First Meeting of the Year!

The first meeting in 2013 of the My Monet Garden Club will be held on Monday, May 13, 2012 at the Library. During this meeting we will plan future Master Gardener programs and weekend garden tours.

There has been a change in how often the club gets together. The Garden Club now meets the second Monday from May to October at 7:00PM. Weekend Day Trips may take the place of a Monday evening meeting. Please check the Library’s website for meeting/program dates or Day Trip locations.

The change in seasons seems to be taking its time but I think 2013 will be an amazing growing season. I look forward to hearing all your plans for your gardens this year!

See you in May!

Rodale's Honeybee Conservancy

The Honeybee Conservancy at Rodale Institute promotes natural and sustainable beekeeping practices through education and outreach. Participants in the program can place their hives on our 333 acre organic farm in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, creating a beekeeping community network to support the honeybee stewards even after completion of the course.

Read more about the Rodale Honeybee Conservancy.

My Monet Garden Club Programs

Presented by

Monday, August 13 - "English Muffins" by Sylvia Bogosh

English Muffins and Sacred Spaces: A garden can be a place with many surprises. A bench in a quiet corner, a pond, an arbor or a place of rest. A large yard, small yard or no yard at all. Everyone can create their own space.

Wednesday, August 29 - "Monarch Magic" by Phillip Mailin

September 24 - "Plant Progagation" by  Scott Davis

October 22 - TBA

Gardening Events of Interest

On Thursday, July 26 is the Flower Trials Field Day by Penn State Extension Garden in 1446 Auction Rd, Manheim.

http://trialgardenspsu.com/CMS/uploads/files/2012FlowerTrials%20reg%20form%20B.pdf

Penn State Extension Event on Sat, July 28, Summer Gardening Experience.

The event starts at 9AM to 2 PM and is located at the Southeast Ag Research & Extension Center, 1446 Auction Rd, Manheim PA, 653-4728.

http://extension.psu.edu/cumberland/events/files/2012-summer-garden-experience-brochure 

Sunday, August 12 - We are visiting the Rodale Institute Gardens, 611 Siegfriedale Road, Kutztown.

http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/events

Sunday, Sept 9 – We will be touring the Hershey Gardens to visit the Butterfly House. Cost is $10.00 and $11.00.

http://www.hersheygardens.org/garden_attractions/butterfly_house.php  

Sunday, Oct. 14 – Fall is nice at the Brandywine Wildflower Garden in Chadds Ford. The admission cost is $8.00 and $12.00.
http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/gardens.html#fall

My Monet Garden Club Plant Swap

Our next meeting is Monday, May 14 at 7:00PM. The Garden Club is having its first plant swap for its members and friends. So everyone please bring something to share.  

First My Monet Garden Club Meeting for the 2012 Season

Just a reminder that tonight is our first My Monet Garden Club meeting tonight at the Eastern Lancaster County Library at 7:00PM in the downstairs board room.

See you then!

Spring Cleaning Your Garden - Getting Your Garden Ready to Grow

When To Start Spring Cleaning in Your Garden     
     By Marie Iannotti, About.com Guide

There's no point in pretending you're not going to be out in your garden the first warm second of spring. While there is no harm in cleaning up fallen branches and debris, wait until the soil is no longer wet enough to form a ball in your hand, before walking on it and compacting it. But don't wait too long to start your clean up. It's much easier to cut plants back before the old growth gets tangled up in the new growth.

1. Flower Garden Spring Clean-Up

The first task is removing and composting any dead annual plants that remained over winter. These will not return and any self-seeders will already have done their job.

If you didn't prune back your perennials last fall, they're probably looking pretty ugly as spring sets in. Many perennials actually prefer to be left standing throughout the winter, for extra protection. But by definition, herbaceous perennials will die back to the ground during winter. If you did leave your perennials standing last fall, once you start to see new growth at the base of the plants, it's safe to begin removing winter mulch and pruning them down to ground level.

To continue with this interesting article, click here.

Suggested Perennial Plants to Prune in the Spring - Perennials Plants To Leave Standing Until Spring Cleaning
By Marie Iannotti

Gardeners in warm climates can treat fall, and sometimes even winter, as supplemental growing seasons. But for gardeners who experience hard winters, fall is a great time to get a head start on garden clean-up. We hear a lot about four seasons of interest in the garden, but this rarely applies to perennial plants. Most perennials turn ugly as the temperatures drop.

However there are a few that remain evergreen, especially in milder areas. These can be left standing for interest as well as to fuel the vigor of the plant. And there are perennials that simply don’t fare well if they are pruned too late in the season.

The following list is a recommendation of plants that are best pruned in spring. There will, of course, be exceptions. Any plant that is diseased, infested, or otherwise in poor condition, should be pruned in the fall. Consider this listing and the complementary Plants to Prune in the Fall, as guidelines. You will learn what works and what doesn’t, for your own garden.

To continue with this interesting article, click here.

Local and Regional Flower Shows for 2012

New Jersey Flower and Garden Show - Feb. 16 - 19, 2012; New Jersey Convention Center, Edison, NJ

PA Garden Expo - Feb. 24 - 26, 2012, Farm Show Complex; Harrisburg

Southeast Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show, March 9 - 11, 2012; Greater Reading Expo Center; HBA of Berks County














Philadelphia International Flower Show  - March 4 - 11, 2012; Philadelphia Convention Center


Greater Rochester Flower and Garden Show: GardenScape 2012 - March 15 - 18, 2012; Rochester New York, Monroe County Fair & Expo Center (Dome Arena)

Boston Flower and Garden Show - March 14 - 18, 2012; Boston, Seaport World Trade Center

Washington Home and Garden Show, March 9 - 11, 2012; Washington DC

National Cherry Blossom Fesival - March 20 to April 27, 2012; Washington DC


American Horticultural Society - Nationwide Flower and Garden Shows

Master Gardener Programs for 2011

*All Programs start at 7:00PM in the Library Board Room in the Children's Library.*
Find out more about the Master Gardener's Program by Penn State Cooperative Extension.

July 11th: Making a Living Wreath


Make a living perennial wreath for use at home.












August 8th: Language of Flowers

Learn the language of flowers. Program includes a demonstration of flower arrangement and making a tussie mussie.










September 12th: To Be Announced

October 10th: Plant Propagation

Grow new plants from seed, cuttings, layering and air layering.

"Herb and Garden Faire" at Landis Valley Museum

An Abundant Array of Herbs and Garden Vendors and Artisans.

More than 70 vendor offering a wide selection of plants.

 Friday and Saturday, May 6 & 7, 9AM-5PM
Admission $8.00, children under 5 free

 
Also featuring: Garden Art and Decorative Items*Tools*Books*Fresh Flowers Arrangements*Homemade Delectables* Tour of Historic Village and Farms

Landis Valley Museum and Farm

First Meeting of the 2011 Season

My Monet Garden Club Meeting

Monday, April 11 at 7:00PM

Meeting to be held in the Library's Board Room in the children's library on the bottom floor.

Bring your calendars. We will be looking at gardens to visit this year.

All are welcome! See you then.

It is That Time of the Year Again: Area Garden Shows

New Jersey Flower and Garden Show - Feb. 17 to 20, 2011

PA Garden Expo - Feb. 25, 26 & 27, 2011, Farm Show Complex; Harrisburg

Lancaster County Garden Show, April 14-16, 2011, Country Gardeners, New Holland Rec. Center

Southeast Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show, March 11 - 13, 2011; HBA of Berks County -  Reading

Mid-Atlantic Garden Show - March 4-6, 2011, York

Philadelphia International Flower Show : Springtime in Paris - March 6-17, 2011

Greater Rochester Flower and Garden Show: Garden Scape 2011 - March 17 to 20, 2011

Boston Flower and Garden Show - March 16 to 20, 2011

Washington Home and Garden Show, 51th Year - March 11 to 13, 2011

National Cherry Blossom Fesival - March 26 to April 10, 2011

American Horticultural Society - Nationwide Flower and Garden Shows

Our First Meeting of the Season is Right Around the Corner!

It may seem like winter will never end but spring will be around the corner soon enough.

Mark your calendars for our first meeting April 11th at 7:00PM in the Board Room of the ELANCO Library.

Be prepared to pick a date to visit the Shenk's Ferry Wildflower Preserve. The flowers bloom from mid-March to the end of May.

See you in April!

My Monet Gardening Programs for 2010

May 24: "Pollinators" by Jen Mohler, Master Gardener


Designing and planting a garden to attract bees and other pollinators to our gardens. Includes the importance of attracting our native pollinators.

June 28: "Planting Container Gardens" by Val Albright, Master Gardener


Pots are planted during the discussion of container gardening principals.

July 12: "Flower Pressing" by Kathy Bootie, Master Gardener


Learn to preserve beauty by pressing flowers for pictures, book marks, trays, etc.

August 9: "Herb Gardening" by Susan Smith, Master Gardener


Selecting, growing, making beverages, oils, salad dressing and decorative use.

September 13: "Gardening Thru the Seasons" by Bonnie Griffith, Master Gardener.


Learn what to plant and how to care for your garden in all four seasons.

October 11: "Designing with Native Plants" by Louise Brewer, Master Gardener


A diverse mix of native plants restores crucial habitat for wildlife including insects, birds, butterflies and a year long food supply for them.

2010 Spring Flower Shows

PA Garden Expo - Feb. 26, 27 & 28, 2010, Farm Show Complex; Harrisburg

Lancaster County Garden Show, April 15-18, 2010, Country Gardeners, New Holland Rec. Center

7th annual Southeast Pennsylvania Home and Garden Show, Presented by HBA of Berks County - March 12 to 14, 2010; Reading

Mid-Atlantic Garden Show - March 4 to 7, 2010; York

Longwood Gardens: Behind the scenes at the Philadelphia Flower Show - Tues, March 2, 2010, fee; Kennett Square

Philadelphia International Flower Show - Feb. 28 to March 7, 2010

New Jersey Flower and Garden Show - Feb. 18 to 22, 2010

Greater Rochester Flower and Garden Show: Garden Scape 2010 - March 11 to 14, 2010

Blooms 2010 at the Boston Flower and Garden Show - March 24 to 28, 2010

Washington Home and Garden Show 50th Anniversary - March 12 to 14, 2010

National Cherry Blossom Fesival - March 27 to April 11, 2010

American Horticultural Society - Nationwide Flower and Garden Shows

Get Your Garden Ready For Spring

by LandSteward.org


Spring at last… almost! The official first day of spring is March 21, but in many parts of the country, it is beginning to feel like spring is already in the air.

For some reason, outdoor jobs that must be done in the spring become enjoyable activities while they’re simply chores at other times of the year. Perhaps it is the anticipation of a new season about to begin and visions of colorful, fragrant blooms that are soon to appear.

So let’s get outside and see what we can do.

Click here for the rest of the article.

GROWING A FALL GARDEN

So you want to grow garden fresh vegetables this fall. Where do you start? Simply looking at seed packets in catalogs or local nurseries will not get the job done. One must garden smartly if economical production and utilization are expected.

Once the decision to have a fall garden has been reached, a gardener must take action--drastic action. One must pull out some of those plants that have been nurtured from "babies" in the spring to monsters now. This takes courage and faith! It is recommend that all plants, weeds included, be removed except okra, cherry tomatoes and pole beans if the foliage is healthy. Large-fruited tomatoes may have some small ones still hanging on, but unless you have at least 20-25 good-sized fruit, pull them out--make green tomato relish or chow-chow. If you recall, the largest, best tomatoes you had this spring were the first ones produced. The tomato plant has gotten old, diseased, and damaged by insects; it will never produce an abundance again. Besides, it is too large to be manageable as far as insect and disease populations are concerned. Pull the old plants up and discard them. Give them to the garbage man. Don't try to compost insect and disease-ridden plants--spider mites don't compost!

To read the rest of this article, please click here. © Texas AgriLife Extension Service

October Progams

Basic Pruning

Monday, Oct. 12, 2009
7:00-8:00PM

Plant growth, basic pruning and toll selection, pruning needled and broad-leaf evergreens, annuals and perennials, deciduous shrubs, and selecting an arborist.

Meet in the lower level Board room.

September Events

Monday, Sept. 14: "Shade Gardening"
7:00-8:00PM
Workshop by Master Gardener, Diane Tannehill

Sunday, Sept. 20: Garden Visit: Twin Pine Bed and Breakfast

Meet there at 12:00PM
1934 W. Main St, Ephrata, PA

Monday, Sept. 28: “Wildflowers”
7:00-8:00PM
Workshop by Master Gardener, Diane Tannehill

August Club Events

My Monet Garden Club: Basics of Gardening
Monday, Aug. 10, 2009
7:00-8:00PM

Learn sound, basic gardening practices. Some areas that may be covered are garden soil, composting, landscaping, native plants, selecting plants, invasive plants, pesticides, and soil testing.


My Monet Garden Club Meeting
Monday, Aug. 24, 2009
7:00-8:00PM

Meet in the Board Room in the lower level library.