President's Letter

Red Leaves and Blue Sky

The weather has been strangely gorgeous; as if summer does not intend to leave.  The leaves turned red on time (triggered by day length) but the yellow has not really followed, tricked by the warm weather and lack of frost.  Only the deep blue skies really say fall.

Volunteer Recognition Luncheon.  Don’t be fooled by the weather – it is fall and it’s time for the Volunteer Recognition luncheon!  Please join us on November 5th at Twin Lakes Lodge for our annual recognition event.  Master and Community Gardeners should have received an invitation in the mail.  It’s also a good time to renew your membership in MGANM!  A form should have been in your invitation.  If not, email wordenwood@msn.com and we will get one to you.  If you can’t make it, you can still make a donation to the Master Gardener scholarship fund with the RSVP form in the envelope.  Please also enter your volunteer and educational hours by October 30th to give Nate time to create volunteer awards.  We hate to miss anybody!

Bylaws!  Thank you to everyone who voted to approve our new bylaws.  With the affirmative vote we have completed our affiliation requirements to join the Michigan Master Gardener Association.  Yay!  Next year when you renew for MGANM you will also be renewing for MMGA, if you have maintained you MG certification.

Annual Meeting. The November luncheon also serves as the annual meeting for MGANM where we elect officers and board members.  With the new bylaws we have expanded the board from 4 to 7 positions.  Thank you to  those people who already have stepped up.  Can you serve on the board?  It’s a great way to serve your Master Gardener community and earn volunteer hours.  Come to a board meeting in 2018 and get a feel for this service and fun group of people.  

Marketing.  We are hoping to improve our visibility in the community by having everyone don logo wear when  volunteering.  Once again we have Denise Brown of the Oakland County Master Gardeners bringing logo wear to the luncheon for purchase.  MGANM is also considering ordering aprons for volunteers to wear.  We will have an order form at the luncheon if you are interested in purchasing an apron.  These would be one-size fits all and go over the head with handy pockets, and both MGANM and MSUE Master Gardener Volunteer logos.

2018 Programming.  The results of the programming survey are in!  We took the top program ideas and have created an interesting and educational calendar of events for 2018.  We hope you can make it to all of them!  We are looking for volunteers to help with each program.  Setting up before and cleaning up afterwards for events and programs are all ways to earn your volunteer hours!  Many thanks to Lori Piggott who helped pull this together.

1/9/18   Oak Wilt and Tree Diseases on the Horizon by Kama Ross, District Forester, Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau Conservation Districts. *Joint program with GTCD.

2/2/18   Wildflower Identification with Newcomb Key by Angie Lucas, Senior Land Steward and Botanist, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

3/6/18   Landscape Design with Native Plants by Cheryl Gross, President of Plant It Wild and Advanced Master Gardener

3/14/18   Hot Plants for 2018! by Heidi Grasman of Garden Crossings Nursery in Holland, MI and Proven Winners™  *Joint Program with the Botanic Gardens at the Historic Barns Park, 7pm at the Visitor Center, 1490 Red Dr, Traverse City.

4/3/18   Growing and Cooking with Herbs by Julie Krist, past President of Michigan Herb Associates, Founder of Herbal Renewal, Advanced Master Gardener

5/1/18   Planting a Smart Vegetable Garden by Rebecca
Krans, Consumer Horticulture Program Educator, MSUE


6/5/18   Smart Pest Management for Vegetables Gardens by Dr. Nate Walton, Consumer Horticulture Program Educator, MSUE

6/12/18   Terrarium Workshop with Jeanine Rubert at Pine Hill Nursery,  1126 Carver St, Traverse City. *Members only.  *Fee applies.  *Reservation required.