2000 Master Gardener Programs

Winter 2000

Annual Master Gardener Meeting

Charles County Master Gardeners met at the Cooperative Extension Service Office in LaPlata, Maryland, for review of 1999 volunteer efforts, to focus on future educational opportunities, and to participate in an Advanced Master Gardener training seminar. Master Gardeners were presented with a number of volunteer opportunities connected to horticultural/environmental community needs. They also were recognized for the volunteer service provided in 1999. Pam King, Cooperative Extension Agent, presented detailed information about local insect life and IPM (integrated pest management)in a two-hour seminar. Diane Kramer, President, Charles County Garden Club, spoke of the Club's native plant project at the Port Tobacco Courthouse and asked for Master Gardeners participation. The new Charles County Master Gardener Website was introduced by volunteer webmaster, Joan Crownover, for review and comment.

Spring 2000

National Colonial Farm Museum Garden Clean-up

Master Gardener volunteers Neal Larson, Don Oberpriller, Donna Robertson and Jan Taylor assisted in renewal of gardens and paths at the National Colonial Farm in preparation for the starting season of spring educational programs offered every year at the Museum Garden.

Native Plant Selection

Master Gardeners Debra Beland, Ellen Davis, Trudi Hinze, Diane Kramer and Don Oberpriller met at a plant nursery to discuss and choose native plant choices for inclusion in the Charles County Garden Club's Port Tobacco Courthouse gardens and grounds renovation project.

Master Gardener Demonstration and Information Table

Volunteers Neal Larson, Ed Spurlock, and Jim Winters attended a local agricultural open house. At the event, which drew a crowd of more than 100 attendees, the Master Gardeners provided information on composting in particular and horticulture in general. Neal presented a septic tank model, Jim Winters demonstrated proper composting, and Ed Spurlock distributed literature and answered questions.

Youth Project

Trudi Hinze organized an educational project for display to teachers and school children. Her presentation taught youngsters about benefits of birds in the local area as well as how birds are important to the environment. Her demonstration included making bird seed suet cakes with the children and emphasizing the suet cakes would attract birds.

Herb Garden Information Guide

One Master Gardener, Erma Howard, continued her volunteer efforts from 1999 on behalf of Sotterly Plantation by researching and writing an informational publication about colonial herb gardens at the Plantation. Erma's guide was written to help explain to visiting school groups the types of herbs in the gardens and how each of the herbs was used, i.e. for cooking, medicinal purposes, or fragrance.

Worms and Composting Demonstration

Betty Kostkowski gave a demonstration on Earth Day to elementary school children to emphasize the beneficial action of worms in converting biodegradable materials into rich, dark soil. She provided information about the worms and how they process plant debris into humus.

Longwood Gardens Field Trip

A Master Gardener field trip to Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania was organized by volunteer Shirley Leyland. Attendees not only reviewed the beautiful grounds and gardens of Longwood but also were given a special IPM (integrated pest management) tour by a Longwood Garden specialist.

Advanced Training at Plant Nursery

Master Gardener Mary Copeland attended two training seminars at a plant nursery in Beltsville, Maryland. A State Master Gardener coordinator presented "Salad Gardening Nine Months a Year"; another training session was given on "Rocks, Boulders, and Rock Walls".

Native Plant Protection

Master Gardener Joan Crownover joined a local botanist and many others on an all-day field trip to Ruth B. Swann State Park. She assisted in invasive plant removal of multiflora rosa and garlic mustard which threatened through rampant growth to overrun local native wildflowers and green plants in the Park. The outing also provided attendees with the opportunity to learn about surrounding flora in the Park including tiny native wildflower bluet and star-of-bethlehem as well as huge sassafras trees.

Advanced Master Gardener Training

Ten Charles County Master Gardners attended advanced Master Gardener Training at the University of Maryland on June 1st. They were Robin Affron, Mary Copeland, Joan Crownover, Erma Howard, Neal Larson, Jacquelyn McGrail, Donald Oberpriller, Donna Robertson, Norma Rodriguez, and Edward Spurlock. Attendees enrolled in a wide variety of indepth seminars. Some of the topics offered included native trees & shrubs, principles of biological control, alternatives to turf, home irrigation options, local geology, xerophytes, and plant ID, among many others.

Bayscape Gardens

Master Gardeners Diane Kramer and Debra Beland, as well as others, assisted the Charles County Garden Club in the implementation of "Project 2000". Project 2000 was a local garden club effort to enhance and restore landscaping at the historic Port Tobacco Courthouse, established in 1727 in Port Tobacco, Maryland. Native plants of the period were installed in two "Bayscape" gardens on the Courthouse premises.

Fall 2000

Advanced Master Gardener Training

Master Gardeners attended a training session at the LaPlata Cooperative Extension Service Office. The session was targeted on "Special Problems in Wet Seasons" and presented by Pam King, Extension Agent. Topics covered addressed biological and botanical problems associated with abnormally wet growing seasons. Included subjects were: increased insect populations; diseases and viruses; root rot, nutrient leaching, and proper drainage; and the Asian Tiger Mosquito.

For more information, contact Carole Butler

Last updated: 06/26/2007

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