Perspectives
A message from WCMGA President Anne Knauff
 Wow! You almost can hear things growing in the night here! I guess this spring proves that rain is the make-or-break factor. Every seed that has been dormant in my garden mulch or in my driveway gravel has germinated. I spend part of every after-rain day pulling weeds from the driveway. It’s paved with gray gravel, but looked lush green. I’ve taken so many truck loads of pulled weeds to the recycle center, the attendants there have started asking if I have anything left growing at my farm! If only they knew. My neighbors are harvesting hay three weeks ahead of schedule. They cut the grass in the field south of my house. They got four big round bales there two weeks ago. Last year it wasn’t worth cutting. Last year the cows raised dust-puffs with every step. This year the grass is so high, they are hiding their calves in it. All the two-leggers and four-leggers I know are thankful, thankful, thankful for the bountiful spring rains.
Some may know that Slipped Disk Farm rescued 15 dogs over the years since 1987. Actually, "rescued" isn’t the right term, since that connotes going out and finding an animal in distress and bringing it to safety. Here, if I would hear in the night a car door slam, an engine rev, and a dog bark, I would know that there would be a new critter here at daybreak. Some heartless human had dropped off another. Dogs who were bullies or ill could not stay, and would be appropriately placed, out of consideration for the welfare of the pack. Those who did stay got medical care, spaying/neutering, flea and tick treatment, and a new name. All the dogs were named after country-music singers: Willie, Waylon, Travis, Bocephus, Dolly, Patsy, Dottie, etc. The three oldest all "went off to college" in 2006. "Nevermore!" said the proprietress.
Well. Then I got a call from the medical director from hospice, asking what I know about cats. Cats? I knew only that I was allergic and knew NOTHING about cats, and told him so. He said he had a companion animal of a hospice patient. The cat "hated to be touched, hated to be groomed, hated to be fed, would rather catch his own food, and preferred sleeping in a garage." Some companion, I thought. Sounded like that cat needed a place to be dropped, so I told the medical director he could bring the creature here to live in the barns, sheds, etc. Well, either the doctor brought the wrong cat or the cat got struck by lightning on the way over. The cat who arrived here loves to be touched, groomed, fed. He sleeps in the garage only when the weather is fair; otherwise, he knocks on the door to be let in. Since this 10-year-old black-and-white tuxedo cat looked like an English gent who had suffered some embarrassing indignities between human assignments, I named him "Clive" in honor of my English origins. The name was not too different from his original name of "Clyde."
When I had to be away for a very long day, I would put out a bowl of feed to tide Clive over. It didn’t take long for the three barn cats to discover the bounty. They are feral but got bolder about coming to the front porch for a snack they didn’t have to catch. Well, I went out to the garage in April and found that Wily, Hodge and Boswell had turned my garage into a maternity ward! I had to leave the Corvette parked for a month since the mothers had put their kittens under that car once they took them out of their maternity tubs and boxes. I started feeding the mothers on demand. I didn’t know what I would do with all those feral cats, but needed to keep them healthy during my deciding. From the Corvette, the mothers moved them to a place next to the driveway, where all the kittens jumped into a drain pipe at the first sign of me. Now the mothers bring the babies to the front porch for morning feedings. The kittens have turned the furniture and railings into their jungle gym. Wily had four babies in four colors: orange, off-white, black, and gray. I named her four after important elements of an English tea: Marmalade, Cream, (black) Currant (jam) and Earl (grey, tea, of course). Hodge had two and Boswell had one. Hodge’s are named after two princes of the Royal Family: William and Harry. Boswell’s is named Oliver. The vet and I will rendezvous at her mobile surgery van here a month from now so that all we can catch will be spayed or neutered and get shots, etc. In the meantime, I am endearing myself to the herd of cats so that they might be more catchable by rendezvous time.
After that . . . listen for meowing FedEx packages, My Friends!
Upcoming Events & Meetings
- June 2 – 6 ~ Junior Gardner Camp.
- June 14 -15 ~ The Williamson County Library Friends Association of Franklin is sponsoring a garden tour. See volunteer opportunities for more information.
- June 17 ~ Fruits of the Backyard at the Middle Tennessee Research and Education Center. A free educational event from 12:30 – 6 p.m.
- June 18 – 21 ~ Register now for the Southern Region Master Gardener Conference: A Garden of Dreams in Native America. Space will be limited and early bird registration is extended until May 23. Participants will enjoy first class garden tours, many fantastic topics and speakers, a trade show, a Trivial Bowl Game (to quiz your knowledge), and a wonderful evening full of more garden viewing, a stroll through the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, excellent food and captivating entertainment. To learn more about the conference, which will be in Oklahoma, and to register go to www.mastergardener2008.com.
- June 28 – 29 ~ Friends of the UT Gardens Blooms Days.
- Until July 15 ~ We invite you to participate in the Keep Williamson Beautiful Photo Contest, celebrating the beauty and unique character of Williamson County.
- Sept. 8 ~ WCMGA Monthly Meeting begins at 6:45 p.m. at the Williamson County Ag Expo Center.
- Sept. 11 – 12 ~ Save the Date! The Nature of Design, Education for the Future: the 2008 Annual Conference of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning is at the Hilton-Downtown Knoxville. More information is at Forestry-www.natureofdesign.org
Get Involved - Make a Difference
by Susan F. Byrd
Norm Bright has approximately 30 Asiatic lilies, given to him by River Bend Nurseries. If any of you project leaders would like some to use in your project, or if anyone else would like some just to put in your own yard, please email Norm at nbright937@hotmail.com and let him know how many plants you would like. He will then make arrangements with you to get the plants.
Carnton Plantation: We have finished planting the veggies at Carnton. Some things may have to be replanted. The rabbits seem to like the peas and beans. Since the weeds continue to grow, there remains plenty to do. Weeding is needed around the borders of each plot as well as among the veggies. Duke Ellis and team will start to be in the gardens every Saturday at about 9 a.m. to weed and do what ever is needed to maintain the gardens. Anyone who wished can come out then. The gardens are never locked, so volunteers who wish to help during the week can do so. Contact Duke at familyellisd@bellsouth.net.
The Williamson County Library Friends Association of Franklin is sponsoring a garden tour on June 14 and 15. Tickets for the tour are available at the county library in Franklin. Any master gardeners interested in volunteering should sign up with the volunteer coordinator. Volunteer shifts will be on Saturday, June 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Shifts are also available on Sunday, June 15, from 1 – 5 p.m. Please contact Friends' volunteer coordinator Jolene Davis at 419-2339 or email at jsltdav@aol.com to volunteer for the garden tour. All proceeds benefit the county library.
Membership News
by Susan Carr
Members who require WCMGA lanyards or merchant discount cards may contact Anne-Marie Mitchell at the UT Office. Please contact me at scarr@independent-prosvcs.com with any membership questions
Gardening in June
by Michael E. Smith, Extension Agent, Williamson County
 “Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June”……Al Bernstein
With the summer heat quickly approaching, enjoy these beautiful June days filled with roses, peonies, lilies and all of your flowering favorites. The excellent rains we have had make everything seem so lush compared to the drought conditions we endured last year, but they have also encouraged lots of growth of lawns and weeds. Consequently, we have lots of gardening chores to keep us busy. With the long days of summer here, take advantage of early mornings and late evenings to get those garden chores accomplished and avoid the heat of the mid day.
The moist humid conditions we have had can lead to fungal problems in your home landscape. Keep your eyes open for brown patch in your lawn, powdery mildew in ornamentals and other issues associated with fungus. I’ve had a couple of calls today about slime mold in mulched beds. Remember that fungicides should be applied at the first sign of a problem to stop the progress of diseases. For those of you with traditional roses, don’t forget to spray for black spot.
There is still time to add color to the landscape by adding annuals. There are so many colorful choices from marigold, petunia and cosmos to portulaca and zinnia. Don’t forget those shady spots and tuck in some coleus or caladiums.
As June gives way to the summer heat, don’t forget that mulching will not only conserve moisture, it will keep those weeds from competing. If you need to add supplemental moisture, water deeply and less often to develop strong roots. Enjoy the abundance of fresh vegetables available now and throughout the rest of the season. If you do not have a vegetable garden, visit our local farmers market. These fresh vegetables are a seasonal treat that should not be missed.
Our Junior Gardener Camp is also a special June feature. It will be June 2 – 6, so keep those gardening volunteers in your thoughts as they create a memorable week for 49 young gardeners!
It’s a great month for enjoying all that gardening offers, so take advantage of the outdoors this month.
The Garden Buzz: Save Money, Grow Your Own Veggies and Herbs
by Cindy Shapton
 As gas prices rise, experts (they) predict more and more people will be spending time at home in the back yard. Of course the high price of fuel is being passed down to the consumer (us) in the form of higher food prices at the grocery store.
Planting vegetables and herbs in the backyard (or front) is a way to enjoy spending time at home while helping with the grocery bill. It is surprising how much produce you can grow in a small space.
If you are thinking you don’t have room, think again…last year I ran out of room in my designated kitchen garden so with seed packets in hand I felt like ‘Cindy Apple Seed’, tucking veggie and herb seeds in throughout the landscape. Not only was it a pretty site but tasty as well. I had organic sugar baby watermelons growing in between a couple of Lilac trees in the border garden, basil, parsley, cilantro, dill, oregano, thyme, fennel, tarragon and catnip growing in amongst the peonies and roses.
Once I ran out of little spaces in the border and perennial gardens I went vertical; squash, mini pumpkins, cucumbers and green beans grow happily up the fence and on trellises here and there throughout the backyard.
Containers can hold a lot of vegetables and herbs and are an excellent way to supplement the overall fresh food needs of your family. Pick a sunny area with easy access to water and plant away. I talked to a man the other day at Lightning 100 radio station who was so proud of his wife. She found free five gallon buckets on Craig’s list. After drilling holes in the bottom of the buckets she lined them up along the edge of the patio and planted tomatoes enough to feed their family of five all season long with the potential to put some in the freezer for winter.
Fill containers with a good potting soil or potting soil and compost mix. Plant salad greens, spinach, cherry tomatoes, basil, cilantro, green onions, chili peppers and you can feed your family fresh salads and salsa. Every couple of weeks tuck in a few more seeds of greens and cilantro to keep the produce coming for a long season of harvest.
Raised beds are another option, use rocks, boards or landscape timbers to frame them up. Again choose a sunny location (at least 6 hours per day) with easy access to water source. A depth of 8” to 12” is usually enough to grow most vegetables. Keep the width to four feet or less for easy reach to plant, harvest and weed (yes weeds, think of it as an opportunity for exercise). Fill the beds with a good compost (Rick Morris of the Compost Farm, www.thecompostfarm.com will deliver) or layer up newspaper, straw, leaves, peat moss, etc with a system called Lasagna gardening (buy a book called Lasagna Gardening by Pat Lanza at Cracker Barrel for complete instructions)
Lasagna gardening method works well in containers too.
Seeds are an inexpensive way to grow vegetables and herbs, if you are not the patient type and want to see the fruits of your labor quicker, check out local nurseries. The co-op, Green Valley greenhouses and Riverbend landscape and supply outlet have plenty to get you started.
May is the perfect time to spend time with the family outside, why not combine togetherness with planting some vegetables and herbs? It is a great way to build character while saving money on the ole grocery bill. Besides, as all Master Gardeners know, nothing tastes better then homegrown tomatoes! |
