OSU Extension Service / Metro Area Master Gardener program
Our supporting associations the Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington County Chapters of the Oregon Master Gardener Association are serving up a grand, trifecta with 3 fundraising plant sales. Be sure to mark your calendars for 3 weekends filled with plants for every gardeners heart!
Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener
As we discussed last month, the cue to start fertilizing seedlings of seasonal flowers and vegetables is by using a commercial trick: Apply a liquid fertilizer at half, or quarter, strength as soon as the cotyledons (seedling leaves) change position from vertical to horizontal. An early fertilization such as this will give your seasonal flowers and vegetables a running start toward the abundant harvests you expect. (Fertilizing Seasonal Vegetables and Flowers; Metro MG Newsletter; February 2019: http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/mgmetro/?cat=1179565)
Fertilizer deficiencies in landscape plants are uncommon in our region’s clay-based soils. Typically, potassium (K), phosphorus (P), and magnesium (Mg) are present in sufficient quantities for most plants. Even so, it’s worth knowing that nitrogen is the element most often in short supply because it is water-soluble.
Nitrogen deficiency is characterized by pale and/or stunted growth; oldest leaves that turn yellow and may also dry and shrivel; along with dark green tip growth. (That’s true only if the plants received appropriate amounts of light and water for their kind.)
Growing in containers may complicate things. The soilless planting mixes used in containers, combined with a severely restricted root space, offer plenty of opportunities for plant problems. Here’s where a commercial potting mix premixed with a bit of fertilizer will come in handy for at least the first season to maintain woodies.
Eventually, though, container gardeners must periodically add fertilizer elements needed for growth, more often than in a ground bed. Even so, nitrogen will be the most common nutrient deficiency. The frequent watering required to maintain container-grown plants readily washes out nitrogen because of its high solubility.
Then, too, long-lived container plants become rootbound after a number of years in the same container. Roots have filled all the cracks and crevices in the potting mix such that nothing gets through, not roots nor water, or even fertilizer. Roots aren’t able to function. Sometimes it’s too late to re-pot.
Seasonal flowers or vegetables in pots: Mix a slow-release fertilizer into the potting mix, then sidedress about 4 weeks later. If needed during the season, use a dissolve-in-water product to perk up the annuals. Don’t bother adding a high phosphorus fertilizer in the hopes it will encourage flowering. Seasonal plants must absorb the required phosphorus very early in their brief lifetime.
Seasonal flowers or vegetables in the garden: Rake a starter dose of granular fertilizer into the conditioned soil. Immediately after setting the transplants, settle the soil around their roots with a diluted fertilizer solution. Sidedress about 4 weeks later. (Again, high phosphorus isn’t needed for bloom.)
Herbaceous perennials in the garden: Proceed as for seasonal flowers the first year. If needed, sidedress in each successive year. (With ornamental grasses, consider skipping the starter fertilizer because the plants may grow too soft and flop; also consider minimizing, or skipping, any sidedressings.) With experience, you’ll learn how to “read” your plants.
Lawns: Choose from fertilizing programs for high-, moderate-, or low-input lawns. Complete details for planting and maintaining lawns are in “Practical lawn care for western Oregon” https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec1521.pdf.
Shrubs and trees in the landscape:
Contrary to popular opinion, established landscape shrubs and trees seldom need fertilizer, especially if they are supplied with an organic mulch such as bark dust or wood chips out to the dripline. Bark chips, 3 to 4 inches deep, are recommended for trees or use bark dust, but to only 2 inches deep. That sort of program is similar to following nature’s lead: Maintain an organic mulch around the base, both to slowly fertilize the trees and shrubs as the mulch degrades in place, also to conserve soil moisture and to minimize fluctuations of soil temperatures. (Yes, you’ll still have to weed now and then.) The main undesirable effect of fertilizing long-lived landscape trees and shrubs is that doing so increases the frequency for pruning.
If you think that you absolutely must fertilize woodies, apply granular nitrogen after the new leaves have fully expanded. Then, they’re able to put fertilizer to good use while they photosynthesize. (Broadcast it underneath the canopy, out to the dripline.) Fertilizing at other times of year may produce new growth but the tree must use its own reserves, not the fertilizer, to do so.
This, by the way, brings an important caution to mind: Never fertilize a stressed tree because it needs all its reserves to survive the stress.
Blueberries would be notable exceptions to the take-it-easy guidelines for landscape woodies, simply because you want them to fruit well. See Growing Blueberries in Your Own Garden – https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec1304.pdf.
Roses are another exception to laid-back fertilizing because, this time, the desired yield is abundant flowers for outdoor display and probably also as indoor cut flowers. Obtain a “rose fertilizer” from a large garden center or use one of the formulations available from the Portland Rose Society, then apply according to directions. (http://www.portlandrosesociety.org/fertilizer.html) Don’t bother with homemade concoctions.
– Soils and Fertilizers (chapter 2 in Sustainable Gardening, the MG handbook)
– Fertilizing Shade and Ornamental Trees https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/fs103.pdf
The PDF Version:
Fertilizing Garden Plants
March 2019
A gardener’s primer to cold hardiness, Part 1. (Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott, Garden Professors Blog, https://bit.ly/2GkDhMT
Arborists have cloned ancient Redwoods from their massive stumps. (Yale Environment 360) https://bit.ly/2E4KspQ
Balance, hearing, and more: Why some wasps have fat lower legs. (Entomology Today) https://bit.ly/2TaLaHt
Handwritten 19th-Century color guide poetically describes where shades are found in nature.(Kelly Richman-Abdou, My Modern Met) https://bit.ly/2TBPzmY
When Cicada-Killer wasps become cicada-stealer wasps. (Edward Ricciuti (Entomology Today) https://bit.ly/2MQanV2
Guttation-just a curious plant thing? (Tony Koski, Cohorts Blog, Colorado State U) https://bit.ly/2GAG1Vz
Culprit found for honeybee deaths in almond groves.(Misti Crane, Ohio State U) https://bit.ly/2Gmy9YG
The plant that farms other plants for food. “It’s not just animals that the ladderwort, Utricularia, eats. Two new papers are finding out how bladderworts also digest microscopic plants.” (Alun Salt, Botany One)
https://bit.ly/2WYQZtF
Great selection of gardening videos! (Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener) https://bit.ly/2UUm2VS
Flowers can hear buzzing bees—and it makes their nectar sweeter. (Michelle Z. Donahue, National Geographic) https://on.natgeo.com/2GDgQlg
300-Year-Old botanical illustrations and the art they inspire today. (Emma Taggart , MyModern.com) https://bit.ly/2SIIpA2
Overcoming the challenges of farming on Mars. “Scientists are trying to perfect a technique for growing crops in space so that astronauts have enough food to get to Mars and back.” (Benjamin Plackett , Inside Science) https://bit.ly/2SwYklW
Extreme temperatures burn stone fruit from inside out, causing severe loss. (Jessica Schremmer, ABC.net) https://ab.co/2GEYzUD
Aussie plants facing extinction. (The University of Queensland) https://bit.ly/2BtzpFa
Life in a cubic feet of a lawn. (Charley Eiseman, Bug Tracks) https://bit.ly/2SDmJp2
Spray film helps stem water loss in fruit crops. (Ourimpact, OSU) https://bit.ly/2WYRCn1
Tomato plant aroma to protect crops. (R & I World) https://bit.ly/2Iga0EW
Should I worry about heavy metals in my garden Soil? (OSU) https://bit.ly/2USc9rG
Plants can smell, now researchers know how. (U of Tokyo) https://bit.ly/2SsAcAz
Watch these stink bugs hatch in unison. (Heather Murphy, NY Times) https://nyti.ms/2E4eV7I
This unbelievably rare opal has a fossilized bug trapped inside. (Tom Hale, Iflscience) https://bit.ly/2Spn9QH
The Cotton plant that sprouted on the far side of the moon has died. “China, which is manning the first probe to land on the lunar far side, was hoping to find out how plants fare in outer space.” (Brigit Katz, Smithonianmag.com) https://bit.ly/2CtNfXV
Spider dances for his life- Watch the video. (Lifestory, BBC via youtube.com) https://bit.ly/2GmYVQy
Brewing beer? Go a step further and grow your own hops. (OSU) https://bit.ly/2DFwytd
6 easiest orchids to grow. (A Way to Garden.com) https://bit.ly/2E4pyY1
How ants sniff out the right path. “They may seem like automatons, but ants are surprisingly sophisticated in their navigational strategies.” (James Gorman, NY Times) https://nyti.ms/2WWyq9B
Microbiological safety of chicken litter or chicken litter-based organic fertilizers: A review. (Zhao Chen & Xiuping Jiang, Clemson U, via mdpi.com) https://bit.ly/2UTCMMR
Float like a Dragontail Butterfly-beautiful video! (Center for Biological Diversity, via Youtube.com) https://bit.ly/2SqD9Sh
Moths muffle bat Sonar with sound-absorbing wings- “To shield themselves from bat echolocation, moths don an acoustic cloak of invisibility—using the sound-absorbing scales on their wings.” (Katherine J. Wu, PBS.org) https://to.pbs.org/2GmZzgZ
Horticultural Oils – What a gardener needs to know. (JoAnne Skelly, U of Nevada Extension)
https://bit.ly/2tjC8MN
Compost in seed starting mix: Recipe for success….or failure? (John Porter, gardenprofessors.com) https://bit.ly/2E3SShb
Plant hardiness zones: Why are they important? (Buncombe County Master Gardeners. NC Extension) https://bit.ly/2E39rd9
Your view of bugs may never be the same- “…after seeing these endearing photo stories of how bugs are cute, how bugs provide value, and how bugs are a lot more like us than many think.”
(Danae Wolfe, Ted Talk, via Youtube.com) https://bit.ly/2DvCwwB
What do opponents of genetically modified foods really know about the science? “The study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, found that the strongest critics actually know less—a pattern similar for gene therapy, but not for climate change.” (Michele W. Berger, Penn Today, U of Penn) https://bit.ly/2Hf3RIj
Why do Rhododendron leaves droop and curl in the winter? (In Defense of Plants) https://bit.ly/2DyaDE7
Cool video shows spiders “raining” from the sky in Brazil. (Iflscience.com) https://bit.ly/2SJKxrl
Learn about different houseplants from the experts. (Plant Talk, Colorado State University) https://bit.ly/2BuwoEu
Find out how long your seed packs will last. (Amateur gardening.com) https://bit.ly/2UZsdIn
How Poppy flowers get those vibrant colors that entice insects. (U of Groningen) https://bit.ly/2TJ87lh
“The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size.”
– Gertrude S. Wister
With thoughts of spring, now’s the time to consider how you would like to serve and grow this gardening season in your role as an OSU Master Gardener. What community service events would you like to be involved with? A long time favorite event or a new one? How do you plan to expand your gardening know-how through our many continuing education opportunities? See some possibilities in the articles below.
Now is a good time to sign-up for our Master Gardener office hotlines (via CERVIS,). Farmers Market schedules open over the next several weeks, so please check back if the event you are looking for has yet to be posted.
It is also the perfect time to help welcome and usher in the new class of Master Gardener trainees. Come sit in on one of the MG training sessions (here’s the schedule). Introduce yourself to a trainee. Learn what interests brought them to our training program. Share your passion for gardening and the Master Gardener program with those new to the program.
We are excited to announce and welcome Janet Hohman as Administrative Program Assistant for the Metro-area Master Gardener program team. For the past year, Janet has served as an Office Specialist for the Clackamas Co. OSU Extension Service office. A portion of her position included time supporting the Master Gardener program. In her role as office specialist, Janet has been assisting and supporting Master Gardeners signing up for the Clackamas phone hotline and the MG program team. You may have met Janet at our Fall Recertification events in 2017 and 2018.
There is a bit of a transition time as Janet continues to assist in the front office, but starting April 1, Janet will be moving full time into her new position! We are thrilled to have Janet, her skills, and positive energy contributing to the metro-area OSU Master Gardener program.
Janet will be supporting Master Gardeners with using our online systems. Need help getting logged into CERVIS? How about navigating the online modules in Canvas? Janet will be sharing her knowledge with encouraging guidance.
A few fun facts about Janet…she has confessed to LOVING dirt (hey, we are fans too!), has a keen interest in composting, and plays the banjo! Please join us in giving Janet a warm welcome!
2019 Master Gardener Training to Commence!February marks the beginning of our 2019 metro-area OSU Master Gardener training. For 7 weeks starting the first week in February and running through March, we will have science-based instruction from a stellar group of horticulture experts. Perennial favorite instructors are returning…Jen Aron, Margaret Bayne, Chip Bubl, Jane Collier, Claudia Groth, Monica Maggio, Weston Miller, and Jean R. Natter. In addition, we welcome 3 new instructors, metro-area Master Gardener Sally Campbell, and OSU Extension’s Heather Stoven and Rachel Suits.
Each AM or PM session attended counts as 3 hours of continuing education credit for 2019.
We are thrilled that we will be welcoming over 180 new Master Gardeners! If you attend training class, please take the time to say hello to new trainees and welcome them to the Master Gardener program.
The training sites and days are:
Tuesdays, February 5 – March 19, 9AM to 4PM
NEW LOCATION! Hillsboro United Methodist Church, 168 NE 8th Avenue, Hillsboro
Thursdays, February 7 – March 21, 9AM to 4PM
Museum of the Oregon Territory, Museum of the Oregon Territory 3rd floor- 211 Tumwater Drive, Oregon City
Fridays, February 8 – March 22, 9AM to 4PM
Multnomah County Headquarters, Multnomah County Headquarters -501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
See the 2019 Metro-area Training Schedule HERE
Now there’s a topic of great interest to many vegetable gardeners and it happens to be the latest topic for the OSU Master Gardener Advanced Training Webinars! You can take part in this informative webinar, presented by Dr. Cary Rivard, of Kansas State University, on Friday, March 15th, at 11AM. To register, go to: https://learn.extension.org/events/3604
If you can’t view the live webinar, a recording will be available.
‘Demystifying Grafted Tomatoes’ is just one of many webinars produced by OSU Extension to supplement your OSU Master Gardener continuing education. If you missed any previous webinars from 2017 or 2018 – please take the time to view the recordings.
Each webinar viewed counts as 1-hour continuing education credit.
2018 Webinar Series http://blogs.oregonstate.edu/ediblegardens/2018/09/24/the-complete-2018-mg-webinar-series/
2017 Webinar Series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIelD7ZO8N55rvyA6Q-y–4l3B4VCJPvw
Again, this year, we have distributed a new, 2019 MG badge sticker to indicate those Master Gardeners who are up-to-date with their volunteer, continuing education (recertification) hours and have submitted their signed 2019 Conditions of Volunteer Service agreement. You served diligently! Now display your sticker proudly!
To maintain your certification, the following are the minimum criteria for Veteran MGs in 2019
Start logging your hours on a 2019 Volunteer Log Sheet. Once that log sheet is brimming with your annual requirements, please submit your log to the Metro MG Program office, no later than September 30, 2019.
The metro-area OSU Master Gardener program has 3 vital, and active Chapters. Each Chapter is part of the Oregon Master Gardeners Association, which formed to support the OSU Master Gardener program.
With the start of a New Year, our three metro-area Chapters have been accepting membership renewals. Chapter membership is optional and not required to maintain active Master Gardener status. Many choose Chapter membership for the added benefits that these OSU Master Gardener supporting associations provide. You can belong to any Chapter you would like. Some Master Gardeners belong to multiple Chapters. To renew your Chapter membership contact Chapters through their websites.
For those of you who took your MG training in 2018, during your training year you received complimentary Chapter membership in the county Chapter where you reside. You now have the option of belonging to the Chapter of your choice. The Chapters each have varying annual fees. For more information visit their websites:
Clackamas County Master Gardeners
Multnomah County Master Gardeners
Washington County Master Gardeners
Fondly remembering Bill GreerIf you attended Master Gardener training in Washington County in the past 25 years, upon arrival you received a warm, friendly welcome from OSU Master Gardener, Bill Greer. Bill volunteered at the check-in table at MG training for longer than anyone can remember. He was a fixture who could be counted on to welcome all, with a kind word and his delightful sense of humor. We were deeply saddened to learn that Bill died on January 1. Continue reading our fond remembrance of Bill Greer…
Fondly remembering Bill GreerIf you attended Master Gardener training in Washington County in the past 25 years, upon arrival you received a warm, friendly welcome from OSU Master Gardener, Bill Greer. Bill volunteered at the check-in table at MG training for longer than anyone can remember. He was a fixture who could be counted on to welcome all, with a kind word and his delightful sense of humor. We were deeply saddened to learn that Bill died on January 1.
Another place you were bound to see Bill was on Monday mornings at the Washington County hotline office. In the office, Bill took on the role of mentor by listening, advising and guiding his fellow Master Gardener volunteers and the gardening public. Many Master Gardeners learned the ins and outs of serving the gardening public while volunteering alongside Bill. Bill was a patient teacher, guide and valued volunteer!
Bill became an OSU Master Gardener in 1993. Bill was an avid gardener with an extensive collection and knowledge of rhododendrons. According to his family, his background in engineering also supported an elaborate irrigation system that hydrated his rhodie garden.
At this year’s Washington County MG training as we enter and pass the check-in table, we will be thinking of Bill with fond and grateful remembrance! Bill gave so much to the Master Gardener program, fellow Master Gardeners and those wanting to learn more about gardening.
On behalf of the OSU Master Gardeners, we want to extend our sincere sympathy and thanks to Bill’s family. In past years, Bill’s children would transport Bill to training classes and to the Washington Co. office for his hotline shifts, so Bill could continue his tradition of giving to the community!
Bill was a very special Master Gardener volunteer who touched many as he shared his love of learning and the natural world.
Remembrance donations can be made to Valley Community Presbyterian Church, the OSU Master Gardener Program, or the American Rhododendron Society.
When it comes to fertilizing plants, common myths may risk your plants’ health. The general guideline is to start early and supplement as the season proceeds. So, let’s look at the facts, while focusing on growing annual flowers and vegetables.
It’s important to know that many brands and forms of fertilizer work well. Whatever your choice, organic or synthetic, liquid or solid, the goal is to produce abundant yields of flowers and/or edibles. It’s also possible to use a combination of organic and synthetic. For instance, you might plant a cover crop, then follow with synthetic fertilizers at the appropriate times. (See Cover Crops for Home Gardens; FS 304; https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/fs304.pdf.)
In order to obtain the same end result, synthetic products are less costly than organics, are applied in small amounts, and act rapidly. Organics cost more, in part, because they require larger amounts as well as considerable labor to haul and apply. Then, too, organics react relatively slowly because they rely on soil organisms to release the fertilizer elements. Perhaps the greatest value of the bulky organics (manure), is that a small percentage of fertilizer elements remains to be released during subsequent years. Thus, avoid overloading the soil by applying the full amount of manure for 1 to 3 years, then apply a smaller amount during successive years. (See EC 1503, page 7.)
A professional soil test is useful before beginning a new garden to identify possible excesses and deficiencies in the soil. Then, when repeated every several years, the test will note changes and suggest adjustments in fertilizer applications. Fall is a good time for a test because lime and possibly other remedies can be applied in a timely manner.
Here, in the metro counties, we typically suggest the nearby A&L Soil Lab, 503-968-9225. Call them to ask how to sample and how to deliver the soil. Request a general test, with recommendations, for a home garden in which you will grow annual vegetables, or whatever else you are interested in, perhaps lawn.
When it comes to fertilizer deficiencies in our region with its clay-based soils, the most common in home gardens is nitrogen. (Nitrogen deficiency is revealed in pale and/or stunted growth; oldest leaves turn yellow, then dry and may drop; new tip growth is dark green.) So, for the most part, you can forget about using any of those various fancy deficiency charts when growing seasonal plants in the garden. In most instances, a general fertilizer with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) will do the job for seasonal flowers or vegetables, presuming, of course, that the plants receive appropriate amounts of light and water for their kind.
Growing in containers is where things may become complicated. Fill them with a commercially-prepared potting mix because the coarse components will allow good drainage in the shallow depth available in most pots as long as it has drain holes. (Avoid adding coarse stuff in the bottom because, contrary to popular opinion, it impedes drainage.) Find a potting mix that works for you and your watering habits, then always use the same stuff in your containers.
It’s worth knowing that commercial potting mixes enriched with a bit of fertilizer will need additional fertilizer if your seasonal plants are expected to achieve the expected abundant yields. Always use a general purpose product designed for container-grown plants.
Wherever a seasonal plant is growing, in the ground or a pot, don’t bother adding a high phosphorus fertilizer to encourage bloom. A plant absorbs what it needs when it needs it. More important yet, adequate phosphorus must be available in the first quarter of the plant’s life.
If you seed directly into the garden, begin by digging to the depth of a garden fork, remove weeds and debris, mix in several inches of compost, then level the soil. Next, rake in a starter dose of granular fertilizer, then seed and, finally, settle the soil by gently watering.
As soon as the cotyledons (seedling leaves) change position from vertical to horizontal, apply a liquid fertilizer at quarter strength. Follow up with a side-dressing at about 4 weeks. (Or follow the package directions!)
Similarly, when seeding into a container, fill it with slightly moist potting mix, seed, then water lightly to settle the seed and potting mix. When the cotyledons become horizontal, apply a liquid fertilizer at quarter strength.
Set your transplants, either home-grown or purchased, into their final growing place when they are several inches tall, then water with quarter-strength fertilizer to settle the soil. It won’t be long until you can start harvesting.
– Growing Your Own (EM9027) provides a rapid overview especially useful for gardeners, including those new to our region. Particularly helpful is the chart of planting dates for vegetables. (We’re in Region 2.) https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/em9027.pdf
– Soils and Fertilizers (chapter 2 in Sustainable Gardening, the MG handbook)
– A Guide to Collecting Soil Samples for Farms and Gardens https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec628.pdf
– Fertilizing Your Garden (PNW 1503) includes the use of wood ashes. https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/ec1503.pdf
– Fertilizing with Biosolids (PNW 508) https://catalog.extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/catalog/files/project/pdf/pnw508_0.pdf
February 2019
Listen to a podcast about the history of angiosperms (flowering plants) with Dr. Nan Crystal Arens from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. “Her work on angiosperms of the early Cretaceous has given us insights into the evolutionary pressures that may have led to the evolution of flowering plants as well as how these early angiosperms made their living in a landscape already vegetated by a preponderance of gymnosperms.” (Indefenseofplants.com) https://bit.ly/2Ck1yxZ
How branches, bark and buds help you ID trees and shrubs. “Winter seems like a lousy time to identify trees and shrubs. Without leaves to look at, things definitely get a little difficult, but with a few tricks, and maybe a good book in hand, you can up your botany game and learn to identify trees and shrubs without leaves!” (Emma Tutein, U of NH) https://bit.ly/2srmbUh
Watch scientists train bees to play with tiny soccer balls! “The study shows that bees can adapt to really weird circumstances… Here’s the buzz: bees are brilliant. And not just because they are a vital part of our ecosystem. Bees are also very clever—and apparently capable of learning one of the basic fundamentals of football.” (Mary Beth Griggs, popsci.com) https://bit.ly/2VLA3q0
Check out these beautiful botanical drawings. “Over 100 years ago, the US Government commissioned 7,500 watercolor paintings of every kind of fruit in the Country.” (Chloe Olewitz, morselnewyork.com) https://bit.ly/2SH5X56
Beech trees are dying, and nobody’s sure why. “Intense effort underway to find culprit behind rapid disease spread.” Misti Crane, Ohio State U) https://bit.ly/2Hgl6JB
It takes a mosquito to fight a mosquito. “In Australia, China and elsewhere, scientists are fighting disease-carrying mosquitoes by introducing another type, carrying just a harmless form of bacteria.” (Tina Rosenberg, nytimes.com) https://nyti.ms/2FmGRp1
New plant discovery at Longwood Gardens– Cyrtosia (syn. Galeola) septentrionalis, “…It’s considered impossible to cultivate and has never previously been found in the United States. So what makes Cyrtosia so special—and how did it come to be at Longwood?” https://bit.ly/2RpPEgB
Watch a forest appear to breath when hit by strong winds! “When a forest in Quebec was hit with heavy winds, the forest floor began to undulate as if it were breathing. This incredible phenomenon happens during storms when the soil is saturated and loosens from the tree’s roots.” (Stepoutside.org) https://bit.ly/2Rn9t86
Early Thanksgiving counts show a critically low Monarch population in California. “The California overwintering population has been reduced to less than 0.5% of its historical size, and has declined by 86% compared to 2017.” (Xerces.org) https://bit.ly/2snFCgM
Dry conditions may have helped a new type of plant gain a foothold on Earth. “Plants reap energy from the sun using two photosynthesis pathways, C3 and C4. A new study suggests that water availability drove the expansion of C4 species, which may help to explain how different plant lineages came to be distributed on the planet today.” (U of Pennsylvania via Sciencedaily.com) https://bit.ly/2CipjGR
New research has discovered how plant roots sense the availability of moisture in soil and then adapt their shape to optimize acquisition of water. “The discovery could enable crops to be bred which are more adaptive to changes in climate conditions, such as water scarcity, and help ensure food security in the future.” (U of Nottingham via sciencedaily.com) https://bit.ly/2VQW6eT
So many Shot Hole Borers: New research charts four nearly identical species. (Jiri Hulcr, Ph.D., and Jackson Landers, entomology.today.org) https://bit.ly/2Ty6Xsb
Antennal sensors allow hawkmoths to make quick moves. “All insects use vision to control their position in the air when they fly, but they also integrate information from other senses. Biologists at Lund University have now shown how hawkmoths use mechanosensors in their antennae to control fast flight maneuvers.” (Lund University via phys.org) https://bit.ly/2Rocxkh
52 million tree stories more accessible to science. “The world’s primary archive of tree ring data, which holds more than 52 million cost-free records spanning 8,000 years of history, has gotten a makeover by scientists from four countries committed to making science more accessible.” (Harvard U via sciencedaily.com) https://bit.ly/2D5ZefO
Planting hedges along roads may keep us all healthier -Field investigations for evaluating green infrastructure effects on air quality in open-road conditions.(K.V.Abhijith & Prashant Kumar, Sciencedirect.com) https://bit.ly/2AyO7tW
How do I care for an amaryllis after it is finished blooming? (Richard Jauron, Willy Klein, Iowa State U) https://bit.ly/2AKYUkO
Scientists have ‘hacked Photosynthesis’ in search of more productive crops.(Dan Charles, npr.org) https://n.pr/2SyXMaR
Did you know spiders can fly hundreds of miles using electricity? “Scientists are finally starting to understand the centuries-old mystery of “ballooning.” (Ed Young, theatlantic.com) https://bit.ly/2MSI3jM
The founder of the Boy Scouts hid maps in insect drawings. Can you find the secrets in these bug illustrations? (Jack Goodman, altlasobscura.com) https://bit.ly/2Chdalp
Crab spiders and Pitcher plants: a dynamic duo! (indefenseofplants.com) https://bit.ly/2RpRspB
Life-Long Radar Tracking of Bumblebees. “Insect pollinators such as bumblebees play a vital role in many ecosystems, so it is important to understand their foraging movements on a landscape scale…used harmonic radar to record the natural foraging behavior of Bombus terrestris audax workers over their entire foraging career.” (Joseph L. Woodgate, et al, plos.org) https://bit.ly/2QK9L3E
Tree Wound Paints. “Paints have been used over the years to try to protect tree wounds from invasion by microorganisms and to promote healing. With a few exceptions, paints are not widely recommended for this use.” (Jay Pschdeit, OSU PNW Disease Handbook) https://bit.ly/2snwuJ6
What do spiders do in winter? Yes, they are out there! (Richard Bradley, spidersinohio.net) https://bit.ly/2EYwhn9
Watch the beautiful video: Botanical Animation- Story of Flowers. (AMMK designs via Youtube.com) https://bit.ly/2H7wbw8
What makes a tree a tree? Despite numerous studies and 30-plus genomes under their belts, scientists are still struggling to nail down the defining traits of these tall, long-lived, woody plants (Rachel Ehrenberg, knowablemagazine.org) https://bit.ly/2q4vZmD
The secret life of plants: Ten new species found this year. (Helen Briggs, bbc.com) https://bbc.in/2Rtij4t
Is habitat restoration actually killing plants in the California wildlands? (Kara Manke, berkely.edu) https://bit.ly/2TqUINZ
Wow! Watch this amazing video of the harvesting of olives. (Réceptacle automatique, Youtube.com) https://bit.ly/2Cgy8Rs
Back to the land: are young farmers the new starving artists? “A small but growing movement of millennials are seeking out a more agrarian life but the reality of life on the land is not always as simple as they hoped.” (Lucia Graves, theguardian.com) https://bit.ly/2TMdcbV
Did you get a Poinsettia for Christmas? Watch the video and find out how to keep it alive!(Utah State) https://bit.ly/2ASKM9x
Scientists discover secret to how plants branch to locate water– “…plant roots branch to find water which could help increase food security.” (Jessica Miley, interestingengineering.com) https://bit.ly/2FpnueW
Researchers develop a new houseplant that can clean your home’s air. “Researchers have genetically modified a common houseplant to remove chloroform and benzene from the air around it.”(University of Washington, labmanager.com) https://bit.ly/2SVRZg0
An introduction to Hornworts. “When was the last time you thought about hornworts? Have you ever thought about hornworts? If you answered no, you aren’t alone.” (Indefenseofplants.com) https://bit.ly/2FlhpAx
Why taxonomic preparedness is critical for invasive species response. “Responding to invasive insects is a three-fold endeavor, involving detection or interception, accurate and fast identification (i.e., taxonomy), and thorough ecological investigations.” Researchers “…recount the taxonomic work that sprang into action to investigate natural enemies of the brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys) after its arrival in North America in the late 1990s, as an example of how taxonomic preparedness is critical to the success of biological control efforts to respond to invasive species.” (Matthew L. Buffington, Ph.D., et al; entomologytoday.com) https://bit.ly/2SQvmcJ
One of nature’s smallest flowering plants can survive inside of a duck. “If one duckweed lands where a bird relieves itself, it’s capable of eventually creating a dense mat of duckweeds where there were none before.” (Veronique Greenwood, nytimes.com) https://nyti.ms/2Lr281e
Plants don’t like to be touched. “The findings… could lead to new approaches to optimizing plant growth and productivity – from field-based farming to intensive horticulture production. (La Trobe University) https://bit.ly/2EwCdoe
Why doesn’t my Holly have berries? Lack of berries on Holly is a common concern for homeowners. (Silloo Kapadia, MG; Penn State U) https://bit.ly/2RFt8zB
This is a shame! The decline of insect representation in biology textbooks over time. (Kiran Gangwani & Jennifer Landin; Academic Entomologist, Oxford Academy) https://bit.ly/2RNUy68
How insects survive winter. (Jessica Wong, Colorado State U) https://bit.ly/2RIcYW6
Researcher identifies new weapons against slugs. “Essential oils from thyme and spearmint are proving lethal to crop-damaging slugs without the toxicity to humans, animals or the environment that chemical solutions can present… McDonnell was hired by OSU in 2016 after Oregon farmers told the university’s leaders that more research was needed to fight slugs, which have become increasingly destructive in recent years.”(Mateusz Perkowsk, Capitalpress.com) https://bit.ly/2CkcXxE
Hospital Garden Eases Nurse Burnout. (Shelaghsblog, garden activitys.com) https://bit.ly/2LcSxL8
Is organic food worse for the climate than non-organic food? “If you eat organic food in the belief that you’re helping the planet, this study suggests you might be doing more harm than good. International researchers from Chalmers University of Technology looked at the impact of organic and conventional food production on the climate.” (Iflscience.com) https://bit.ly/2Hi0DnI
How close-up glamour shots are generating buzz for bees. “The pictures were taken for science, but found a wider audience because they’re gorgeous and a little trippy.” (Jessica Leigh Hester, atlasobscura.com) https://bit.ly/2Cj2fru
The pickle is in trouble! Scientists are fighting for the stricken pickle against this tricky disease. (Carolyn Beans, npr.org) https://n.pr/2GmQ6Hd
Plants’ defense against insects is a bouquet. “A research study… sheds light on how blend of chemicals strengthens plants’ defense against insect pests.” (Joy Landis, Michigan State U)defense against insect pests. https://bit.ly/2FmMqny
Anyone who thinks that gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year. For gardening begins in January with the dream.
– Josephine Nuese
Yes, January is a great time to begin or rekindle your garden dreams and plan for the future. Whether curling up with a great seed catalog, charting out your garden plans on graph paper, perusing garden inspiration online, or pacing around your garden to determine a plan of attack for those pesky weeds that seem to be flourishing in our mild winter, there’s definitely plenty to do right now!
It is also the perfect time to plan how you would like to volunteer as a Master Gardener in the coming year. Will you volunteer at your usual volunteer venue? Or will you explore and try something new, like lending a hand and a shovel at a chapter Demonstration Garden, offering garden advice at one of the Master Gardener Hotline offices, volunteering at a favorite farmers market, or making gardening presentations to the public? The possibilities are many! Look for volunteer openings on CERVIS, with new postings being added every month, or check in with Chapters for opportunities.
We look forward to seeing you in 2019 wearing your OSU Master Gardener hat – sharing your passion for gardening, dispensing reliable gardening advice and serving our community!
Upon the start of a New Year we take time to reflect on the year gone by. For the metro-area OSU Master Gardener program, 2018 was another stellar year thanks to the extraordinary contributions of Master Gardener volunteers!
Look at these impressive numbers…
| Master Gardeners | Number reporting | Total hours |
| 2018 Interns | 89 | 6,979 |
| 2018 Veterans | 447 | 34,162 |
| Total | 536 | 41,141 |
While serving the community with 41,000-plus hours of volunteer service, metro-area Master Gardeners had 34,431 public contacts. With each of those public contacts Master Gardeners were educating, guiding, and inspiring home gardeners to be successful and environmentally responsible gardeners!
Master Gardeners made more community contributions by growing and donating over 18,407 lbs. of nutritious produce. Of that total, chapter demonstration gardens donated 7,241 lbs. of fresh vegetables and fruits, and individual MGs contributed over 11,246 lbs.! That is a remarkable contribution in assisting those who are experiencing food insecurity!
We extend a hearty heap of gratitude to all metro-area Master Gardeners for sharing your time, energy, and passion for gardening by educating the public and supporting the OSU Master Gardener program. Thank you!
Join us in 2019 for Master Gardener training. We will be holding 7 weeks of training classes starting the first week in February and running through March. So mark your calendars. Each AM or PM session attended counts as 3 hours continuing garden education credit for 2019.
The training sites and days are:
Tuesdays, February 5 – March 19, 9AM to 4PM
NEW LOCATION! Hillsboro United Methodist Church, 168 NE 8th Avenue, Hillsboro
Thursdays, February 7 – March 21, 9AM to 4PM
Museum of the Oregon Territory, Museum of the Oregon Territory 3rd floor- 211 Tumwater Drive, Oregon City
Fridays, February 8 – March 22, 9AM to 4PM
Multnomah County Headquarters, Multnomah County Headquarters -501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland
2019 Master Gardener training will include perennial favorite instructors: Jen Aron, Margaret Bayne, Chip Bubl, Jane Collier, Claudia Groth, Monica Maggio, Weston Miller and Jean R. Natter. In addition, we welcome 3 new instructors, metro-area Master Gardener Sally Campbell, and OSU Extension’s Heather Stoven and Rachel Suits.
How do the majority of people learn about Master Gardener training? From Master Gardeners of course!
Now is your chance to let others know about the rewarding opportunities available serving as a Master Gardener volunteer. Registration is now open for the 2019 Master Gardener Training! Share the word with your gardening friends, wanna-be gardeners, and fellow community members. Direct those interested to our Metro-area Master Gardener website for easy online registration.
If social media is a favorite communication avenue for you, please consider sharing information about the Master Gardener training registration on the social media sites on which you participate. Share posts from our Facebook and Twitter accounts or direct those interested to our website. We would love to cover all Nextdoor neighborhoods in the metro-area. If you need more information or would like a promotional photo to post – please contact Marcia McIntyre: marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu.
This month we are updating Master Gardener’s status in CERVIS for the 2019 season based on the completion of the following:
When these 3 requirements are met, we list you as “Current” in the CERVIS system and you will be able to sign-up for volunteer shifts. Current statewide guidelines require us to hold back on recertifying MGs until these minimums are met. Those who meet the requirement are issued a 2019 sticker to display on their badge. See photo.
If you find you are no longer able to use CERVIS, contact Marcia McIntyre marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu
Also contact Marcia if you need guidance in how to reach the minimum requirements to renew your “active and current” status as an MG.
We have heard rave reviews this past year from Master Gardeners regarding the OSU MG Advanced Training Webinars! Master Gardeners are discovering valuable gardening information from OSU experts that they can watch via an interactive webinar or a recording at a convenient time. Another series is slated for 2019 and it is sure to please as well.
First-up in 2019…
Update on Sudden Oak Death in the Pacific Northwest
Presented by: Sarah Navarro (Oregon Department of Forestry) and Norma Kline (OSU Extension)
January 29, 11am PT
Details & pre-registration info: https://learn.extension.org/events/3581
Did you miss any of the 2017 or 2018 webinars? They are still available. Follow the links below and you can binge watch them all! Each webinar can be counted as 1-hour continuing education credit the first time it is viewed.
Winter is a great time to volunteer at the metro-area Master Gardener Hotlines. We get a surprising number of questions from gardeners itching to get out in their gardens. The pace of questions is slower in the winter, so it is a good time to come in, acquaint yourself with the resource library, and maybe even do some detective work regarding your own garden quandaries. Shifts are available on CERVIS or you can email the following coordinators to help you sign-up.
Take your role as a garden educator to the next level, by volunteering to be a presenter for the Master Gardener Speakers Guild!
The Metro MG program receives dozens of requests every year for garden presentations to community groups. We have a small, but mighty, group of MGs who answer the call and present throughout the 3 counties – but requests greatly exceed what these dedicated MGs can handle. Therefore, we are looking for additional MGs to share their research-based gardening know-how. We will supply support materials, and those interested can shadow experienced presenters. Volunteers can also take advantage of a new 2019 workshop that will focus on strengthening presentation skills. Volunteers can select how many presentations a year they would like to make and the topics they feel most comfortable presenting. Please consider joining in this fun, valuable volunteer activity!
Presentations are needed on a variety of subjects:
Would you like to be part of this vital community outreach? If so, contact Marcia McIntyre, marcia.mcintyre@oregonstate.edu
Natter’s Notes
Helpful Books & Websites
Jean R. Natter, OSU Master Gardener
Research-based information underlies everything Master Gardeners do. But it’s challenging to keep up with all that when you’re scrambling to know where the information is. When you’re searching online for data, adding “site:edu” (without the quote marks) will limit the results list to information from educational institutions. Unfortunately, “site:edu” doesn’t guarantee accuracy, because people aren’t perfect. (Believe it or not, mistakes happen.)
Right now, you may be wondering who, or what, can you believe? Well, to increase the likelihood of passing on accurate information, always review and compare at least 3 of the search responses. If disparities exist, continue searching and/or ask someone who may be able to provide additional insights. Your goal is a “Teachable Moment” during which you accurately inform the public. No home remedies, even if one was suggested in a university publication.
To begin your research, realize that each metro MG Office has a list of pre-approved resources in the “Master Gardener Office Information” binder under Tab L, Helpful Books and Websites. Begin with the list’s Table of contents. Each section generally lists books first, then websites. Most cited books are in each MG Office.
Following is a brief sample from the final page: Five very common, annoyingly weedy plants that tend to run rampant in the northwest. Some have been declared invasive, others are on a watch list.
Arum, or Lords and Ladies (Arum italicum) Herbaceous perennial; green leaves marked w/ white; deep fleshy root w/ offsets; prolific seeder https://www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/article/486580
Lesser Celandine (Fig buttercup; Ranunculus ficaria; formerly Ficaria vicaria; Ficaria verna)
Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) An escaped shrubby herbaceous perennial with poisonous berries https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/phytolacca_americana.shtml
Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola) A woody Daphne escapee; seeds freely in northwest woodlands https://weedwise.conservationdistrict.org/2018/november-weed-month-spurge-laurel-2018.html
Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima) Large, rapid-growing, a profuse seeder, with many root sprouts
Tree of Heaven http://www.docs.dcnr.pa.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/document/dcnr_010311.pdf
PDF Version:
Helpful Books and Websites
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