URI MGP Newsletter, April 20: Plant Sales, Pollinators and Herbs

3 Chances to Learn about Pollinators Next Week!

Cutting Edge Pollinator

Master Gardener/Intern Plant Sale on May 1

Intern Plant SaleOur annual Master Gardener plant sale will be held on Monday, May 1st from 3 to 6 pm at the East Farm Master Gardener greenhouses.  Bring your trays, strawberry boxes etc. and stock up on another outstanding display of veggies, ornamentals and herbs.  As in past years, this sale is for MGs and interns only, so please wear your pin when you come.  Your family and friends may buy their plants on Saturday May 6th (9-1pm) at the URIMG Spring Fest plant sale which will be held at the URI Main Campus in the Fine Arts Center parking lot off of Flagg Road.

Please bring, cash, check or credit card (Visa, Master Card or Discover only). No early birds and no exceptions to the date and time.  Questions regarding the MG sale may be directed to Dave Newton at davidj12657@verizon.net.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Help Wanted - URI Spring Festival

help wantedThis year, we celebrate our 16th Spring Festival on Saturday, May 6th from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. URI Cooperative Extension will hold the URI Spring Festival (formerly known as the East Farm Spring Festival) in the URI Botanical Gardens and the Fine Arts Commuter Parking Lot. This event is always a highlight of the spring season!

Please join us as a URI Spring Festival educator this year! We have a few open shifts for the following positions:

  1. “Welcome to the URI Spring Festival” DOCENTS
  2. Square Foot Gardening and General Gardening KIOSK VOLUNTEERS
  3. Supermarket Sleuth, Seed Potting Station, Watershed Model Demo YOUTH ACTIVITY EDUCATORS
  4. Mallon Center Volunteer Snack Zone VOLUNTEERS
  5. First Aid Volunteers
  6. Festival set-up VOLUNTEERS on 5/5

There will be two shifts this year – the first starting at 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and the second from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You are welcome to sign up for one or both shifts. We are also recruiting a festival set up crew for Friday, May 5th. Snacks and refreshments will be provided to all festival volunteers.  More details provided upon sign up.

To sign up for a shift: Log into Volgistics and click on the “My Schedule” tab. Click on May to see available shifts.

If you have any questions, please contact Shelby Weisenfeld, URI Spring Festival Coordinator at shelbyweisenfeld@gmail.com

Gardening With the Masters

GardeningJune 24 and 25

Gardens upon Gardens in Charlestown. Come Follow the path.
Tickets available online beginning May 1.

Herb Gardening and Uses

Wednesday, May 24, 2017, 2:00PM
Beechwood Center; 44 Beach Street; North Kingstown, RI 02852

Mary Blue is the Founder and Owner of Farmacy Herbs in Providence, RI, and teaches Western Herbalism to the Integrative Resident Program at Brown University Medical School.  Since 2001, Mary has taught classes on herbalism at various local businesses (including hospitals and those focused on the health care industry), community events, and scholastic facilities.  She is an advocate for personal and planetary healing through herbs, nutrition and lifestyle and focuses on using herbs to support health, not treat disease.  Her healing philosophy focuses on community, education, and social and health justice.

Glen Cory, is a skilled carpenter in green building technologies and is the full-time Farmacy Carpenter.  In addition to his role as Facility Carpenter in which he built the Greenhouses used in plant production, and designed and constructed the renovations and addition to the barn, he also manages all of the animal production for the Family Farm.

This Lecture will focus on illustrating and teaching about the benefits of herb farming and the various uses of herbs to support health.

If interested in attending, please contact Rayna Wilcox, Volunteer/Program Coordinator, at The Beechwood Center for Life Enrichment at 401-268-1594; or email her at: RWilcox@northkingstown.org.  These programs are offered to members and the public at no charge.  Master Gardeners receive education credits for attending.

Hot Topics from the URI Consumer Horticulture Educator

rosanneThe following science-based articles may help you answer questions from the community.  Rosanne Sherry, URI Consumer Horticulture Educator, recommends you read them to help sharpen your own gardening and educator skills! Please send comments or suggestions for articles to rsherry@uri.edu.

The latest Master Gardener Quick Tips is now available in the MG Gardening Resources Section under Documents. It is dated 4.11.17. Timely tips are now sorted by season. There is an index sheet listed as well so you can quickly find a topic. The newest pages are #10, #28, #29, and #30.
https://web.uri.edu/mastergardener/documents/

When are pollinators active?  Don’t spring into garden cleanup too early!
http://xerces.org/2017/04/04/dont-spring-into-garden-cleanup-too-soon/

From New Terrain March 15, 2017

Ever wondered how your climate is changing? NOAA’s State Summaries were produced to provide state-level information that originates primarily from the Third National Climate Assessment (NCA). The summaries include observed and projected climate change information and focus on aspects that are part of NOAA’s mission (characteristics of the physical climate and coastal issues). The NCA activities derive from the U.S. Global Change Research Act (GCRA) of 1990. These state summaries contain information both on historical trends and scientific knowledge about potential future trends.
Maine’s native bees a ‘very optimistic story” by Abigail Curtis in the Bangor Daily News
How to Fight Plants with Plants by Nancy Lawson on the Humane Gardener.
Pussy Willow — A Valuable Native Plant by Penn State Extension.

From New Terrain January 2017
https://smithsoniangardens.wordpress.com/2017/01/04/insect-habitat-ripley-garden/

Helpful Tick Resources
Tickencouter.org  A URI TickEncounter resource center. Tick ID and testing and lots of education. The best!  Lymedisease.org More focused on health policy.

From UMASS Landscape Message 4/7/2017

Plant of the week: Microbiota decussata, Russian arborvitae

Microbiota decussata is a low growing spreading evergreen groundcover native to southeastern Siberia. Commonly known as Russian arborvitae, Microbiota decussata grows 8-12” tall and spreads to 12 feet. Shoots are somewhat arching with dropping tips. Foliage resembles that of Thuja (arborvitae) providing the common name. The feathery foliage is bright green in summer changing to bronze or purple in the fall and winter adding interest to the winter landscape. Fruits are small berry-like cones. Russian arborvitae is a good groundcover for banks or slopes and can also be used as a specimen or as part of a foundation planting. Plants grow well in full sun to part shade in an average, well-drained soil. This cold hardy evergreen can be a good alternative to Juniper .

URI MGP Newsletter, April 20: Plant Sales, Pollinators and Herbs