Small Wonders

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Miniature designs must be less than 5" in any direction

I had a great day in Chillicothe (OH) yesterday sharing a Miniature/Small floral design program with the Story Place Garden Club of Region 9. What is the difference between as small or miniature floral design, you ask? The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs’ Exhibitors’ and Judges’ Schools teach that a Miniature design can be no larger than 5″ in any direction. A Small design is larger than 5″ but no larger than 12″ in any direction. Getting the right scale and proportion is the most important part of creating these lilliputian beauties. Sometimes it’s not easy but it is FUN! When you get the scale right, it is hard to tell if you are looking at a five inch or a 40 inch floral design.

Lots of sales news to report:

Our friends at Bluestone Perennials in Madison (OH) is a family owned Ohio-grown mail-order business. They have many great sale offerings for spring of 2012; some up to 50% off. Check out the deals at www.bluestoneperennials.com

If you haven’t subscribed to Knollwood Garden Center’s (Beavercreek) email newsletter, you should. (Sign up on their home page.) You’ll get a heads up on the specials and also the schedule of their wonderful gardening seminars. For instance, this week email customers are being rewarded with four special days (Thursday-Sunday, March 15-18 ONLY) to redeem their Bonus Bucks. The next opportunity to redeem Bonus Bucks will be in June. They are also offering a drawing for free tickets to the Dayton Home and Garden Show (an $8 value). Don’t forget the Dayton Home and Garden Show is offering entrance discounts. Check them out HERE.

Grandma’s Gardens (Waynesville) is offering 20% off the regular price of everything Thursday-Sunday, March 15-18 in their Spring Preview Sale. They, too, have an email group for customers. Sign up HERE.

Tomorrow (March 16) is the last day to sign up for Siebenthaler’s (Centerville and Beavercreek) Frequent Gardener Card for the discounted price of $15. Starting Saturday, March 17, the price goes up to the full $25 price.

Marvin’s Organic Gardens (Lebanon) is now open weekends.

‘Leaf’ a Legacy – Plant a tree….or a couple hundred trees

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Here in southwest Ohio, there are many threats to our forests. Imported pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer and the Asian Longhorn Beetle are on track to economically impact Ohio to the tune of billions of dollars. This doesn’t even take into account the tremendous void the loss of millions of trees will leave in an already fragile ecosystem.

Five Rivers MetroPark is offering a way to preserve our natural heritage in their “‘Leaf’ a Legacy” reforestation effort. They can’t do it alone and are asking for help with restoring our forests in the Dayton area. Since last year,  many tree mommas and daddies were caring for tree seedlings. Now it is time to get about 10,000 tree seedlings planted. There are several Seedling Saturday dates (times are 9 am – noon): Saturday,  March 17 (at both Carriage Hill & Germantown), Saturday, March 24 (Carriage Hill & Sugarcreek), Saturday, March 31 (Germantown & Weslyan).

Additional Seedling Planting dates (times are 1- 4 pm): Monday, March 12 (Carriage Hill), Sunday, March 18 (Carriage Hill ), and Monday, March 26 (Germantown) RSVP directly to yvonne.dunphe@metroparks.org for the chosen dates and indicate the location. You will receive a confirmation email with more specifics.

Did you know? The freshwater mussel has a very unique life cycle. Unlike oysters and clams, their life cycle includes a short parasitic stage attached to the fins or gills of a host fish. After the eggs are fertilized by a male, the  larvae (called glochidia) develop a while in the gills of the female mussel and are later expelled. The floating glochidia attach to the gills or the fins of a host fish where they develop 1-4 weeks before dropping off and settling in the stream bed to mature. Mussels have great value as an indicator of a biome’s health and play an important part of the natural purification process. I knew that mussels were different – I just never knew that they had such an unusual life cycle!

Hosta Society Meeting

The Miami Valley Hosta Society’s meeting Tuesday, March 13 will feature speaker Chris Wilhoit who will speak on Arisaema (Jack-In-The-Pulpit) and offer an unusual plant buying opportunity. The meeting is at 7 pm, at the Cox Arboretum, on St. Rt. 741 north of the Dayton Mall area.

A walk on the wild side

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American Kestrel (photo by Roger Garber)

I hope I never lose the burning desire to learn more about natural history. I knew that Mother Nature could be quite the designer but I learned some new things at the Wildlife Diversity Conference this week. Things that tell me she has quite a few more tricks hiding up her sleeve. From discovering how nonnative earthworms are detrimentally impacting our forests to learning what is down in a terrestrial crayfish tunnel….It was great. Sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife, this annual conference draws nearly 1000 people to hear researchers who are tops in their fields. Consider attending next year. You won’t regret it.

Perhaps you’ve heard it said, “Tell me something I don’t know.” I’ll try to add a new snippet in my posts that just may give the reader something to ponder. Something to demonstrate just how magnificent the natural world is. Here we go:

American Kestrel (photo by Roger Garber)

Did You Know? The American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) is the smallest of our falcons. About the size of a Mourning Dove, they can frequently be seen sitting on a power line or telephone wire or hovering over a field just waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting meadow vole or grasshopper. It goes without saying that raptors (hawks, falcons, eagles and owls) have great eyesight but here’s something even more unusual. Because kestrels can see ultraviolet light, and because vole urine reflects that color, it’s possible that kestrels can follow vole urine trails to potential prey. Go figure! Thank you to our friend Roger Garber who kindly provided some of his spectacular photos for this post.

Arc of Appalachia Wildflower Pilgrimage

Now in its sixth consecutive year, the popular Wildflower Pilgrimage is a weekend event hosted in southern Ohio celebrating one of Earth’s greatest natural spectacles – the grand showcase of wildflowers gracing the world’s temperate forests in the spring. Located at the southern edge of the glacial advance, and also occupying the edge of the Appalachian foothills, this region has one of the richest wildflower displays to be found in America’s Eastern Forest. The Wildflower Pilgrimage is timed to catch the blooming of many of the showiest species and will be held April 20-22. Check it out HERE.

Area garden centers gear up for spring season

The area garden centers are BURSTING with a riot of colors and fresh new ideas to get you in their doors and out in your garden. Grandma’s Gardens and Landscaping (Centerville/Waynesville) is celebrating with their Spring Preview Open House March 9-11. Knollwood Garden Center (Beavercreek) has already started their spring series of seminars. This Saturday, March 10 at 10 am is “Spring Tonic: Early Vegetable Gardening”. Call the store to register at 937-426-0861. Meadow View Growers (New Carlisle) also has a list of upcoming seminars. Check them out HERE. Siebenthaler’s (Centerville) is having a Potato Planting Party. Check it out HERE.

Dayton Home & Garden Show News

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Dayton Home & GardenIt never ceases to amaze me how much flexibility a convention center has. Two weeks ago, it was one of the local playing sites for some of the 400+ teams that participated in the Dayton Juniors Volleyball Club’s annual Presidents’ Cup Tournament. The tourney has grown so large that an additional 40 courts were set up at the Columbus Convention Center! Have you ever experienced a volleyball tournament? Let’s just say the convention center is a place for sensory overload with a lot of bouncing balls, screaming girls and shrieking referee whistles.

This weekend the convention center is the location for the Dayton Auto Show. It is filled with an amazing assortment of those fatastimagorical wheeled buggies that we just can’t live without; I had several favorites! Fast forward to March 23-25 and the convention center will be transformed into a beautiful butterfly when the Dayton Home and Garden Show rolls into town. It’s the perfect place to get a jump-start on your gardening season. Check out my post from last year’s show HERE.

Explore over 250 local and national exhibitors, smell fragrant blooms, view breathtaking landscapes and tablescapes, check out trendy interior designs and attend FREE seminars at the 2nd annual Garden Academy and new cooking stage. Check out the Home & Garden Flyer HERE. Groups of 10 or more get a $3 discount on each ticket when enrolled by March 7. Call 1-800-215-1700 or check out www.daytonhomeandgardenshow.com for more information. Check out printable discount coupons HERE.

Educational Opportunities

Dayton Home and Garden Show – Garden Academy Topic Schedule

YOU CAN DO IT STAGE

Friday, March 23

9 am: “Plants for Shade” with Pam Bennett, OSU

10 am: “Growing Orchids” with Eric Sauer

11 am: “Tree Pruning Basics” with Wendi Van Buren, ODNR Urban Forester

12 pm: “Totally Tomatoes” with Mark Webber of Mark Webber Landscaping

1 pm: “Trustworthy Perennials” with Pam Bennett, OSU

2 pm: “Vertical Gardening” with John Scott of Knollwood Garden Center & Landscapes

3 pm: “Why honeysuckle is bad for your landscape” with Wendi Van Buren, ODNR Urban Forester

4 pm: “How to harvest vegetables year-round” with Mark Webber of Mark Webber Landscaping

5 pm: “What to do with my lawn” with Randy Tischer of Green Velvet Sod Farm

6 pm: TBA

7 pm: TBA

Saturday, March 24

9 am: “New and exciting shade plants for 2012” with Barb Balgoyeh of Walters Gardens

10 am: “So many plants, So many choices. What do I do?” with Barb Balgoyeh of Walters Gardens

11 am: “Perfect trees for any landscape” with Jim Chatfield

12 pm: “Vegetable Container Gardening” with John Scott of Knollwood Garden Center

1 pm: “Growing Raspberries” with Dr. Gary Gao

2 pm: “Hort Couture” with Stockslager’s Garden Center

3 pm: “How to have a great lawn” with Mark Grunkemeyer of Buckeye Ecocare

4 pm: “How much fertilizer does my lawn need?” with Randy Tischer of Green Velvet Sod Farm

5 pm: “New and Unusual Plants 2012” with Keith Manbeck of Willoway Nurseries

6 pm: “Fairy Gardening” with Stockslager’s Garden Center

7 pm: TBA

Sunday, March 25

9 am: TBA

10 am: “Planning a fruit orchard” with Rich Pearson of Cox Arboretum

11 am: “Finding the perfect lilac” with Peter Scarf of Scarf’s Nursery

12 pm: “What to do with your Ash Trees” with Amy Stone

1 pm: “Rain Gardens: Save water and help drainage” with Eric Sauer

2 pm: “Water Garden Plants” with Green Vista Water Gardens

ACADEMY SERIES STAGE

Friday, March 23

9 am: “Making every square inch count: with Mark Webber of Mark Webber Landscaping

10 am: “Why do borers pick on plants?” With Dr. Dan Herms of OSU

11 am: “Gateway Garden Trials” with Pam Bennett of OSU

12 pm: “Invasive Insects in Ohio” with Dr. Dan Herms of OSU

1 pm: “What trees to use to replace ash?” with Wendi Van Buren, ODNR Urban Forester

2 pm: “How can I stop Emerald Ash Borer?” with Dr. Dan Herms of OSU

3 pm: “Color for Landscape” with Steve Foltz of the Cincinnati Zoo

4 pm: “How to build a walk/patio” Areawide

5 pm: “How to build a wall” Areawide

6 pm: “New exciting sun-loving perennials with Barb Balgoyeh of Walters Gardens

7 pm: TBA

Saturday, March 24

9 am: “Why Trees Matter” with Jim Chatfield of OSU

10 am: “Asian Longhorn Beetle” with Joe Boggs of OSU

11 am: “Growing Strawberries” with Dr. Gary Gao of OSU

12 pm: “Soil testing, a basic gardening must do!” with Dr. Chuck Dar of CLC Labs

1 pm: “Designing and building a water garden” with Green Vista Water Gardens

2 pm: “ABCs Landscape Bed Care” with Mark Webber of Mark Webber Landscaping

3 pm: “Growing Blackberries” with Dr. Gary Gao of OSU

4 pm: “Reducing energy bills with trees” with Eric Sauer

5 pm: “How to build a walk/patio” Areawide

6 pm: “How to build a wall” Areawide

7 pm: TBA

Sunday, March 25

9 am: TBA

10 am: “How to know I have Emerald Ash Borer?” with Amy Stone

11 am: “Cutting Garden Plants” with John Scott of Knollwood Garden Center

12 pm: “Shrub Pruning 101” with Rich Pearson of Cox Arboretum

1 pm: “How to build patio/walk” Areawide

2 pm: “How to build a wall” Areawide

3 pm: “Killer Roots” with Mark Webber of Mark Webber Landscaping


Gear up for Arbor Day

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The great French Marshal Lyautey once asked his gardener to plant a tree. The gardener objected that the tree was slow-growing and would not reach maturity for a hundred years. The Marshal replied, “In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon.”

Keeping that thought in mind, many Southwest Ohio Soil and Water Conservation Districts are offering tree seedling sales. You can check out the sales at the following links. Thanks to ODNR Regional Urban Forester Wendi VanBuren for this information.

Shelby Soil & Water Conservation District – (937) 492-6520 – Orders due by Friday, March 23rd. Pick-up on third week of April.

Darke Soil & Water Conservation District – (937) 548-1752 – Orders due by Wednesday, March 21st. Pick-up on April 3, 4 & 5.

Miami Soil & Water Conservation District – http://www.miamiswcd.org/ Orders due by Friday, March 16th. Pick-up on April 3 & 4.

Preble Soil & Water Conservation District – (937) 456-5159 – Orders due by Friday, March 16th. Pick-up on April 3.

Montgomery Soil & Water Conservation District – http://www.montgomeryswcd.org/ Orders due by Friday, March 9th. Pick-up on April 3 & 4.

Greene Soil & Water Conservation District – www.co.greene.oh.us/soils Orders due by Friday, March 16th. Pick-up on April 12 & 13.

Butler Soil & Water Conservation District – http://www.butlerswcd.org/ Orders due by Friday, March 23rd. Pick-up on April 19 & 20

Warren Soil & Water Conservation District – http://www.co.warren.oh.us/warrenswcd/home/ Orders due by Monday, March 19th. Pick-up on March 29, 30 & 31.

Clinton Soil & Water Conservation District – (937) 382-2461 – Orders due by Friday, March 16th. Pick-up on March 29 & 30.

Hamilton – No Tree Sale

Clermont Soil & Water Conservation District – 513/732-7075 – Orders due by Friday, April 13th. Pick-up on April 21.

Highland Soil & Water Conservation District – (937) 393-1922 ext #3 – First come, first served. Pick-up on April 6.

Brown – No Tree Sale

Adams Soil & Water Conservation District – (937) 798-4018 – White Pine and Norway Spruce only – Ordering until gone. Arrive March 13th.


Raptors: Hunting on the Wing

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Great Horned Owl

This past Saturday I traveled to Cedar Bog Nature Preserve, just south of Urbana (OH) in Champaign County for a Raptor Workshop led by the amazing Tom Hissong, education coordinator for Aullwood Audubon Center. Participants were schooled on the numerous hawks, eagles, falcons and owls that can be found in at Cedar Bog as well as around Ohio.

Cedar Bog is an Ohio Historical Society property that is managed by the Cedar Bog Association. The bog is the largest and best example of a boreal and prairie fen complex in Ohio formed by retreating glaciers about 15, 000 years ago. It is home to many rare, unusual and endangered plants including the Small Yellow Lady Slipper and Showy Lady Slipper orchids. The 450-acre site features a one mile long board walk and an eco-friendly nature center, which was the location for the raptor workshop.

Small rodent bones in an owl pellet

Weird one that I am, I thought the highlight of the workshop was the opportunity to dissect an owl pellet. Less you are grossed out by this thought, would it soften the weirdness to know that the pellets were sterilized? Hmmm. I didn’t think so. Anyways, owls, as you may know, hunt and eat small animals like shrews, mice, voles and birds. They tear their food and swallow large chunks whole. They can’t digest all the hair and hard materials such as bones, so they regurgitate these in the form of a pellet. Sounds like an owl version of a cat’s hair ball!

Bones found in an owl pellet. The tiny bones just under the jaw are less than 1/4 inch.

Using a bone sorting chart (yes, there is such a thing) we discovered teeny, tiny vertebrae, ribs, shoulder bones, leg bones, sculls and teeth. It was quite interesting. It bears repeating: do yourself a favor and discover the wonders of nature by taking the opportunity to check out some of the wonderful places like Cedar Bog. You won’t be disappointed.

Yummy shortbread owl cookies. Who says birders don't have a sense of humor?

Sales alerts

Knollwood Garden Center – Beavercreek – Knollwood is really getting in some great and unusual house plant in stock. Just in time for Valentine’s Day (though who REALLY needs an excuse to buy a plant?) all tropical foliage plants are 20% off through the 18th. (Flowering plants not included.) Website HERE.

Grandma’s Gardens – Waynesville/Centerville-ish –  Grandma’s Gardens website has a $5 off a $30 purchase of regular priced items (some exclusions) through Wednesday, February 15. Coupon HERE.

No snow? No problem – Snowdrops are here!

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Galanthus nivalis - Snowdrop

An early blooming harbinger of spring is the lovely Galanthus nivalis,  commonly known as a snowdrop. These European native perennial bulbs are in the Amaryllis family. Another common name of milkflower may find its origin in the translation of Galanthus: ‘Gala’ is Greek for ‘milk’ and ‘anthos’ is Greek for ‘flower’.

Snowdrops can be easily propagated by bulb offsets and lend themselves to beautiful displays when used in a naturalized, woodsy location. As is often the case with spring blooming bulbs, the time to purchase them is going to be in the fall – so you might as well start making your fall shopping list now. A great place to check out your bulb needs is at Brent and Becky’s Bulbs (link in the shopping list in the right column. Be sure to select ‘The Ohio Association of Garden Clubs” from the pull down fundraising menu.)

Gardening at the Governor’s Residence

Would you like to join a group that really needs your help? It will give you the opportunity to learn about Ohio history and native plants. You’ll make new friends and make a difference…. Curious? You are invited to join the Friends of the Ohio Governor’s Residence and Heritage Garden and become a Docent, Garden Guide or Governor’s Gardener.

Docents and guides give tours on Tuesdays and gardeners work in the Heritage Garden on Wednesdays (April through October.) Training is provided; a volunteer training session will be held March 28 so sign up soon! For more docent and guide information: Mary Mairose, marymairose@governor.ohio.gov. For more Governor’s Gardener information: Hope Taft, ohiohoper@yahoo.com

Educational Opportunities

Knollwood Garden Center in Beavercreek:

Saturday, February 18: Terrarium Workshop ‘Tiny and Terrific’-10am: At this free seminar, learn how to make a terrarium. After the demonstration, feel free to make your own!  Bring your own container or find one in the store. Planting medium is provided for a $7 fee. Plants can be purchased at the workshop. Registration is required. Call 426-0861.

Meadowview Growers in New Carlisle:

Saturday, March 3: Kid’s Club-10:00 am: Discover the “Lost World” garden. Create a mini garden that any dinosaur would love to roam through. All materials supplied. Cost is $5.00 due at time of registration. Register by Feb. 27. Call 937-845-0093.
What’s New in Annuals and Perennials 2012-10:00 am: This colorful power point presentation will give you a birds-eye view of Meadow View’s newest offerings for spring 2012. Cost is $5.00 due at time of registration. Register by Feb. 27.
Raised Beds and Rain Barrels- 2:00 pm: Learn the advantages and ease of gardening in raised beds and see with a step-by-step instruction on how to build a rain barrel. Cost is $5.00 due at time of registration. Register by Feb. 27.
Saturday, March 10th:  “Bark, Buds, and Leaves; The Beauty of Trees”- 10:00 am- Join Chris Jensen from Wegerzyn Metro Park for an exciting discussion on the glorious nature of trees. Cost is $5.00 due at time of registration. Register by March 2.
“Garden Art-Create a Glass Totem”- 10:00 am- “Repurpose” your old glassware into a unique piece of garden art in this hands-on-workshop. Comb the cupboards, thrift stores, and garage sales for the perfect piece. This project has been featured in ‘Birds and Bloom” and “Garden Gate” magazines. Bring your own glass or purchase pieces during the workshop. Fee is $20.00. A $10.00 deposit is due upon registration. Register by March 2.
“Create a Miniature Garden”- 2:00 pm- Miniature gardening is the latest trend. Create the perfect replica of a real or fantasy world on a miniature scale. Cost is based on materials used. Deposit of $10.00 is due at time of registration. Please register by March 2.

 

Think again about this mild weather

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Asian Longhorned Beetle

Though the weather has been a wonderful breath of fresh air – literally, it may hurt us in the long-run. Lacking a deep freeze in temperatures, a mild winter won’t kill many of our insect pests. I hope you like bugs. If things don’t change soon, we’re sure to be in for a long fight in our yards and gardens this summer.

One of the insects already on the radar is a monster (body 1 to 1.5 inches long)…….and it is a bigger threat to the trees in our communities than the emerald ash borer: it is the Asian longhorned beetle. The Ohio State University (OSU) Extension’s Joe Boggs gives an excellent educational video presentation about the Asian longhorned beetle (ALB) to help us know what to look for and what to do if we suspect we have an infected tree on our property. Check out the video CLICK HERE. 

The Ohio ALB infestation was found in 2011 in Clermont County, east of Cincinnati. As of late December over 5000 trees have been identified as infested and 1100 infested trees have already been removed. Unlike the emerald ash borer (EAB), it has multiple host trees – like more than 12 kinds! Yikes! Like EAB it will eventually kill its host trees. ALB is a lazy, bad flier, so we have a much better chance of eradicating it, unlike EAB.

Take the time to watch Joe’s 45 minute video and learn about ALB, where it came from, what species it eats, how to identify it, and the potential impacts it could have in Ohio. Early detection is the key, so the more people that are aware of identifying this species, the more likely we are to catch them quickly and eradicate them. It is so important to have more people aware and looking for the early signs. Learn more abuot ALB by heading to www.beetlebusters.info

Educational Opportunities

Be sure to check out the EVENTS CALENDAR tab at the top of the page to stay informed on other educational opportunities and events.

Starting with Native Plants – Three Perspectives – Feb. 4, 10am to 12pm

Learn from the experiences (and mistakes) of three people who are already using Native plants in their landscapes. Tim Sisson, President of the Western Wildlife Corridor, will share large acre habitat restoration experience. The Western Wildlife Corridor preserves land along the Ohio River in its natural state. Sandy Holt will share what she learned in her attempt to build a bird friendly, woodland backyard on two acres of a previous farm. Mary Janet Edwards will speak about design principles and incorporating natives in a more traditional design. Mary Janet runs a garden design business called “Garden Beauty for You, LLC”. Bring your questions and ideas for our panel to discuss. Directions: Civic Garden Center, 2715 Reading Rd Cincinnati, OH 45206. CGC is between Oak and Taft on the grounds of the Hauck Botanic Garden. Parking is available off Oak St by the CGC & in the medical center lot on the north side of Oak plus spaces is open behind the building along the paved paths.

Siebenthaler Sunday Seminar Schedule

Who-Who–Who-cooks-for-you……

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Barred Owl (I took this photo in the Florida Everglades)

I invented a weird game several years ago while traveling alone many hours on the highways of Ohio. It’s a Roadkill contest. I’m the only one playing. (Hey, it kills time and keeps me alert.) Perhaps it is better described as a scientific wildlife survey. Whatever the case, here’s how you play: keep a mental tally of how many of what kinds of animals are on side of the road of which the vehicle is traveling. There is one exception to the rules: a dead deer can be counted no matter which side of the road it is spotted. It may sound morbid but it was very interesting to discover population patterns in during different times of the year. For instance, skunks are more prevalent in late winter/early spring. Groundhogs in the summer. Possums and raccoons tend to be found year round. I noted the decline of cottontail rabbits and the increase of coyote. Occasionally I’d spy a bird of some sort but it wasn’t the norm.

So when I recently glimpsed what I thought was a dead owl on the side of the road, I could hardly believe it. THAT’S a first for me. I checked it out later and discovered a beautiful barred owl that did not appear to be damaged – other than being dead. It seemed such a sad tragedy for such an gorgeous work of nature. I did what I had to do – and brought him home. Barry, as I affectionately named him, is now off to Wahkeena Nature Preserve (Fairfield County, OH) south of Lancaster, Ohio where he/she may be added to the natural history collection in Wahkeena’s Nature Center. In case you wonder about the title of this post, it is my interpretation of the call of a barred owl. You can listen to it HERE.

If you are alert, you too may find nature all around you – even at this time of the year. Keep your ears open for the great horned owls who are in mating season right now. I have heard that the male has a hoot/call that is lower pitched than the female. Keen ears may also hear coyote who are in mating season as well.

Educational Opportunities

Greene County Master Gardener Program

If you live in Greene County and would like to become a Master Gardener Volunteer,  Master Gardener Applications are being accepted for the class starting in February 2012. Detailed information is available under Master Gardener Volunteer Program at http://greene.osu.edu or by calling 937-372-9971.

Flowers in January?

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Helleborus spp.

It’s hard to believe that anything in our Miami Valley gardens would be thinking about growing let alone blooming in January yet a stroll around the garden proved just that. Today’s spotlight is on the plucky group of perennials in the Helleborus genus which are also known as Hellebores or the Lenten Rose.

If the perk of having something bloom in your garden in late winter/early spring isn’t enough to entice growing these beauties, perhaps knowing that many of the cultivars have leathery, evergreen foliage will. The Hellebores are truly a sight for sore eyes on a day like today!

Educational Opportunities

Montgomery County Master Gardener Classes Gear Up

Do you love to garden?  Would you like to learn new skills and meet others who share your horticultural interests? Applications are currently being accepted for the 2012 Ohio State University Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program.  Classes meet every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., March 6 through May 8, 2012, at the extension office at Montgomery County Fairgrounds, 1001 South Main Street, Dayton.

Training provides 50 hours of classroom instruction provided by OSU professors, county extension agents and other experts.  Topics cover a broad range of subjects, including plant propagation, herbaceous and woody ornamentals, trees and lawns, soils and fertilizers, fruits and vegetables, herbs, pest management and more.

Participants must attend one of several volunteer orientation sessions scheduled for February 7 – 9, 2012.  They also must pass a background check before entering the program and volunteer 50 hours of horticultural service to the community after completing the classroom instruction to become a certified Master Gardener Volunteer.  The class fee is $150.

For more information, please contact Clare Thorn, Program Assistant, Horticulture, at (937) 224-9654.  Applications and other required forms are available on line at www.montgomery.osu.edu.  The deadline for application is January 30, 2012.