Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Can't See the Forest for the Smoke: Trees and Wildfires

With over 77 major wildfires buring across the US as of 8/13/2024, have you ever wondered how trees cope if they aren't consumed by flames? Apparently, they hold their breath. Learn what researchers discovered when wildfire smoke blanketed their test site.

Follow this link to learn more:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/trees-hold-their-breath-to-avoid-wildfire-smoke

Follow this link to discover active US wildfires:

https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information/nfn

- submitted by Tammy L. Currier, MGCC Volunteer Coordinator

Image: Trees and other plants can’t escape wildfire smoke. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images via The Conversation

Clip Their Wings: Spotted Lanternflies - All You Need to Know

By now everyone must have heard about spotted lanternflies. Sadly, they've made their rounds and have become much more prevalent. I've found them around the building I live in and outside the entrance of the building I work in. On each sighting I attempted to squash them. The are difficult to catch however as they are strong jumpers. Though I don't like to kill insects, I recognize it is important to do my part in addressing this invasive, non-native. When I've shared that I squish them if I can catch them with friends, they have said 'but they are so pretty.' Pretty or not, they need to go.

Follow this link, to learn all you need to know about spotted lanternflies from The Ohio State University Ohioline Fact Sheets:

https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/anr-83

- submitted by Tammy L. Currier, MGCC Volunteer Coordinator

Got Gardening Questions? The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County have answers!

Hotline is a free service offered April 1st-September 30th and provides research-based answers to all your gardening questions - call 216.429.8200, x 1, leave a message - including your name, number, and question - and a Master Gardener will return your call within two business days.

For information about the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County, follow this link:

https://cuyahogamg.org/

Ever Wondered What the Cuyahoga County Master Gardener Volunteers Do?

The Master Gardeners’ primary mission is to provide members of their community with research-based information on a wide range of horticultural and gardening topics. The public is encouraged to access their services or join them at events across Cuyahoga County. Please find a list of their programs and services below:

- Hotline Callback Service
- Hotline On The Road: Shaker Square Farmers Market, Crocker Park Farmers Market, Cleveland Botanical Garden, Cuyahoga County Fair, and The Great Big Home and Garden Show
- Request a Speaker - Does your garden club or community group need a speaker?
- Ask Extension – Ask an Expert
- Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) Encore Program
- Library Programs
- Nature in My Backyard (Coming Soon!)
- Community Gardening
- Other Master Gardener Projects
- Master Gardener Volunteers also undertake projects and programs for a specific population or location. Our volunteers maintain demonstration gardens and deliver specialized programs at schools, medical facilities, and nursing homes.

For detailed information, follow this link:

https://cuyahogamg.org/programs/

Find Your Fun at the Cuyahoga County Fair & Visit the Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County!

Whether you go for the twirling rides, the animals, or the opportunity to indulge in a corn dog or cotton candy, don't forget to stop by the Flower Building to see what the Master Gardener Volunteers have up their gardening sleeves this year.

When: August 6-11, 2024
Where: The Flower Building / 19201 E Bagley Road / Middleburg Heights, OH 44130
Hours:
Tuesday - Friday / NOON-11:00 PM
Saturday / 10:00AM-11:00 PM
Sunday / NOON - 10:00 PM

Hope to see you there!

For more information about the Fair, follow this link:
https://cuyfair.com/

Got Gardening Questions? The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County have answers!

Hotline is a free service offered April 1st-September 30th and provides research-based answers to all your gardening questions - call 216.429.8200, x 1, leave a message - including your name, number, and question - and a Master Gardener will return your call within two business days.

For information about the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County, follow this link:

https://cuyahoga.osu.edu/progr.../master-gardener-volunteers

Pretty as a Picture & Twice as Nice!

Check it out - The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County have a new website! Whether you visit to discover more about them, view their calendar of upcoming events, or want to learn how to become an MGV in Cuyahoga County, you'll discover all that and more.

To appreciate their hard work, follow this link:

https://cuyahogamg.org/

The Dog Days are Here!

Important tool for Gardeners

Hot days can affect anyone, especially if you have asthma, a heart ailment, or other chronic health condition. Heat spikes can definitely exacerbate existing health concerns so take advantage of this free HeatRisk tool from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As you're planning your gardening activities for the week, just visit the following link and enter your zipcode to discover the heat risk in your area:

https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/HeatRisk/

-submitted by Carolyn Hufford, MGV 1996

Dog Days Aside, Welcome to the United States of Heat!

Important news for Gardeners

As we all know heat waves can kill and as Ken Graham, Director of the National Weather Service, put it, “Heat waves are getting hotter, longer, more frequent, and you’re getting less relief at night.” As the Earth keeps blowing past earlier heat records, here’s what to know and how to protect yourself.

Follow this link to learn more:

https://www.cspinet.org/article/how-heat-waves-can-killand-how-stay-safe?
utm_campaign=healthytips071024&utm_source=ea&utm_medium=email&sourceid=1129465&emci=748644ac-0b3e-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&emdi=95fc87eb-b33e-ef11-86d2-6045bdd9e096&ceid=621083

To discover the HeatRisk in your area, follow this link:

https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/Applications/HeatRisk/

-submitted by Carolyn Hufford, MGV 1996

SAVE THE DATE: Visit the Cuyahoga County Master Gardener Volunteers at the Cuyahoga County Fair!

When: August 6-11, 2024
Where: The Flower Building / 19201 E Bagley Road / Middleburg Heights, OH 44130

Hours:
Tuesday - Friday / NOON-11:00 PM
Saturday / 10:00AM-11:00 PM
Sunday / NOON - 10:00 PM

Hope to see you there!

For more information about the Fair, follow this link:

https://cuyfair.com/

Feed the Bees - Plant More Flowers!

People often ask: What can I do to support bees? The short answer - plant more flowers, especially native flowers! As OSU Entomologist Denise Ellsworth reminds us, bees need flowers to feed themselves and their offspring.

Pollination is win-win for flowers and bees as well as other pollinators like moths, hummingbirds, bats, etc. While flower pollen, nectar, and oils feed the polliantors, they in turn carry pollen from the male part (anthur) of the flower to the female part (pistil) thus pollianting the very fruits and vegetables humans as well as other creatures need to survive.

The following is a list of key plants for pollinators:

- Trees: maple, crabapple, linden, serviceberry
- Shrubs: ninebark, p***y willow, sumac, viburnum
- Perennials: aster, hyssop, milkweed, purple coneflower
- Annuals: cosmos, marigold, sunflower, zinnia
- Herbs: basil, borage, catmint, lavender, oregano

To learn more about this essential symbiotic relationship, follow this link:

https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/ENT-47

-submitted by Tammy L Currier, MGCC Volunteer Coordinator

Image: The western honey bee is a key agricultural pollinator. (Photo courtesy of Karina Weatherbee.)

Latin / Schmatin!

Stumped on how to pronounce the formal names of some of your favorite plants? Then struggle no more, this pronunciation guide from "Fine Gardening" magazine is the tool you never knew you needed!

Follow this link to access this helpful resource:

https://www.finegardening.com/pronunciation-guide

Going to the Farmers Market this Weekend?

Then visit the markets at Shaker Square or Crocker Park and bring your gardening questions!

The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County are available from 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM at Shaker Square and 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM at Crocker Park (at the corners of Crocker Road and Detroit Road in front of Fidelity Investments) to answer your questions throughout the growing season.

Stop by their booth with your questions or just to chat!

To learn more about the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County:

https://cuyahogamgv.com

To learn more about the Shaker Square Farmers Market:

http://www.northunionfarmersmarket.org/markets/shaker-square-2/

To learn more about the Crocker Park Farmers Market:

http://www.northunionfarmersmarket.org/markets/crocker-park/

Join the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County to Learn about the Biodiversity in Your Own Backyard

When: July 15, 2024 / 9:30 AM
Where: Cuyahoga County Library - Independence Branch
6361 Selig Drive / Independence, OH 44131

What: During this presentation, you’ll learn about the incredible diversity in your garden and, hopefully, be inspired to focus on developing biodiversity in your own yard.

Speakers:

Ann Cicarella - Ann is a renowned landscape designer and will educate us on the amazing insect diversity in your garden. She has more than 30 years of experience in garden design and received her Certificate in Landscape Horticulture from Cleveland State University. In 2015, Ann founded the Cleveland Pollinator and Native Plant Symposium to bring in national and regional speakers to educate and inspire homeowners to maintain biodiverse landscapes.

Dave Tomashefski - Dave is the education specialist at Meadow City Native Plant Nursery in Cleveland. He uses his background in ecology to help customers select the perfect plants for their projects. He has a master's degree in Environment and Natural Resources from The Ohio State University.

Meadow City Nursery is a native plant nursery in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood. The majority of plants are grown from seeds found in the Northeast Ohio wild!

Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/zspsm3j

Master Gardener Volunteers will receive 2 CEs for participation in this event.

Fee: $8.00 for Master Gardener Volunteers and $10.00 for non-MGVs. No refunds will be given.

If you have questions, please email: [email protected]

Hope to see you there!

Visit with the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County at the Beachwood Community Center's "Growing Our Community" Event

What: Community Garden Event
When: July 10th / 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Where: 25225 Fairmount Blvd / Beachwood, OH 44122 - off parking lot

See you there!

For information about the city of Beachwood's Community Garden, follow this link:

https://www.beachwoodohio.com/615/Beachwood-Community-Garden

Questions? Call 216.292.1970

Got Gardening Questions? The Master Gardeners of Cuyahoga County have answers!

Hotline is a free service offered April 1st-September 30th and provides research-based answers to all your gardening questions - call 216.429.8200, x 1, leave a message - including your name, number, and question - and a Master Gardener will return your call within two business days.

For information about the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County, follow this link:

https://cuyahoga.osu.edu/program-areas/master-gardener-volunteers

No Space for a Garden? Grow Houseplants!

Houseplants offer numerous benefits, enhancing both physical and mental well-being. They improve indoor air quality by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen, which can reduce the risk of respiratory issues. Houseplants also contribute to stress reduction, with studies showing that interacting with plants can lower blood pressure and improve mood. They can boost productivity and concentration, making them ideal for home offices and study areas. Their aesthetic appeal adds a natural element to interior spaces, creating a more inviting and relaxing environment.

Easy plants to grow include the Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum), Pothos (Epipremnum aureum), Jade plant (Crassula ovata), and the Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata).

When selecting plants, it is important to read the plant label so you can provide your plants with optimal light, water, food, and environment in which to grow. Also make sure the plants you've selected aren't toxic to animals if you have pets.

For more easy-to-grow houseplants, follow this link:

https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/linnbentonmg/tag/houseplants/

-submitted by Shayna Sharpe, MGV 2016

Happy 4th of July a little early from the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County!

Tired of Your Plants Getting Damaged by Your Hose? Then Try This Simple Hose Guide Hack

Looking for a weekend project? Try this easy hack to prevent your plants from being damaged when you water your garden.

What you’ll need:

- approximately 2 feet of ½ inch rebar (or more depending the area you need to protect)
- old hose
- boxcutter
- sledgehammer or regular hammer
- hacksaw - optional

Directions:

1.) Determine how many hose guides you will need then purchase ½” rebar at your local hardware or big box store. You can buy it in 2-foot sections or in 8-10’ lengths to save money and cut them to size with a hacksaw. Make sure the diameter of the hose you plan to use will fit over the rebar. I used a standard hose size with ½” rebar and it fit perfectly.

2.) Using a sledgehammer or regular hammer, pound the lengths of rebar into the ground where you want to prevent your plants from being damaged.

3.) Using a boxcutter, cut the old hose into sections and then slide each of them over the rebar lengths you’ve driven into the ground.

And that’s it – a simple hose guide hack to protect your plants!

- submitted by Nadelane Joseph, MGV 2009

Bee Swarms: Don't Worry, Bee Happy!

Honey bee swarms are a frequent occurrence around this time of year as bee hives grow. Swarming is a natural process where a single hive splits into two when the colony becomes too crowded. The bees instinctively rear a new queen while preparing for the departure of the current queen.

When the existing queen is ready, she leaves the hive with hundreds or thousands of worker bees (all female) and some drones (all male) in search of a new home, forming a swarm.

Scout bees, which are skilled at foraging, play a crucial role by finding a temporary resting spot for the queen. This spot is usually on a tree branch, shrub, or another object not far from the original hive. The worker bees gather around the queen, keeping her protected and warm while scouts search for a more permanent location.

If you have a swarm on your property, try to let the swarm leave on its own. If the bees are in a location that doesn't allow for waiting, call a beekeeper to move them not a pest control company.

To find a beekeeper in the event of a swarm, follow this link:

https://greaterclevelandbeekeepers.com/

To learn more about swamrs, follow this link:

https://agsafety.osu.edu/newsletter/ag-safety-stat/safety-through-seasons-2022/have-no-fearhoney-bee-swarms-are-near

- submitted by Shayna Sharpe, MGV 2016

TODAY'S THE DAY! Join us to Celebrate National Pollinator Week at First Baptist Church in Shaker Heights with a Local Native Plant Sale Event - Saturday, June 22 / 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*Visit the OSU BUGmobile & the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County Table!

Where: First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland / 3630 Fairmount BLVD / Shaker Heights (parking lot behind church - enter from Shelburne Road)

Fun for parents and kids alike! Learn about pollinators and how to support them. Tour nearby pollinator gardens. Visit the OSU BUGmobile. Get your gardening questions answered by a Master Gardener Volunteer. Buy native plants to start your own pollinator garden.

For more information, see attached flyer.

See you there!

For information about the MGCC, follow this link:

https://cuyahogamg.org/

Pollinator Week: Six Things You Can Begin Doing Today to Support Pollinators!

1. PLANT FOR POLLINATORS

- Habitat opportunities abound in every landscape – from window boxes to acres of farms to corporate campuses to utility and roadside corridors – every site can be a habitat.
- Utilize plants native to your area (or at the least, non-invasive plants for your area).
- Utilize the Ecoregional Planting Guides (https://pollinator.org/guides) and the Garden Recipe Cards (https://www.pollinator.org/gardencards) to create or enhance your pollinator garden. Decide among the plant material options - seeds, plugs, plants or a combination.
- Know your soil type and select appropriate plant material.
- Plant in clusters to create a "target' for pollinators to find.
- Plant for continuous bloom throughout the growing season from spring to fall.
- Select a site that is removed from wind, has at least partial sun, and can provide water.
- Allow material from dead branches and logs remain as nesting sites; reduce mulch to allow patches of bare ground for ground-nesting bees to utilize; consider installing wood nesting blocks for wood-nesting natives.

2. REDUCE OR ELIMINATE THE IMPACT OF PESTICIDES

- Check out the Pesticides Learning Center (https://www.pollinator.org/learning-center/pesticides) on the Pollinator Partnership website to learn more about the interactions between pollinators and pesticides!
- Where possible, avoid pest problems in the first place by burying infested plant residues, removing pest habitat, and planting native plants that encourage natural enemies of pests.
- Practice Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
- If you are a farmer or pesticide applicator, check out our Pesticide Education Module (https://www.pollinator.org/nappc/pesticide-education).
- If you must use pesticides, read and follow ALL label directions carefully.

3. BECOME A BEE FRIENDLY GARDEN MEMBER

- Join Bee Friendly Gardening (https://pollinator.org/bfg) to showcase your commitment to pollinator health and to connect with a network of gardeners all across North America and beyond.
- If you are a farmer or rancher there are other options for you. Check out the Bee Friendly Farming page (https://pollinator.org/bff) to learn more.

4. REACH OUT TO OTHERS – INFORM AND INSPIRE

- Utilize all the materials available to help you tell the story of pollinators.
Especially during National Pollinator Week (June 19-25, 2023).
- Tell local and state government officials that you care about pollinator health.

5. SUPPORT LOCAL BEES AND BEEKEEPERS

- Buying local honey supports the beekeepers in your area.
- If you're concerned about the number of chemicals use in agriculture, buy organic.
- If you're concerned about contributions to global carbon emissions, buy local.

6. CONSERVE ALL OF OUR RESOURCES; USE LESS AND REDUCE YOUR IMPACT

- Pollinators are dramatically affected by extremes in weather.
- Climate change puts pressure on native ranges and overwintering sites.

What do you do to support pollinators? Let us know!

For more information from Pollinator Partnership, follow this link:

https://www.pollinator.org/

Celebrate National Pollinator Week with a Local Native Plant Sale Event - Saturday, June 22 / 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM

*Visit the OSU BUGmobile & the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County Table!

Where: First Baptist Church of Greater Cleveland / 3630 Fairmount BLVD / Shaker Heights (parking lot behind church - enter from Shelburne Road.)
For more information, see attached flyer.

For information about the MGCC, follow this link:
https://cuyahogamg.org/

Happy Juneteenth from the Master Gardener Volunteers of Cuyahoga County!

To learn more about Juneteenth, follow this link:

https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth