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February 2022 Brambles
The Brambles
Curry County Master Gardeners
PO Box 107,
Gold Beach, O R 97444
541-698-0300 or 1-800-356-3986
Master Gardeners are Resilient and Adaptable
As part of our efforts to ‘provide research-based, sustainable gardening information, we teach about resiliency
and adaptability in garden planning and plant selection. Over the past 2 years, the resiliency and adaptability of
Curry County Master Gardeners has been tested. And we met that test!
The future is looking bright…busy! The 2022 Master Gardener training class is starting. The calendar is starting
to get filled with volunteer opportunities and continuing education classes. And our new Program Coordinator,
Laurie Lee Bartlett, is settling in and finding her rhythm. She brings a nice balance of vision while also focusing
on the day-to-day details.
Thanks to everyone who has sent in the various forms and their membership fee. If you haven’t, there is no time
like the present to complete that important task. Huge thanks goes out to Debbie Richter for managing this
effort. Help her have a good spring by sending in your paperwork so she can complete her membership task
and get back into the gardens.
Planning for the Annual Plant Sale has begun. On-line? In-person? Inside? Outside? So many variables.
But, one thing is for certain, it’ll be around Mother’s Day {early May} and your help will be needed. There will be
a planning meeting on Tuesday, Feb 8, at 11 am at the Riley Creek greenhouse. Contact Debbie Carroll at
da_carroll@charter.net for more information.
There is also a Free Seed Giveaway on Saturday, February 12 in Brookings. See the write-up on page 6 for
more information on how to get seeds or help with the event.
Other articles in this edition highlight recent and past volunteers, who have played a role shaping our
organization. While gardening is our passion, we do need people to help with the mundane of running the
organization. Thanks to everyone who has had or currently fills an organizational role. It makes a difference.
However, we still **REALLY NEED A SECRETARY. Please consider stepping up to fill this important role.
Thanks again to everyone for your involvement. I know it’s been a tough couple of years, but you have proved
that Master Gardeners are resilient and adaptable. You are truly an inspiration.
February 2022 Brambles
ANNUAL PLANT SALE
We will be meet at 11am on Tuesday, February 8 at the Riley
Creek greenhouse. The purpose will be to decide on the early
May, Annual Plant Sale format (in-person and/or on-line), discuss
how vegetable plants will be handled this year, sale promotion(s),
and any other topics that come up between now and then!
Please join us if you'd like to have input and participate in the
Annual Plant Sale this year. Debbie R.
Growing Oregon Gardeners: Level Up Series 2022
The Level Up Series 2022 on-line continuing education Remembering our Past Members Hoberley and Robert Schuler
courses are being scheduled. Take your gardening By Julia Bott
knowledge to the next level—from gardening with native
I’ve been involved in numerous organizations and efforts throughout
plants to techniques to extend your season. the years and have been inspired by many people who were involved
This online series offers education for experienced before me. They were mostly from the generation before mine and I
gardeners. OSU Extension Master Gardener volunteers felt fortunate to live in a world made better by their efforts and to be
involved in organizations that still flourished because of their passion
receive 1 Continuing Education Credit for each class. There and hard work.
is no cost {free} for these classes.
Robert and Hoberley Schuler are a part of our Curry County Master
Webinars are the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 12 noon Gardener Association history, though most of us only know them by
(Pacific). The series runs from February through November name or reputation. Hoberley passed away in December 2021 and
and will be announced as speakers are finalized. Check Robert some years prior.
back for new and additional webinars throughout the year. Hoberley had remained a faithful associate member over the past few
years. Debbie Ritcher called her last spring and Hoberley said how
SCHEDULED SO FAR: much she enjoyed receiving the Brambles each month and seeing
Tues., February 8: The Science and Practice of Seed the wonderful work and interesting programs we are doing. So, I’m
assuming she was as inspired by our work as we of hers.
Starting: Secrets to success when growing by seed
Her daughter shared with me a part of Hoberley’s obituary: The
Tues., March 8: Local Beauties: Native Plants for Schuler’s moved to Brookings, Oregon in the fall of 2005 and became
Ecologically Enhanced Gardens and Landscapes active in the Brookings-Harbor Garden Club, Inc., achieving Oregon
Master Gardeners’ designations, and becoming active in the Curry
Tues., April 12: Plant Grow Harvest Repeat: Succession County Master Gardeners Association. Hoberley served as the
Planting secretary for many years. Robert served as president. She and
Tues., May 10: Growing Great Roses! Robert conducted numerous OSU Extension Services classes on
orchids and general gardening/food preserving classes. She was
Registration opens three months also a member of the Coast Orchid Club.
before each event. I also learned that the Schuler’s were awarded the Oregon Master
Watch online: This webinar series will be available on Zoom Gardeners Association Behind the Scenes Award in 2008 for their
and broadcast live on our Facebook page. Recordings of service to the Curry County Master Gardener Association, including
the webinars are posted below after the event. serving in board positions, teaching classes, and hosting plant clinics.
If you have any remembrances of the Schulers, please let me know
For all the details and to register, please visit:
so we can share them with their family.
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/mg/growing-oregon-
gardeners-level-series-2022
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February 2022 Brambles
Curry County Master Gardeners Association
Membership Meeting Agenda - Tuesday January, 18, 2022 10AM
1. Introductions & agenda changes/additions
Meeting Lead by Ginny Knox, Vice President.
2. Minutes approval for November 2021 meeting. See December 2021 Brambles https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/55131/dec-
2021-brambles-1.pdf
Secretary still needed! Jefferie Hall moved to pass, S. Baum seconded the motion.
3. Business Items
A. President’s report – Julia Bott - No report
i. Welcome Laurie Lee Bartlett - Educational Assistant
ii. Status of 2022 class, class roster, preliminary schedule – Samantha Clayburn
Manuals and welcome packets are ready for distribution. Syllabus for on-line; as well as online courses. Lori will forward the syllabus and the readings for
the classes. Zoom meeting on Fridays 5-6 PM for class and members are welcome to attend. - 9 trainees that need Mentors, could be two trainees for each
mentor. Phone calls and emails to check in with the trainees and with in-person calls can get to meet them. Reach out to Laurie or Julie to volunteer.
One in-person class scheduled so far: March 4, 8:30 at Riley Creek Garden for Pruning. A class on green houses and seed starting with training,
hopefully will be here in Curry County. An email will be sent out in March of future classes.
B. Vice- President’s report – Ginny Knox
No Report
C. Treasurer’s report – Tom Kerr
i. Financial statements - shared by Tom; Tom clarified that the greenhouse account is a sub account of the total account. Debbie R. had requested this
clarification due to regulation and bylaws
D. State Rep’s report – Ali Van Otterloo & Deb Carroll - First Meeting is in March.
E. Membership report
ii. Membership Renewal Process – Debbie Richter 40 people (-2 who are not renewing) waiting on 14 people to submit the renewal.
F. OSU Report – Laurie Lee Bartlett/Samantha (Sam) Clayburn Debbie is helping with the background checks. Debbie Richter will send Conditions of
Volunteer Service to Laurie B. and background checks will go to Sam. No further report.
4. Committee Reports (see page 2 & 3 for overview of 2022 activities)
A. Plant Sale/Greenhouse – Debbie Carroll & Ali Van Otterloo
New volunteers helping at the greenhouse that will be coming two Saturdays a month. In the process of planting in 3”pots and cleaning the succulents.
Plans for a new greenhouse with the event center at the beach in Gold Beach and put the greenhouse in the southwest area of the OSU Extension
Building. This is a very preliminary discussion, going to the Fair board meeting for approval in February.
Julia has discussed the information of Liability with the insurance company.
Discussion from Lori P about the tomato starts for the plant sale, they also have others helping. Planning on a meeting in February for the volunteers
helping with the plant starts. Lori states that we can store and grow out in the Greenhouse at Riley Creek. Debbie C. will send out information for this
meeting.
Planning planter beds for the 4H and they are requesting 36 lavender plants per Lori P. Debbie C. states we do have the plants, what kind of discount or
donation. Dollar value of 36 would be 108$. Proposal for a donation of the plants for 4H.
Decision pending if Annual Plant Sale is in-person or on-line - at this point no restrictions from OSU. Coos County will be doing it in person and it
will be held outdoors. Debbie recommends having the plant sale online; we have the infrastructure and technology for online sales. This is a topic that can
be discussed in a meeting on February 8; 11 am (time and date may change) at the Riley Creek Greenhouse. This meeting will be for the volunteers that
help with the plant starts and those who will be volunteering for the greenhouse and a decision can be made then.
B. Plant Clinic – Plant clinic is modified in person in Coos County- meeting outside in open space for any in person. Laurie B states may be able to have it
in person or in the meeting room at the Extension office and Samantha stated we can reserve the room. Julia asked if we know is going to be head volunteer
for the Plant Clinic, Laurie Lee will follow up with Dennis. Considering having a hybrid model, which we could do in person and online.
C. Seed to Supper – Need a lead volunteer(s) for this activity; Sherry K not available and Tom Kerr is planning on being out of town. Debbie R. will talk
with Scott for seed to supper and plant clinic. Considering enough manpower for the project. OSU talking about taking over the role that the Food Bank had.
Samantha was considering taking a year off or even offering the class in the fall.
D. Riley Creek – Lori Phelan Cathy is working with the 3rd graders at 11:00 am and she will be reaching out as she needs volunteers. Julia will not be
doing the Friday until March. Hoping to hire a garden coordinator and then our role as MG will be defined. Lori P. will fill in and help weeks and support
Cathy. Lori and Cathy will reach out as we need more volunteers.
Cathy did put stakes in the beds to identify and started a garden journal. The plant starts will need to be planted. Continue to wait for the electricity to be
put in by the school.
E. ABC Preschool – Ruth Patton - Ruth to contact the school in April to determine need and volunteer status. Generally they start up on Mother’s day.
F. Dig Your Library – Programs will start in April Julia Bott
E. Kalmiopsis School Garden – Julia Bott (Jeffrie Hall) This garden was neglected, they hired a garden program coordinator; but he is no longer in that
position. Recently CCMGA volunteers have been trying to clean up
H. Curry County Seed Library – Julia Bott (Jeffrie Hall) We have 8,000 packs of seeds and Julia is working on ideas to give out to the community,
schools, churches and the activity center in Brookings. Julie proposed that some of the seeds be sent out to the Northern County area also.
Addition: Lori Phelan, Beck Shafer is looking for the superintendent to the fair land and floral to man the area and the judging for the flowers and
vegetables.
Farm to school conference 2/14-26 Lori Phelan will send the information.
Closed the meeting 11:12 AM.
Sherry Baum
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February 2022 Brambles
UPCOMING CONTINUING EDUCATION, EVENTS AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Links to CCMGA Volunteer Opportunities Calendar and OSU Volunteer Reporting Page
Three important links for you are the continuing education website, volunteer opportunities calendar, and the website for reporting your volunteer hours
and continuing education hours.
Continuing Education Opportunities
One option for your continuing education is to take some of the online classes that this year’s training class members are taking. You need to register via
the link below to have the Canvas course sent to you when it becomes active. If you took any of the Thinkific Elevated Skills last year, you should
already have an Ideal-logic log in. https://apps.ideal-logic.com/osuextension?key=F3T9-25VWY_K9KH-5PTF_d02f7e69ba3d
Other options for continuing education will be provided by Laurie Bartlett as they are identified.
Recording Your Volunteer and Continuing Education Hours
To be certified for 2023, MGs will need at least 20 hours of volunteer time (10 hours must be public education related – indirect or direct) and 10 hours of
continuing education between Nov 1, 2021 and Oct 31, 2022. Please record your hours at: https://mgvrs.extension.oregonstate.edu
Find Out Volunteer and Continuing Education Opportunities
Check out our Curry County Master Gardener Calendar for opportunities.
Link is: https://teamup.com/ks41483529a4db6410 (Note Calendar is currently being updated.)
Overview of 2022 CCMGA Programs and Volunteer Opportunities
Organizational Support
1. We need a secretary! Take minutes of monthly meeting and send to Brambles editor within one week.
2. Become a mentor to this year’s trainee. Provide moral support and encouragement. Answer questions. You don’t have to know all of the answers –
you just have to be able to help the trainee find the answers.
3. Represent CCMGA on a statewide Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (JEDI) committee. This committee develops practical and applicable
suggestions to local associations to increase cultural awareness and welcoming attitudes, increase outreach, and pathways for addressing bias and
harassment. While this committee may seem ‘political,” it is more about outreach and increasing our membership and audience.
ONGOING ACTIVITIES
Plant Clinic – Plant clinics will be held April through September. Hopefully, they will be held in-person in the extension classroom (as opposed to the
office as in the past). Lead volunteers still TBD.
Greenhouse and Plant Sale – Work parties are currently held on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the greenhouse. Due to available space, volunteer
opportunities are currently filled. However, special workdays to prepare for the plant sale and at home cultivation of vegetable starts will be needed. The
Plant Sale is planned for the Mother’s Day timeframe. In-person or online is still to be determined. There is also a long-term effort to identify a location
and construct a new demonstration greenhouse and garden as our time at the High School is limited and the current situation does not provide good
public education opportunities. Debbie Carroll and Ali Van Otterloo are the lead volunteers.
Riley Creek School Garden – Direct education opportunities working with students are available primarily on various Thursdays and Fridays (Fri to
begin in March). Volunteers are also needed to maintain the garden when students are not present. Hiring a garden coordinator is in process. Once the
position is filled, a steering committee will be needed to develop a monthly work plan, details for the allocated budget, and an MOU with the various
partner organizations. Cathy Boden is the lead for Thursday classes, Julia Bott for the Friday classes, and Lori Phelan for the garden tending.
Dig Your Library – Instead of offering a stand-alone weekly garden program, this program is being integrated into the existing library youth programs –
STEAM, baby/toddler, and Spanish speaking bi-lingual, at the Chetco Community Public Library in Brookings. Master Gardeners will offer approximately
1 program per month for the various groups. Often the themes will be the same, though the program will be tailored. First program is expected in April.
Julia Bott is the lead.
Curry County Seed Library (formerly Chetco Seed Library) – This program is a partnership with numerous community groups. Activities include seed
distribution through direct events, providing seeds packets to churches, schools, food banks, etc, and to individual request. Volunteers are needed for
events in Brookings on Saturday February 12 and March 19. Help identifying distribution events in Gold Beach, and Port Orford is also needed. Jeffrie
Hall, Ruth Patton, and Julia Bott are lead volunteers.
Seed to Supper – It is undetermined if Seed to Supper will be held in spring 2022. Currently, Currently, there are no volunteers identified to lead the
Program.
Little Bear Patch Pollinator Garden at Kalmiopsis School – Currently, the Brookings Harbor School District does not have a school garden
coordinator and the garden renovation at the High School is on hold. However, Master Gardeners worked with the former garden coordinator to revive
the Little Bear Patch pollinator garden. Volunteers are needed to maintain the basic bones of the garden so that it is ready for educational programming
when the school district has the resources. Julia Bott is the lead.
ABC Preschool – It is still to be determined if the weekly classes for the preschoolers held Mothers’ Day to August will resume. Activities include
working in garden, crafts and snacks. Ruth Patton is the lead.
ONE TIME ACTIVITIES
Art and Garden Tour – The Manly Art Center in Brookings would like to partner with us on a ticketed event involving 3 gardens and 3 studios in the late
spring. Julia Bott is the lead volunteer.
The Ascend Youth Program at the Curry County Public Library – The program coordinator has requested that Master Gardeners help with one or
two classes about gardening and house plants in the spring.
St Tim’s Community Garden – St Tim’s has requested that we provide mentors or trainings for those groups working at their community garden.
Dennis Triglia is the lead volunteer.
Curry County Fair – Volunteers will be needed to staff a booth at the fair July 27-31.
4
Public Programs – Work with your fellow Master Gardeners to develop and present public presentations, workshops, or trainings.
February 2022 Brambles
RILEY CREEK GARDEN
Greetings!
The Riley Creek School Garden has been quietly resting for the winter,
protected by straw mulch and cover crops, while the weather has been cold,
raining, and the sun so low in the sky.
Jeff Richter has taken advantage of this time to make improvements to the
garden – new doors to the greenhouse, replacing raised bed boards,
building a storage area, and a new bulletin board in the greenhouse, among
other things.
Kale, chard, Brussels sprouts, and winter broccoli have been able to thrive
with these cold temperatures providing fresh veggies for dedicated
volunteers. Debbie Richter’s snap dragons provided last year are still
greeting us with flowers! Daffodils have already popped their trumpets, and
the tulips are not far behind.
We were able to get the 3rd graders out to survey the winter garden,
transplant strawberries, and get a few more beds ready for planting. After
their hard work they investigated eggs found in the soil, an early bumble
bee in the fava tops, and their favorite task – BUG hunts!
Community volunteer Laura Lee helped transplant our seedlings that she
has been tending in the greenhouse. We planted lettuce, spinach, purple
sprouting broccoli, chard & kale. We finished cleaning out the old
strawberry beds, and parked them in a place so that students can transplant
them to another bed, or pot them up to take home. She has also been
tending the hydroponic lettuce that is also thriving!
Starting Thursday, February 3rd we will try to invite Shawna Martin’s 3rd
grade class out to the garden each week to plant this year’s garden. That
will require at least 4 volunteers each week on Thursday from 10:30 –
12:30, with 26 kids from 11-12. Please reach out to Julia Bott, or Cathy
Boden if you can volunteer on Thursdays. Without your help we cannot get
kids out in the garden.
Feels like spring already, but winter is still upon us. However, it’s time for
us gardeners to start planning for the future. Let’s keep Riley Creek School
Garden the showcase it has been over so many years. I look forward to
growing with all of you! Thanks for the roll you play to make garden
education possible in our school district. The kids really appreciate you!
Cathy Boden
541-373-3359 work cell
541-332-5039 home office
5
February 2022 Brambles
HOW TO FIND OUT WHAT’S GOING ON
DIG YOUR LIBRARY ~ Julia Bott
Contact Julia Bott, find us on Facebook: Curry County Master Gardeners-
OSU Extension
THE BRAMBLES NEWSLETTER
Emailed to active members and on
www: http/extension.oregonstate.edu.curry
Editor, Cathe Barter at umpqua.bart@gmail.com
BOARD MEETINGS are monthly 3rd Tuesday from 10 am to noon
OSU Extension (Gold Beach)
2930 Ellensburg Avenue, Gold Beach, meeting room
{No Meetings in August or December}
Visit these sites to volunteer:
GOLD BEACH HIGH SCHOOL GREENHOUSE
29316 Ellensburg (at the rear of school) Chetco Community Public Library Annex
Contacts: Deb Carroll 541-813-1820 da_carroll@charter.net 402 Alder St, Brookings. Contact Julia Bott
and Ali Van Otterloo 925-788-6684 alivanotterloo@gmail.com jbott@batnet.com or tele, 650.520.5673
*Annual Plant Sale Project* spoken here
The Dig Your Library youth gardening programs at the
RILEY CREEK GARDEN Chetco Community Public Library are canceled for 2021.
94350 6th Street, Gold Beach
Contact Cathy Boden
There may be some volunteer opportunities.
DIG YOUR LIBRARY ~ Julia Bott CURRY COUNTY SEED LIBRARY –
Chetco Community Public Library Annex Free Seeds! The first distribution is scheduled for February 12, 11 AM to
402 Alder Street, Brookings
1:00 PM at the Activity Center (upstairs), 550 Chetco Ln, Brookings.
Contact Julia Bott jbott@batnet.com or telephone 650.520.5673
We need some volunteers to help! Contact Julia Bott at 650.520.5673 or
CURRY COUNTY SEED LIBRARY – jbott@batnet.com.
Currently, the seed library is available only upon request, contact Lynette
McPherson at lmc97415@gmail.com. For more information, please Thanks to donations from Fred Meyers and Baker Seed Company, the
contact Julia Bott at 650.520.5673 or jbott@batnet.com or check out the Curry County Seed Library has thousands of seed packets to distribute for
Curry County Seed Library on Facebook. free!
ABC PRESCHOOL This is a partnership of the Curry County Seed Library, the Curry County
543 Hemlock St, Brookings Master Gardeners and the Brookings Harbor Community Helpers.
Contact Sherry Baum & Ruth Patton If you need seeds before that, contact Lynette McPherson
LITTLE BEAR PATCH GARDEN AT KALMIOPSIS SCHOOL at lmc97415@gmail.com. For more information, please contact Julia Bott
650 Easy Street, Brookings, Contact vacant, 541-469-7417 at 650.520.5673 or jbott@batnet.com or check out the Curry County Seed
Library on Facebook.
SHOP AND GIVE BACK TO CCMGA!
CCMGA has completed two "REWARD" program applications! This is your
chance to give to our non-profit organization through your daily purchases. The position of Secretary remains VACANT.
The 1st rewards program is smile.amazon.com. If you have an Amazon
account and purchase products from Amazon, connecting your account to The Secretary, among other things, provides
Smile.amazon is easy. Go to smile.amazon.com and log in to your account.
You will be asked which charity/non-profit you would like to support. You will Minutes for only 10 of the 12 monthly meetings.
find MANY Master Gardener Associations, so PLEASE select Master
Gardener Association, Gold Beach, Oregon. It is on page three or four of their
Two of you could split the duties and take Meeting
list of Master Gardener Assn. Then make your purchases...it is that simple. Minutes for 5 meetings each. It may not be a
Amazon smile will donate .05% of your qualified purchase to CCMGA by
direct deposit.
glamorous position, but it is essential.
The 2nd rewards program is with Fred Meyer simply linking your Fred Meyer This position would count as required 2022
Rewards card with Curry County Master Gardener Assn., Gold Beach, OR. volunteer hours.
Set up a new account or sign into your existing account at fredmeyer.com,
click on the ‘Fred Meyer Community Rewards’ link at the bottom of the page,
type in ‘Curry County Master Gardener Assn.’ or the number ‘85441’, choose
our organization, and click on ‘Enroll.’
6
February 2022 Brambles
CAROL HOBBS HAS RELOCATED
Another of our long-
term perennial master gardeners, Carol Hobbs, has relocated north to
Anacortes, Washington. Carol took master gardener training in 2012
shortly after moving to Gold Beach, and was recognized as Curry
County Master Gardener of the year in 2016. Carol’s most noted
contribution to the organization is the effort and knowledge she brought
to plant propagation and overall coordination of our annual plant sale.
She began overseeing the plant sale efforts in 2015, and plant sale
revenues increased year after year under her leadership.
Many of the cuttings for the plant sale starts came from the beautiful
garden at Carol’s home. She coordinated all aspects of plant
propagation and preparation for the sale, as well as overseeing the
actual sales. Under Carol’s leadership, the annual plant sale became an
annual “go-to” event in Gold Beach.
With a background in botany, Carol had a wealth of knowledge that she
freely shared with all who worked in the greenhouse. She contributed
seemingly endless energy to the efforts. Her absence is felt as we look
to carry on the plant sale. None of it would be possible, however, without Jeff’s shallots, in late December
the knowledge she shared with those of us who worked with her.
We wish Carol the best of luck in her new endeavors!
7
February 2022 Brambles
MASON BEES POLLINATE PLANTS
BEFORE HONEY BEES GET BUSY
Author: Kym Pokorny; Source: Brooke Edmunds--CORVALLIS, Ore. April
3, 2015 ---- The gardening season is young, but mason bees are out for
their short but productive foray into the blooms of your backyard.
These solitary native bees – most commonly the blue orchard mason bee
(Osmia lignaria) – get busy before honeybees and set to work on early-
flowering plants like forsythia, pieris and especially fruit trees.
“Mason bees fill a spot in the season when other pollinators are not out,”
said Brooke Edmunds, a horticulturist with Oregon State University’s
Extension Service. “They’re really important for fruit trees, especially in
cool, wet areas.”
As honeybees continue to struggle for survival, mason bees take on a
bigger role in the backyard garden, according to Edmunds. Both serious
and casual gardeners welcome these earnest pollinators to get better
yields of fruits, vegetables and flowers.
Mason bees are smaller than honeybees, have a bluish hue and are often
mistaken for flies. Rarely do you have to worry about being stung because
these unaggressive bees live alone and have no hive to protect.
Unlike honeybees that fly up to four miles to find their preferred food,
mason bees don’t go much farther than 300 feet. They move in a zigzag
pattern, which makes them especially efficient pollinators for small spaces,
according to Edmunds.
The single-minded bees live to bring nectar and pollen back to the nest for
their larvae that hatch from eggs laid between walls made of mud –
another material the female bees must haul back to the nest. Leaving
patches of mud close to nesting areas in trees or other wood will help
attract them, Edmunds said.
You can also encourage mason bees by creating a garden that includes
plants that bloom during their excursions in March to mid- or late May.
Consider plants such as crabapples, redbud, flowering currant, elderberry,
huckleberry, Oregon grape and lupine. Even the often-dreaded dandelion
is a great source of food.
If you want to introduce the bees rather than wait for them to arrive in the
garden, she recommends purchasing a nesting house, which contains
straws filled with cocoons that hatch in spring. They’re available online or
at garden centers.
Alternately, you can drill holes into a solid piece of untreated wood. Make
the holes five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter, six inches deep and three-
fourths of an inch apart. Insert paper straws with cocoons inside the holes.
Whatever you end up using, hang houses or containers under eaves or
other protected areas where they’ll be protected from wind, rain and sun.
Some people will bring the cocoon-filled houses inside over winter to keep Buy it? Or, Save cardboard from toilet paper rolls to make a great recycled
them out of reach of predators. They’ll also spend time removing cocoons project! The tubes may be wrapped around a pencil or perhaps use old,
discarded and hollow plant canes or bamboo canes to make wonderful homes
and washing off mites or parasites and reinserting them into clean straws.
for Mason Bees. Use old birdhouses, feeders, tin cans -- fill them and hang
“There are two schools of thought,” Edmunds said. “Some people want to them up. If you build it they will come.
get into high maintenance and harvest, clean and store cocoons. But Watch Youtube.com: https://youtu.be/-DQo_o4Ck1c on making a simple bee
that’s not necessary. You can always buy additional cocoons each year. home. {This might be an Annual Plant Sale ‘for sale’ item, too.}
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February 2022 Brambles
FEBRUARY GARDEN TIPS
Planning
Tune up lawn mower and garden equipment before the busy season begins.
Have soil tested to determine its nutrient needs. For more information, contact your local Extension office for a list of testing laboratories or view Laboratories Serving
Oregon: Soil, Water, Plant Tissue, and Feed Analysis (EM 8677).
Select and store healthy scion wood for grafting fruit and nut trees. Wrap in damp cloth or peat moss and place in plastic bag. Store in cool place.
Plan an herb bed for cooking and creating an interesting landscape. For example, choose parsley, sage, chives, and lavender. Choose a sunny spot and plant seeds or
transplants once the danger of frost has passed (late-April or early-May in the Willamette Valley and central Coast; June or July in eastern and central Oregon).
Plan to add herbaceous perennial flowers to your flowering landscape this spring. Try some drought-tolerant perennials to save money.
Maintenance and Clean Up
Repair winter damage to trees and shrubs.
Make a cold frame or hotbed to start early vegetables or flowers.
Fertilize rhubarb with manure or a complete fertilizer.
Incorporate cover crops or other organic matter into soil.
Prune and train grapes; make cuttings.
Prune fruit trees and blueberries.
Eastern Oregon: Prune and train summer-bearing and fall-bearing raspberries.
Western Oregon: Prune deciduous summer-blooming shrubs and trees; wait until April in high elevations of Eastern and Central Oregon.
Western Oregon: Prune and train trailing blackberries (if not done the prior August); prune back raspberries.
Western Oregon: Prune fall-bearing raspberries (in late-February or early-March).
Western Oregon: Prune clematis, Virginia creeper, and other vining ornamentals.
Planting/Propagation
Plant windowsill container garden of herbs like chives, cilantro and parsley.
Plan to add herbaceous perennial flowers this spring: astilbe, candytuft, peony, and anemone.
Good time to plant fruit trees and deciduous shrubs. Replace varieties of ornamental plants that are susceptible to disease with resistant cultivars.
Plant asparagus if the ground is warm enough.
Plant seed flats of cole crops (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts), indoors or in a greenhouse.
Western Oregon: Where soil is dry enough and workable, plant garden peas and sweet peas. Suggested varieties of garden peas include: Corvallis, Dark Green
Perfection, Green Arrow, Oregon Sugar Pod, Snappy, Knight, Sugar Snap, Oregon Trail, and Oregon Sugar Pod II.
Western Oregon: Good time to plant new roses.
Pest Monitoring and Management
Use chemical controls only when necessary and only after thoroughly reading the pesticide label. First consider cultural, then physical and biological controls. Choose
the least-toxic options (insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, botanical insecticides, and organic and synthetic pesticides — when used judiciously).
Monitor landscape plants for problems. Don't treat unless a problem is identified.
Use delayed-dormant sprays of lime sulfur for fruit and deciduous trees and shrubs.
Remove cankered limbs from fruit and nut trees for control of diseases such as apple anthracnose, bacterial canker of stone fruit and Eastern filbert blight. Sterilize tools
before each new cut.
Control moles and gophers with traps.
Western Oregon: Elm leaf beetles and box-elder bugs are emerging from hibernation and may be seen indoors. They are not harmful, but can be a nuisance. Remove
them with a vacuum or broom and dustpan.
Western Oregon: Monitor for European crane fly and treat lawns if damage has been verified.
Houseplants and Indoor Gardening
Make your own potting soil for starting seedlings in pots or flats, or use clean sterile commercial mixes.
Central Oregon: Gather branches of quince, forsythia, and flowering cherries; bring indoors to force early bloom.
9
February 2022 Brambles
Have you seen the Curry County Master Gardeners
website?
CCMGA Officers for 2022
President …………. Julia Bott
The Brambles is usually posted here by the second
of the month:
Vice President……… Ginny Knox
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/newsletter/brambles Secretary……………. V a c a n t
The last Monday of the month is the cut-off date Treasurer……………. Tom Kerr
for submitting articles for the Brambles. Email them
to Cathe Barter umpqua.bart@gmail.com OMG State Rep…… Debbie Carroll & Ali Van Otterloo
Newsletter Editor…... Cathe Barter
This is your newsletter, if you have something to
share please send it in. We will make every effort to Historian……………. Cathe Barter
include it.
Past President………. Julia Bott
Thanks to all of you who generously contributed to OSU Education Asst… Laurie Lee Bartlett
this edition of the Brambles. All submissions are
gladly considered.
1 - 800-356-3986
To contact officers, leave a message at the Extension
office 1-800-356-3986
Curry County Master Gardeners Association
monthly meetings 3rd Tuesday, 10 am to noon in Gold Beach, OR
www.facebook.com/OSUExtCurryMG
Curry County Master Gardeners Association
PO Box 107
Gold Beach, OR 97444
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