Step - by - Step - by - Step . . .

I made a quick trip to the garden area late this afternoon (4:30 p.m.), with a trellis (for a clematis), two fence posts, a "post-pounder-in-er," some wire, a measuring tape, and my camera. 

Last night, the bed looked like this - with the florescent spray paint boundaries and flags for the flowering crab apple tree and the Korean Lilac.
(Don't forget you can click on any photo to greatly enlarge!)

The view was unchanged this morning, even after Leland and Shirley had delivered and roto-tilled in a load of nice, dry sheep manure!

You might well imagine my pleasant surprise in finding the bush and tree in place when I arrived at 4:30 p.m. with my variety of items!  I did set the trellis in place before taking the following photographs. 

Dwarf Korean Lilac

Malus 'Sargentii' - aka 'Sargent Flowering Crabapple'

two views  of the placement

Next stop - Friday morning!

Watch for the update.  

:-)

JCHC Flower Garden - Taming of the "Dirt Pile!"

 It looks like we had the Right Man for the Job, when it came to Leland!!  We met at 9:30 a.m. today.  He unloaded his tractor...

 And set right to work . . . 

(click on any photo to enlarge)

Bright...

 Bluebird Skies today . . .

We plan to plant Friday and Saturday...

Next Tuesday looks overcast,

Wednesday shows a slight chance of rain,

and Thursday (at this time) shows a 70% chance of rain...

Looks good enough to us!!!

Watch for ongoing progress reports!

Community Garden Near JCHC

This was a new garden spot this Spring/Summer.  With all the Spring Rain, it had a slow start, but I see some good looking produce coming here!  :-)

Hopefully next year's gardeners won't have the WET, Soggy Spring we experienced this year!

Gardening is Good for you, September 2011

Besides Nutrition (January), providing Emotional Health (February), Nurturing (March), providing Exercise (April), Connecting with People (May), being Educational (June), Enhancing our Environment (July), and By Being Productive (August), Gardening is Good for you by being Sensory!

"Gardens engage our senses of smell, taste, vision, hearing, and touch.  Plants reward gardeners with fragrant flowers, tasty fruit and vegetables, colorful flowers and foliage, the subtle sound of grasses and other plants rustling in the wind, and textures that vary from soft to rough to prickly.  The sensory experiences of gardens comfort and relax us.  Research has shown that simply strolling or viewing green spaces can be therapeutic and reduce stress.  So the next time you have a hectic day, take a moment to sit or stroll in the garden.  You will be impressed at the calming effect your garden can have."*

*Taken from the September 2011 Iowa State University, University Extension calendar.

Gardening is Good for You, August 2011

Besides Nutrition (January), providing Emotional Health (February), Nurturing (March), providing Exercise (April), Connecting with People (May), being Educational (June), and Enhancing our Environment (July), Gardening is GOOD for you by being Productive (August)!

These facts are taken from the Iowa State University, University Extension 2011 Calendar.  Full of monthly helpful gardening tips, hints, and advice, this month's "Good for You"  encouragement states the following:  "Productive - Watering your second sowing of greens, sitting down to relax after weeding the garden, and enjoying an ear of sweet corn you've grown . . . Gardening can give you a sense of accomplishment.  Vegetable and fruit gardens reward you with bountiful produce during the growing season.  That feeling can last all year if you preserve some of your bounty by canning, freezing, or drying.  Preservation of garden produce allows us to enjoy great-tasting fruits and vegetables during the winter months and helps reduce the grocery bill.

Fall 2011 Master Gardener Training Schedule

Iowa State University Extension

Master Gardener Training-Jefferson County

Fall 2011-Tentative Schedule

Date	Focus	Presenter	Location
September 6	Introduction/Orientation	Kim Keller	Jefferson County Extension Office
September 13	Adobe Connect – Soils/Botany	Lee Burras and Jennifer Bousselot	Jefferson County Extension Office
September 20	Adobe Connect – Turfgrass Management	Dave Minner	Jefferson County Extension Office
September 22	Live-Houseplants	Local Resource	Jefferson County Extension Office
September 27	Adobe Connect – Plant Pathology and Entomology	Erika Saalau and Donald Lewis	Jefferson County Extension Office
October 4	Adobe Connect – Landscape Trees and Shrubs	Jeff Iles	Jefferson County Extension Office
October 6	Live-Vegetables	Patrick O’Malley	Jefferson County Extension
October 11	Adobe Connect-Weed  Management, IPM, and Pesticides	Kristine Schaefer, Laura Jesse, and Donald Lewis	Jefferson County Extension Office
October 15	Saturday Class-on-campus	Campus Instructors	ISU Campus
October 18	Adobe Connect – Animal Ecology	Rebecca Christoffel	Jefferson County Extension Office
October 25	Adobe Connect-Fruit Culture	Paul Domoto	Jefferson County Extension Office
October 29	Saturday Class-on-campus	Campus Instructors	ISU Campus
November 1	Adobe Connect-Home Landscape Design	Ann Marie VanDerZanden	Jefferson County Extension Office
November 3	Live – Herbaceous Perennials	Local Resource	Jefferson County Extension Office

Gardening is Good For You - April, 2011

"Gardening is good exercise.  Pushing a lawnmower or pulling weeds burns more calories per hour than taking a brisk walk.  Bending and stretching helps tone muscles, and any type of exercise you perform while on your feet helps build stronger bones.  Be especially careful when beginning your outdoor work for the season.  Overdoing it can lead to injury.  Be sure to stretch before and after gardening chores.  Ask for assistance when lifting heavy items, and take frequent breaks when doing strenuous activities."


Most of the information in this article, above and below, has been taken from the 2011 Garden Calendar published by the Iowa State University Extension Service.  The calendar is entitled "Gardening is Good For You" and includes monthly tips and information.

Timely advice for gardeners of edible produce includes, "Don't till the garden when the soil is wet," "Sow tomato seeds indoors for May planting (written on April 2, but you still have time to accomplish this goal)," April 7 states, "Sow seeds of peas, lettuce, spinach, carrot, and beets," on  April 15 we see, "Plant potatoes in well-drained, fertile soil," and sometime in late April, "Plant a different vegetable in the garden."

For gardeners of herbacious perennials and annual flowers, April 11 states, "Divide perennials as new growth begins to emerge," and "Share divisions with neighbors and friends," on April 17, "Plant pansies outside in beds or containers," and on April 29 (Arbor Day), "Plant a tree for Arbor Day."  Did you know a shade tree can cut home cooling costs by 10 per cent?

April is also given as a time to fertilize your houseplants; re-potting those needing larger containers. 

Please go outdoors and enjoy our Spring season.  We've been given the opportunity of enjoying several days of wonderful weather... and perhaps now, we'll be receiving some plant-loving rain.  Above all, be careful and safe.  Remember to lift with your legs --- and not your back!

Jefferson County Master Gardeners are involved in many local projects, activities, and endeavors.  If you are interested in becoming a Master Gardener, please contact Kim Keller, Jefferson County Extension Service, 472-4166.

This article submitted by Kathy Tollenaere, Master Gardener Intern,
on behalf of the Jefferson County Master Gardeners.
new website:  http://jcmastergardeners.blogspot.com/