Beautify
What is a plant runner, stolon and a rhizome?
By Michael O’Brien, AEMG
In his article, Michael is very helpful in educating us on the differences between a runner, stolon and rhizome. He gives us some real examples of these plants and how they might harm or benefit your gardening efforts.
Create New Plants from runners, stolons, and rhizomes
By Michael O’Brien, AEMG
If you read Michael’s article about plant runners, you might want to know more about what to do with them. In the next article, Michael provides different growing techniques that focus on runners, stolons, and rhizomes.
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Master Gardener Coordinator's Corner
Coordinator’s Corner: Spring Cleanup That Protects Pollinators
By Nate Walton, Michigan State University Extension Master Gardener Coordinator
Everybody is ready for springtime! Complementing Cheryl’s article on spring cleaning, Nate goes into greater detail with specific regard to clean-up as it is related to pollinators. In his article we learn about different bees, our most important native plant pollinator.
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News & Events
There are so many wonderful events and workshops happening in our community that we simply cannot list them all. Please be sure to check directly with the websites and Facebook pages for these organizations and the events that they offer:
Botanical Gardens at Historic Barns Park, Grand Traverse Conservation District, Plant it Wild, Wild Ones, NW Michigan Invasive Species Network, NW Michigan Horticulture Research Center, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Saving Birds Thru Habitat, Benzie Conservation District, Leelanau Conservation District, and Leelanau Conservancy.
MGANM
The educational meetings are held at The Boardman River Nature Center, 1450 Cass Road, Traverse City unless otherwise noted. They are open to the public but a $5 donation from non-members is appreciated.
Volunteers are always needed to help with setup/cleanup before and after the meetings. This can earn you extra hours in addition to the 1.5 volunteer and 1.5 CE hours that you earn just by attending the meeting. Interested volunteers can sign up in the General Event Calendar on the VMS page or by contacting Michele Worden (wordenwood@msn.com) or Nate Walton at 231-256-9888 or (waltonn2@msu.edu).
Tuesday, April 7th, 6:30 p.m. (potluck at 6:00 p.m.) “Hot Plants for 2020” with Jeanine Rubert
BOTANIC GARDENS AT HISTORIC BARNS PARK
Please see the website for complete information on these upcoming events:
Brian Zimmerman of Four Season Nursery presents “The Importance of Trees in the Landscape” and “Gardens of Cornwall and Devon presentation by Kurt and Karen Schmidt”.
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3 native wild bees enjoying the resources provided by this early spring flower (N. Walton, MSU Extension)
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Steward
Nicotine doesn’t affect my seeds, does it?
By Michael O’Brien, AEMG
Many people do not know that nicotine is used today as an insecticide. Although it works well for killing pesky, harmful insects, it does have its drawbacks. Read further as Michael shares more detail regarding what researchers know today about how nicotine works with plants.
Take a load off
By Cheryl Gross, AEMG
Spring is drawing near so we thought it might be a good idea to share spring clean-up tips for your garden. The following article provides informative narrative on spring clean-up and taking steps to protect beneficial insects.
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Dan and Gustie (Rohde) Graber with children, L-R: Hattie, Theresa, Henry, Adolph, and Dan Gra(e)ber. Eden Springs (House of David), Benton Harbor, Michigan 1919. Photo provided by Dr. Duke Elsner, PhD
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Nourish
The Bug Man’s Mother
By Duke Elsner, Ph.D. and AEMG
Most often, we focus on the science of plants, but from time to time we like to share heartwarming stories about plant based traditions, like the canning article we published last fall. In this next story, ‘The Bug Man’ (as he is so endearingly called) will not disappoint. Duke’s story invokes real emotion in many of us, as he recalls fond memories of his mother.
Houseplants
By Nancy Larson, EMG
If you are reading The Real Dirt, then you are probably interested in plants. Many of our friends and relatives know this tiny detail about us and they give us a plant for a holiday gift. Obviously, it is not likely you will be putting your new plant outside in the winter, if at all. To help increase the survival rate of your new gift, or any of your houseplants, you might want to read the next article where Nancy shares ‘care’ tips she has learned along the way.
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