In Season - Summer 2017

In Season

A publication of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program and the Virginia Tech Department of Horticulture Volume 31, Number 3, August 2017

Dave Close State Master Gardener Coordinator John Freeborn Assistant Master Gardener Coordinator Sue Edwards Master Gardener Program Development Gabrielle Sanderson Program Support and Implementation Intern

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender,genderidentity,genderexpression,nationalorigin,politicalaffiliation,race,religion,sexualorientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Edwin J. Jones, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg; M. Ray McKinnie, Interim Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State University, Petersburg.

Table of Contents 4 The Generous Technology Extraordinaire: Spotlight on Elena Rodriquez

5 Update on VCE Instagram 6 Summer Gardening Tips 7 The Busy Bee: Spotlight on Rick McCormick

9 30th Master Gardener College Recap 10 International Master Gardener College: Experiencing the Oregon Trail

12 IMGC Save the Date 13 The School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

The Generous Technology Extraordinaire by: Gabrielle Sanderson Elena Rodriguez of the county of Arlington and the City of Alexandria has helped her community to integrate technology into their Extension Master Gardener program. She is being recognized for her dedication and ambition to serving and educating her community.

Technology is an integral part of the modern day world. It can be seen in the palms of people on the street, on the walls of homes, and in classrooms across the country. Its use is rapidly increasing and is now a significant part of the Arlington/Alexandria Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Program. The quick advances in technology can be hard to grasp, yet there is one tech savvy Extension Master Gardener (EMG), Elena Rodriguez, that stepped up as a leader and educator in her county.

Elena Rodriguez was certified as a Master Gardener back in 2014, and became immediately involved in the program after retiring from her job as a librarian. “Elena has been very involved with the training of Extension Master Gardeners, in accessing information online,” states Kirsten Conrad, extension agent from the County of Arlington. “Elena’s knowledge was positioned in a way to help the volunteers with technological challenges.” One of these challenges that Elena has helped with is converting all of the county’s documents, photos,

and listserv from a Yahoo Groups platform to Google Apps.

The documents that Elena moved to the Google Drive contained information that can be used to educate the public about the Master Gardener Program and the Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia (MGNV) records. The list-serve was also converted, it contained approximately 230 members, and required the MGNV members to get all new @mgnv.org accounts. “Not all of our members are tech savvy,” says Peter Hickman, an Extension Master Gardener.

“To get the members on-board, Elena staffed many “clinics” to help members through the process of establishing these new accounts and to explain how to use the new list-serve.”

Elena even gave an informational presentation at a MGNV Membership meeting to show all of the changes, a way to gain access to files, and how to use the list-serve.

This conversion from Yahoo to Google did not happen overnight. “Elena dedicated hours, weeks, months to successfully complete the transfer for both our MGNV archives and the MGNV list-serve,” explains Judy Funderburk. It is no secret that Elena has been very involved with training the Extension Master Gardeners on accessing the information online. Despite the fact that it is so time consuming she even offered to meet Extension Master Gardeners at their homes to help them set up their Google list-serve account. She goes above and beyond to make sure everyone can be successful and stay connected.

“Elena is very tech savvy but also extraordinarily patient with members who aren’t. She was very generous with her time during this period of transition,” exclaims Hickman.

Many people comment on Elena’s “good humor” and her patience that she exhibited with the Extension Master Gardeners through the transition. Elena is not only good with technology and patient, but she also ended up saving the Extension Master Gardener Association thousands of

Photo of Elena Rodriguez, The Arlington/Alexandria Extension Master Gardener dollars by doing the work in house. Conrad states, “The fact that she saved the Association the money is almost secondary to the hundreds and hundreds of hours she spent of her own time doing the work and serving others. We’re extremely grateful to have that type of passion and advocacy for the work of extension.”

Elena’s generosity and commitment to Cooperative Extension has helped aid in the transition to a more technology filled program. She created a friendly environment that allowed the Extension Master Gardeners to freely ask questions about the change and became an avid leader in her community. Technology of the modern day is now used and understood by more people in the Arlington/Alexandria Master Gardener Program thanks to Elena Rodriguez.

Follow Us on Instagram!

Virginia Cooperative Extension has an instagram account @vce_master_gardeners and we are only 5 followers away from 100! Make sure to follow us to get links to helpful VCE Publications, funny jokes about gardening, and updates about events in Virginia!

Summer Gardening Tips

Visit the links for more detailed information!

1. Want healthy looking, green grass for your summer lawn? Reduced amounts of water applied in increments throughout the day allows for the water to actually soak into the soil. It also helps to reduce runoff! https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/430/430-010/430-010_pdf.pdf

2. Don’t forget about mulch! This aesthetically pleasing addition to your garden would

not only retain moisture, reduce weed growth, but would also can lessen erosion if left through the winter. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-724/426-724.pdf

3. Weeds are not to be over looked! Make sure to pull out the bad ones,

because they can remove the moisture and nutrients from your soil that could be used for your desired plants. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-364/426-364_pdf.pdf

4. Add a pop of color to spruce up your yard! Don’t be afraid to try something new, like the Alstromeria (Peruvian Lily), which is originally from South America.

If not Alstromeria, then pick a favorite annual to include! https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/2906/2906-1370/2906-1370_pdf.pdf

5. Don’t neglect the hanging baskets! Since they are a smaller size, they should

be watered every day so they do not dry out.

https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/HORT/HORT-66/HORT-66-PDF.pdf

6. Pruning is practical! Deadheading your perennials helps to promote another round of blooms and prevents needed energy from being wasted. http://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/426/426-203/426-203.html

7. Looks can deceive! Even though the Japanese Beetle is beautiful, it is not a

friend of gardeners. A fun way to prevent these pesky pests is to attract the helpful birds with bird houses, bird baths, and feeders. https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/2902/2902-1101/2902-1101_pdf.pdf

8. Vegetables are good for you and they’re also good for your garden! These warm months are an excellent time to plant beans, zucchini, corn, and so much more!

https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-480/426-480_pdf.pdf

The Busy Bee by: Gabrielle Sanderson

Chesterfield Master Gardener is recognized for his impact on the community, his Extension Master Gardener program.

passion for youth education, and his boundless dedication to serving the

Elizabeth Andrew, author of “A Woman’s Work is Never Done”, once said that “volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.” Rick McCormick, an Extension Master Gardener in Chesterfield County, joined the program in 2011 and has been volunteering since.

Because he traveled out of his community as a consultant for more than a decade, he explains that becoming an Extension Master Gardener was an opportunity to invest a long-term interest in gardening and give it back to the community. McCormick is a busy bee and a man of many talents. He works with local schools, frequently provides his carpentry skills for Chesterfield County, and is an outstanding leader and educator in his community.

McCormick’s ambition to volunteer is motivated

by his desire to improve the quality of life for his community and his overwhelming elation to work in the capacity of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener program. Ashley Moulton, the Extension Master Gardener Coordinator of Chesterfield County, says that “at the heart of this is his passion for sharing the joy and wonders of gardening to youth, and his pleasure in teaching others about the value of pollinators and about solid and sustainable land practices.” Rick will readily jump at any opportunity to work hand in hand with local schools and to serve the youth and adults of his local community. He has boundless knowledge about beekeeping that he shares with Chesterfield County Libraries, local garden clubs, and civic groups. “Twice a month he volunteers time to

teach afterschool garden clubs, has a huge following with the little ones, and is frequently complemented on his ‘boundless enthusiasm’,” explains Moulton. McCormick even takes in an observation hive with live bees to schools and Maymont Park, in Richmond, for summer camps.

The impact he has on the community reaches hundreds of students every year. “Rick’s passion for youth education is contagious,” states Moulton. McCormick says that he “loves the inquiring minds that are just looking for mentoring in the wonders of nature, from gardening/ growing to recycling (composting/rain barrels) and all the pollinator fun from bees to butterflies to humming birds.”

McCormick says that there are numerous memorable moments from his work in the schools. One of his favorite memories is a 3rd grader who tried radishes for the first time and declared, “I didn’t know I liked radishes! I am going home to tell my mother I like radishes.” McCormick is making a lasting impact on the youth in his community, which carries his knowledge farther than just his county.

It impacts the world.

Not only is he an excellent teacher and mentor, but McCormick is also skilled in carpentry and regularly creates educational resources that are fun and easy to use. McCormick crafted a “Pollinator Game” which is a spin-the-wheel game that stands at an impressive 4 feet and is used for family-friendly events. Moulton states that this creative game is used to “facilitate an understanding of pollinators and their adaptions to specific plants.”

Recently, he even produced a custom observation hive that caught a wild queen bumblebee. This creation helped to demonstrate the differences between our native bumblebee and the European honey bees. “His handmade structures have been huge assets for our organization as they enhance the delivery of quality educational

programming to the public,” states Moulton.

Just as he builds contraptions to help educate the public, he creates a solid foundation of classes on soils for the new interns to the Extension Master Gardener program. He is supporting the program by being a patient mentor and a strong leader in his local community. Rick has lead the committee for the Bumblebee Jamboree for two years, 2014 and 2015. “His leadership efforts helped ensure this former one-time event at Maymont Park would become an annual celebration that is not only fun, but one where the community learns about the importance of bees in our ecosystem,” states Moulton.

McCormick not only continues to remain active in the event’s coordination but he also introduces other Extension Master Gardeners to volunteer activities. His influence extends past his community and into the lives of others. Rick has even graciously volunteered with 20 other different organizations, apart from the Extension Master Gardener program, which include Rockwood Beekeepers, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maymont Nature Center, and many more. “Mr. McCormick is one of our more proactive, reliable and cherished volunteers,” boasts Moulton. “We are happy to have him as part of our volunteer family!”

When Rick was asked what the most important thing that the public should know about bees he said that “bees, including honeybees, bumblebees and all our native solitary bees, accomplish 85% of the pollination needs our agriculture industry needs for fruit, nuts and seeds, plus contribute to the food webs for many native wildlife habitats.” Just like bees, Rick is a large piece of the contribution to the web of the Chesterfield Extension Master Gardener program. He is a busy bee that is greatly appreciated by many.

Left: Rick McCormick teaching children, Top and Right: Pictures from 2016 Bumblebee Jamboree

The 30th Annual Master Gardener College Recap by: Gabrielle Sanderson This year’s 30th Annual Master Gardener College happened from June 21st to the 25th. Over 200 Master Gardeners from across the state of Virginia trouped out to Blacksburg to participate in a multi day learning event.

This summer in Blacksburg, the Virginia Tech campus greeted over 200 Extension Master Gardeners from across the state of Virginia to stay for the 30th Anniversary of the annual Master Gardener College.

This year for college, excited attendees started arriving on Wednesday, June 21st for Land Care Steward Training and could stay until Sunday, June 25th for the bittersweet closing picnic. These jam-packed days were full of exhilarating tours, educational workshops, concurrent topics, and stimulating Keynote speakers!

As usual, this great week had many social events such as the Anniversary Celebration, the Floyd Jamboree, the VMGA Night at Master Gardener College, and the Closing Picnic that allowed the Extension Master Gardeners to meet, converse with old friends, and eat fancy desserts.

Attendees could arrive on Thursday, before the Keynote and Concurrent sessions began, and go on tours around the New River Valley. The Garden as a Place to Linger with Elissa Steeves; Kayaking the NRV, Photography in the Garden with Harold Jerrell; and the Green Infrastructure Tour of the NRV with Annie Pearce are just a few of the thrilling tours that could be chosen from the long list of many. On Friday, the extension Master Gardeners had a blast as the Keynotes started off with Bob Lyons and the Confessions of an Attention Deficit Gardener: An Unembarrassed Account of Using Annuals and Tender Perennials to Create Brilliant Landscapes that Change Every Year.

Each year an award ceremony is hosted by the conference for the Extension Master Gardeners to recognize their volunteering milestone achievements.

This year, 630 EMGs from across the state obtained milestones, and at the ceremony around 70 EMGs were recognized for their commitment to volunteering.

Overall the 30th Annual Master Gardener College was triumphant with its memorable speakers, exhilarating events and spontaneous friendships! Preparations for the 31st Master Gardener College are already being made, and save your dates for the International Master Gardener Conference being held Fall 2021 in Coastal Virginia!

Link in with all of the activites on Facebook!

Check out photos from this Master Gardener College on the Facebook page!

Pictures from 30th Annual Master Gardener College

Clara Yates, Dave Close, John Freeborn, and Linda Kline at the Portland, OR Convention Center

International Master Gardener College: Experiencing the Oregon Trail by: Linda Kline and Clara Yates Linda Kline and Clara Yates, from King George County, attended the International Master Gardener Conference this past July and got to experience the Oregon Trail in all of its glory.

The Master Gardener Program exists in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, 6 Canadian provinces, and South Korea. Every other year a different state / province hosts the International Master Gardening Conference (IMGC). This year, Oregon Master Gardeners (MG) hosted the IMGC and all MG were invited to “Follow the Oregon Trail to Great Gardening” at the Portland Oregon Convention Center, July 10- 14, 2017.

Approximately 1,300 gardeners attended the IMGC this year, including over 400 gardeners from Oregon. Eleven attendees were from Virginia, including Dave Close and John Freeborn from VT, Linda Kline and Clara Yates from King George county which is included in the Master Gardening Association of the Central Rappahannock Area (MGACRA) and Wanda Gerard, VMGA Secretary, from Suffolk.

The IMGC may be described as Virginia’s Master Gardening College (MGC) on steroids. It’s like MGC but

bigger and grander with more of everything: more keynote speakers, concurrent sessions, attendees, volunteers and tours, plus vendors and lots of giveaways.

Everything was well organized and festive at the IMGC, including the unique bicycle displays that the various Oregon MG associations created. Each attendee had an opportunity to vote for their favorite and the “Beach Bike” was voted the best.

Ciscoe Morris, a MG from Seattle and a TV and radio personality, lecturer, author and garden-tour leader, was the colorful MC for the conference. Ciscoe kept us informed, entertained and on-time. Yes, MG are amazing people!

Tom Bewick, a national program leader for horticulture in the USDA National Institute for Food and Agriculture, gave remarks about the contributions of MG and presented awards to the Search for Excellence winners. MG are involved in many amazing projects and

you may get ideas from some of the projects. To read a short write-up about each awarded project, click here.

World renowned plantsman, authors, lecturers, teachers and master gardeners were among the presenters.

Subjects ranged from Gardening with Children to Gardening Smarts: Beating the Aches and Pains; Bountiful Berries to Heirlooms, Hybrids and GMOs; All About Seeds to Gardening with Grafted Vegetables; If Trees Could Talk to How to Prune and Renovate the Overgrown Garden; and much, much more.

If Trees Could Talk they would convey to us all their needs and wants. Hopefully we can tell when they are unhappy before it’s too late. This concurrent session provided the information that trees would give us if they could talk. First of all, what is your goal privacy, shade, focal point etc.? Next comes the selection, but first you must do your homework. You need to know required soil type, light, water, mature size, etc. Make sure the root flare is above the soil. Trees need to breathe just like us. One thing that most people don’t know about trees is they like company, that’s why Mother Nature plants them in groups. Last but not least, make sure the trees planted together have the same needs. This is just a few of the highlights of this session.

A beautiful beginning to a great garden is healthy plants from a trustworthy grower. Portland is known for their great nurseries. We had the opportunity to tour a wholesale grower’s nursery, Iseli Nursery (known for their triangle tag). Their specialties are conifers and Japanese maples. We were given a guided tour of their gardens. We learned about “witch’s broom”, asexual propagation from cuttings, layering, budding and grafting. We learned about the needs and how to care for these plants. Even more interesting, we got to see plants that are not yet on the market.

If you’re interested in learning more about the 2017 IMGC in Portland OR, see the blog: http://blogs. oregonstate.edu/2017imgc/home-page/. Handouts from some of the presenters are also available on the blog.

In addition to learning from the speakers and programs, we learned a lot from talking with other MGs. Here’s something the Atlanta GA MGs do that Virginia MG needs to consider: Every other year they offer a MG class for teachers. They require a minimum of 3 teachers from a school (no single point of failure when the only MG-trained teacher leaves) and they work with the school system so the participants are issued CEUs for completing the MG class.

As a result, they have children’s garden programs/ Jr. Master Gardening programs in most of their schools.

A variety of tours were offered at the IMGC: preconference tours, post-conference tours, as well as during the conference tours; short tours and long tours, something for everyone. Since we enjoy traveling, learning and being

with other master gardeners, we participated in the “Land Formed by Volcanoes” pre-conference tour. This 3-day, 2-night tour started in Portland, headed south practically to California and returned to Portland. It was 3-full days and here are a few highlights and interesting facts:

Highlights and Interesting Facts 1. Mt Hood’s Timberline Lodge was built

during the Depression and dedicated September 28, 1937 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

2. The US Olympic ski team practices at

Mt. Hood in the summer as it’s one of the only US location with good ski conditions all year long.

3. The Dee Wright Observatory, which is located in a gigantic lava field, has clean, odor-free composting toilets.

4. Even though it was short sleeve weather, there was still a lot of snow at Crater Lake - the deepest lake in the US. This lake is filled by rain and snow only and thus is extremely clear blue.

5. The high desert area in central OR only averages 3 inches of rain a year so water-wise gardening is essential. Oregon MGs hosted us at 3 of their demonstration/community gardens.

Community and Demonstration Gardens 1. Deschutes County Extension Service in Redmond, OR

2. Hollinshead Community and Demonstration Gardens in Bend, OR

3. Discovery Garden in Roseburg, OR Unique bicycle displays from Oregon MG association

Crater Lake- Mentioned above

During the conference, we also toured 3 iconic gardens in Portland: Portland Japanese Garden, International Rose Test Garden and Lan Su Chinese Garden. In addition, we shopped at the largest independently owned new and used bookstore in the world, Powell’s Books. It occupies an entire city block and a map is provided when you enter the store.

We enjoy going to IMGCs and you will too if you like learning, interacting with other MG and traveling.

Start planning now to the attend this biennial event as the next IMGC is within driving distance: June 15-21, 2019 in Valley Forge, PA, https://internationalmastergardener. wordpress.com/. And in the Fall of 2021, Virginia will host the IMGC! You will definitely want to attend and hopefully volunteer to be part of this major event. Read John Freeborn’s emails to stay up to date on the IMGCs and other garden related events.

Clara Yates and Linda Cline at Rose Garden

Save the Date!

Fall 2021 - Coastal Virginia

International Master Gardener Conference imgc2021virginia@gmail.com

The School of Plant and Environmental Sciences by: Gabrielle Sanderson

On April 3, 2017, the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences was approved by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. This new school will merge the departments of Crop and Soil Environmental sciences; Horticulture; and Plant Pathology, Physiology, and Weed Sciences together.

Horticulture has deep ties to Virginia Tech. Back in 1892, one of the first Bachelor of Science degrees at Virginia Tech was awarded to a horticulture major. The Bachelor of Science degree was only awarded to five students, horticulture being one among chemistry, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering. (Aligam) Thinking about the long history of the department, it is

understandable that the first reaction to the new school can be cautious with regards to the integrity of the Horticulture department. Yet, with this new school, the departments will be able to tackle challenges in agriculture and food security, the green industry, plant biology, and the environment. (Barlow) To overcome these challenges the school does not just need a horticulturist, it needs people from other disciplines working together towards a common goal.

It is important to note that Horticulture is not disappearing. “We are keeping our horticulture majors,” states Roger Harris, a professor in the Department of Horticulture. “Horticulture isn’t going anywhere, just

the department of Horticulture.” Harris mentions that the clear definition of being in a separate unit has been integrating over the years, and the lines have already been blurred. Horticulture has been fractured out into different departments as Virginia Tech grew, and stand-alone departments accumulated. There are a number of talented horticulturists in each of these departments. With the merge, Horticulture will only get stronger and the horticulturists that have been spread out among the several departments will finally come together. “This merger with the different units will allow us to have a more unified approach,” states Harris. This combined effort from all of the units will open up new possibilities for the school itself. “We’re more able to do what is best for the students, and not what is best for the unit.” Harris states that the department wants to attract students, since Horticulture is the smallest of the three departments, and give them a good major. After the merge, the school will be able to create new majors (sustainable agriculture, ecological restoration, etc.) and the professors are given the opportunity to think outside the box when determining what is best for the student.

Since Virginia Cooperative Extension is embedded within the department of Horticulture, as it is in all CALS departments, it will also become a part of the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.

Harris explains that all three departments are strong in outreach. Outreach will be equally emphasized along with discovery and scholarship, which account for extension, teaching, and research. “When we’re all combining into one school it’s going to be easier to marshal the forces,” states Harris. It will allow the group, as a whole, to act more efficiently and combine objectives to further strengthen partnerships between industry, Virginia Cooperative Extension, and Virginia Agricultural Experiment Station. Dave Close, the State Master Gardener Coordinator, says that “strong partnerships help Virginia Cooperative Extension to have more credibility in the eyes of the industry groups.

If we have multidisciplinary research programs that are feeding into what our extension programs are doing, I think that Virginia Cooperative Extension will tackle more complex problems and issues than there have been in the past.”

While the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences will allow for units to shift concentrations onto

the students and further strengthen partnerships, there are concerns about the school. The biggest challenge brought about by this merge is the bringing together of very different department cultures. “We have to have the right director,” exclaims Harris. “The leadership is going to be critical, and if we get the right person all of the fears will go away.” Harris says that the concerns of the horticulturists could be getting lost within the change, yet if like-minded people are put together and a leader is put in place that understands the mission, the fears will disappear. “Not everyone embraces change the same way,” says Close. There are concerns about merging these three departments into a single school and not knowing how it is going to happen. The alumni are concerned about losing horticulture. Yet, it is reassuring to know that Horticulture will remain. There will always be a Horticulture major, just the organization of the department is changing. It will only get stronger.

Despite all of the change that is occurring the people are still the same. There is a solid base of teachers, research faculty, and extension faculty located at Virginia Tech and in the departments. “The strongest thing about this school is the people that it’s built around,” states Close. “I think the faculty that are doing well are going to do even better. I think we will continue to fulfill all three missions of the land grant: Scholarship, Discovery, and Outreach.” Virginia Tech will be a major player in the field of science by helping to solve some of our global society’s most pressing issues, and that is because of the strong people that are a part of its mission.

Citations Erwin Aligam -. “Department of Horticulture.” History of the VT Department of Horticulture. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, n.d. Web. 01 June 2017.

Barlow, Zeke. “Virginia Tech Board of Visitors Approves Proposed School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.” Virginia Tech News. Virginia Tech, 6 Apr. 2017. Web. 01 June 2017.