This all-day conference offers exciting educational opportunities for gardeners from the casual to the Advanced Master Gardener.  The 2015 conference features a mix of top national speakers and local experts, including:
�    Keynote speaker, author, and acclaimed photojournalist Mark Hirsch, who will present a talk based on his inspirational book That Tree
�    Art Wolk, award-winning bulb grower, writer and lecturer, speaking on
         Bulb Forcing for Beginners & the Seriously Smitten
�    Landscape designer Amy Sampson, owner of AES Landscape Design & Consultation, talking about Residential Landscape Design Principles
�    Smithsonian Gardens Horticulturist James Gagliardi, speaking on
         Creating Seasonal Interest for Winter Gardens
�    Professional Environmentalist and Wild Foods Enthusiast Russ Cohen, speaking on Edible Native Plants for Your Landscape
 
Program and registration information available at www.2015garden.uconn.edu or contact Joan Allen at 860-486-6740; [email protected]

The final date to enter Photography in the show is Wednesday, February 4th. You have until Saturday, February 14th, to enter Horticulture.   Look at the schedule on our website, ctgardenclubs.org, pick out one (or two or three!) item you want to enter and send the consultant an e-mail.  It's that simple.

There's still time to sign on as staff for the FGCCT flower show, "Ports of Call." We are looking for hostesses and hosts to help guide our visitors through the exotic stops on our voyage and show them the beauty of the local flora and fauna.   Not only is this a way to "cruise the high seas," but you receive a FREE ticket to the show!  Call a few friends and sign up for a two-hour shift.  Contact Cathy Ritch, Hostess Chair at [email protected] or 203-452-5918.

March 24 and 25 - Lectures from Landscape Architects and other professionals. 

March 26 - Optional exam to pass 1 of 4 required courses to earn a Landscape Design Consultant Certificate.  Full course $120.

Please click here for the Registration Form, or contact Susan Laursen at 203-415-2077 or [email protected].

*Susan Laursen
Landscape Design Study School Chair

Judges Council Corner

Design Division Awards:
Tri Color Award - Rosette of red, blue and yellow, two awarded per show, one per section.
Award of Distinction - Rosette of brown, two awarded per show, one per section.
Designer's Choice Award - Rosette of purple, two awarded per show, one per section.
Table Artistry - Rosette of burgundy, two awarded per show, one per section.
Petite Award - Rosette of blue and white, two awarded per show, one per section.

Please make the following changes to your Judges Roster.

Congratulations to Jeanette Barrows, Leslie Martino and Kymrie Zaslow, who are now Life Judges!
 
Nancy Angelopoulos is now a Master Judge Emeritus.
June Klopfer is a Life Judge, not Master.
Helen Pritchard is now a Master Judge Emeritus.
 
Virginia Arkins and Beth Mongelas are no longer Student Judges.
Theresa Waltz is a Student Exhibitor and no longer eligible to judge at a Flower Show.

* Janet Ward
Credentials Chair

MASON BEES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Mason bee, Orchard bee, Orchard Mason bee, Blue Orchard bee -- all of
these are common names for the solitary bee, Osmia lignaria. These bees use mud, small pebbles and chewed-up plant material to construct their nests, hence the name "mason."
    
Most mason bees are smaller than honey bees, with a stout body; many species are metallic blueish or green in color.  
    
The adults emerge from their cocoons in the spring when daytime temperatures range around 50 degrees.  Males emerge first, and hang around the nest, waiting for the females to appear so they can mate. If the female at the back of the nest were to emerge first in the spring, she would open the cell in front of her, and nip that bee to get her moving.
    
The females will build nests in hollow plant stems, insect tunnels bored in wood, and even in the commercially available "condos" that many garden supply firms are marketing.  They are solitary, but gregarious, preferring to nest in large aggregates.

In order to provide a pea-sized mass of pollen/nectar for an egg, the female bee needs an area about one square yard of flowers.  Fertile eggs will become females and these eggs are laid first, at the back of the nest, with the eggs that will develop into males at the front of the tunnel.  Woodpeckers or other predators will encounter male cocoons first, sparing a few males and the all-important females.     

It has been estimated that a female Orchard Bee visits 60,000 flowers in order to provision the eggs she will lay in a season.  This, plus the fact that mason bees remain within 100 yards of their nests, means that they can be located near important crops.  They are extremely effective at pollinating fruit crops--apples, cherries, plums, raspberries and blueberries. In a study done with a netted orchard, it was shown that 250 Orchard Mason bees pollinated apples as effectively as 50,000 honey bees!
    
We can foster these gentle bees on our own property by providing them with a suitable habitat.  First of all, as masons, they need the ingredients for their mortar. Mud is a must, therefore they need open ground that is moist. 

Secondly, they need nesting material sited to give them morning sun.  Some people need a cup of coffee to get going in the morning; mason bees need to warm up. This nesting material can be purchased, or home-made.  It can be as simple as a bundle of hollow stems or as elaborate as a block of untreated wood with an array of tubes drilled in it.  The tubes need to be 5/16 of an inch in diameter.  They can be lined with paper straws for the purpose of cleaning and maintaining the nest block. The nest block needs to be mounted at least 3 feet off the ground.

Lastly, they need a source of pollen within their 100-yard fly zone.  Since they only live several months, starting in the spring, the plants they visit need to be flowering at that time.  Besides fruit trees, andromeda, forsythia, willow, viburnum and Eastern Redbud would work. Spring bulbs, dandelions and clover are also important.  

There are many online sources for ordering all the supplies you'd need to establish and maintain mason bees in your yard.  Lacking online resources, gardening magazines will offer the information you need to get started with these industrious pollinators.

*Lois Nichols
State Project Chair

PLANT NATIVE SHRUBS

NATIVE SHRUBS WITH EDIBLE FRUIT

Many native species provide food not only for wildlife but also for people.  Here are just a few native shrubs that can be grown on your property to enrich your backyard habitat for pollinators and supply you with delights for your table.  There are many, many others.  But, please, never collect native plants in the wild-most native plants are already threatened by habitat loss.   Also, never eat parts of plants in the wild without expert identification.  

Asimina triloba, Pawpaw, is a large shrub or small tree with pendulant purple

Asimina triloba

flowers in spring that are pollinated by flies and beetles.  Yellow-brown fruits appear in autumn that have a creamy, custard-like texture and taste like banana, mango or cantaloupe.  Pawpaws thrive in moist soil, planted in groups.  They are host to the zebra swallowtail and pawpaw sphinx caterpillars.

Corylus americana, American Hazelnut, is a suckering, thicket-forming shrub

Corylus americana

with early spring catkins, broadly oval leaves and late summer hazelnuts that ripen in light green, papery husks.  Growing on woodland edges or as understory, they can tolerate sandy, dry soil and are excellent for borders.  They provide colorful fall foliage as well as the nuts.

Morus rubra, Red Mulberry, is a shrub or small tree that is a host plant for

Morus rubra

mourning cloak butterflies and provides fruit for mammals and birds.  People have used its fruit traditionally for beverages and preserves.   It is native to rich, moist floodplains.

Prunus  americana,  American Plum, is a multi-stemmed shrub-like tree with  clusters of fragrant white flowers in the spring and then red-purple fruits relished by birds and mammals.  As it grows into a thicket, it can control erosion and serve as a nesting site for birds.  It is especially valuable to native bees, bumblebees, and honeybees.  People use the fruit for jellies and

Prunus americana

preserves.

Prunus maritima, Beach Plum, is native to Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire and Eastern Massachusetts.  At home in coastal dunes, it is highly salt-tolerant, so it is a good shrub for roadways and walkways with good drainage. Its fruit provides nutritious meals for birds and is prized by cooks for jams and jellies.

Rhus typhina, Staghorn Sumac, is not a weed!  It is a tall shrub with

Rhus typhina

tropical-style foliage that turns a striking deep red in autumn.  It excels as a quickly growing border or for erosion control in any type of soil, and can be contained by mowing around the perimeter.  

Staghorn sumac is a host plant for the Red-banded Hairstreak Butterfly.  Its
maroon fruit persists in winter when other forage sources are scarce,
providing food for over 90 species of birds and woodland creatures. People can use the fruit to make a drink similar to lemonade.

Ribes americanum,  Black Currants, have edible berries that can be used for

Ribes americanum

jam.

There are several native raspberries, blueberries and blackberries which produce fruits that rival the taste of their commercial cultivar cousins.  Among them are Rubus idaeus, Red Raspberry, Rubus occidentalis, Black Raspberry and Rubus allegheniensis, Blackberry.  All are relished by birds and people alike.  Blackberries, especially, are "famously good" in pies and other desserts.
     
Sambucus canadensis, Elderberry, grows in sun to light shade, has white

Sambucus canadensis

flowers and reddish purple fruit.  Birds will wait until the peak of ripeness to completely devour them.  People traditionally have used elderberries to make wine, jams, pies and cough syrup.

So, stay cozy this winter, curled up snuggly, poring over garden catalogues and planning to add a few native shrubs this spring.  In the fall you can again relax, survey your backyard paradise and enjoy the "fruits" of your labors.  Your wildlife will thank you, too.

* Jacqueline Connell

I apologize for the topic of my article this month, but I've been in South Africa for the past three weeks and have not been in my backyard habitat.  But I think my garden will be OK, especially now with the lovely snow blanketing it. 

Because  I've just returned from South Africa, I thought you might like to hear about a lovely garden I visited - Kirstenbosch in Capetown.  

Kirstenbosch was established in 1913 to conserve and promote the indigenous flora of southern Africa.  It is situated on the eastern slopes of Table Mountain and it covers 528 hectares - or approximately 1,305 acres.  (I had to Google that one.) 
Within the garden there are 29 specialty gardens ranging from the Fragrance Garden to the Garden of Weeds.  Lawns for relaxing are interspersed with these gardens, and it is a lovely place to walk, hike, explore, birdwatch and relax.  To really enjoy Kirstenbosch, you should go early in the morning and plan to spend the day.  It's not a place you would want to breeze through, especially if you are like my husband, who likes to read all the plant identifications.

I was hoping to see the Proteus, the national flower, but they had already bloomed.  I also missed the tulips when we were in Holland.  But whether or not you miss the specialties in a garden, there is always something to discover.

And I must say, it had the best gift shop I have ever seen in a botanical garden.

Well, that is enough of my travelogue.  I will now set my mind to getting as many clubs to certify their gardens so that the contest can be interesting.  Please give the certification number of your garden to your Club President and she in turn will send her list to Barbara Romblad, The Federation secretary.  

I'm off to feed the birds and squirrels and make sure there is water in the birdbath.  Glad I have that little heater.

My best to you all for a year of happiness in your backyard habitat.

* Anne Harrigan

EYE ON HORTICULTURE

 The Year in Review

I asked three scientists at The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES) in New Haven to reflect on the past year and to share their expertise and insights. Dr. Sharon Douglas's remarks were included in my December article. For this month's article, we'll hear from Dr. Yonghao Li and Dr. Victoria Smith.

Dr. Yonghao Li, Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology, talked about problems in the vegetable garden.

Sometimes no news is good news. Dr. Li had nothing major to report.

The vegetable garden had its usual problems, including septoria leaf spot and late blight on tomatoes, powdery mildew on squash and a soil-borne disease on eggplant. Downy mildew was a problem on basil in August and September. Tomato late blight was later this year - in late August and September. Dr. Li explained that usually it's seen in July.

He stressed the importance of planting tomatoes and eggplant in alternate locations each year.

Dr. Victoria Smith, Department of Entomology, talked about insect activity in our gardens.

Dr. Smith said that, in general, it was "business as usual." However, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), discovered in Connecticut in 2012, is spreading rapidly throughout the state and significant ash tree death is beginning to be observed in northern New Haven County.

In 2013, in collaboration with USDA APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service), scientists at CAES began releasing small, parasitic wasps to help suppress populations of the beetle. The wasps are natural enemies of the beetle in its native habitat that have been imported, tested stringently for host specificity to ensure they do not attack native insects, and mass reared. This strategy, called classical biological control, has been successful in managing populations of many other invasive pests.

During 2014, the releases continued, expanding from two release sites to four. There have been eight releases this summer, totaling 21,506 Tetrastichus wasps, a larval parasitoid, and 7,100 Oobius wasps, an egg parasitoid.

It is thought that EAB has crossed town and state borders while hidden in firewood. Currently, a state quarantine restricts the movement of ash materials and hardwood firewood from the western four counties. This quarantine was expanded to cover the entire state on December 5. Although material and firewood can move freely within the quarantine zone, it is always better to "buy local, burn local" when it comes to firewood.




To report seeing the EAB, or if you have questions about how to protect your ash trees, please call CAES at 1-203-974-8474 or email CAES:  [email protected].

On a positive note, Dr. Smith said that the Asian Longhorned Beetle, with a large infestation just over the state line in Worchester, Massachusetts, has not yet been found in Connecticut.

*Pamela Weil
Horticulture Chair

 Article adapted from William B. Miller, Director of the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University

The paperwhite narcissus is a popular bulb for indoor forcing in the winter months. Unlike most other daffodils, paperwhites (Narcissus tazetta) do not require a cold period. They are simply planted in pots with soil, or even more commonly, in dishes or bowls with gravel, marbles or other decorative material. With a little water, they rapidly form roots, grow leaves and shoots. The white, fragrant flowers usually open up within 2-3 weeks of planting.

A common problem with paperwhites, however, is that they often grow too tall and flop over. Recent research conducted by the Flowerbulb Research Program at Cornell University has found a simple and effective way to reduce stem and leaf growth of paperwhites. The "secret" is using dilute solutions of alcohol. Properly used, the result is paperwhites that are 1/3 shorter, with equal sized flowers that last as long as normal.

What To Do
We suggest planting your paperwhite bulbs in stones, gravel, marbles, glass beads, etc., as usual. Add water as you normally would, then wait about 1 week until roots are growing, and the shoot is green and growing about 1-2" above the top of the bulb. At this point, pour off the water and replace it with a solution of 4 to 6% alcohol, made from just about any "hard" liquor. You can do the calculations to figure the dilution, but, as an example, to get a 5% solution from a 40% distilled spirit (e.g., gin, vodka, whiskey, rum, tequila), you add 1 part of the booze to 7 parts of water. This is an 8-fold dilution yielding 5% alcohol. (Do not use beer and wine, but Isopropyl alcohol works fine.)


Then, simply use this solution, instead of water, for further irrigation (watering) of your bulbs. It's as simple as that. The result will be a plant that is 1/3 shorter, but with flowers just as large, fragrant, and long-lasting as usual. But, the plant will be nicely proportioned and won't need support stakes, wires, or other gizmos to keep it upright. This could be a neat activity to occupy kids. 

The only man on our Federation board, Duane Luster is a Flower School Judge and our liaison with Habitat for Humanity. He started out by helping his wife, Alice, with her activities in the Country Gardeners of Glastonbury. Finally, she asked him, "Why don't you just join us?" And he did.

A pharmacist by profession, Luster is a Connecticut native who can trace his roots to the Native American Nipmuc tribe from the northeast corner of the state. When Alice signed up for Flower Show School courses, he went along to sit in, but ended up passing the exams. "I like to arrange flowers," he says. Six or seven years ago, Duane tried his hand at a picnic table design for the CT Flower Show and won a blue ribbon. "At age 75, I became a Flower School judge," he says with a chuckle.  When the Flower Show theme was "Love in Bloom" in 2013, Duane and Alice renewed their vows after 51 years of marriage. "It isn't long if you say it fast," says Luster.  (Go to our website www.ctgardenclubs.org and click on CT Flower Shows in the marquee and scroll all the way down to the 2013 Flower Show.) The couple has helped design the floor plans for several flower shows, including the upcoming 2015 CT Flower Show, "Ports of Call."

Both the Lusters have worked with Habitat for Humanity for years.  As members of the Hartford area group, they were involved in selecting families for Habitat homes and they helped with the gardening education course that Habitat families are required to take. They also worked on landscaping the Habitat houses.

First the National Garden Clubs got involved with Habitat for Humanity, thenThe Federation added a liaison position to the board. Alice Luster served first, followed by Duane. He says, "The Federation has money to support local garden clubs that help Habitat. If a garden club has a Habitat branch in their area, they should seek how to help. It would be good for both."

There are many different ways to contribute-from landscaping to running landscape workshops for new home owners, to smaller projects. "One club in Glastonbury creates window boxes for Habitat houses: They deliver the boxes with the plants and instructions," says Luster. To find a Habitat for Humanity branch near you, visit habitat.org.

* Lynn Hyson
News Editor

Hurry, there are just a few spots left for the FGCCT Spring Trip
April 6-10, 2015.

ENJOY  "Glorious Gardens" at the annual Festival.

EXPLORE behind garden walls for a private look at  beautiful local residences and gardens.

EXPERIENCE the beauty of 2 nearby barrier islands on a day trip to Kiawah and  Wadmalaw Island.

Visits to Middleton Place, the oldest landscaped gardens in America, and other perfectly preserved historic landmarks add to the delight. Outstanding food and shopping are sure to please.

Spots are limited so complete the registration form posted on our website to guarantee a place. Click here for more information and registration form.