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October 2013 Volume 4 No. 10
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Super Sleuth
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We had several correct responses to the September mystery plant, Salvia leucantha, Mexican bush sage. Barbara Schlott from Pottawattamie County, Linda Schreiber from Johnson County, Alyce Dolphin from Dubuque County and Shirley Jean Woodward from Humboldt County responded within a few hours of sending out the newsletter with the correct identity. This herbaceous perennial with silvery gray foliage and velvety purple blooms late in the growing season is hardy only to Zone 8, so it must be grown as an annual in Iowa. It is extremely drought tolerant, and prefers full sun. Plants grow about 4 feet tall and wide. The shot below was taken in my yard a couple of years ago.
Denny Schrock, State Master Gardener Coordinator
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Featured Plant
from September
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Mexican bush sage
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| October Mystery Plant |
| What am I?
To become our Super Sleuth for this month, be the first to correctly identify this plant, which is hardy at least to central Iowa. The orange-red trumpet-shape blooms in October are a nice decorative touch for Halloween! They also attract hummingbirds. Send your response including both its common and botanical names in your reply to Denny.
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Report Your Hours
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 Remember that for 2013, the Master Gardener Volunteer Hours requirement has increased from 6 to 12 hours per year. By the end of 2013 all active MGs must complete at least 12 hours of volunteer service annually. The MG continuing educational hour requirement has not changed from 6 hours required yearly. The average number of hours volunteered by Iowa Master Gardeners in 2012 was 41 hours, so for most the expanded requirement should not be a concern.
Recently the National Extension Master Gardner Task Force made recommendations to establish minimum national standards for Master Gardener service and continuing education. The recommendations are set at 20 hours of service and 10 hours of continuing education annually. As you can see, Iowa currently does not meet those standards, even with the increase this past year. The State Master Gardener Advisory Committee will be looking at this recommendation, and considering whether to adopt the proposed national standards.
In comparison to our neighbors, Iowa is lagging in Master Gardener volunteer service and continuing education. Here are the numbers for 2012: |
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Iowa
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Illinois
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Minnesota
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Wisconsin
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# of active MGs
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2436
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3400
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2445
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3064
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# volunteer hours
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99,946
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200,216
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131,000
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207,324
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Ave.volunteer hrs/MG
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41.0
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58.9
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53.6
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67.7
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Total Cont. ed. hours
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20,042
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42,660
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34,000
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67,094
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Ave. cont. ed. hrs/MG
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8.2
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12.5
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13.9
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21.9
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As you can see, numbers reported in Iowa are at least 25% less than our neighboring states in the Upper Midwest--both for volunteer service and continuing education hours. Let's make sure that ALL your hours for 2013 get reported! Many Master Gardeners have told me that they don't report all of their hours. It is important that we capture the full picture of Master Gardener service to the state of Iowa. As of late October nearly 50,000 volunteer service hours and more than 10,500 continuing education hours have been reported here in Iowa for 2013. That's a good start, but we have a long way to go to surpass last year's totals.
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| Polk County Garden Project Honored |
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Congratulations to the ISU Polk County Master Gardeners whose demonstration garden in Urbandale received an honorable mention from the All-America Selections Landscape Design Contest as the most educational garden among AAS trial gardens. The judges cited the garden's creative use of repurposed items such as frames and plates that were used as plant markers. The entire garden's theme was designed to demonstrate how to reduce, reuse and recycle. |
Winter 2014 Classes
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Although the fall Master Gardener classes are still in session, it's time to begin thinking about the next round of training, set to start in January 2014. To date we have 15 locations planning to offer the training.
It's not too late to add more sites. Let us know if you plan to offer Master Gardener training this coming winter in your county, and we'll add you to the list!
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Master Gardener Apparel Sale
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We're holding a clearance sale on a few of the Master Gardener apparel items available at the Extension Online Store.
Just in time for cool fall weather, Master Gardener fleece pullovers, originally $40, are now just $30, and long-sleeved shirts are only $25. The pullovers are available in black or winter white. The long-sleeved shirts are available in light blue denim or tan. These prices are limited to the sizes and stock on hand in current inventory.
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Upper Midwest MG Conference
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The Scott County Master Gardeners are working hard, lining up a fantastic program and tours for the Upper Midwest Master Gardener Conference June 25-28, 2014 in Bettendorf. Keep watching the newsletter for more details as they become available. You can also check out the conference web site. Registration will begin in early 2014. You can also Like the Facebook page for the conference to follow developments.
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Volunteers Needed for International MG Conference
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Horticultural Horizons in the Heartland
Mark your calendars for September 22-25, 2015, when Iowa and Nebraska will co-host the International Master Gardener Conference.
We're looking for volunteers to serve on numerous committees, including Decorations, Entertainment, Evaluation, Finance, Food, Hospitality, Registration, Speakers, Tours, Trade Show, Sponsorships, and Communications. If you're interested in serving on one or more of these committees, please contact your local coordinator. The official sign-up list will be available soon. Watch for updates on the conference website, and sign up to "Like" the conference on Facebook.
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2014 Calendar Available
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The 12-month calendar celebrates the gift of trees and is filled with stunning photography, interesting facts and tips on planting and maintaining trees.
"The calendar's photographs highlight the various aspects of trees including flowers, foliage, fruit, shape and structure," said Richard Jauron, ISU Extension and Outreach horticulture specialist, who helped prepare the calendar.
Jauron explained the calendar's helpful tips are timely with the seasons, giving dates for pruning oak trees, hand thinning of fruit trees, checking for insects and many more. The last two pages of the calendar describe the proper way to plant a tree and gives facts about the state forests of Iowa and their location in the state.
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Sentinel Plant Network
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The Sentinel Plant Network (SPN) is a collaborative effort between the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and the National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN). Its mission is to ''contribute to plant conservation by engaging public garden professionals, volunteers, and visitors in the detection and diagnosis of high consequence pests and pathogens.'' Join Reiman Gardens' Horticulturist Jessie Liebenguth for an informational session on Tuesday, November 5th at 6 p.m. to learn how you can get involved. There is no registration fee, but preregistration is highly encouraged by calling Sara Merritt at 515-294-1318.
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Search for Excellence Winner
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Linn County Master Gardener's Lowe Park Greenhouse Project was the 2013 State Search for Excellence Award Winner in the Innovative Project category. The project is a joint effort with the city of Marion. The Master Gardeners provide a project manager, contribute toward the cost of utilities as well as grow 50 flats of flowers for city plantings. More than $43,000 were raised through various grants and plant sales to get the project up and running. In addition to providing hands-on training for Linn County Master Gardeners, the greenhouse is used as a teaching tool for workshops and educational events for the general public. More than 60% of Linn County Master Gardeners are involved with the Lowe Park Greenhouse project.
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| Upcoming Events |
What: Fall Horticulture Conference
When: Saturday, November 2, 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Where: Polk County Extension, Altoona
Who: Polk County Master Gardeners
Price: $50, call 515-957-5760,
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/polk/news/fall-horticulture-conference-2013
What: Gardening with Conifers
When: Saturday, November 2, 9-11 a.m.
Where: Iowa Arboretum
Who: Gary Wittenbaugh
Price: $10 members; $15 non-members, 515-794-3216
What: Shrub Care 101
When: Wednesday, November 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Ladd Public Library, Cedar Rapids
Who: Wil Carew
Price: Free, call 319-377-9839 ext. 323
What: Emerald Ash Borer
When: Thursday, November 7, 1-4 p.m.; 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Where: Ladd Public Library, Cedar Rapids
Who: Linn County Extension
Price: Free, call 319-377-9839 ext. 323
What: Windbreaks and Trees for Tricky Spots
When: Saturday, November 9, 9-11 a.m.
Where: Iowa Arboretum
Who: Jesse Randall
Price: $10 members; $15 non-members, 515-794-3216
What: Landscape Design Symposium
When: Saturday, November 16, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Where: ISU Memorial Union Gold Room
Who: Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa; presenters include Dr. Jeff Iles & Dr. Denny Schrock
Price: $30, call 515-576-6021 to register
What: Advanced High Tunnel Tomato Production
When: Saturday, November 16, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Where: Dallas Center Memorial Hall
Who: Joe Hannan
Price: $55 per person/$90 per couple, call 515-993-4281; www.IowaProduce.org
What: Iowa Organic Conference
When: November 17-18,
Where: Memorial Union, Iowa City
Who: Kathleen Delate
Price: $95-125; http://extension.agron.iastate.edu/organicag/organicconference2013.html
What: Tree Pruning Workshop
When: Thursday, November 21, 1-3:30 p.m.
Where: Cherokee Community Center
Who: Jesse Randall
Price: Call 712-225-6196
Do you have another educational opportunity coming up? Email Cindy or Denny with details. Thanks.
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