Garden Clippings

McMinnville Garden Club Vol. 5 No. 2 October 2005

October 17, 2005

Planting Bulbs Now for Year Round Color

Covenant Church: 2155 W. 2nd street

Social time: 10:30 AM - Business and Lunch meeting: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Optional Brown bag lunch --- dessert, coffee and tea will be provided by hostesses:

Margaret Roberts-Beverly Mulkey-Joan Kringen-Arlene Wells

Program: 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm Yolanda Wilson of Vanveen Bulbs

Yolanda Wilson of Vanveen Bulbs will speak about bulbs such as tulips, daffodils and calla lilies and hardy exotic bulbs including encomis, cyclamen, and scilla peruviana. She will set up her display and show you how to select, plant, and care for each flower bulb for year-round color. The bulbs will be offered for sale afterwards.

Bart and Atty Vanveen came to the United States from Holland where their families grew chrysanthemums and cyclamen and started a nursery in Estacada, Oregon. They first sold Christmas trees then switched to cut flowers 25 years ago. Their daughter, Yolanda started Vanveen Bulbs 14 years ago selling the bulbs from the beautiful cut flowers.  Yolanda married Peter Wilson 6 years ago and together they manage the bulb company and run after their 4 year old twin boys James and Ethan.  Peter and Yolanda use no pesticides; instead they recommend using cayenne pepper to detour rabbits, raccoons, and squirrels as well as coffee grounds and seashells to detour slugs and snails. Yolanda holds a BA degree in communications and international studies from Linfield College and is a Master Gardener.

For more information about Vanveen Bulbs please visit: http://vanveenbulbs.com

President’s Corner

I am so glad that our first meeting was well attended, the potluck was fabulous. Everyone brought such wonderful food and lots of great plants for the exchange. Well done! It was great to see everyone. I know that this year will be a great success. Sandy Ford, again I want to thank you for all your hard work getting the wonderful programs for this year in garden club. Education in gardening will make us all better gardeners and feel more confident in our decisions as we execute our ideas and plans.

Our field trips are in place for those members that want to go. This year they are offered monthly which is not usual. But, we thought that it would be nice for those that can participate. I know that I am looking forward to them and hope that I can go to most of them. I encourage club members to share any nursery or gardens with the club that you have visited and think we would enjoy. Even if not this year, maybe it can be a field trip or program for next year.

Please be thinking about the program in December “Christmas Around the World”. We are asking for volunteers to work together dressing tables that will feature the heritage of your homeland. For example; how do the Irish decorate for Christmas and what kinds of food is eaten to celebrate the season? Willamette Valley Catering will present finger foods representing the origin of selected countries that will be our lunch. This should be a fun and interesting way to celebrate Christmas.

We welcome our five new members that signed up our first meeting of the year which brings our club to 59 members. I hope that you will enjoy the Garden Club of McMinnville.

Until next time, enjoy the season changing to Fall and the beauty that this time of year brings us all. Best regards, Kim Jongedyk

October 24, 2005

Fieldtrip to Arbutus Garden - Pruning Techniques Demonstration

24639 Gerrish Valley Rd., Yamhill, OR 1-503-852-6530

Norm Jacobs owner of Arbutus Gardens

Car pool from Bethel Baptist Church: 10:30 AM sharp –Brown bag lunch and drink

Arbutus Garden is a six-year-old company located in Yamhill, OR where the plants, garden art and environmental concerns are an expression of its owners’ Norm Jacobs and Deb Zaveson. Norm says, “Our approach has enhanced our wildflower, bird and butterfly populations while reducing mosquito and deer visitors.”

As early as age 5 Norm began gardening and after graduating from University of California, Berkeley, worked with many public and urban garden organizations then he began his own nursery business. Deb spent her youth growing plants also and graduated from University of California Santa Barbara with a Botany degree.

In 1980 Norm and Deb purchased 20 acres of bare land in Yamhill. After building roads, buildings and other amenities, moved in and began a small farm enterprise in 1984. No herbicides or pesticides are used on any of the plants grown on the property. Plants are grown in suitably amended soil, mulched routinely and generally not irrigated once they are established. Plants in the nursery receive container fertilizer in addition to an organic mix; irrigated from a system, which accumulates rainwater from the house roof. Primary plant collections include 70 varieties of Japanese maples, 60 varieties of small and dwarf conifers, 50 varieties of epicedium (bishops-hat) and a large range of woodland shrubs and perennials for foliage bloom and scent.

Reservations are required by 10/20/05. . Sign-up sheet will be passed around at the September meeting. You can also call Sandy Ford at 503-868-7331 or by e-mail Sandys_hillside@onlinemac.com

Please bring appropriate clothing for the weather, shoes and rain gear if needed.

For more information about Arbutus Garden go to: www.arbutusgarden.com

Yearbook Correction

Please make a correction in your yearbook, telephone number for Susan Rader is wrong. It should be 503-472-4014 .

Sunshine

Arlene Wells was hospitalized with pneumonia and the shingles. She is home recovering and getting better everyday. We hope to see her back at the meetings soon!

Ruth Williams is recovering from a fall. She looks good and has started rehabilitation at Hillside. Her address right now is 300 Hillside Parkway, The Village, Room 19

Blanche Wold is now living in a foster home at 1461 NW 27^th. She looks good and seems content in her new home. She is enjoying being waited on!

They would all enjoy “thinking of you” cards from members. Joan Friese

Backyard Habitat

Support Bird Migration

Time for the suet feeders. The migrating birds need the protein for their long flight home. Black oil sunflower seeds are another great food source.

A great new find from the National Wildlife Federation for your backyard birds: a safe bathing bath for the little ones. It’s a lovely sky blue plastic bird bath that hangs either from your trees or a shepherd’s hook. The reservoir holds the clear clean water and discharges it as needed when bathing is through. It is clear so you can see when a refill is needed. Three to four troughs surround the reservoir making it oh so safe for the birds to get that refreshing bath before heading south for the winter.

All of these items are easily found at local nurseries or Walmart, BiMart, etc. Julie Maahs

Hort. Beat

We are fortunate to be living in this Northwest Gardner's Paradise. Not only do plants grow well, but there is a vast collection of plant material from Northwest growers that serve up their best and newest. In addition, there are many writers and garden designers showcasing them along with helpful information. The Home and Garden section of the Oregonian on Sept.22 featured four stories about planting bulbs, both in the ground and in pots, with some design suggestions. They are very informative and worth putting in your garden file. If you do not have a copy of this issue the articles are available online at www.oregonlive.com/gardencenter/

Locally, Sara Perry writes a column in the Saturday issue of the News Register. She generally keeps us up to date on what to do in the garden as well as other bits of information. She suggests extending the bloom of a hearty perennial the first of October to see how long it will stay in bloom, weather being cooperative. I gave Penstemon a bloom surge after first trimming it back some. You too could have flowers from your garden for Halloween, so try it. Otherwise, fertilizing routines should be discontinued by now.

I had been puzzled by a hosta that had a longer stemmed 'alien' leaf. It is solid green while the others were white centered with a green edge. With some research I found that it all has to do with mutation from something within the cell called 'plastids'. Without going into more

detail, it can happen in any hosta but some species and varieties are more prone to variation. My information suggested some guidelines to follow, so ask me about them if you

are interested.

I hope you are finding space for fall plantings. You can still plant for winter color by putting in winter blooming heather and heaths. They are easy to grow and withstand drought, but

should be planted in the fall. I know of only one grower in the area, in Canby, and I can

provide her number. We saw a great winter hanging basket at Ferguson's Nursery last spring

and now is the time to create one to replace the summer basket that is fading. Fall clean-up is not a required task, but a better option than leaving plant material on the ground to harbor slugs and harmful bacteria. However, leave tall seed producing flowers standing for the birds and they will reward you for it. They are a joy to watch feasting on the seeds.

Leaving your dahlias in the ground over winter? You can safely do so by cutting the main

stem(s) off below the surface of the ground (where they are not hollow) and then mulch them.

A couple things that should be included in fall cleanup:

*End-of-season chemicals and fertilizers must be stored safely. Fertilizers generally do not decompose but need to be in a cool dry place. Check to see that instruction labels can be easily read on your chemicals, keep them out of sunlight and prevent them from freezing.

*Washing your empty flower pots, especially clay, makes storing them much easier. Garden tools should be cleaned and stored where they will not rust.

*Keep applying slug bait.  Happy Gardening Evelyn Mundinger

Club History

September 11, 1928

Executive Board met at the Garden Shop with 4 members present. The newly drafted Constitution and Bylaws was read. Suggestions were made for its improvement. The Wayside Planting committee discussed the probable cost of preparing the ground for planting a small tract at the end of Three Mile Lane. The committee was allowed the necessary funds for this work, which should not exceed eight dollars. A food sale was recommended for the club, to increase the amount in the treasury. It also seemed advisable to hold the Flower Show in Library Hall, instead of on Miss Hawley’s lawn, because of the unsettled weather.

September 12, 1928

Garden Club met at Mrs. Mylne’s home. Fifteen members and four visitors were present. Minutes of the last meeting and two Executive Board meetings were read and approved. Wayside planting chairman, Mrs. Corrigan, reported that they had secured permission from proper authorities to plant at the end of Three Mile Lane on Dayton Highway. A farmer had plowed, disced, and harrowed the ground for $8 or less. They will plant it to daffodils and iris since they bloom early and do not require irrigation. They asked that anyone having a surplus of these donate them for this purpose. The Flower Show committee appointed five ladies from both the Garden Club and the Civic Club to receive and arrange flowers at the coming show. (Apparently not everyone arranged flowers.) DM Mrs. Tibbetts asked for the sentiment of the club regarding having the Junior Garden Club exhibiting also. It was in favor of them doing so, feeling that the children should be encouraged in every way possible. New Constitution was read and adopted – the day of meeting being changed from the first Wednesday after the first Thursday (Civic day) to the third Monday of each month. Meeting adjourned. Balance in treasury: $22.70 Dorothy Mathiesen

Chrysanthemum Garden Fall Care

Most of us know that chrysanthemums can grow a mile! A light rain and a little wind may snap a promising stem of mum blooms before we are ready to use it. If your chrysanthemums are leggy now you can tie the lateral stems to stakes and just overlook the curvy stems. Using covered wire ties is good. Cut ties about 3" long and wrap the tie around the stake and stem
several times. If you twist the tie, the growing stem may become pinched {judges don't like that, and it could cut nutrition to the blooms}. Shelter from rain helps the blooms to last. Some of us attach an old umbrella to a strong stake to protect chrysanthemum blooms.
In August shift fertilizers to a 0-10-10 formula ~ liquid fish brands are great. Chrysanthemums are shallow rooted, heavy feeders. They don't need extra excuses to grow tall ~ mums will stretch because of limited hours of sunlight. We want to nourish the vitality of the plant and the bloom so we cut the nitrogen and continue feeding superphosphate and potash.
Pinch away any unwanted new lateral growth. All plant energy should be directed to those lateral stems for flowers. Mums can be persistent in new lateral growth. For large single blooms, remove all but the largest bud in a flower cluster as soon as you can ... cool mornings are good for disbudding as the stems are brittle with cold and break away cleanly.
Cut your stems as long as you like. The plant has done most of its work for nourishment now.
To winterize chrysanthemums, cut stems back to 3-4", make sure a accurate name tag is attached, lay slug bait, cover the beds with 6-8" of mulch ... chopped leaves, straw, old compost ... and let winter rage. In late February as spring starts, check your mums. Lay slug bait. If it's still cold you can brush away a little mulch from the new shoots to slow early green growth.
New mum growth can take a bit of frost but a hard freeze will blacken green growth that the plant will have to regenerate. You can begin taking new cuttings anytime new growth is 4-5" tall.
Take fresh cuttings each spring to ensure strong, viable growth for the fall flower show. Mum rootstock can get woody over 2-5 years' time. New growth may shoot right up from very old roots only to shrivel and die in June or July. The woody root strangled itself. If you have "border" or "garden" mums that have a dead spot in the middle of the clump you can dig out the old roots and replace that with  new root growth on the outside of the clump. Otherwise you'll have "holey" mum beds.
You may dig the "stool" ... this year's plant held over the winter, and store pots in a cool garage or cold greenhouse ... just so the plants are not in direct deep freeze weather. Check them once a month for moisture ... just a drop or two ... and growth.  Leggy new growth can be used for cuttings, just give them heat and light.

Guest Article by Rich Kibbons from the Oregon State Chrysanthemum Society

"Autumn's Fantasy Petals", a Fall Chrysanthemum Show is Saturday, Oct, 29th Noon to 5 PM and Sunday, Oct 30th, 10 AM to 4 PM in Carvlin Hall at Saint Philip Neri
Church, 16th & SE Division, Portland. Enjoy nationally judged horticulture and artistic exhibits. Suggested $1.00 donation Cut blooms and potted plants are for sale.   Contact Rich at weehawktoo1@msn.com   or 503-281-4351 for more information.

Website to Check Out

http://www.ciscoe.com/archive/slugs.html

Ciscoe from the series on NW News channel’s “Gardening with Ciscoe” discusses slugs. This is an important time of the year to eliminate as many slugs as possible according to Mildred Repetto. The less we have laying eggs in the fall, the less we deal with in the spring? Did you know that slugs have both male and female reproductive organs. Slugs lay clutches of 20 to 100 tiny eggs on the surface of the soil; they can fertilize the eggs themselves. No wonder we have so many!

Newsletter Format Change

Please bear with me as I work to better facilitate our need to produce both print newsletters and a webpage newsletter. Let me know at the next meeting how this format worked for you! Patty

All gardens are a form of autobiography. Robert Dash

McMinnville Garden Club Organized in 1926 PO Box 386 McMinnville OR 97128 http://mcminnvillegardenclub.org Information: 503 434 4344 Meeting Information Meeting Day: Third Monday September through June 10:30-11 AM Social Time 11 AM – 1 PM Optional Brown Bag Lunch Covenant Church, Fireside Room, 2155 West 2^nd, McMinnville, OR Meetings are open to the public. Executive Board President Kim Jongedyk Vice President Sandy Ford Secretary Judy Eggers Treasurer Marilyn Coats Conservation Pledge I pledge to protect and conserve the natural resources of the planet Earth, and promise to promote education, so we may be caretakers to our air, water, forests, land, and wildlife. Ongoing Projects Summer Garden Tour The Oregon Garden Support Scholarships for Horticulture National Garden Week Garden of the Month Blue Star Memorial Marker City Beautification “Garden Clippings” is a monthly publication of the McMinnville Garden Club. Contact Kim Jongedyk, (503-434-9130), or 503-434-4344 for info.

Committee Chairs Backyard Habitat Julie Maahs Garden Tour 2006 Judy Eggers Patty Sorensen Garden Faire 2006 Gaye Stewart Historian Dorothy Mathiesen Horticulture Eveyln Munsinger Hospitality Rosemary Vertregt Membership Sandy Bolmer Newsletter Patty Sorensen Anne Silverthorne Parliamentarian Gaye Stewart Publicity/PR Sandy Ford Scholarship Cindi Miller Sunshine Joan Friese Telephone Mary Whinery Yard of Month 2006 Linda Coburn Yearbook Kim Jongedyk Sandy Ford The newsletter deadline for submission of articles for our monthly newsletter is the last day of the previous month. Please send them to Patty Sorensen. Do you know of any prospective Garden Club members? Be sure to let Sandy Bolmer know names and addresses. We would love to send them our newsletter for three months.