Area gardeners to meet Thursday

By Wanda Carlson
Reporter/Treasurer

The Lake of the Woods Master Gardens will meet once a month at the LOW County Court House in 2009. The group took the last two months of 2008 off and resumed meetings in January. If you would like to attend or have a gardening question, contact a member. Bonnie Schuh, Recording Secretary, can be reached at 783-2582. Willow Johnson, MG Chair Person can be reached at 386-3114. Wanda Carlson, Reporter & Treasurer, can be reached at 634-9499. If we don’t have a solution we have resources to find an answer.
The LOW Master Gardeners met March 19. Present were Willow Johnson, Chair, Joanne Kellner, Jeannette Ellingson, Jennifer Eck, MG Intern, and Recording Secretary Bonnie Schuh.
Sherrene Brown and Jennifer Eck are in the midst of completing her online Core Course through the U of M Extension to become Master Gardeners. The group wishes them the best and hope you have a beneficial learning experience. Wanda Carlson was presented with the Master Gardener’s Certificate and her Lapel Pin at the February 19th meeting for her completion of the Core Course and Volunteer Intern Hours.
Many horticultural workshops and gardening conferences are happening this spring. Willow Johnson and Bonnie Schuh gave a report on the Gardening North Spring Wake Up Conference Workshop held in Bagley on March 7th. They enjoyed a lecture on Organic Vegetable Gardening, a lesson on ponds, and education on Worm Composting. Eric Bergeson from Bergeson Nursery talked on What’s New for 2009.
Bonnie Schuh attended the 13th District Horticultural Society Spring Workshop held March 14th at Goodridge. The presentation was centered around Container Gardening & High Tunnel Gardening. Marvin Lundin gave a lecture and information on Garden Photography.
Here in Lake of the Woods County we are in the midst of seed starting. We start our fresh new plants for spring pots and garden beds. We may be looking out our windows and watching the snow fall, but inside visions of green growing plants dance in our heads. The calendar calls it spring but it is somewhere in limbo. We are locked into mild winter and cold spring weather. Thanks to greenhouse gardeners we have the luxury of purchasing plants from nurseries ready to go. If you are interested in starting seeds indoors, now is the time to get going. There are many publications online through the UofM Extension services http://www.extension.umn.edu/gardeninfo. Seeds can get their start in egg cartons, plastic jugs, milk cartons or store purchased containers. All you need is a sunny window (or fluorescent lighting), seed starter soil, proper moisture and seeds. It is a sure way to chase the winter blues away.
The next meeting of the LOW Master Gardeners is scheduled for April 16th at the LOW Courthouse at 5:00 pm. If you have a question or special request, let us know.
Interested in becoming a Master Gardener, the horticulture course is taken through the University of Minnesota and is available locally online during a pre-established period each year. For more information on becoming a Master Gardener, please contact Nathan Johnson, Regional Director, University of Minnesota Extension - Roseau Ph: (218) 463-0294 Toll Free: (888)241-4546 Email - HYPERLINK “mailto:johns854@umn.edu” johns854@umn.edu “Making a difference by connection community needs and University resources to address critical issues in Minnesota.