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Welcome! We have moved to a new platform to make it easier to send you our newsletter. If you have trouble viewing the content in your email, there is a link at the top that will allow you to view the newsletter in your browser. We hope you enjoy this new format and all of the wonderful articles and information from around the state!
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Stories and News for Master Gardeners |
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Proven Winners
Outdoor Living Extravaganza
This summer, MMGA board member Linda Andriacchi attended the Proven Winners Outdoor Living Extravaganza at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. She shares her experience and a collection of beautiful photographs here.
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A Presentation
on Mushrooms
Interested in fungi? A.J. Stone has written a wonderful article examining the scientific and cultural importance of mushrooms, starting over 300 million years ago! In addition to learning about the history of mushrooms, this article is full of tips and tricks for cultivating your own mushrooms at home! Click here to read more.
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Ruth Mott Foundation
Celebrating Applewood Estate’s 100th Anniversary in Flint
As Applewood celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2016, visitors have more access to the historic estate than ever before. After Mott passed away in 1973, his wife, Ruth Mott, pledged to open it up to the public as a community resource and in honor of her husband’s contributions to Flint and the automotive industry.
The grounds were since opened to the public on occasion, but this year – in celebration of the centennial – Applewood has expanded its open hours from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday through Sunday until Oct. 30. The house at Applewood has also been opened for public tours for the first time this year, and new exhibits displaying the rich history of the Mott family have been added throughout the estate. Admission and activities at Applewood are free, although online reservations for the house tours are strongly recommended.
Read more about Applewood and the tours here.
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New Benefits for MMGA Members |
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MMGA is pleased to announce the addition of three new benefits for all members. Specialty Growers of Howell, Michigan, Treasure Island of Ada, Michigan, and Mares-Z-Doats of Marquette Michigan are each offering discounts to any current card carrying member of MMGA who visit their shop and make purchases.
Earlier this year you were sent an email welcoming you as a 2016 member of MMGA. This email included a printable membership card. This is what you will need to show when you check out at any of these business to get your MMGA membership discount.
To learn more about these businesses and the benefits they offer MMGA members, click here!
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Master Gardener Spotlight |
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We are excited to highlight three projects and events from around the state in this edition!
Gladwin County Master Gardeners
Break Ground for Community Courtyard
Gladwin County Master Gardeners broke ground on Monday, August 22 on a project to replant and make more accessible a courtyard in the city’s downtown district. When finished, the courtyard will feature six unique areas: a rose garden, native plants, sedums, an herb area, grasses, and a shade garden. Central to the project is a weeping blue cedar. Hardscaping is also part of the project plan.
The project is funded by grants from the Gladwin Community Foundation, DeShano Foundation, HH Dow Foundation, and donations from Freeman Nursery of Gladwin. MMGA was proud to be invited to the groundbreaking. Completion of the courtyard is planned for September.
Marquette County Master Gardeners
Meet to Discuss Forming an Association
Eight master gardeners from throughout Marquette County met Saturday, August 27 at the home and gardens of Advanced Master Gardener Linda Andriacchi to discuss forming an association focused on uniting master gardeners from throughout the Upper Peninsula. Currently the UP has one association in Delta County.
The evening event featured a garden tour, a presentation on MMGA and the benefits it offers master gardeners and a potluck dinner. Welcome to the five new members who joined MMGA that evening: Pat Gruber, Brenda Hershey, Linda Ronaglione, Ron Rossway and Sharon Soave.
MGANM Celebrates 20th Anniversary
The Master Gardener Association of Northwest Michigan, which serves Benzie, Grand Traverse and Leelanau, celebrated their 20th anniversary this summer with a barbeque dinner, anniversary cake and lavender ice cream at the Grand Traverse Soil Conservation District building on Cass Road. Before dinner members and their guests were treated to a tour of the gardens that MGANM maintains on the Soil Conservation District site and also were able to view and learn about the green roof created this year with all native plants. The project received honorable mention at Master Gardener College.
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MMGA Welcomes New Board Members, Sue Aagaard Re-elected to Board of Directors
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The MMGA has welcomed four new members to the board of directors. Linda Andriacchi joined the board early in the year to fill an opening. In June, Marilyn George, Vicky Hicks and Norm Scherr were elected and Sue Aagaard was re-elected to the board and we bid adieu to board members Ike Pangle and Cathy Myers, who chose not to run for a second term. Click here for a brief introduction to Linda, Marilyn, Vicky, and Norm.
Welcome to our new members and welcome back Sue!
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MSU Extension Recognizes Extraordinary Master Gardener Projects
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Fourteen garden projects were entered in the first Extraordinary Project Search program which sought to recognize and highlight Extension Master Gardener group volunteer projects throughout Michigan.
Winners include:
- First Place: 4-H Garden at the Washtenaw County Youth Center
- Second Place: April Millsap Memorial Project in Macomb County
- Third Place: John C. Mackie Welcome Center in Clare County
- Peer Preferred Project: Crossroads Village in Genesee County
Additional information about these projects and the Extraordinary Project Search program is available in the News section of the MMGA website.
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Leslie Kellman with the winning poster:
4-H Garden at the Wastenaw County Youth Center
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Michigan Master Gardener College |
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Michigan Master Gardener College headed west this year to West Michigan where the annual educational program – this year entitled “Dig It, Plant It, Grow It,” was based at the Prince Center on the Calvin College campus in Grand Rapids.
Friday offered Michigan Master Gardeners the option of an afternoon diagnostics workshop OR an afternoon spent on one of four tours through the rich agricultural and horticultural areas surrounding Grand Rapids.
Saturday dawned early with a series of educational workshops in the morning and an afternoon highlighted by a keynote address by Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, a Colorado State University Entomologist who talked on the interactions of the pollinator web in the garden and the various stages of beneficial insects.
The sometimes challenging world of container design was made simpler by Paul Zammit of Toronto whose key points focused on making containers easier to design and raise successfully.
His advice touched on choosing the container – “You have to love it” – to design which included such tips as using parsley as a great filler (thriller, spiller, filler), winter containers and overwintering outdoor pots, including terra cotta pots.
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In addition, Master Gardeners could “shop til they dropped” at booths featuring everything from rare plants to gardening equipment, gloves, garden art, soaps, books and master gardener logo wear.
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MGs were also encouraged to stop at Genessee County Coordinator Abi Saaid’s table where she displayed – and encouraged us all to try – foods made from bugs; flavored mealworms, granola bars and flours made from insects.
MMGA was prominent with our booth featuring books and also our silent auction, both of which help raise money for MMGA’s operations.
Our annual meeting took place during the event and was led by Vice President Cathy Myers with presentations by MMGA treasurer Colleen Petersen and MMGA secretary Ruth Steele Walker.
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Hope to see you at Master Gardener College next year!
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MMGA Executives 2016-2017
Sue Aagaard, President
Diane Zeimen, Vice President
Ruth Steele-Walker, Secretary
Colleen Petersen, Treasurer
MSUE Advisor
Mary Wilson
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MMGA Board of Directors
Linda Andriacchi, Director
Marilyn George, Director
Vicky Hicks, Director
Belinda Laughlin, Director
Jan Rise, Director
Norman Scherr, Director
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About MMGA
The Michigan Master Gardener Association is a non-profit corporation with an all-volunteer board. We invite you to become involved as a volunteer and a member. Membership is open to every Master Gardener volunteer in good standing, which includes recertified Master Gardeners and volunteers in training. The cost is just $5.00! It’s less than the cost of going to a movie or out to lunch, yet that $5.00 individual membership fee helps pay for the critical liability insurance coverage that none of us can afford to be without. Your commitment to our association will help keep this insurance affordable for everyone.
Visit www.michiganmastergardener.org to join.
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