Free Floral Design Workshop

Design by Master Gardener, Carol Ullerich

Flower arranging is an art which goes back in history almost 5,000 years, possibly more. The earliest evidences we have of this art are the pottery flower holding vases from Egyptian tombs or ruins. All down through the ages there is further evidence that flowers and floral decorations have played an important part in the life of civilized man. The McCracken County Extension service is hosting a Fantastic Floral Design Workshop on Tuesday, March 3. This class will help increase your knowledge of floral design elements-principles, history and color use. The free class will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the McCracken County Extension office, 2705 Olivet Church Road in Paducah. You can call the extension office at 270-554-9520 for additional information.

Design by Master Gardener, Carol Ullerich

Floral Design is a popular division in the McCracken County Fair Standard Flower Show. This is a great opportunity to learn about and further develop your floral design skills in preparation for the flower show. 

Raised Beds are now the Traditional Way to Garden

Each year, more gardeners are transitioning to raised beds and for good reason.

Photo from Your Life Today Magazine

Maintenance is at the top of the list. Since the garden is constrained to an enclosed area, usually 4 feet by 4 or 6 feet, it is easier to keep ahead of the weeds without the use of chemicals. And it is out of the reach of creeping Bermuda grass!  The beds can be any depth from one to four or more feet, making it easy to sit on the edge and pull weeds (a welcome relieve from bending or kneeling) They can also be built to accommodate gardening from a wheel chair.

The soil drains much better in a raised bed allowing earlier planting and preventing water pooling from spring rains. Since a raised bed dries quicker, special attention should be given to watering during the dry months.

Photo from the garden or Master Gardener Chris Jannne

Raised beds easily lend themselves to hoop houses made with plastic and PVC pipes, extending the growing season for several months. An easy method for creating a hoop house can be found on the Grow Organic website.

Raised beds can be made from a huge variety of materials, wood, brick, stone, plastic, repurposed barrels, or just about anything that can hold soil and provide drainage. When using repurposed materials one should take care that its previous use was not for a toxic substance.

Because they can be built to almost any specification, raised beds are a garden designer’s dream. Whether it is on a patio, terraced on a slope or any a formal garden, raised beds can not only be functional but attractive.

Local gardener, Phyllis Robertson, will share her experiences with raised bed gardening at the  McCracken County Master Gardener Toolbox on March 3. The presentation will be at 5:00 p.m. at the McCcracken County Extension Office, 2705 Olivet Church Road in Paducah.There will be no charge and no advance registration is required.

An in-depth article on raised bed gardening can be found on the The University of Missouri website. 

Gardeners like to travel!

Whether it is to Korea,

Arboretum at Murray State University, Murray, KY 

Alaska, the Missouri Botanical Gardens or to the arboretum at Murray State University, just say “want to go” and McCracken County Master Gardeners grab their bags and are ready!

Arkansas Master Gardeners has extended an invitation for other Master Gardeners to join them for a France River Cruise in May. Yes, that is the country of France! Click here  for more information.

Maybe France isn't  for you this year but you would like to meet with other Master Gardeners from around the country; consider the International Master Gardener Conference, hosted by Iowa State University and The University of Nebraska-Lincoln at Council Bluff, Iowa September 22-25. For information on conference topics and registration, visit the University ofNebraska-Lincoln website. 

First Sign of Spring

When the helleborus, also known as Lenten rose, bloom it is a sure sign that spring will soon arrive. Helleborus, one of the first blooms of the season, usually appear in March but sometimes in late February in our Zone 7a; they continue to bloom for about a couple of months. The easy care, evergreen plant thrives in part to full shade. They need good drainage and can tolerate rocky soil. Not bothered by deer, helleborus work well in a wooded area. A self-seeded plant, they are perfect for sharing with friends.

Planted by a drive way or window, they are certain to be a bright spot on the last cold days of winter.

For more information on this little jewel, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden website. 

Happy Valentines Day from Extension Master Gardener!

Fingers itching?

It is mid-February and most gardeners' fingers are itching to dig in the soil. The soil has been tested and amended according to the Extension Service analysis and perhaps a germination station has been set up. What is next?  Now is a good time to decide what, when and where.

If you have not done so, it is time to purchase seed. Look through those beautiful catalogs and make a list. Check to see if your favorites will grow successfully in your zone (west Kentucky is in Zone 7a.) Before you place an online or catalog order, see if the local nurseries or farm stores have them, saving the cost of shipping.

Hopefully the decision on where was decided before the soil was tested. Vegetables require a sunny location fairly close to a water source. Remember, it is not unusual to have extended periods of time without significant rain fall during the summer months.

The early spring garden can be started as soon as the soil can be worked. Raised beds will be ready to plant earlier than traditional gardens. Peas, spinach and beets can be planted as early as March1.

 The University of Kentucky Extension Service publication, Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky, gives detailed information of the what, when and where as well as how to care for the garden after it is planted. The free publication can be downloaded here or a copy can be picked up at the McCracken County Extension office, 2705 Olivet Church Road in Paducah.

What does it take to become a Master Gardener

From the McCracken County Extension Service

The Extension Master Gardener program provides horticulture training in exchange for volunteer work. The program is a great way to gain horticultural knowledge and share your expertise in your community. You will meet other gardeners, share gardening experiences, get connected to the community, and be associated with a well-respected national program.

The Extension Master Gardener program is offered through local Cooperative Extension Service offices. Cooperative Extension is an outreach unit of Kentucky’s Land-grant universities – the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University. The Cooperative Extension Service and Extension Master Gardeners use and provide research-based recommendations to clients.

 WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM PROVIDE? The Master Gardener training program provides more than 30 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction in horticulture and related areas. Class instructors include Extension specialists, agents and other guest speakers. Classes include reading assignments and homework questions covering important concepts to be learned about each subject.

Class topics include:

·         Botany

·         Entomology

·         Plant pathology

·         Soils

·         Fertilizers

·         Pesticide use and safety

·         Growing annuals, perennials and native plants

·         Tree, shrub and lawn care

·         Fruit and Vegetable production

WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM REQUIRE?

 · A one-time $85.00 registration fee to cover materials used and given in class. (a limited number of scholarships are available, check with the Extension Office for details.)

 · Submitting information for background check.

 · Reading assignments and homework questions covering key ideas in horticulture

. · Volunteer hours of 30 the first year, then 15 each year thereafter.

 · Written Exam

The next class for the McCracken County Extension Service will begin on March 19 and will end on May 21. The classes will be from 5:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Limited scholarships are available. Applications can be picked up at the Extension Office at 2705 Olivet Church Road. For more information please contact the McCracken County Extension Office at 270-554-9520.

KOREAN CUISINE: The Next Food Trend

Tuesday, February 3, 2015, McCracken County Master Gardeners hosted a Korean Cooking School for area chefs and home cooks. 

 Five Korean women living in the Paducah community demonstrated their recipes for fresh Kimchi; Sik-hye (pronouced “C-K”, a fermented rice punch); Chrysanthemum Flower Tea; Kimbap (Korean sushi); Korean Pancake with seafood; Brown Sweet Rice Pancake (similar to a brownie); Japchae (stir-fried cellophane noodles with vegetables and meat); Savory Health Bread; Miso Soup; and, dried persimmons and pecans (snack). 

Dishes prepared during the school were then served as a tasting menu for that evening’s Toolbox Presentation called “Taste of Korea.”

Pruning Fruit Trees

As we move into late winter it is time to think about pruning fruit trees. Most fruit trees should be pruned after the chance of a hard freeze has past, usually late February or early March in our USDA  Zone, 7a.  Pruning too early increases the chance of injury due to the cold. In addition to controlling the size and shape of the tree, pruning decreases the risk of disease that result from broken, old and dead branches; as it improves fruit production.

All the reasons why, when and how can be found in the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service publication HO-64,Growing Fruit at Home. The publication can be downloaded here or obtained at the McCracken County Extension Service office at 2705 Olivet Church Road, Paducah, KY.

The public is invited to a demonstration of the proper way to prune apple trees given by UKREC specialist, Daniel Becker on February 16. The demonstration will be in a homeowners orchard in the Reidland area; directions and details can be obtained by calling the extension office at 270-554-9520.More information on this workshop can be found on the McCracken County Extension Service Website.

Reminder!

Join us for a “Taste of Korea” at the Master Gardener’s TOOLBOX SERIES on Tuesday, February 3, at 5:00 p.m. at the McCracken County Extension Office, 2705 Olivet Church Road, Paducah.  You’ll hear from Carol Ullerich about her recent trip to Korea, and sample a TASTING MENU prepared by five Korean women living here in Paducah.  It’s all free and open to the public.