.

Triatomines hunt at night and feed on mammals, including hu-mans, birds, and reptiles. They are rarely found in dwellings that have securely sealed foundations and window screens, but they can be carried indoors on pets. They get the name “kissing bug” because they like to hang out in places that people and pets like to sleep and commonly bite on the facial area of the body.

The wheel bugs, Arilus cristatus, is one of the largest of the assassin bugs reaching 1-1/4” long. It gets its name from the cog-like wheel shape to its upper thorax. Adult wheel bugs are commonly attracted to lights at night near wooded areas. Generally, they are not aggressive and usually only bite if one attempts to pick them up. Adults vary from gray to brown in color and the nymphs are small, red and black, have long legs, and are often seen on landscape trees and shrubs in the spring

after hatching.

If you come into contact with a wheel bug, do not attempt to handle it. And don’t assume that all black and red insects that are not lady beetles are Tria-tomines. Before you pan-ic, take a good look for the long, inverted proboscis, elongated head, and or-ange/red and black striped abdomen/t

Triatomine bugs in all life stages (Photo from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/gen_info/vectors/triatomine_stages_lg.html) Continued on pg. 5

Triatoma

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Photo on left: http://bugoftheweek.com/blog/2013/9/30/death-of-a-stink-bug-part-2-bug-vs-bug-brown-marmorated-stink-bug-ihalyomorpha-halysi-meets-the-wheel-bug-iarilus-cristatusi

Photograph on right by Lyle J. Buss, University of Florida.

References: https://extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/predators-assassin-bugs https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/gen_info/vectors/index.html https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef426

Dogwood Powdery Mildew (adopted from University of Maryland TPM/IPM Weekly Report by: Karen Rane & David Clement

May 10, 2019)

The first signs of powdery mildew on dogwood are appearing now. This disease is more common than dogwood anthracnose, and can be a bit tricky to diagnose. Right now, leaves are showing patches of white fungal growth typical of powdery mildew on other hosts. But as the season pro-gresses, the powdery growth becomes more difficult to see, and infected dogwood leaves develop a patchy, reddish discoloration that can mimic symptoms of environmental stress. Management op-tions for powdery mildew on flowering dogwood include resistant dogwood cultivars, or protectant fungicide applications. For more information on this disease, refer to these links: http://extension.udel.edu/blog/powdery-mildew-on-dogwood/ and https:// extension.umd.edu/hgic/topics/powdery-mildew-trees-and-shrubs.

For the complete report go to: file:///C:/Users/maryant/Downloads/19May10L.pdf

Wheel bug Wheel bug nymph

Photo and table from: http://extension.udel.edu/blog/powdery-mildew-on-dogwood/

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Book Review by Monika Lee, Master Gardener class 2018

The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control:

A Complete Problem- Solving Guide to keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy without Chemicals. Edited by Barbara W. Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley

This book is an essential guide when discussing organic gardening methods and IPM. I used it nu-merous times during plant clinics and plan to use this in my own garden.

It is separated into 4 sections.

Part 1, pp 13-253 is a Plant by Plant Guide for plants that are listed alphabetically. It gives descrip-tions and pest control suggestions.

Part 2, pp 255-337, Insects. Different insects, pictures and their damage prevention.

Part 3, pp 338-403 Diseases. This part shows disease symptoms, leaf symptoms with prevention and control.

Part 4, pp 405-486 Organic Controls, including cultural, physical, biological, and organic sprays and dust recipes. Please be aware that as per the University of Maryland Extension’s policy on the use of pesticides (as explained in the Master Gardner Handbook (2016 ed.), p 249), any recommen-dations made to the public regarding chemical formulations (natural or not) must be products that have an EPA label. The label is a legal document thoroughly covering the proper use, storage, and overall safety measures that must be followed to safeguard against human, animal, and environ-mental harm. The recipes provided in this book are fine for your personal use.

Photo of Peony provided by Carolyn Chase, Master Gardener

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My Delightful Experience at the 2019 Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium By Linda Crandall, Master Gardener

Continued on pg. 8

Over the last 11 years it has become clear to me that one of my favorite parts of being a Master Gar-dener is the opportunity it gives me to learn more about gardening and the natural world. With that in mind, and because it is often too cold during the winter months to spend lots of time outside en-joying nature, I have learned that sometimes when it is cold -or wet, or snowy- the next best thing to being in the garden can be heading to an all day gardening workshop.

This past winter I went to several, but I think one of my most favorites was the Shenandoah Valley Plant Symposium in Waynesboro, Virginia. I look forward to this event every year; because I have gone to it for several years, and I know that I will always enjoy the really well balanced format, and the speakers they choose. Also, because of the distance, it gives me the opportunity to be immersed in the experience, and really connect with the information. Since it is almost a three (3) hour drive each way, I always go down the day before and make a special journey out of it, and usually with my sister. The trip down is, for the most part relaxing, and because I go up and over the mountains into the Shenandoah Valley, the scenery is beautiful – no matter what the weather. I always try to arrive early enough to look around a bit and enjoy a nice dinner out before spending a relaxing evening reading – something I don’t get to do as much as I would like at home.

The event starts bright and early the next morning with picking up your registration and a nice se-lection of breakfast treats served with coffee or tea. In the hallway outside the large meeting room there are a few vendors selling plants, garden art, and the books that have been written by the speakers for the day. When you arrive at your seat, on the table in front of you is an assortment of handouts, advertisements, and a drawing ticket. Throughout the day, door prizes are awarded… and if you are really lucky you may win one.

The Symposium gets going with a brief introduction of those working to put the event on, some ‘housekeeping’ comments about phones and food, and then you should take your ticket out because there will be a few door prize drawings while people get settled in their seats. When most everyone is seated, the first speaker is introduced. In all the years I have been going, the varied selection of speakers has been wonderful and the information they have shared has helped my body of knowledge grow. One of the things that I think makes the event special is that the speakers have met each other (if they don’t already know each other) the night before at dinner given just for them and they have shared with each other their interests. In the world of green thumbs and gardening these are sometimes very close. Also they are usually together with us, in the same room, during the day while each other is speaking, so although they will all speak about different subjects, they will all build on what each other says.

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Continued on pg. 9

This year the first speaker was Pam Beck (http://www.pambeckgardens.com/index.html). Pam is a well known garden writer, speaker, and photographer from North Carolina whose specialty is everything having to do with gardens. Over more than 30 years, she has planted a small forest in her yard in the ‘Triangle Area’ of North Carolina and so she started the day with a presentation about gardening in shade. Along with beautiful photographs of her own yard and other places she has visited, she also has a lengthy plant list for those who need something to plant in that shady area of their own yard. I have seen Pam speak before, so it was no surprise when she mentioned she loves Japanese Maple trees, and has a lot of them in her yard. For those who were interested in expanding the diversity of their own collections, she suggested they checkout the online webpage for the nursery Mr. Maple (https://mrmaple.com/).

At the Symposium the speakers come one right after the other, and there is such great organization that the morning flows nicely. The second speaker for the day was up, ready to go quickly, and a bundle of positive energy. Brie Arthur (https://www.briegrows.com/), is a self proclaimed “plant nerd” who is passionate about gardening, and especially growing food. She has appeared regularly on the PBS show “Growing a Greener World”, works with several public school systems nationally to create and facilitate elementary school gardens, and is currently writing her second book. I have seen her speak many times, and she is so full of energy and has so much to share that there is real-ly almost no way to communicate what the experience of seeing her speak is like. During this presentation, one of the things she talked about was the impact for positive change that we can all have as gardeners. An example she used was garlic. Although I sure most of us think of garlic we use as coming from somewhere fairly local, she shared with us that at this time more than 90% of the garlic used in the United States comes from China. Since garlic is the most popular vegetable currently purchased in the USA that means that we as a nation are spending millions of dollars for garlic and sending them overseas. We are also using lots of our energy resources to import some-thing that would be easy to grow here. As a matter of fact, she believes that with a little work we could all be growing our own garlic and saving money, energy, and improving the environment of our yards and I feel like she challenged those there to start soon.

After Brie finished Vic Piatt, the garden manager at Mt. Cuba (https://mtcubacenter.org/) came to the podium and shared with us many of the experiences he has had in his 26 years of working there. Mt. Cuba is famous for it’s involvement in the native plant movement, and since the plant-ings began there in 1937, natives have been a big part of the master plan there. Along with sharing his experiences, his pictures, and his understanding of the landscape design at Mt. Cuba with us, he also shared several of his recipes with us. For mulch he mixes 75% arborist wood chips with 25% leaf mold (like “Leafgro”), and to use as the growing medium in rock gardens he uses 80% “rock scree” and 20% organic material. At this point we broke for lunch. The lunches at the Symposium are also good and this year was not an exception. There was a wonderful ‘make your own salad’ buffet that included a top your own baked potato area. One more nice thing about the lunch break is that since all the speakers were available, along with taking time to eat and visit with those at your table, you could chat with the speakers and ask any questions you had about the topics they covered.

Once everyone had a chance to eat, take a bathroom break, and stretch their legs we got going again. The first speaker for the afternoon was Tony Dove, who lives in Anne Arundel County and has worked as a horticulturist for the Smithsonian in Edgewater. He has recently co-authored the book, “Essential Native Trees and Shrubs for the Eastern United States. He talked about the native trees and shrubs he feels are most important to include when landscaping your property, based on the research done by Dr. Doug Tallamy. His book also includes information on how to provide care and maintenance for the trees and shrubs he recommends.

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The last speaker for the day was Pam Beck, again. This time her topic was “Plants of the Bible”, and wow, does she know a lot!!! She has done a lot of historical research and she was able to set the rec-ord straight about many of the references to plants in the Bible. She feels that since it is the com-mon names for plants that are used in the Bible, and the common names differ from country to country, there are a lot of inaccuracies within Bible translations. Based on her research, the word herb in the Bible usually refers to any soft tissue plant, anise probably referred to dill, and the term hyssop was used for multiple plants… and this is just for starters. What I learned from this talk was be wary when reading anything that mentions plants in the Bible, and if you have time, do a little research.

After a few last door prize drawings it was time to head over the mountains again for the trip home. As I headed on to the interstate, I thought about all of the different sessions of the day and the dif-ferent parts of the trip… thinking about which part was my most favorite. It was a wonderful trip with some much needed relaxation. All the speakers were wonderful, and the information they shared was exciting… but I think my favorite part of the day was that sitting at my table with me were three (3) other MG’s that had come all the way from St. Mary’s County, Maryland and shared the experience with me.

If They Grow It, They Will Eat It

By Mary Antonelli

I won’t deny that I am a dreamer and an idealist. If I had some say in how the elementary school curriculums were written, I would vote for more time built in for outdoor education, particularly based around agriculture and horticulture. These are inter-disciplinary subjects that tie in with just about every other core subject area that the students are already learning about (mathematics, science, literacy, art, physical education, nutrition, social studies, and not to forget all of the values and lessons to be learning from taking care of a garden. Probably many public and private school curriculums are already innovating ways to implement more “hands-on” learning and realizing that when students are able to move their bodies and touch, smell, see, hear, and taste what is being cul-tivated in their own school yard it may make a positive, life-long, impact on their relationship with nature and all that is has to teach us! I am always over-joyed when I see a child’s eyes light up after they have pulled a radish out of the garden. I was well into my 20’s before I acquired a taste for radishes and now that I know of their health benefits, characteristic flavor, fast growth habit and compact nature that makes them easy to grow in containers and small garden plot, I have the confi-dence that I can teach students how to grow at least one vegetable that is healthy for them! The point of me saying all this is that I have thoroughly enjoyed the time I have spent at both the Dyn-ard Elementary School gardens, in collaboration with Elizabeth Curtz and “Friends of the St. Clem-ents Bay”, and the Lexington Park Elementary School gardens, in collaboration with all of the “F.L.O.W.” program mentors and mentees. The students are always enthusiastic, inquisitive, intui-tive, and generally happy to dig right in! It is a tremendous opportunity for the students to learn about nurturing and caring for something that will give back to them time and time again.

Continued on pg. 10

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Mentors of the Lexington Park Elementary School F.L.O.W program, Melanie McGinnis and Florence Devine, take-in the progress of the day’s thinning and staking activities.

Each step of the process offers learning, from sowing seeds, to “watering them in”, then coming

back later to see what has germinated, then learning to cultivate the space around the plants to

keep them well-nourished to allow for abundant new growth, and finally the satisfaction of eating

something that is healthy for them that they grew themselves! Surely this can be mirrored in their

relationships with their fellow students, teachers, administrators, and leaders surrounding them in

their school environment. I believe this experience will teach them how to carry a nurturing per-

spective into their everyday life with them.

Students at Dynard Elementary School: amending the soil in the Spring (left), planting lettuce in April (center), radish harvest in early May (right)

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1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 4 flour tortillas (8 inches across) 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese

2 cups quartered and sliced potatoes 1/2 cup sliced onions 3/4 cup sliced red or green bell peppers 1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced or pressed

Direction:

Toss all of the vegetables with the olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper until evenly coat-ed. Spread them on a large baking sheet in a single layer. Roast in the oven until the potatoes are tender and beginning to brown, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Pile about 3/4 of the roasted vegetable filling on one half of each of the tortillas, leaving a 1/2 inch border around the outer edge. Top the filling with 1/4 of the cheese. Fold the tortilla over the filling to forma half-moon shape.

Heat a lightly oiled large skillet on medium heat. When the skillet is hot, cook two of the quesadillas for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Remove the quesadillas from the skillet and keep them warm while cooking the remaining two quesadillas. Slice each quesadilla in half and serve warm.

Per 8.5.ounce servind: 375 CALORIES, 12.1 PROTEIN, 18.9 G FAT, 40.4 G CARBOHYDRATES, 7.5 G SATURATED FATTY ACIDS, 29.7 MG CHOLESTEROL, 632.2 MG SODIUM, 3.9 G TOTAL DIETARY FIBER

Variations—Try adding portabello mushrooms, eggplant, or asparagus. Replace the Cheddar cheese with feta or mozzarella and ac-cent with your favorite herbs.

“ Roasted Vegetable Quesadillas” Recipe Provided by Mary Antonelli from Moosewood Restaurant New Classics

(2001) cookbook

Potato sandwiches— have we no shame? These pan-grilled tortilla sandwiched stuffed with savory

roasted vegetables and melted Cheddar are heavenly.

The vegetable don’t have to be measured exactly for this recipe to work fine. One medium po-

tato, a very small onion, half a bell pepper, and one small zucchini should do this trick. We give

measurements in cups, because everyone’s notions of “small” or “medium” differ. For the best result,

cut the vegetables into quite thin slices—no more than 1/4 inch thick.

Serves 4, Preparation time 25 minutes, Bakin time: 25 to 30 minutes

Feast Your Eyes on These Seasonal Recipes!

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Check out advanced training classes listed on MG Web site,

https://extension.umd.edu/mg

https://extension.umd.edu/mg/volunteer-resources/horticulture-webinars-online-classes-and-other-events

UME-St. Mary’s 26737 Radio Station Way, Suite E-2 Leonardtown, MD 20650 TEL 301-475-4120 FAX 301-475-4483

“The University of Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Equal Access Programs”

“La Universidad de Maryland es una institución con Igualdad de Oportunidades de Empleo y con Igualdad de Acceso a Programas.”

“ Tuxedo Pasta” Recipe Provided by Debra Mayfield, Master Gardener

SERVINGS: 4, PREPARATIONS TIME: About 10 minutes, COOKING TIME: About 20 minutes

1 package (6ounces) bowtie pasta 3 T. butter, divided 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite size pieces 4 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced 1 bunch of fresh asparagus or 1 zucchini cut into 1 inch pieces

1/2 c chopped orange, red or yellow bell pepper 2 T. dry white wine or 1 T. water Juice and zest of 1 lemon 3 T. chopped fresh basil 3 oz. shredded Parmesan cheese, divided

Direction:

Cook pasta according to package direc-tions; drain and keep warm

Meanwhile, in large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 T. butter. Add chicken and mushrooms; cook about 5 minutes or until golden brown, stirring often. Add asparagus and bell pepper; cook about 3 minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp. Add wine and lemon juice; simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat; stir in lemon zest, basil and remaining 1 T. butter. Add pasta and 1/2c. Parmesan Cheese; toss to mix. To serv, place on platter or dinner plates; sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Per serving: About 255 cal., 15g. pro, 31 carb, 8 g. fat, 28% cal. from fat. 13 g. chol., 317 mg. sod.

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“Ask a Master Gardener” Plant Clinics

April-October

(MG)

Charlotte Hall Library: 1st and 3rd Satur-days, 10 am- 12 pm

Leonardtown: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays, 11 am-1 pm

Lexington Park: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 11 am-1 pm

Farmer’s markets are also in the mix from April-October, except Sotterley, which is June-September:

California (BAE Systems parking lot:

2nd & 4th Saturdays, 9-11 am

Home Grown (under pavilion):

3rd Saturdays, 10 am-12pm & 3rd Wednes-days (June-August), 10 am-12 pm

Historic Sotterley Plantation (@ the Visi-tor’s Center), 44300 Sotterley Ln, Holly-wood, MD 20636:

1st Saturdays, 10 am-12 pm

Active Master Gardeners sign up here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090f48afaf2aab9-ask

May 23, 28, 2019 (MG)

Volunteer Management System training at the Extension Office Conference Room, 1-3:30 pm (5/23); 5:30-6:30 pm (5/28). Register through maryant@umd.edu or https://forms.gle/toU2wEV292mWGDyU9

June 2, 2019 (Watershed Protection-WP)

Continuing Education Opportunity for MGs: Watershed Environmental Steward-ship Event at the SMC Fairgrounds. Regis-tration is required. See the flyer in this edi-tion of the Vine or email nicoleb@umd.edu to inquire more.

June 6, 2019 (MG)

Master Gardener Quarterly Meeting at the UME Conference Room; 5:30-8 pm.

June 7, 2019 (MG)

Dynard Elementary School “S.T.E.M.” day-school garden harvest activity. Email mar-yant@umd.edu if you’re interested in help-ing

June 8, 2019 (MG, MN, WP)

“Plant-a-Palooza” at ELMS Environmental Center-Public: event featuring demos about conservation landscaping, including a native plant sale, composting info table, and more. No volunteers needed at this time, but please come out to the event!

Continued on pg. 15

Important Upcoming Calendar Events for Extension Programs:

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June 11, 2019 (MG)

Continuing Education event: “Ask a Master Gardener” plant clinic train-ing with mock plant clinic (look at samples and discuss FAQs) at the UME Conference Room; 5:30-7:30 pm. Limited seating left! Registra-tion form: https://forms.gle/zSNXQL4mPSt6Y6ht5

June 17 -21, 2019 (MG)

International Master Gardener Con-ference in Valley Forge, PA Registration is still open until May 23, 2019! site: https://www.internationalmastergardener.com/ to register: http://www.cvent.com/d/hgqxlp

June 28th, 2019 Last day for Active Master Gardeners to create a login and new password in the Volunteer Management Sys-tem (VMS) for 2019. Go to https://vms.umd.edu/vms/access_mg/

July 8-12, 2019 (4-H)

4-H Day Camp at St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. Looking for help with gardening/nature activities on July 8,9, 10th. Contact Christine Allred (4-H Educator for St. Mary’s Co. Ex-tension), cmallred@umd.edu or maryant@umd.edu

September 4, 2019 (MG)

Master Gardener Quarterly Meeting at Tolerance Hall, SMC Fairgrounds; 5:30-8 pm.

September 19-22, 2019 (ALL)

SMC Fair! Volunteers needed for various MGP activities, as well as the 4-H program would appreciate help again in various areas of judging and plant id contests, etc. A Sign Up Genius will be sent out in advance

September 28, 2019 River Fest at Historic St. Mary’s Col-lege. All day event sponsored by the Se. Mary’s River Watershed Associa-tion; MGs needed for setting up a Bay-Wise information table.