Master Gardener State Conference

by Maureen James

So, you haven’t been to a Tennessee Extension Master Gardener State Conference yet, huh? Well, I’ll try to condense the three days into a few paragraphs. Maybe this will help you decide!

First, there’s a really fun opening night! They presented awards for the counties with the best outreach programs like teaching sites, workshops/presentations, and educational content. They also showcase outstanding contributors. It got me thinking that RobCo should have been up accepting at least one of these awards. Next year, perhaps?? Let’s get working on that.

On Thursday morning, everyone went on their horticultural and outreach tours. Our choices were Cheekwood Botanical Garden, Ellington Ag Center, Arrington Vineyard, or the Giving Garden. I chose Cheekwood, and it did not disappoint!! In fact, this little visit just might cost me a whole lot of money! If only I could make my own yard look that gorgeous!

The visit only lasted three hours and we all headed back to the Ag Center for lunch and spent a little time visiting and sharing our morning excursions with each other. After lunch, we went to our chosen breakout sessions, which included Edible Landscaping, Leadership in Local EMG Groups, and Native Plants in Tennessee. There were also workshops about turf grass and community food production. There was something of interest for all attendees.

On Thursday evening there was a group dinner at The Barn at Sycamore Farms. What a beautiful venue it was! Our entertainment for the evening was a panel discussion that was very informative!

Friday morning, we met back at the Ag Center for more educational opportunities. Tree pruning, food preservation focusing on fermentation, fungus demonstrations, hydroponics, and plant propagation were just a few of the sessions offered. I chose the tree pruning demonstration. Colby’s pruning technique was sprinkled with a bit of comedy making the presentation very entertaining.

Others participated in the flower pressing class. Their masterpieces made me wish I could have attended both sessions! My final tour of the conference was Bates Nursery. It took just about every ounce of willpower to refrain from filling up my cart. I knew I could come back another day, so I left empty-handed.

I’m looking forward to attending next year, if time permits! It is a wonderful opportunity to meet like-minded Master Gardeners from across the great state of Tennessee.

South Central Growers' Open House 2024

by Maureen James

On November 9, 2024, South Central Growers held their annual open house. It’s a rare opportunity for the public to tour the iconic facility. The benefactor of this year’s tour was Martha’s Song, a non-profit organization that supports cancer patients.

Upon arrival, I was greeted by a young man around 12 years old who explained, with great authority, that there were two options for tours: golf cart or walking. He pointed out the signs that directed visitors to the refreshments, poinsettia tree, and where guests could purchase various sizes of poinsettias to take home. When he was sure he’d given me enough direction to keep me from getting lost, I was on my way.

I opted for the walking tour and was not disappointed! Our guide, Mike, confessed that he wasn’t much of a gardener and struggled to keep plants alive in his personal garden. Despite that, he was quite knowledgeable about the operations of SCG.

Mike explained that their machinery can put thousands of cuttings into 128-plug trays each hour. And I thought I was doing well getting 30 trays to sprout successfully! He then showed us the rows and rows of sprouting pansies numbering in the thousands. I clearly need to work on my gardening game.

Growing operations are complex, and all needs are considered. After experiencing several droughts resulting in exorbitant water bills, it was time to capture their own runoff. The facility now has several ponds fed by rainwater captured from the roof of every greenhouse.

Once the tour was over, I wandered over to the shipping and receiving dock that had been converted into a plant market. They had plants from 4” to 1-gallon pots. The prices were economical, ranging from $3.00 to $20.00. The reds were so vibrant, but they also offered bright pinks, variegated, and spotted varieties!

It took all my willpower to leave some for others, but I’m happy to report that I left plenty for all to enjoy and provide a happy home for. All of them looked farm-fresh, as you might expect. They were grown just a few feet away!

Our hosts and their very knowledgeable colleagues helped with foil wraps for each plant I bought, as well as provided large boxes to make it easier to carry home these gorgeous treasures.

Fun fact, poinsettias don’t have flowers; they have bracts which turn red when anthocyanidins replace the chlorophyll in the leaves. This is to attract pollinators! It is the same compound that makes blueberries and roses change colors.

See, Bob? I learned something!

Sustainable Yard Screens

Have you been considering planting a yard screen? Perhaps you're looking for more privacy in your yard, or maybe you're hoping to increase protection from wind and wildlife foraging to an area of tender vegetation. If so, check out this publication entitled Screen Plants for the TN Landscape by a cohort of UT/TSU Extension Agents and Specialists for helpful information on how to increase your project's sucess and sustainability.

Profiles in Gardening...

Renn Andersen

I decided to join the Master Gardener program back in San Diego, in 2019 – I am the Class of 2020. I was looking for friends and someplace to hang out and volunteer. I love gardens!

I love permaculture gardening. I’ve shifted away from the standard “Vegetable Garden” and have been developing more of a food forest, a messy blend of companion plants, flowers, and medicinal plant communities in my yard. I love planting veggies as ornamentals. Carrots, peppers, and chard make beautiful border plants!

I don’t think I could pick a favorite plant. I adore food plants, such as blackberries, artichokes, avocados, apples, and pomegranates, most of which are sensitive to the TN cold. I also love flowering trees. Elderberry, dogwood, redbud, and sugar maples are all my favorites.

My favorite thing about the Master Gardener program is learning about other people’s passions concerning their gardens! Orchards, bees, figs, worms... it has been really fun to experience gardening through others.

My other hobbies include hiking, yoga, collecting house plants, raising chickens, and playing with my goats. I like to run around barefooted and I don’t like raisins.

Since I started my Master Gardener journey in San Diego, California, where there are so many microclimates and such mild weather, we could pretty much grow anything, all year round. It’s been a very big learning curve on hardiness and heat zones, latent frosts and clay soil!

San Diego has such a large Master Gardener program that we had to submit applications and face an interview panel! Only 50 out of 200 applicants were accepted, and I was granted a spot! It was a very unique class, because right in the middle of it COVID hit. We had to turn our learning and labs to Zoom and online classes. In 2022, my husband took a job in Nashville and I transferred my Master Gardener journey to TN.

My family hails from a long line of farmers and ranchers. My grandparents farmed in the Imperial Valley, and we’ve always had fruit trees and vegetable gardens. When I bought my first house, I naturally put in a tomato garden, and it’s just grown every year since. My friends got me into chickens and on the homestead bandwagon, so we joined 4-H. Well, if you give a mouse a cookie... we ended up moving to a larger property to raise goats, rabbits, and a mini-pig named Chloe. So, now I have this property… low and behold, let’s put in mini orchards, fruit and nut trees, grape vines... the whole 9 yards! As I started learning about Orchard Culture, taking classes and running my gardens, I came across the Master Gardener program through UC Davis. I’ve always seen the “Ask a MG” booth at the county fair, and thought, "Wow, now I want to be a part of it, with all of my new-found love of plants." I was already in 4-H, so it seemed like a good fit!

Other skills and interests that I’ve collected along my journey are beekeeping; composting: vermicomposting, hot, cold, and bokashi; permaculture gardening; propagation; geothermal greenhouses; community gardens; and fruit and nut trees. I’d also like to learn tree grafting and landscape design.

Honey Applesauce Cake Muffins

by Gina Ernst

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 45 mins

Total time: 1 hour 

EQUIPMENT:

4 cavity mini loaf pan

9" x 5" loaf pans

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons cinnamon

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature

½ cup honey

1 ½ cups granulated sugar

2 large eggs

2 ½ cups unsweetened applesauce

INSTRUCTIONS:

Heat oven to 350 ˚F. Lightly coat baking pans with non stick spray. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and cinnamon. In the bowl of a stand mixer, at medium-high speed, cream together butter, white sugar, and honey. Add eggs. Beat until combined. Mix in applesauce. Gradually add flour mixture and beat just until incorporated.

Pour batter evenly into pans (approximately 1 cup per mini pan or three cups per loaf pan). Mini loaf pans can be placed in the oven on a cookie sheet for more even baking and easy removal. Bake loaf pans for 35-45 minutes and mini pans for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.

If removing the honey cakes from the pans, cool for 10 minutes in the pans before moving them to cool completely on a wire rack. Once completely cool, the cooled cake should be wrapped in plastic wrap to keep it deliciously moist. Store honey cake at room temperature (or in the refrigerator) for 5-7 days.

This recipe makes 2 bread pan loaves (9-inch x 5-inch loaf pans) or 6 (3-inch x 5-inch) mini loaves or one bundt pan.

Mark your calendar for Tennessee Tree Day 2025 on Saturday, March 15, 2025. The available species list has been released. You can place your order now to avoid your favorites selling out.

'Tis the time for tree planting in Tennessee. While you're making your plans, make sure to review the helpful guidelines in Publication SP663 from the University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture.