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Master Gardener Association of
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June 24, 2018
10 AM-5 PM Have you ever been on a garden tour before?Gardens from different Genesee County focus areas are selected one year in advance. We look for a variety of garden types to interest all viewers. This year, the garden tour is in the Grand Blanc area.
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Blooms, Birds, Bees, and Butterflies
Mark your calendar! The date will be June 24, 2018 10 AM-5 PM. The tour lasts about two hours and is about ten miles from beginning to end. We have seven gardens in the Grand Blanc area to match a variety of garden interests. It seems like everyone has a different taste in gardens.
This is more than just a garden tour. The educational component went over so well that we intend to do this again this year. There are at least two master gardeners at each site which have an educational component. Many of last years guests enjoyed the interactive learning posters. Other guests enjoyed the question scavenger hunt. One guest reported that the questions inspired gardening discussions while traveling from home to home.
This is more than just a garden tour. The educational component went over so well that we intend to do this again this year. There are at least two master gardeners at each site which have an educational component. Many of last years guests enjoyed the interactive learning posters. Other guests enjoyed the question scavenger hunt. One guest reported that the questions inspired gardening discussions while traveling from home to home.
Pre- Garden Tour Report
We went on the pre-tour Genesee County Garden Tour last night in Grand Blanc. They were all so pretty and interesting. One was more whimsical with a variety of flowers for bee lovers. One was focused on plants native plants to entice birds and butterflies to the garden. Another was what I call "gardener on steroids." There was so much to look at in this garden. Breathtakingly Beautiful! We have a shade garden with Hostas, roses, and a water feature. Another site owner designed their garden with many curves. Original art pieces are sprinkled in with the flowers. Another site reminds me of a well-manicured English garden. The last garden is garden magazine pretty. The owner does a lot with a variety of textures. You won't want to miss this garden tour.
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Site 1 Homeowner is a bee keeper and nature lover. Her garden keeps nature happy with a variety of blooms offering pollen to her little friends. She plants many native plants to preserve the natural ecosystem and foster a rich bird and butterfly garden.
Site 2 Homeowner has been gradually adding more native plants for a balanced ecosystem and to encourage more birds, bees, and butterflies to his garden. Three varieties of milkweed are planted to entice the monarch butterflies to visit his garden. Site 3 Homeowners has been working on their garden for 55 years. The man of the house has done all of the cement work, building garden trellises, arbor, round metal trellis and mosaic design under the arbor. His wife takes credit for all of the plant selection and planting. Visitors will see tree peonies, beauty bush, pearl bush, fringe tree, kousa dogwood, and sunburst locust to name a few. Site 4 homeowner is drawn to perennials and then intersperses annuals to balance the color palette and interest. I am always thinking of ways to incorporate interesting plants as conversation points in the garden such as vertical apple trees, banana plants, and vintage roses. Site 5 Thirty years of garden expansion and establishing the soil have reaped this well-deserved paradise setting. One of the the home owner's favorite place to enjoy this beauty is sitting in the outdoor hot tub by the deck gazing at an ever-changing blooming landscape in every direction. Numerous outdoor sculptures purchased directly from the artists enhance and add focal points to the landscape. Site 6 Something is always in bloom at this landscape. Flowering privet hedges line the front boundaries of this subdivision landscape in the spring. Lilac, snowball viburnum and forsythia bushes also sing spring time. Smoke tree and hydrangeas along with several perennial blooms welcome summer. The crimson burning bush signals fall is coming. This well-maintained subdivision lot is a seasonal eye catcher. Site 7 Imagine sitting under a hand-built gazebo surrounded by a tranquil garden while sipping your morning coffee. Imagine listening to the sound of the water trickling down the three ornamental water features while watching the birds take sips. Where can I purchase tickets?Ticket Price $10
Children under 12 Price $2 Cash or checks made out to MGAGCM The ticket serves as your tour book and includes maps and driving directions. A Special Thanks to the business owners
who sell tickets for this year’s garden tour: Beadin’ Mon 4215 Miller Rd. Flint Mon.-Sat. (Valley Plaza east of Genesee Valley Shopping Center) Closed Sunday Bordine Nursery 9100 Torrey Road, Grand Blanc (North of Grand Blanc Rd., west of Fenton Rd.) Flushing Senior Center 106 Elm St, Flushing, MI 48433 Piechnik Greenhouse 13172 McCumsey Road, Clio (North of Farrand Rd.) Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253 Atherton Road, Burton (East of Center Rd.) Each home will also have tickets available. Addresses will be posted the week before the tour. Master Gardener Association
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Educational Topics
Site 1 Honey bees / mason bees NOTE: Site 1 home owner raises honey bees. The hive is located in the middle of a flower bed. Honey bees are not aggressive; however, respect their space. A master gardener bee keeper will be by the hive to answer questions. Be aware that all flowery gardens attract bees and wasps for its nectar. Site 2 Native plants* and Espilier trees Native plants attract more pollinators- bird, bees, butterflies. If you don't have room to grow an apple tree but would like one, an espilier tree might be the answer. Site 3 Butterflies * Would you like to see more butterflies in your yard. Find out what to plant to attract them. Site 4 Roses What should you know to take care of roses? Site 5 Integrated Pest Management What is the best way to take care of pests in your garden? Site 6 Pruning ornamental shrubs When should I prune my flowering shrubs? Site 7 Ornamental grasses How do you use ornamental grasses in landscape? Site 2 Master Gardener Richard Moldenhauer came up with some intriguing questions about his garden. He will provide the answer at his site.
This sheet will help you learn some interesting garden facts about this site that you might be able to use elsewhere… 1. There are (2) Golden Vicary Privet shrubs here that were 3’ and 5’ tall last year. This spring the branches above 8” were almost completely dead. What happened? 2. There’s a Colorado Blue Spruce in the front yard that’s looking like it is past its prime. What is causing the decline? 3 Have you ever heard of Espalier? Check out an example of espalier applied to (3) dwarf apple trees on the east side of the house. 4. What kind of grass it that big patch in the back yard and why is it so long? 5. The flower bed (?) in the center of the yard is the start (new last fall) of a pollinator garden with emphasis on native plants. How many can you identify without looking at a plant sign? 6. The vegetable garden soil didn’t always look like this. In 1977 it was heavy clay subsoil. What do you think was done to change it? 7. I’m too busy to weed my gardens all summer, but I hate weedy gardens! Note my various methods of weed control. Garden Tour CommitteeKay McCullough - ticket, website, garden selection, chairperson
Shirley Smela / LaDonna Gamble - Businesses selling tickets Maggie Gregg - Site volunteers Mel Kennedy - PR advertising Sabrina VanDyke - Directional sign placement Ticket advertisements Sharon Noteboom- Committee Sally Pettinger - Educational component Paul Murtier- home selection Margaret Sowle - committee Pam Redden - Educational component Master Gardener Educational HoursMaster Gardeners who attend our garden tour may receive 1/2 educational hour for every site visited or a total of 3 1/2 educational hours for attending our garden tour. Why is that? Our garden tour has met the educational standards established by MSUE. Our garden tour has a trained Master Gardener at each site and is providing research based educational information related to each garden.
Garden Drawing this Year
Scavenger HuntMaster Gardeners will assist Visitors with garden questions to take part in drawing.
Drawing for a handmade, sturdy, 20” X 18” quilted bag Two exterior and two interior pockets with Velcro closures Thank you for supporting our program. We appreciate it.
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Master Gardener Association of Genesee County Michigan is open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status or family status. It is an affirmative-action equal opportunity employer.