GARDEN THYMES Master Gardeners of North Alabama

‘Opportunity to Reach Out to Novice Gardeners’ By Andria Cummings

Two percent of Americans are Master Gardeners, 7 percent are garden enthusiasts and 31 percent are casual gardeners, according to Harvey Cotten, vice president of horticulture and education at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. He was one of four guest speakers at the Alabama Master Gardener Association Fall Seminar on OPPORTUNITY Continued on Page 5

Scarecrows Page 7 October/November 2014

MAGAZINES • WEB SITES • BLOGS • SMARTPHONE APPS

YOU READ THAT WHERE?

By Andria Cummings

M

aster Gardeners learn early on that we are expected to be a walking gardening resource for many people. We all have the class under our belts, we volunteer and garden to gain more knowledge, and most of us have go-to resources of our own. I asked Master Gardeners “Where did you read that?” What I received were many wonderful replies full of resources familiar to me, and many new places to check on the Internet, by mail subscription and by Smartphone.

READ Continued on Page 13

Greenhouse Gardening

Backyard Greenhouses Extend Gardening Season By Josie Asquith

T

hey are a joy when plants are growing great and heartache when plants die. If you have a greenhouse, you have work to do: plants to pot, water, feed and weeds to pull. Yes, weeds grow in a greenhouse. There is even a bit of pride when something turns out super nice. It can be a healing place as you watch the plants grow and see their strong will to thrive. And The interior of Suzanne Kirkhuff’s greenhouse taken by her in April.

there is something therapeutic about getting one’s hands in the “dirt.” Greenhouses are built for various reasons. My first was because my husband was afraid who or what it would come down to if a decision had to be made of what had to go, the plants or….! Several Master Gardeners have greenhouses; just ask around. My first greenhouse was a GREENHOUSES Continued on Page 20

GARDEN THYMES

From The President

ALWAYS EDUCATION

I

t is encouraging that we are now getting involved with another elementary school, Lynn Fanning in Meridianville. The school will develop and manage the program of an after-school garden club, but it will seek our wealth of resources specific to areas that the program will be working on with the students. These kids are very young, so consider their grade level when presenting a topic. And if the kids can capture the basics of, for example, what a plant needs to survive, it will be something they can carry throughout life. I’ve been gearing down for winter. With the refreshing chill of the mornings recently, I have treated the houseplants that have summered outside for those pesky critters that tend to hopalong in the pots or leaves to try to come inside for the winter. And this

will likely be the last Roundup treatment for the yard weeds in my outside beds, leaving only the bending-down weeding to go. What’s left for this year for MGNA? We will have the annual plant swap in October, be voting on a couple Director positions for the Board at the annual corporate meeting in November and then on to the yummy food, meeting with colleagues, the silent auction and the awards ceremony at the Christmas social in December. So next up is the plant swap. Bring those plants to share with other members, making sure they are well-labeled to survive!

— Diane Campen (W’09) MGNA President [email protected]

In This Issue FEATURE You Read That Where? . . 1, 13 Looking at Abilities . . . . . . 10 A Worthy Endeavor . . . . . .16

NEWS Opportunity to Reach Out 1, 5 2015 Membership Renewal 4 Cotten Retiring . . . . . . . . . 4 Soil pH Testing . . . . . . . . . 4 Habitat Houses . . . . . . . . . 4

2

VOLUME XXII, ISSUE 5 Editor in Chief Andria Cummings (F’07) Contributing Editors Bill Fuller (W’97), Jean Lee (W’95), Brenda Tapp (W’98), Carolyn Wade (W’12)

The Garden Thymes newsletter is published six times a year: February/March, April/May, June/July, August/September, October/November, and December/January. Editorial deadline is the 20th of the month prior to publication. The newsletter along with the Writer’s Guidelines are posted on www.mginfo.org, under the Newsletter tab near the bottom of the Home Page. Master Gardeners of North Alabama was incorporated in 1988 and is now a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. The Alabama Master Gardener program is conducted at the county level by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Copyright 2014 MGNA. Reprint with permission, contact [email protected]. www.Facebook.com/MGofNA

Who’s Who, Page 10

DVG Explores Raised Beds . . MGNA Galaxy of Lights Night Herb Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . Outreach Roundup . . . . . . . Scarecrows . . . . . . . . . . . Speakers Bureau . . . . . . . Give-A-Hand Awards . . . . . Crafty Workshop . . . . . . . . Nature Preserve Field Trip . . Hummers Take Flight . . . . . Harvest for Health . . . . . . .

6 6 6 7 7 8 8 8 8 9 9

COLUMNS From the President . . . . . . 2 MG Profile: Patsy Conner . . . 3 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Photo Gallery . . . . . . . . . 12 Vegetables: Bits & Pieces . . 18 CEU: Greenhouses . . . . 1, 20 Herbs: Basil . . . . . . . . . . 22

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Master Gardener

Profile

Patsy volunteered to chair the MGNA Plant Sale Committee because she saw the need, she wanted to work on a project that touched the community, and she could draw on her successful plant swap experience.

Patsy Believes In Community Outreach By Andria Cummings

P

atsy Conner has always loved gardens. When she read an article how to have a plant swap, she rallied her neighborhood and held her first plant swap in May 2006. That was BEFORE she took the Fall 2007 Master Gardener class, after she retired from Qualitest Pharmaceuticals. People know Patsy from her annual plant swap and self-guided home garden tour in New Market, held every May through 2011. She had to skip one year, then held one more in 2013. She was sharing information on plants with the community, even having speakers like Regional Extension Agent Ken Creel come out on those Saturdays to answer questions. A sign up in her front lawn invited neighbors to come, and she reached out to Master Gardeners who brought lawn chairs. She also had the Ask a Master Gardener table set up. She had as many as 46 people sign her plant swap book one year. The tour included her rain barrel system and how she planted vegetables throughout her backyard flower bed. Patsy offered water and cookies, and everyone celebrated her mother-in-laws birthday with a cake at the May swaps. Eleanor Conner is 95 this year. Family is important to Patsy, herself an Alabama native. Her daughter Tammy and son-in-law Benny live in Huntsville, and their sons Jesse and Conner attend college in Alabama. Her daughter Wendy and son-in-law Carl, and their 8-year-old son, Christian, live in Arlington, Texas. Sharing her home the past 10 years are toy poodle Cricket

Patsy Conner • Class of Fall 2007 • 2014-15: MGNA May Plant Sale Chair • 2014: MGNA Liaison, Lynn Fanning Elementary School • 2014: MGNA Nomination and Awards committees • 2013: MGNA Awards Committee Chair • 2006-11, 2013: Community Plant Swap at Patsy’s House • 2003-present: Twickenham Rose Society member

and cockatiel Chipperue. She also mentors an 8-year-old boy through a project at her church through a program called Kids Hope USA. It’s a national, nonprofit organization which facilitates mentoring relationships with at risk-children through a church-school relationship. Patsy’s church, Flint River Baptist, is partnered with Hazel Green Elementary school. And she’s making big plans for her 50th wedding anniversary next April with John, who she met when they both lived in Chicago. That anniversary isn’t going to collide with next year’s planning for the second annual MGNA Plant Sale. Patsy has agreed to chair the 2015 event because she knows she has knowledgeable Master Gardeners on her team. It was short notice when it was announced just months prior that there would be a MGNA Plant Sale in May 2014. Patsy volunteered to chair the committee because she saw the need, she wanted to work on a project that touched the community, and she could draw on her own successful plant swap experience. She attended the Madison Plant Sale, hoping to gain knowledge of their experience and using it as an ex-

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

ample for the MGNA Plant Sale. Melissa Kirkindall (W’98) and Suzanne Kirkhuff (W’07) were among those who hosted this event. With Melissa’s experience and guidance in plant sales, she advised Patsy during the preparation for the MGNA Plant Sale. Patsy was able to use her organizational skills and her warm personality to gather 13 other committee members and another 13 Master Gardeners and Interns who volunteered to set-up night before and throughout that rainy Saturday. That team collected close to $2,000. Now she has volunteered to be the liaison between MGNA and Lynn Fanning Elementary School, which is just a mile from her home. The school is starting a garden club for the children, kindergarten through third grade. When they need advice, guest speakers and donated plants, Patsy will connect them with Master Gardeners. It’s not all gardening for Patsy. She makes stained glass windows and several can be seen around her home. And she’s experimenting this year with crushed muscadine grapes now resting in her freezer — for her next batch of homemade wine.

3

News

Harvey Cotten Retiring Nov. 3 After 22 Years at HBG After 22 years at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, Harvey Cotten is retiring Nov. 3. The vice president of horticulture and education “has agreed to continue to teach classes at the HBG, work with the implementation of the Master Plan, and to continue to contribute his time as a volunteer just as he did when

Harvey Cotten

he started at the Garden,” according to HBG Chief Operating Officer Paula Steigerwald. Harvey received the Gary Murray Outstanding Service and Dedication Award from the Alabama Master Gardeners Assocation in 2008. His plans include traveling, speaking engagements and private consulting. The HBG recognized his contributions at the annual meeting Sept. 23 and plans a reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13. — Huntsville Botanical Garden and Alabama Master Gardener Association

Soil pH Testing at Fall Plant Sale The MGNA soil pH Testing Committee will be testing soil during the Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Fall Plant sale. Fall Plant Sale hours are: Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Oct. 12 from noon to 4 p.m. Peter Ashley

Bring a cup of dry well-mixed soil for the test. Drop the soil off

at the pH testing table and look around the plant sale while they process your request. — Peter Ashley (W’06) pH Testing Committee Chair [email protected]

4

Time to Renew 2015 MGNA Membership

The deadline for renewing MGNA memberships will be changed to December 31 in the next revision of the MGNA bylaws. This will bring the MGNA bylaws into agreement with the AMGA deadline. The winter edition of the AMGA newsletter includes information on the upcoming state conference and biographical information on nominees for the various Board positions which will be voted on at the annual state membership meeting. The AMGA newsletter is mailed in midJanuary to members whose dues are current so the new deadline will ensure

MGNA members who renew on time will receive a printed copy of the winter edition. Dues for 2015 will remain the same as 2014—$20 for active members and $30 for associate members. Those amounts include the $10 AMGA membership fee. An interactive version of the 2015 membership application form will be available on the MGNA Web site at www.mginfo.org under the MGNA Forms and Applications tab. — Mary Howe (W’06) MGNA Membership Chair [email protected]

10 MGs, Interns Landscape 7 Habitat Project Houses Seven houses, seven Master Gardeners and Interns, 50 other volunteers, and lots of plants are a beautiful way to finish the Habitat for Humanity Landscaping Project for 2014. If you would like to see any of the houses YOU planted as MGNA, take some time to visit 2504 and 2506 Springbrook Circle, and 2401, 2403, 2410, 2414, and 2532 Garden Park Drive. It is incredible what a few of us can accomplish with a little bit of time, some plants, and lots of good help. We did some of them in the final cool days of winter — March, and the rest in the heat of summer — July. We were aided this summer by Cedars Garden Club members who helped with the 2410 Garden Park Drive home. The dedication of the houses was on Sept. 6, and all of the houses will be occupied by fall. Most of the homeowners were there when we planted their yards so they got to meet their volunteers, learn about height, width,

growing conditions of the plants we provided for them, and how to lay sod. Thanks to everyone who helped: Ameree Young (F’13), Kathie Gillies (W’10), Andria Cummings (F’07), Flo Helman (W’05), Marsha Harris (F’13), and Bob Riccelli (F’13). If I missed your help, please forgive me. Tell me about it and I’ll add it to the next newsletter. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: On Oct. 6 and 7 there will be a Habitat Homeowners training session at the Madison County Extension Office on Cook Avenue. We will need three or four Master Gardeners to facilitate that meeting from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This is a fun meeting where we help the potential homeowners learn a little about growing their own yards and taking care of them. Let Habitat Project Co-Chair Kathie Bass (F’02) (256/457-6530) know if you would like to help. — Elouisa Stokes (’81), Co-Chair, Habitat Landscape Project

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

‘Opportunity to Reach Novice Gardeners’ OPPORTUNITY Continued from Page 1

MGNA Attendees Dwight Bass (F’03) Kathie Bass (F’02) AMGA Fundraising Chair Sue Bish (W’06) Gigi Bullman (’83) Andria Cummings (F’07) Michelle Erker (W’12) Flo Helman (W’05) Allyson Hofer (W’04) Owen Hofer (W’11) MGNA Treasurer Mary Howe (W’06) AMGA Treasurer Dee Hubbert (W’98) AMGA Nominating Committee Chair Alice Lawler (F’98) Libby Loose (F’09) Dottye Pierce (W’95) AMGA President Tom Simpson (W’12) Brenda Tapp (W’98) AMGA Board member Sue Toole (F’99) MGNA Board member Carolyn Wade (W’12)

Sept. 16 in Guntersville. The other 60 percent do little to nothing in a garden because of time and space restrictions, or because they don’t know what to do, the study said. “A lot of unsuccessful gardeners have the best intentions,” he said; sometimes it’s a simple as knowing the right place for the plant. Based on these consumer survey results by the Garden Writers Association, Harvey said: “Master Gardeners have a tremendous opportunity to reach out to novice gardeners to share From left: Dee Hubbert, Dottye Pierce, Kathie Bass and AMGA Board their knowledge.” member Cathy Canant (Shelby County). The other speakers were Lake Guntersville State Park Naturalist Pattie Donnellan on “All About Eagles” and magazine publisher and editor David Moore on “Photographing Your Backyard and Beyond.” Bennett Nursery President George Bennett’s topic was “Make Your Landscape Interesting” with a PowerPoint on the variety of plants on his property in Tennessee. Close to 200 people attended the event, which was led by Alabama Master Gardener Program Coordinator Kerry Smith and the Marshall County Master Gardener Association. There were 18 MGNA members spotted in the room at Lake Guntersville State Park From left: Michelle Erker, Tom Simpson and Alice Lawler. Lodge.

Sue Toole, left, and Sue Bish. www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Carolyn Wade, left, and Brenda Tapp. Photos: Andria Cummings

5

News

Galaxy of Lights Night Dec. 22 for MGNA; Volunteers Needed We need at least 15 volunteers for the MGNA Galaxy night on Dec. 22 for a funfilled evening at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. We will meet in the Education Classroom by 5 p.m. and will stay until 9:30 p.m. Dress according to that night’s weather forecast, better to dress in layers as our weather guys and gals seem to be in

Dorothy Thomas

another county. Please bring a covered dish, dessert or snack,

we will need to feed the security guard and the Garden staff members who are on duty

DVG Explores Giant Squash, Scarecrows, New Raised Beds The volunteers at the Demonstration Vegetable Garden have really been digging in this year. Not only have we grown several 30–pound blue hubbard squash and harvested more than 1,700 pounds of fresh veggies, we’ve now replaced some of our smaller 4x4-foot raised beds with newly constructed 4x8-foot x 10-inch raised beds. Some of our narrower raised beds have also been replaced with raised beds made from recycled pallets. Our summer garden has all but come to an end, and our fall garden is rapidly taking shape. To improve the soil and to demonstrate cover crops we will plant rye grass in a couple of

our beds. We have recycled some of the old black plastic bed frames; they now line our walkways and provide a great border for our more traditional row gardens. Many thanks to the volunteers who recently came out to help shape our scarecrow – Miss Mary – they were Andria Cummings (F’07), Gloria Johnson (W’09), Barbara Locke (W’11), Chris Loftin (W’14), Tom Simpson (W’12) and David Grey (F’10) and Pat Newbury (friend of MG). They did a wonderful job, don’t ya think? (Page 7) — Carolyn Wade (W’12) DVG Co-Chair [email protected]

as well as feeding ourselves. The Garden provides beverages and cups. To help, contact me at 256/509-7918 or at [email protected]. — Dorothy Thomas (F’07), MGNA Galaxy Project Coordinator

Herbal Products, Gifts at Herb Fair at the Botanical Garden The Huntsville Herb Society’s 2014 Herb Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 4 in Murray Hall at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. The fair will feature such popular prod-

Blue hubbard squash at the DVG on Aug. 28.

From left: Andria Cummings (F’07), Ray Lewis (W’11), Tom Simpson (W’12) and Chris Loftin (W’14) planting at the DVG on Aug. 28.

ucts as: dog treats & catnip mice, herbed preserves, jelly & honey, baked goods, pickles & relishes, dried herb mixes, dried flowers/ wreaths, fresh tussie-mussies, repurposed pallet items, teacup feeders, plants and more. Admission to the Herb Fair is free. Regular admission is required to visit the HBG. — Dorothy Thomas (F’07) Herb Society member

6

LEFT: Ray Lewis (W’11), left, and Tom Simpson (W’12) fill in the new demonstration raised beds at the DVG on Aug. 28. Photos by Carolyn Wade www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Roundup: MGNA Outreach Projects MARSHALL SPACE FLIGHT CENTER

ously constructed raised beds to promote vegetable and landscape gardening. Patsy Conner (F’07), chair for this program, Diane Campen (W’09) and I have been meeting with Mr. Powers to determine the best way for MGNA

speakers from our speaker’s bureau.

In July some employees from the MORRIS ELEMENTARY Marshall Space Flight Center leadership The third-grade students at Morris team met with the Huntsville Botanical Elementary School have planted their fall Garden’s Harvey Cotten and Niki Sothvegetable gardens consisting of wheat, ers, and myself, to discuss an employee onions, garlic, lettuce, chard, cabbages garden they hope and radishes. ROSEMARY & MISS MARY BRING HALLOWEEN ALIVE to establish at the They have also center. had a class from They have been Water Wheels on allocated approxiwater conservamately five acres tion and using and hope to divide rain barrels to part of this to use collect rain waas allotments for ter for use in the employee gardens. garden. They recently They have a received news lot of energy that the soil is that we hope to not contaminated harness in the (that’s a good thing) coming weeks and now they are when we plant looking to move bulbs, lilies and forward. hostas in the enOne goal this closed courtyard. year is to plant fruit Master trees surroundGardeners and ing what in the Interns who are end will be a small helping with the park. They would students include like MGNA to assist Andria Cumthem with a new mings (F’07), The Flower Queen’s Daughter — Rosemary Mary, Mary Quite Contrary — or Miss Mary lunch and learn seto you — invites you into the Herb Garden at Marsha Harris for short — has her own Master Gardener the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Sponsored badge and is ready to show visitors the DVG. ries to be offered at (F’13), Karon by the Huntsville Herb Society and created by Sponsored by MGNA and created by Carolyn NASA. I will continMcGill (W’14), Dorothy Thomas (F’07). Photo: Andria CumWade. Photo: Carolyn Wade ue to be the liaison mings (F’07) Bill Fuller with that effort. (W’97), Suzanne members to support the school’s effort. Kirkhuff (W’07), Tom Simpson (W’12), LYNN FANNING ELEMENTARY Information on vegetable and landscape Ann Tippie (W’12) and Alice Tucker A new garden club is being formed at gardening, the speaker’s bureau and the (F’11). If you would like to help with the Lynn Fanning Elementary School (Pre-K Jane R. Parks Memorial grant have all students on Wednesday mornings or through third grade) in Meridianville, led been passed along. ‘teach’ them a fun project shoot me an by Assistant Principal Todd Powers. The What does this mean for MGNA? e-mail. students and teacher/leader will meet Well…we’re glad you asked. On — Carolyn Wade (W’12) one afternoon a week to learn about Oct. 16, MGNA volunteers will meet at Marshall Space Center Liaison, plants, nature and science. the school to work with third-grade stuMorris Elementary School Project Chair The club plans to use an enclosed dents to plant bulbs, hostas and lilies. In [email protected] courtyard, compost bin and three previNovember, we will support the club with www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

7

News

Speakers Bureau Active I did a program on hummingbirds Aug. 11 for the Limestone County Master Gardeners. And on Sept. 15 I did the hummingbird program for Magnolia Trace.

Melissa Kirkindall

I also presented “Color in the Shade Throughout the Year” at

the Sept. 11 MGNA meeting. — Melissa Kirkindall (W’97) Speakers Bureau Chair [email protected]

Workshop Attendees Get Crafty On Aug. 26, the MGNA Workshop Committee had two workshops —one following the other. The first workshop was a craft making a Butterfly Puddle Dish. It was a simple item to make and looked great when completed. Some attendees had time to do two of these. Diane Campen (W’09) conducted this workshop. The second workshop was a craft making a mosaic ladybug stepping stone. It took longer and was a little

more tedious but each of the attendees ended up with a unique masterpiece. Lydia Diener (W’11), a Master Gardener from Michigan and now an Alabama transplant, conducted this workshop. I think you will agree when you see the pictures that this was something we all want to do next time. Lydia has agreed to do another of these in the future. — Suzanne Kirkhuff (W’07) Workshop Committee member

Interns Lawler, Cowart Receive Give-A-Hand Awards Doris Lawler (F’13) received the September Give A Hand Award. She was nominated because: “When I got a bad load of mulch Doris helped unload and separate the rocks, clay, Johnson grass and other trash – really a good volunteer who was not afraid of hot, dirty work!” Patty Cowart (F’13) received the August award. “Patty is so enthusiastic and stepped right into the workshop registration position,” according to the person who nominated her. — Dorothy Thomas (F’07) Awards Committee Chair

From left: Meredith Kilby (F’11), Carolyn Peters (W’07) and Cathy Hales (W’05) put together mosaic ladybug stepping stones. Photo: Suzanne Kirkhuff

7 Enjoy Hays Preserve Field Trip

Seven Master Gardeners, Interns and friends enjoyed the field trip to Hays Nature Preserve on Aug. 28. Our guide Brian Walker told us about the history and how the city of Huntsville was given the land by the Hays Family. He said about 10,000 people go there for Earth Day. We finished with a picnic in a shady spot on the trail. — Ameree Young (F’13) Hays Field Trip coordinator [email protected] Stephen Edmondson (W’12) enjoyed the field trip and stopped to look at the many flowering plants along the trail. Photo: Ameree Young

8

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Hummers Take Flight; MGs Take Photos On Sept. 16, Master Gardeners were treated to a front seat view of Melissa Kirkindall’s (W’98) hummingbirds. In the morning, she invited the Grubbers (including Anna Bright (F’10)), volunteers

who clean up the Matthews Nature Trail at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. In the evening, she invited MGNA Board members for an up close look at hummingbirds drawn to her 13 feeders hanging

Suzanne Kirkhuff, left, and Meredith Kilby try to capture hummingbirds on camera. Photo: Melissa Kirkindall

along her front porch roof in Madison. Board members were Alice Brigman (W’07), Suzanne Kirkhuff (W’07), Meredith Kilby (F’11), and Alice Tucker (F’11). — Andria Cummings

Melissa Kirkindall’s hummingbirds captured on camera by Alice Brigman on Sept. 16

Harvest for Health Begins 1-Year Study Here supplies, soil and plants Debbie Severn (W’13), funded by the study. They Carolyn Wade (W’12) were required to care for and I are encouraging two their own gardens with fall, cancer survivors in our spring and summer plantarea to eat more vegings. They received gardenetables by growing them ing advice from the Master in their backyards. This is Gardeners. part of Harvest for Health, a collaboration between Harvest for Health is the University of Alabama, now in 16 Alabama counties. “Our UAB partner is Birmingham, Hospital, very energetic about the (UAB) and the Alabama concept and thinks the Cooperative Extension data results are encouragSystem. It is funded by the ing,” according to Alabama National Cancer InstiCarolyn Wade, left, Max Campbell (W’03) and Debbie Severn toured the Master Gardener Program tute/National Institute Madison County Extension Office Demonstration Vegetable Garden with the Coordinator Kerry Smith. on Aging and the Ameritwo Harvest for Health participants on Sept. 17. Photo: Andria Cummings Debbie, Carolyn and I can Institute for Cancer will be spending time with our survivors. We’ve been asked to Research. keep their identities confidential. The one-year program startA pilot study with 12 cancer survivors showed, among ed in September and both survivors said they had vegetable other things, that they improved their physical capabilities gardens in their youth and look forward to getting back into it. and increased their vegetable intake. Survivors needed to put — Andria Cummings together their own raised beds or container gardens, with www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

9

“ The residents have taught me about unselfish giving, loving life each day, of creating and nurturing possibilities. “ — Flo Helman, regarding the 305 8th Street program

Looking at Abilities

3

their garden, even those who didn’t UMC. She requested help from a 05 8th Street participate. When we built four gardener for the salad garden they is a faith-based more beds the following year, they were starting. Volunteers from anorganization wanted everything from watermelother church had built three raised providing a ons to pumpkins to cantaloupes, beds. She and I met to determine home and family okra and hot peppers! One bed bewhat they wanted to plant, and to adults with came a flower garden for cut flowwhich of the residents were willing diverse mental ers since they liked to have fresh challenges. Operating for more than and able to work the garden. The flowers for their 30 years, this is dining tables. a home of faith Residents and possibilities. are of different In 1992, it ages, backreceived 501(c)(3) grounds, and nonprofit status abilities, but all for its organization are involved. known as Jehovah Some of them Jireh, which in water, others Hebrew means harvest; some “The Lord Who observe and Provides.” It enjoy the fact receives no that they have a government garden of their funding. The own. They are residents Sonia Norris (F’13) and Brenda Myers (W’09) Sonia Norris, left, and Brenda Myers plant a always grateful contribute some build a cucumber trellis with the help of double flowering cherry tree in memory of for volunteers. to the running of residents. Photos by Fo Helman. former resident Anthony. It melted my the house, but it heart as I learned about them and mainly depends on donations for its first summer we grew tomatoes, they learned to trust me. cucumbers, onions, garlic chives operations. Brenda Myers (W’09) joined us I became acquainted with 305 8th and basil. It was a great success. Since the location was new, we had the spring of 2012. The residents Street one Sunday morning in the spring of 2010, when the director of no animal or insect visitors that first have learned to depend on her, as I have. She is a wealth of knowledge, year. the home, Andrea Williams, spoke The residents were excited about has stepped right in, and does what to the congregation of Madison

10

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

From a Salad Garden to Planting a Tree, By Flo Helman During Garden Appreciation Day this year, residents honored Brenda Myers and Flo Helman with Heart Awards, shown here by Brenda. The heart was made by the residents. Selfie Photo: Brenda Myers.

she does so well. She has inspired one resident to grow tomatoes and sunflowers on his own, which is a great accomplishment. New for 2014 is the Memorial Garden, located in a corner of the property. The first planting was a flowering cherry tree. The Memory Garden includes a birdbath and a bench. More plantings will be added later. The teaching goes on, and though Brenda has done most of the work this summer, it is I who have learned and benefitted more than the residents. Little did I know that a small salad garden would become an opportunity for constant teaching and reinforcement, for lifelong lessons of unconditional love and acceptance, of doing for others, of building self-esteem when others have seen only disabilities instead of abilities. The residents have taught me about unselfish giving, loving life each day, of creating and nurturing possibilities. So we continue and that is only one of the benefits of being a Master Gardener. Flo Helman (W’05) has been the MGNA Mulch Pile Chair off and on over the years and she’s on again this year.

Calendar OCTOBER

October 3, 1 p.m. ACES Webinar: Alien Invasions, Zombies Under Foot, and Billions of Decapitated Fire Ants by Dr. Sanford Porter. For more information on the series and how to connect to the webinars, visit: www.extension.org/pages/70120 . October 4 MGNA Workshop: Pumpcullent, decorating pumpkins with succulents. Madison County Extension Office. www.mginfo.org. October 4, 7 to 11:30 a.m. Mulch Pile 0pen with city provided loader. Donations requested. East of the Huntsville Botanical Garden, behind the CASA Garden, on Bob Wallace Avenue. [email protected] October 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Huntsville Herb Society Herb Fair, Murray Hall at the Huntsville Botanical Garden; [email protected] October 7 MGNA Workshop: Winter Gardening by Ken Creel. Madison County Extension Office. More information at www.mginfo.org. October 9, 6 p.m. MGNA General Meeting: Annual plant swap, Murray Hall, Huntsville Botanical Garden. www.mginfo.org October 10 MGNA Field Trip to Jim Allen’s Backyard Garden and Greenhouse in Decatur. [email protected] October 18, 7 to 11:30 a.m. Mulch Pile 0pen with city provided loader. Donations requested. East of the Huntsville Botanical Garden, behind the CASA Garden, on Bob Wallace Avenue. [email protected]

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

October 21-24 Southern Region Master Gardener Conference in Baton Rouge, La. Crown Plaza Hotel in Baton Rouge is Conference Hotel and Headquarters. Contact: Rene' G. Schmit, Louisiana State Master Gardener Coordinator, Office 985-785-4473, e-mail: [email protected].

NOVEMBER November 7, 1 p.m. ACES Webinar: Where Have All the Honey Bees Gone? Hope for the Future by Dr. John Skinner. For more information on the series and how to connect to the webinars, visit: www.extension.org/pages/70120. November 11, noon to 1:30 p.m. MGNA Workshop: Pruning. One hour of lecture and 30 minutes of Q&A. Madison County Extension Office. More information at www.mginfo.org. November 13, noon MGNA General Meeting: Speaker: Cookie Kruvand (W’99) on Mistletoe; annual meeting to elect officers and ByLaws changes as needed. Murray Hall, Huntsville Botanical Garden. www.mginfo.org November 24, 6 p.m. Hosta Society of North Alabama meeting: Boeing Educational Classroom, Huntsville Botanical Garden. Contact 256-572-7013 or 256-883-5554 or the Garden.

DECEMBER December 11, 6 p.m. MGNA General Meeting and annual Christmas Social, annual installation of officers and board members, www.mginfo.org. Event information subject to change. Calendar updates on the Auburn Service Report Database for Madison County. Send your calendar items to [email protected].

11

Photo Gallery at the

Botanical Garden On Sept. 18, Bess Parks (F’95) talks with a customer during the first day of the three-day daylily sale at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Photo: Andria Cummings

On Sept. 18, a daylily sale customer is helped by Mary Shaw (W’02), left, and Janet Boothe (W’06), right. Photo: Andria Cummings LEFT: On Aug. 26, Bill Fuller (W’97) chops corn for the compost bins he maintains next to the Demonstration Vegetable Garden. Photo: Carolyn Wade

On Sept. 18, Joe Jones (W’09) cleared the berm along the Bush Azalea Trail extension at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. Photo: Andria Cummings

Bill drops the corn to the bottom of the next bin, then loads compost on top of it. Bill chairs the Compost Demonstration Project at the Huntsville Botancial Garden. Photo: Carolyn Wade

12

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

“Their mission includes research and education, and they are a trustworthy source.” Cookie Kruvand, on the Missouri Botanical Garden Web site

You Read That Where? READ Continued from Page 1

MGNA President Diane Campen (W’09) has her own reference library in her home, referring to the Alabama MG Training Handbook, Alabama Natural Resources files found on www.ACES.edu, her own notes and copies of handouts, to name a few. And like many of us, she turns to the Internet, preferring various Extension System sites, finding them reliable, noting “that some of the other South Eastern states have the same issues and problems as we in Alabama.” Joe Jones (W’09) also goes for resources close at hand. He is often found volunteering at the Huntsville Botanical Garden. “When I have a horticulture question, I go to Harvey Cotten or Mike Gibson at the Botanical Garden,” he said. MGNA’s Ask a Master Gardener Project Chair Dorothy Thomas (F’07) has quite a list for horticulture information, including: • Books from the library • Magazines like The Garden Gate, and Mother Earth Living • Web sites like All Things Plants (https://allthingsplants.com) has an extensive plant database, plant forums, a very good weekly podcast, and a personal plant list that subscribers can use to keep track of what they have planted, want to trade or have killed.

Gardening Blogs

• The Essential Herb: http://theessentialherbal. blogspot.com/ • http://hayefield.com: by author Nancy Ondra. • http://phillipoliver.blogspot. com: Phillip Oliver in Florence. • http://awaytogarden.com: Margaret Roach, in Hudson Valley, NY, former EVP of Martha Stewart’s empire. • www.theartofdoingstuff. com: Karen, a crazy funny Canadian, not just gardening

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

In addition to her own library and a collection of gardening magazines, Brenda Tapp (W’98) often turns to other Master Gardeners to ask “How do you handle … ?” As so many do, she regularly searches the Internet for quick answers. In addition to “googling” topics, frequently used sites include: • American Herb Society: www.herbsociety.org • American Hemerocallis Society: www.daylilies.org/DaylilyDB/ • Dave’s Garden: http://davesgarden.com Cookie Kruvand (W’99) is a member of Dave’s Garden, but not a paid subscriber. “I get plenty of information and benefits, including weekly newsletters, even without paying. However when looking up a plant, I never start there; I just google it (using the Latin name filters out a lot of junk) and get a link directly to the page in their database. The information is very basic but the photos and members comments at the bottom are very helpful. They also have forums, rate mail order catalogs, and have plant/seed exchanges.” Another frequent and trustworthy source for her is the Missouri Botanical Garden (www.missouribotanicalgarden.org). Their plant database is READ Continued on Page 14

13

Bonnie Gardner (F’02) reads “most garden books because I like to read garden books. However, I do prefer the South specific books and Park Seed’s information, because they are more appropriate for our climate.

You Read That READ Continued from Page 13

www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ plantfinder/plantfindersearch.aspx. Other locations she uses: • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services: http://plants.usda.gov/ • www.Wikipedia.com • www.FineGardening.com has a good archive and plant finder. • Cornell has great databases of plants and birds, and Perdue has a good hort. section. Cathy Hales (W’05) likes Southern Gardener on Facebook. She said there are great pictures; it offers information for a variety of skill levels of gardeners, and it’s all Southern.

Magazines & Books Betty Jarrell (W’03) prefers, in this order, books, magazines, and websites. “Most of the books are classic in nature, not just somebody’s recent idea,” she said. As for magazines, her preference is in this order: • ACRES USA: about soil science and sustainable, eco-friendly agriculture written by real farmers. • Hobby Farm: more farm-oriented than Mother Earth News, with

14

more applicable articles. • Grit: oriented toward sustainable self-sufficiency, rather oldfashioned but doable. • Mother Earth News has become too glossy and commercial and trendy and politically correct, but good for urban, backyard gardeners. Alice Brigman (W’07) said her main magazine is Southern Living,

and then Organic Gardening. Bonnie Gardner (F’02) said she reads “most garden books because I like to read garden books. However, I do prefer the South specific books and Park Seed’s (www.parkseeds. com) information, because they are more appropriate for our climate. “I read Alabama Gardener, Organic Gardening, and Gardening How To (National Home Gardening

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Where? Smartphone Apps

“This App is awesome and free: Garden Compass,” said Karen Hansberger (W’14). Use your phone to take a photo of a plant showing a fungus and they will identify it. “It’s real people, not an auto response.” Brenda Myers (W’09) likes SEEDN (Southeast Early Detection Network, from the University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health. APPS • NPK: Fertilizer calculator (ACES) (Andrioid) • Garden Compass: www.gardencompass.com (Android, iPhone) • iScape lite, for landscaping: www.iscapeapps.com (Android, iPhone) • leafsnap, an electronic field guide http://leafsnap.com (iPhone) • Mulch Tools, with a mulch calculator (www.itunes.com) (iPhone) • photosynth, shoot wraparound panoramas (https://photosynth.net/mobile.aspx) (Windows Phone, iPad, iPhone) • SEEDN: www.eddmaps.org/southeast (Android, iPhone) • SmartYards from Alabama Cooperative Extension System (www.itunes.com) (iPhone, iPad) • SOW, a planting guide for Alabama (ACES) (Android, iphone)

Club magazine),” she said. “I also refer to the Southern Living Garden book, and Harvey Cotten’s Easy Gardens for the South. “I read articles in whatever magazines have them, and I have a large collection of gardening books. I also read the Park’s Seed newsletters and the Gardeners’ Supply Company (www.gardeners. com) newsletters. I even occasionally break down and look something up on the Internet, though books are generally my go-to sources.” Allyson Hofer (W’04) enjoys reading Alabama Gardener. “I got a few ideas for field trips as well as advice and just a lot of enjoyment,” she said. Lynn Cagle (W’14) turns to gardening magazines, like Country Gardens. She also likes to go online and look at http://gardening.about.com. Andria Cummings (F’07) is the editor of the Garden Thymes.

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

15

A Worthy ‘Endeavor’

I

From Sparkman High to Endeavor Elementary, these Outdoor Classroom Projects needed help By Sue Khoury (W13)

learned about the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program while I was an Intern. This program is managed by the Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) in partnership with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES). When an effective, sustainable Outdoor Classroom (OC) has been established, teachers can integrate math, science, art, creative writing, and other studies into the outdoors, while exposing students K-12 to our diverse natural resources. When I learned that Sparkman High School needed help filling and planting raised beds to renew their OC, I signed up to help and was amazed at the breadth of the long-term plan. I also was astonished at the number of high schoolers who had no experience with gardens! My tasks that day included helping the teens decide what to plant where; showing them how to layer the soil and mulch, loosen root balls, and dig the holes for planting; and sketching a crude layout of each bed for future classes. I was hooked by their exuberance as

ORE BEF

well as by the vision of AWF’s OC Program Coordinator April Waltz. When I learned that Endeavor Elementary might welcome some help, I saw an opportunity for me and Noreen Parton (W’14), my MGNA Intern mentee, to apply our newfound knowledge and skills. Noreen, a retired teacher, embraced the idea, and we soon met with two Endeavor teachers responsible for what they call their Garden Galaxy. Our first walk-through of the area revealed a number of challenges: tough weeds and grasses were engulfing wide swaths of the grounds and had completely overtaken two of the raised beds. A berm behind the large pond was so infested with weeds and volunteer black willows that welcome specimens (e.g., a weeping Japanese maple, bog irises, cat-o’-nine-tails, and native azaleas) were all but invisible. Pebbled hardscape areas were completely overgrown. It was clear that teachers did not have time to maintain the OCs, and help was needed, whether it came

ER

AFT

At Endeavor Elementary, the pebbled area by the pond with seating was a weedy mess before (left) the team cleaned it up (right).

16

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Noreen Parton, left, and Vicki Davis are at the end of their cleanup efforts at Endeavor Elementary’s Garden Galaxy on June 16.

from Parent Teacher Association parents, school system administrators, neighbors, or knowledgeable volunteers. It seemed a perfect fit for Master Gardeners and interns. Our collaboration with the Endeavor teachers has fostered friendships that will last a lifetime. More importantly, just a few hours a week have made a tremendous difference. These “before and after” photos highlight just a few of the changes. Noreen recruited a neighbor and fellow intern, Sonja Wood (W’14), and MG Vicki Davis (F’11) is involved in both sprucing up the area and planning student projects. Husbands have helped out when we needed extra muscle, and they provide different perspectives and insight We’ve documented priorities, drafted plans

ORE BEF

Sonja Wood attacks the weeds around the picnic tables at Endeavor Garden Galaxy on June 16.

for enhanced beds, prepared new beds for specialized gardens, and will prepare a maintenance plan to engage the whole school. We’ve also asked Regional Extension Agent Ken Creel to talk to the kids about bugs, helping them to overcome one of their biggest fears. We hope the Endeavor students will love their spruced-up Outdoor Classroom enough to want to protect, nourish, and enjoy our bio-diverse environment as much as we do! We also hope to learn of other AWF/ACES/School/MG partnerships, and to exchange ideas and lessons learned with them. More information about the AWF’s Outdoor Classroom Program can be found at: www.alabamawildlife.org/classrooms/.

ER

AFT

At Endeavor on June 16, shown is Bed No. 3 before (left) and after (right). Photos: Sue Khoury www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

17

Vegetables

BITS & PIECES Ideas For Maturing Gardeners

T By Karen Voelker

HE TRUG OF IT

Pictured here you see a wonderful way to grow veggies, or whatever you grow, in a waist-high wooden planter. This is called a VEGTRUG patio planter and is available from several sources. Just Google VEGTRUG and read on. The planting surface is waist high. I believe my newly assembled one — up on the deck to avoid the beaver — will enable the growing of some good coldweather crops for a start. Our VEGTRUG arrived at the end of August and within a few days was filled with good soil enhanced with PermaTill. PermaTill is a soil additive that provides permanent aeration for clay or compacted soils. It is produced by firing a special slate at temperatures in excess of 2,000° F. The porous holes in the expanded slate hold water to keep it from evaporating quickly; these same holes can also

IDLE SOIL?

Karen Voelker (W’95) has volunteered at the CASA Community Garden since 2004.

18

Got idle soil that needs enriching and breaking up over the cold season? Look into radishes! Look for the big ones. Daikon-like are wonderful, kind of pricey, but the deep roots break up soil, improving aeration. They also bring up nutrients from deeper soil. Allow the radishes to die and decay, delivering the deeper nutrients into the top soil. Do

www.Gardeners.com VEGTRUG planter

hold air to keep the soil loose and fluffy. Seeds for cool weather crops were planted and the lettuce seeds started showing little dots of green in only three days! I might take this gardening stuff seriously! harvest a few for eating. Meanwhile the garden beds stay covered too. Do a Google search for Radish-a new cover crop for Organic gardening systems. If you are not going to winter garden this coming season, at least plant a cover crop of some kind to keep the soil happy and healthy. Barley is recommended for our part of the country by Mother Earth News.

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

“For better germination of your spinach seeds, soak them in warm water for an hour or two before planting.” — Karen Voelker

BACK IT UP

COLD LOVERS

How’s your back doing? You may have noticed that kneeling down and bending becomes more challenging yearly, but getting up from kneeling is even worse. Hint: Kneel on one knee and put your hand or elbow on the other knee (it is bent but with foot on ground) for support. This will allow you to kneel and weed or other soil activity for a more comfortable, longer time. Great back relief. The usual reminders- stretch and loosen up before, during and after back affecting work and keep the liquids going in.

Cold weather will be upon us soon, so it is appropriate to plant those cold loving crops. When the turnip seeds go into the ground, consider planting a row of collards and one of kale nearby. These are the slowestgrowing and most cold-hardy greens. If you include some of the bigger varieties of Chinese www.bonnieplants.com collards cabbages, the beauty of the developing heads will make you wish they were out in the front yard. For better germination of your spinach seeds, soak them in warm water for an hour or two before planting. If you are sneaking in late carrots, which tend to be slow germinating, you might forget www.rosecreekfarms.com chinese cabbage where they were planted, so plant radishes in almost the same area; sort of a nurse crop. A sure way to get the carrots starting is after planting the seeds, water the newly planted carrot seeds with boiling hot water once; they will be up in three to four days instead of two weeks. One of our helpers at the CASA Community Garden keeps the soil in the carrot seed beds moist while germinating and even feeds the little guys an occasional solution of yogurt diluted with water which seems to enhance their growth.

MY SISTERS Here’s a report on my Three Sisters garden rows (see the June/July 2014 Garden Thymes, page 14): If one plants two rows of soil with lovely seeds (corn, melons, beans) — all with purpose — and then goes away on a vacation, then one need not be surprised when planted seeds do not live up to expectations or even live to do any expected event. However, if the ancient Indians could do it, I am certain one or two of us will eventually succeed. But don’t forget to water; it’s quite important.

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

19

Continuing Education

GREENHOUSE GARDENING Here’s How to Extend Your Growing Season GREENHOUSES Continued from Page 1

“Several Master Gardeners have greenhouses; just ask around.” — Josie Asquith

Josie Asquith (W’84) is addicted to orchids. Her greenhouse provides just the right home for them.

20

10x10-foot fiberglass kit, built because I had so many plants they would not fit inside the house in the winter. It’s been so long ago I do not remember the cost. I immediately bought my first orchid, and so it goes. The cost to heat the greenhouse was about $10 per month. Time spent working in the greenhouse was another thing altogether. Every day I felt I had to look at things to make sure no bugs or diseases were starting (not because they were in the greenhouse, but because I was now the caretaker of so many more plants). I started growing my own plants for my Garden and my own flower beds. Tom Simpson (W’12) lives in downtown Huntsville with little room in his yard, but he found a way to have a greenhouse. He built it with a shed-type roof of Plexiglas and old storm windows at a cost of $50. Tom says keeping it heated in the winter can be difficult, but it works. His greenhouse allows him to grow odd vegetables that can’t be found in stores and a little space to grow something special. Suzanne Kirkhuff (W’07) loves gardening and experimenting with seeds and plants and wanted a greenhouse for this purpose. She built a 6x8-foot greenhouse with an aluminum frame with twin polycarbonate walls. The kit cost her $1,000, plus a foundation had to be built for it which was done by her

husband and son-in-law. Suzanne grows a great number of and a large variety of flowers, some herbs and some vegetables for her own yard and for her Madison garden club plant sale. She says besides starting plants from seeds, potting,

Tom Simpson greenhouse is 54 inches wide by 8 feet long. The 6- to 7-foot roof slopes for water drainage. He uses a plug-in heater, or fan, and two lights. Sliding windows open for air flow. Photo: Andria Cummings (F’07)

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

“If you are dreaming of a greenhouse, go ahead and look at buying one. There are many different types, prices and sizes.” — Josie Asquith

and repotting the plants, she needs to check every day to make sure the temperature and watering is right. She says, “You can’t just plant something and leave it.” Suzanne says one of the plusses to having a greenhouse is seeing it full of plants ready to put out and share, which is a very rewarding experience. “It is a relaxing hobby,” she adds. I now have a 14x20-foot glass greenhouse at my south Huntsville home. It was purchased as a kit for $6,000 which included the heater, exhaust fan and brute, which opens the top at the peak. There was about another $1,000 invested in the building of the foundation and the wiring, which was all done by my husband. We have since put in a misting system as has Suzanne. I also have a remote thermometer so I do not have to go out to check the temperature, and with orchids that is important. Utilities are about $20 per month on a 12-month basis. If you are dreaming of a greenhouse, go ahead and look at buying one. There are many different types, prices and sizes. The best advice I can give you is do a little research on the Internet, but mostly by talking to other owners. Consider what you want to do with it and build accordingly. There is one to fit every budget from just a few hundred dollars all the way up to and beyond $10,000. There are all kinds of gadgets you may want to add after you have it a while. I recommend the misting system. A shade cloth that goes over the top in the summer is a necessity for mine not only to keep the temperature down in the summer but also to prevent sunburn of the plants. Water walls are also nice for cooling if you want to grow cooler growing plants. And the list goes on and on! www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Suzanne Kirkhuff (W’07) took this photo of her 6x8foot prefabricated greenhouse. Cost: $1,000, plus a cement foundation.

Josie Asquith’s 14x20-foot greenhouse was purchased for $6,000. It includes a heater, exhaust fan and brute, which opens the top at the peak. Photo: Josie Asquith

21

Herbs

VERSATILE BASIL Basil in the Pocket Brings Wealth

T

By Dorothy Thomas

Dorothy Thomas (F’07) is the 2013 MGNA Master Gardener of the Year and past president of the Huntsville Herb Society.

22

here is a cultivar of basil for just about every taste imaginable. The most recognizable is sweet basil (O. basilicum) which is mild and is commonly used in pesto and many Italian dishes. Other cultivars offer unique tastes: lemon basil (O. americanum), anise basil (O. basilicum ‘Licorice’) and cinnamon basil (O. basilicum ‘Cinnamon’) all have flavors that reflect their name. Basil now grows in many regions throughout the world, but it was first native to India, Asia and Africa. It is a popular ingredient in many cuisines throughout the world including Greek (O. ‘Greek Yevani’), Thai (O. thyrsiflorum ‘Thai’), Vietnamese and Laotian. The name “basil” is derived from the old Greek word basilikohn, which means “royal,” reflecting that culture’s attitudes towards an herb that was held to be very noble and sacred. This tradition has continued in other cultures. In India, Holy basil or Tulsi (O. Sanctum) is cherished as a symbol of hospitality. In Italy it is a symbol of love. Are you worried about being withered by the gaze of your neighborhood basilisk? Do you need a little extra cash? Well, basil may be the herb for you. The ancient Greeks believed basil could ward off the killing gaze of the basilisk or king of serpents. According to Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, “Basil brings wealth to those

who carry it in their pockets, and is used to attract customers to a place of business by placing some in the cash register or on a doorsill.” The Victorian language of flowers gives basil two meanings: common basil signifies hatred and sweet basil conveys the sender’s best wishes. Either way basil has your back! Like most herbs, basil requires a sunny location that receives at least six to eight hours of bright light per day and well-drained soil

Thai basil in Dorothy’s yard. Photo: Dorothy Thomas

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

The Victorian language of flowers gives basil two meanings: common basil signifies hatred and sweet basil conveys the sender’s best wishes. Either way basil has your back! — Dorothy Thomas

Basil Genus: Ocimum Family: Lamiaceae Category: Tender annual, six to eight hours of bright light daily, even moisture, fertilize sparingly.

which may require planting in raised beds or containers. Basil requires even moisture throughout the growing season. Fertilize sparingly, using compost tea or fish emulsion once or twice during the growing season. Avoid fertilizer with a high nitrogen number (the first number of the three). Begin harvesting at any time by snipping the fresh young leaves as they are needed. If whole stems are harvested, cut just above a pair of leaves. New growth will be encouraged at the cut point and should be seen within a week’s time. It is important to prune the plant periodically through the growing season to maintain productive growth. If basil is allowed to flower and form seed, the leaves turn bitter and the plant will become woody. Plant enough basil and allow the beautiful flower spikes to develop on some plants which attract bees and butterflies to your garden.

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014

Tomato, Basil & White Bean Salad Ingredients 2 cans (19 ounces each) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed 1/2 pound small roma (plum) tomatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces 1/2 cup chopped green onions (my addition) 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn into 1/2-inch pieces 1 teaspoon coarse salt Freshly ground pepper 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3 small garlic cloves, minced

Directions

• Combine beans, tomatoes, basil, and salt in a bowl, and season with pepper. • Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, and cook, stirring, until fragrant but not browned, 1½ to 2 minutes. Pour over bean mixture, and gently toss. Let stand 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld. Salad can be covered and kept at room temperature up to four hours. Source: www.marthastewart.com kitchen tested by Dorothy Thomas for several covered dish events.

23

GARDEN THYMES Master Gardeners of North Alabama Alabama Cooperative Extension System 819 Cook Ave. Huntsville, AL 35801

24

www.mginfo.org • Garden Thymes • October/November 2014