Hay Bale Gardening ~ Minnesota Garden Clubs

1. 20
Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota, Inc
Sue Neuhart, President
6309 Colony Way #1B, Edina, MN 55435-2239
952.924.0669 Email: sueneuhart@comcast.net
National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Renee Blaschke, President
307 Garwood, Smithville, TX 78957-1504
512.360.2738 Email: renee.blaschke@sbcglobal.net
National Garden Clubs Central Region
Joan Hood, Director
Email: TOLEWG@AOL.COM
WEBMASTER:
Deena Helminiak
Email: deena.helminiak@thementornetwork.com
CHANGE OF NAME, ADDRESS/EMAIL:
Email: kathystattine@comcast.net OR
Kathy Stattine, 7016 Kerry Rd, Edina MN 55439
952.941.9815
NEWSLETTER
Editor: Kathleen “Kat” Hanson 612.866.9289
Design Information: Dorothy Brindle 952.926.6865
Horticulture Section: Marsha Ocel 763.785.9507
SEND NEWSLETTER MATERIAL TO:
Email: fgcm.newsletter@gmail.com OR
Kathleen Hanson, 6710 Stevens Av S, Richfield, MN 55423
612.866.9289
DEADLINES:
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send your 'print ready' copy with your check.
Make checks payable to: Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota.
Mail checks to: Kathleen Hanson, 6710 Stevens Av S, Richfield, MN 55423.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 2-4 North Star Lily Society Annual Lily Show, Bachman’s,
Lyndale Av, Minneapolis
July 4 Independence Day!
July 8 Tri-City Flower Show Symposium, Wood Lake Nature
Center, Richfield.
July 9-10 Diggers Garden Club Flower Show, “America the
Beautiful“. City Hall, Robbinsdale.
July 10 Sumner Library, Perennial Flower Gardening.
July 17-18 Tri-City Flower Show, Southtown Mall, Bloomington.
JULY 18 !CHECKS DUE FOR SUMMER QUARTERLY MEETING!
July 28 FGCM Quarterly Meeting, Central Park, Roseville, MN.
August 21-22 Iris Society of Minnesota & Daffodil Society of Minnesota
Annual Sale, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Chaska, MN
August 30-31 Minnesota State Fair Flower Show
September 1-2 FGCM State Fair Flower Show, State Fairgrounds, St Paul
September 25 Minnesota Peony Society Peony Root Auction, Bachman’s,
Lyndale Av, Minneapolis
September 28 FGCM Executive Board Meeting
October 4-6 Central Region 78th
Annual Meeting, Elkhart Lake, WI
October 11 North Star Lily Society Fall Lily Bulb Sale, Bachman’s,
Lyndale Av, Minneapolis
OCTOBER FGCM Fall Meeting. Hosts: Digger’s Garden Club,
Robbinsdale
Read more about this event in this newsletter.
MEMBER OF NATIONAL GARDEN CLUBS, INCORPORATED
Vol. 53, No. 4 July/August, 2010
Garden Dirt
Volunteers are needed to work at the Renaissance FestiVolunteers are needed to work at the Renaissance FestiVolunteers are needed to work at the Renaissance FestiVolunteers are needed to work at the Renaissance FestivaL!vaL!vaL!vaL!
Anyone can volunteer – your mother, father, sister, brother,
husband, wife, minister, priest, rabbi, UPS driver and YOU.
NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!
Work clothes provided – plenty of breaks – lots of laughs!
Contact Kathy Gamble Compo: kathycompo@yahoo.com
home phone 763-535-1817 or cell phone 612-308-8211.

2. 2
“Garden for Good”
With an early Spring and warm June, we have had unusual conditions
for our gardens and plants. Like being in the Zone 5-6 where I grew
up. Summer conditions bring lush blooms and bugs!
I attended 11different garden club meetings in March-April and
learned about the variety of projects each club participates in and met
members face-to-face who bring great passion to club projects. I have
always believed that it is each club that gives FGCM its identity as a
State organization.
I attended the NGC Convention in May. My first trip to Atlanta, Geor-
gia and I saw that red clay soil first-hand. They also had an early
Spring and azaleas were done but the magnolia trees were in full
bloom. We have great opportunity to link with many of the NGC pro-
jects through club efforts and apply for awards that recognize their
contributions to individual communities.
Carol Dozois was awarded a certificate of appreciation for the Garden
Entry Contest of NGC., Richfield Garden Club, Sunflower Chapter,
Minnesota. There were only 6 states recognized, so I was so proud to
represent us.
We also received a Scholarship Award to Sarah Katherine Weeks.
There were only 20 States who received NGC Scholarships.
We also received a Certificate of Appreciation in recognition of our
projects and programs that promote the goals of National Garden
Clubs, Inc.
A good example of a garden clubs community influence is the Bi-
Centennial Park Memorial Day Program in Burnsville. Sweet Sioux
Garden Club is responsible for creating the annual plantings, hosta
garden, Blue Star Marker and ceremony to recognize and remember
our veterans. Many Sweet Sioux members contributed to the day, but
Carol Oeltjenbruns seems to be the leader of the pack. I learned
about this project when I attended their club meeting in March. As the
mayor of Burnsville spoke, Civil Air Patrol members presented colors,
and the morning proceeded with comments from a Blue Star mother;
over 80 attendees, WWII veterans and a young soldier in camouflage
gear with his family was an excellent example of how a garden club
can bring an NGC project to life.
Please connect with the NGC website and consider how you could be
part of a larger picture.
Sue Neuhart
19
Keep the Plants. We'll take the pots.Keep the Plants. We'll take the pots.Keep the Plants. We'll take the pots.Keep the Plants. We'll take the pots.
Don’t forget to rDon’t forget to rDon’t forget to rDon’t forget to recycle your PLASTIC GARDEN POTS,ecycle your PLASTIC GARDEN POTS,ecycle your PLASTIC GARDEN POTS,ecycle your PLASTIC GARDEN POTS,
POLYSTYRENE TRAYS &HANGING BASKETS this year. Go to linkPOLYSTYRENE TRAYS &HANGING BASKETS this year. Go to linkPOLYSTYRENE TRAYS &HANGING BASKETS this year. Go to linkPOLYSTYRENE TRAYS &HANGING BASKETS this year. Go to link
below for more informbelow for more informbelow for more informbelow for more informaaaation.tion.tion.tion.
http://www.gardenminnesota.com/help-for-homeowners/plastics-recycling/
Carol Dozois, Richfield Garden
Clubs Council, accepts a National
Award from Sue Neuhart, FGCM
President.
Interesting things you can do with
gourds was one of the creative
topics covered at the FGCM Sym-
posium held in June.
African Violets and Terrariums
were the topics at the FGCM
Annual Meeting held in April.
Arlene Savory (left), and her long-
time friend, Elayne Gilhousen
(right), at Savory’s Annual Open
House.

3. 18
(Continued from page 8.)
ers, you are guaranteed to be successful with your first straw
bale garden experience.
How can I learn more? Joel started teaching "Straw Bale Gar-
dening" as a community education class in the spring of 2008,
and has become a popular instructor for many School Districts
around Minnesota and Wisconsin, teaching this new style of
gardening in a classroom setting.
(Continued from page 11.) precise sounding definitions, the term “biodegrad-
able” has been applied to a wide range of products—even those that
might take centuries to decompose, or those that break down into harmful
environmental toxins. According to the FTC, only products that contain
materials that “break down and decompose into elements found in nature
within a reasonably short amount of time when they are exposed to air,
moisture and bacteria or other organisms” should be marketed as “biode-
gradable.” But the FTC acknowledges that even products appropriately-
labeled as biodegradable may not break down easily if they are buried
under a landfill or are otherwise not exposed to sunlight, air and moisture,
the key agents of biodegradation.
Biodegradability is a desirable feature in products such as cleaning
agents. Conventional cleaning agents will often release harmful phos-
phates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as they break down, but
biodegradable versions will not.
Compostable:
'Compostable' products are biodegradable, but with an added benefit:
when they break down, they release valuable nutrients into the soil, aid-
ing the growth of trees and plants. These products degrade within several
months in an industrial composting facility and produce no toxic residues.
Compostability is a desirable feature in traditionally-disposable products
such as plates, bowls, cups and cutlery. These products are commonly
made out of Polylactic acid (PLA), sugarcane fiber (bagasse) or vegeta-
ble starch.
So, in the war between compostable and biodegradable, it is better for
the environment to use disposable products that are labeled 'com-
postable' rather than just 'biodegradable'.
Kat Hanson
Environment and Recycling Chair
Cleanrustygardentoolsbyrubbingthemwithasteelwoolpaddipped inturpentine. Thenpolishthemwith
waddedaluminum.Perhapsyoucanuse the aluminumthatyousavedfrombakedpotatoes! Youcanalsocutthe
aluminuminto stripsandcovertheedgesofapie soitdoesn’tburnoruse itto “stage”ahorticulturaldisplay.
3
CENTRAL REGION ‘S 78TH
ANNUAL MEETING
MOTHER NATURE’S FOLLIESMOTHER NATURE’S FOLLIESMOTHER NATURE’S FOLLIESMOTHER NATURE’S FOLLIES
October 4-6, 2010
OSTHOFF RESORT, ELKHART LAKE, WISCONSIN
101 Osthoff Avenue, Elkhart Lake, WI, 800-876-3399,
www.osthoff.com
PRE-TOUR REGISTRATION (Optional) $ 15.00 $___________
Deadline to Register: September 15, 2010 Limited to first 54 reservations.
Monday, Oct 4th
, Tour The Wreath Factory, Abler Art Glass Gallery and
Two Fish Gallery. Depart at 1:00 P.M. and Return 4:30 P.M.
FULL TIME REGISTRATION
Package Plan Includes: Registration, Meals, Programs (tour not included)
Tuesday, Oct. 5: Meal Choice: Rib Eye______ Tilapia ______
September 15th on or Before...........................................$154.00 $ ___________
September 15th or After...................................................$164.00 $ ___________
PART TIME REGISTRATION
Monday, Oct. 4: Registration, Banquet Program ........…. $ 45.00 $ ___________
Tuesday, Oct. 5: Registration, Luncheon Design Program $ 35.00 $ ___________
Tuesday, Oct. 5: Registration, Dinner Banquet Program & Pool Party
$ 49.00 $ ___________
Meal Choice: Rib Eye______ Tilapia ______
Wednesday, Oct. 6: Registration, Brunch and Program ...$ 35.00 $ ___________
Add $10 to All Part-time Registrations after September 15, 2010
$ 10.00 $ ___________
SEMINARS: Pre-Registration Required for Seminars
Judy Newman: "Live Succulent Topiary" $ 15.00 $ ___________
3:00 P.M. First Session ______ 4:15 P.M. Second Session ______
Lynn Laufenberg: "Fall Decorative Unit" $ 20.00 $ ___________
3:00 P.M. First Session ______ 4:15 P.M. Second Session ______
We wish the best of luck to Hunter Armstrong who has entered
her “Sunflower” sculpture in the Central Region Youth Sculp-
ture contest. The intent of sculpture is to be made with recy-
cled materials. Hunter’s mother is Deb Armstrong, a member
of the Kelodale Garden Club Edina, MN

4. 4
Submitted by Carol Oeltjenbruns, Blue Star Memorial Chairman
Blue Star Mothers
The Blue Star Mothers of America trace their roots back to 1942
when Captain George Maines received over 1000 response to an ad
placed in the Michigan Flint News Advertiser. He asked mothers of
service men to complete a coupon indicating their interest in a ser-
vice and support organization ‘perpetuating the memory of men and
women who have served our country as members of the Armed
Forces.’
The following month, the organization was reported in the Con-
gressional record. Blue Star Mothers Chapters then formed in
Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon,
California, Iowa and Washington. In June of 1960, the Blue Star
Mothers of America was chartered by Congress.
Mothers volunteered throughout the tough times of Worked War
II. They worked in hospitals, and train stations. They packed care
packages for soldiers and were a working part of homeland secu-
rity during times of war. The organization waned in size over the
years but has been held together by mothers showing pride in both
their children and country. The World Trade Center attacks on
9/11 prompted mothers to once again hang Blue Star flags in their
windows at home proclaiming pride in the fact that we have chil-
dren protecting our freedom.
Our organization not only provides support for active duty service
personnel but also promotes patriotism, assists Veterans organiza-
tions, and is available to assist in volunteer efforts to help our
country remain strong.
The South Metro Blue Star Mothers support the following non-
profit organizations:
• The Armed Forces Service Center at the Minneapolis St. Paul
International Airport, Open 24/7 and completely funded by dona-
tions and volunteers, the Armed Forces Service Center is an ‘all
free stop for active-duty military personnel, their dependents, re-
servists and national guardsmen.
• The Fisher House, providing ‘a home away from home’, enabling
military family members to be close to a loved one during hospi-
talization for an illness, disease or injury.
• Sew Much Comfort, providing adaptive clothing free of charge to
support the unique needs or our injured service members from all
branches of the military.
17
September 25, 2010
Minnesota Peony Society Peony Root Auction
Bachman's Heritage Room
6010 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis
12:00 How to Divide Peonies Demonstration
1:00pm: Peony Root Auction
TTTThe Public is Welcome!he Public is Welcome!he Public is Welcome!he Public is Welcome!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 11, 2010
North Star Lily Society Fall Lily Bulb Sale
Bachman's Heritage Room
6010 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis
10:00am Open to the Public
Noon How to Divide Lilies Seminar
If you're looking for lilies to add to your garden, be sure to check
out our biggest society fundraiser. This sale showcases a great
opportunity to acquire those hard-to-find martagon lilies. We have
been fortunate to be able to present a nice selection of these
shade tolerant beauties. Your hosta glade deserves a martagon!
We'll also have a wide variety of Asiatic, trumpet, LA hybrid and
Orienpet (OT) lilies in an assortment of beautiful, eye-catching col-
ors. Add elegance to your garden, add lilies!!
The Public is Welcome!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Same time and place as the daf-
fodil sale. Several very new iris
will be available as we will have
some of the iris that were fea-
tured at the national convention
in Madison, Wisconsin in June.
Also, there will be a large
number of excellent daf-
fodils, all not available in
the commercial trade,
that have been grown in
the Midwest so they are
used to our climate (not shipped in from Holland).
Edie Godfrey,
Treasurer, Daffodil Society of Minnesota
President, Iris Society of Minnesota
Iris sale at Arboretum's Flower Fest
Sat, August 21, 10am-4pm
Sun, August 22 10am-4pm
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN
Daffodil sale at Arboretum's Flower Fest
Sat, August 21, 10am-4pm
Sun, August 22 10am-4pm
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska, MN

5. 16
The North Star Lily Society-Annual Lily Show
July 2-4, 2010
Bachman's Heritage Room,
6010 Lyndale Av S, Minneapolis, MN
Set-up and Entries July 2 - 1:00 pm – Closing
Horticulture Entries Accepted July 3 - 7:00 am - 9:00 am
Artistic Design entries open until 10:00 am
Sunday, July 4 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
SHOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Please visit our website for more information;
www.northstarlilysociety.com
Sumner Library at 611 Van White Memorial Blvd in Minneapolis con-
tinues to host Master Gardener talks.
Saturday, July 10, 2 p.m.;Perennial Flower Gardening
Grow plants that beautify your landscape year after year. Learn about
their care, ideal sites (shade, sun, and moisture), soil conditions, pest con-
trol and varieties ideal for Minnesota.
Saturday, August 7, 2 p.m;Rain Gardening
A rain garden is a bowl-shaped garden designed to absorb excess rainwater
run-off from a house and its associated landscape. Learn why it’s beneficial
for the environment, how to make one and what plants are suitable.
Sumner Library is located near Hwy 94 at the intersection of Van White
Memorial Blvd and Olson Memorial Highway. For more information call
(952) 847-2875.
The Diggers Garden Club of Robbinsdale presents
"America the Beautiful" Standard Flower Show
at Robbinsdale City Hall, 4100 Lake Drive, Robbinsdale, MN 55422
July 9, 2010 1:00 - 4:30 pm
July 10, 2010 9:00 - 11.30 am
The Minnesota Peony Society invites you to our annual Peony Auc-
tion. This fundraiser supports our society events such as our Spring
educational seminar and our annual peony flower show. Members dig,
divide and make available at auction a number of hard-to-find and very
collectible garden peonies. We also acquire a number of the beautiful
peony hybrids from some of the most noted hybridizers and growers
in the region. If you're making plans for next year's garden, be sure to
add a peony or two! Our auction will present some of the best!
EVENTSEVENTSEVENTSEVENTS
5
Good News! Our candidate for a National Scholarship has been
chosen and will be awarded $3,500 toward her 2010-2011 univer-
sity school year. She is Sarah Katherine Weeks a grad student at
the Twin City University. Her major is Landscape Architecture and
she is enrolled in the College of Design. She is from Minneapolis
and her educational background is in Minnesota schools.
While attending Carleton College in Northfield, Sarah traveled to
Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands. There she kept a
sketchbook of the landscape, flowers and plants. She said "The
scope and beauty of the landscapes and the unfamiliar and de-
lightful plants astounded me and captured my imagination." In all
her travels she has kept busy filling her sketchbook with the wild
areas near Lake Superior, the Canadian landscapes and the
magic of Mexico.
When Sarah lived in Grand Marais she had the opportunity to
study wild plants and their healing properties. She worked with
others to produce a reference book on the balms and tinctures
made from these wild plants. They experienced creating these
medicines for the book.
On her return to the Minneapolis, Sarah's interest has turned to
community gardens and growing food. A project she was design-
ing would use an old power plant that could be for gardens and
landscaped into a public park. She expressed herself in these
words "I love the fact that growing food can empower people and
have a direct impact on their quality of life. The landscapes involv-
ing food can be beautiful, productive and environmentally benefi-
cial."
Congratulations, Sarah we are very proud to have you as a re-
cipient of not only our award but also Nationals. You are truly
deserving of these awards. Sarah was unable to be at our an-
nual meeting as she is studying in Italy for the semester. Her re-
ply to the announcement of her award was "I was excited to hear
the news and am honored to receive the award. It will be a great
help in the coming year."
Submitted by Roberta Turgeon, Scholarship Chairman
THE SCHOLARSHIP CORNERTHE SCHOLARSHIP CORNERTHE SCHOLARSHIP CORNERTHE SCHOLARSHIP CORNER
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2011

6. 6
Seven Sons Flower BuSeven Sons Flower BuSeven Sons Flower BuSeven Sons Flower Bush (Heptacodium micsh (Heptacodium micsh (Heptacodium micsh (Heptacodium micoooonioides)nioides)nioides)nioides)
The name is a trifle awkward and so is
the adolescent form of this shrub but
what a transformation as it grows into
maturity. Seven-sons flower becomes a
very large shrub that carries panicles of
white flowers in late summer (the name
comes from the clusters of florets that
form the panicles), and extends the dis-
play with calyces that turn red after the florets drop off. Sometimes
the red calyces are as showy as the preceding flowers. The lacy re-
mains of the panicles tip the branches and are especially decorative
when outlined in frost. The leaves are me-
dium/large and would provide bold texture in
the shrub border. In addition, the bark exfoli-
ates and the warm ecru tone of the slender
trunks looks marvelous in winter. Those of
you familiar with crape myrtles will find
seven-sons flower providing a similarly grace-
ful form in the landscape.
Originally introduced from China early in the 20th
century, seven-
sons flower was lost to cultivation over the years. It was reintro-
duced to the west in the 1980’s and has since won awards and ac-
colades for its beauty and adaptability. I first saw mature specimens
at the Chicago Botanic Garden and at Madison’s Olbrich Botanic
Garden. In those locations, the plants had grown to 10-12 feet tall
and 8-10 feet wide at the crowns. This shrub has also been in the
collection of the University of Minnesota Arboretum since 1996;
the U of M specimen is smaller than those in Chicago or Madison.
Originally rated zone 5 for hardiness, Heptacodium is now rated
zone 4 by some nurseries and horticultural experts.
As it was deemed to be tolerant of light shade, I sited my plant
near an east facing wall. Although it grew to head high and
bloomed in that location, the bush looked meager. I decided to
transplant it to a full sun area and dug it up one spring, leaving so
many large roots behind that I doubted the plant would survive the
operation. To my surprise, within a matter of weeks, the woody
15
Renaissance Festival 2010
If ever you’ve thought of volunteering at the booth, this is the year! It is the
40th
Anniversary of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival so there are sure
to be special events each weekend.
We need to be at the booth by 8:00am to set out the product and get dressed
(and I have gotten some really cute new outfits for the booth, too). The first
hour is the busiest and then we take turns shopping and seeing shows. We
need to man the booth (well, mostly woman the booth) until the festival closes
at 7:00pm and then we put everything away, change clothes and go home.
Your club can take a day and bring 6 or 7 people. Or maybe only 2 or 3 of
you want to come from your club—that’s great! I’ll pair you up with another
group of 2 or 3! You can sign up individually to work a day-many women
bring their daughter or a neighbor (or even a husband!). Because some ladies
have expressed a desire to work at the booth but fear they could not last all
day, we are going to try allowing some volunteers to work shortened days.
Some of the workers may make arrangements to work from 8:00am until 3-
4pm. This must be arranged ahead of time because we still need some
people to work until closing. (I have been left out there alone because a
whole group planned to leave early and did not tell me until they came out
there). Hopefully, shorter days for some people will allow us to include more
members. I try to make sure everyone has a fun day with lots of opportunities
to see shows and go shopping. And it is always fun helping little girls be-
come little princesses!
Check out the table below: these are the dates that I still need workers. As
always, if you can help in any way or are interested in having me attend one
of your club meetings, please contact me at kathycompo@yahoo.com, my
home phone 763-535-1817 or my cell phone at 612-308-8211.
Thanks—Kathy Gamble Compo
Sunday Monday Tues Wed Thurs Friday Saturday
Aug 21-FILLED
Aug 22-FILLED Aug 28-need
6-7
Aug 29-need
6-7
Sept 4-need
6-7
Sept 5-FILLED Sept 6-
need 6-7
Sept 11-need
6-7
Sept 12- need
6-7
Sept 18-need
6-7
Sept 19-need
6-7
Sept 25-need
6-7
Sept 26-need
6-7
Oct 1-OK Oct 2-need
6-7
Oct 3-FILLED

7. 14
August 30 – 31 Minnesota State Fair Flower Show
September 1-2 Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota Flower Show
Mn Florist Association
September 3-4 B nsai Society Show
Orchid Society Show
September 5-6 Dahlia Society Show
7
base produced numerous new shoots and the shrub has never
looked back. After several years in this site, it is 10 feet tall and 8
feet wide, and blooms profusely every summer.
My specimen is multi-stemmed but some nurseries may offer the
plant trained to a single stem. Winter temperatures down to minus
24 have not caused any dieback. For neatness I trim off the old
flower heads in the spring. My plant has never displayed any au-
tumn color although some sources mention that the leaves turn yel-
low. Nevertheless, I consider this shrub tops in flowers, form, and
performance in full sun and clay soil. Seven-sons flower does not
require any pruning but removing the lowest branches would show
off the attractive bark. The flowers are mildly fragrant, and are ex-
tremely attractive to bees and other pollinators so this may be a
consideration for some gardeners.
Submitted by Mary Yee, Kelodale Garden Club, Edina
Hay Bale Gardening
Reprinted with permission from Joel Karsten, http://www.strawbalegardens.com/
Straw Bale Gardening is simply a different
type of container gardening. The main
difference is that the container is the straw
bale itself and is held together with two or
three strings. Once the straw inside the
bale begins to decay the straw becomes
"conditioned" compost that creates an
extraordinary plant rooting environment.
Getting the straw bales conditioned is an
essential part of the process, and should
be started by the first week in May for most parts of the country.
This gardening technique works anywhere in the country or the
world for that matter.
Joel Karsten is a certified Nursery and Landscape Professional
through the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association. He
also holds a BS from the University of Minnesota in Horticulture
Science; however, his real gardening knowledge has come
from 35 years of being in the garden. He started pulling
weeds at four years old in the garden with his Grandma Jose-
phine, who taught him everything a good vegetable gar-
dener needs to know in order to grow an extraordinary garden

8. 8
every year. Joel's father, Glen Karsten, owner of Karsten's Nurs-
ery, has been growing and selling trees and shrubs for many
years at his tree farm near Worthington MN. Joel spent many
hours working in the nursery fields, planting and harvesting, until
he made his escape to the University of Minnesota, for a four
year "vacation" from the farm.
Why Straw Bale Gardening? Now living in Roseville, Minnesota,
Joel spends much of his time tending his half acre residential lot,
and growing mostly annuals, perennials, and ornamental
grasses. Growing a vegetable garden at "the farm" (3.5 hours
away) seemed impossibility because of the distance and obvi-
ous lack of attention that could be given to a garden with only
a weekend now and then to do the work involved. That impos-
sibility became a reality when Joel discovered Straw Bale Gar-
dening. Minimal maintenance that results in maximum produc-
tion was a concept that seemed like a perfect gardening solu-
tion.
Who should plant a Straw Bale Garden?
• Can't do heavy lifting? If you are less capable or less inter-
ested in doing the heavy work of traditional gardening, such
as tilling the soil, constant weeding, unending insect battles
and persistent disease spraying, Straw Bale Gardening virtu-
ally eliminates these challenges.
• Can't bend over? If you have a physical limitation or handi-
cap that restricts you from getting down on the ground, you
will appreciate the easier access to the higher surface of a
straw bale, which eliminates the bending to plant and har-
vest.
• Poor soil or limited space? If your have a low soil quality, or
if you have limited space that you can devote to a gar-
den, you will love Straw Bale Gardening with its low cost,
flexibility in garden placement, and great performance of
the straw once it's properly conditioned.
Interested in broadening your gardening horizons? If you are a
seasoned gardener looking for a fun new method, you will be
amazed at the results!
Using many of the tips and tricks Joel offers in his classes and the
written material he offers as a guide to new straw bale garden-
Continued on page 18.
13
TRITRITRITRI----CITY FLOWER SHOWCITY FLOWER SHOWCITY FLOWER SHOWCITY FLOWER SHOW –––– JULY 17 & 18JULY 17 & 18JULY 17 & 18JULY 17 & 18
YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A GARDEN CLUB MEMBER
TO ENTER THE TRI-CITY FLOWER SHOW.
Escape from the “Dog Days of Summer” and participate in the Tri-City
Flower Show. There are plenty of categories for you to enter and you
don’t need a garden or yard!
Try your hand in the “Terrarium” category. Yes, terrariums are all the
rage! Do you have “house plants”? There are categories for that, whether it
is a potted plant, hanging basket or a container garden. Or, are you more
the “crafty” type? In the category for “Artistic Crafts” the classes are for
corsages, decorative baskets, and yard art.
If you would like to learn more about flower shows you can attend the
“Tri-City Flower Show Symposium” which is held at the Wood Lake
Nature Center, Richfield MN, on July 8th at 6:30 pm. The symposium
covers all of the above topics, in addition to “Rules”, “Registration” and
“Helpful Hints”. ENTRY TAGS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THIS
MEETING.
If you or someone you know is interested in entering the Tri-City Flower
Show but would like more information, contact Phyllis Larsen, Tri-City
Flower Show Chair, plarsen8200@comcast.net or 952.888.3723.
See you at the show!
Kat Hanson
STATE FAIR SHOWS AND DISPLAYS
Every fall the Minnesota State Fair has an excellent place to see
what grows well in our area and in our homes. Come to the fair as a
visitor or as a participant, especially in our Federated Show. The fair
may seem overwhelming, but I will be glad to walk you through how to
enter. The State Fair Show entries need to be pre registered by mid
August, the rest have entry dates closer to the shows or the day of the
show. If you pre register for the Monday show, you get a free on site
parking sticker for the lot behind the Haunted House - just about half a
block from the Agriculture/Horticulture Building where these shows
are staged.
Most of the shows are open to the public, so if anyone wants to en-
ter, please give me a call for how to get involved. Phyllis Andrews,
651-455-5077. Hope to see many of the Federated members entering
both the Wednesday Federated Show and the Monday State Fair
Show.
August 26 -27 African Violet Society
MN State Horticultural Society Plant Shows
August 28 – 28 MN Gladiolus Society Show

9. 12
Federated Garden Clubs of Minnesota, Inc.
Gather at 4:30 pm for Registration and Socializing
Cold beverages available
5:00 pm Business Meeting
5:45 pm Program:
“Caring for Perennials” by
Ramsey County Master Gardener
After the picnic, a trip to Roseville’s Muriel
Sahlin Arboretum
2525 North Dale Street
A peaceful oasis in the heart of the city.
The Arboretum Grounds include:
8 acres of landscaped theme gardens and
manicured grounds. Stone walkways and
paved plazas. Tree and shrub collections.
Pergola entry and water feature.
Please complete the form below and mail it along with your check to
Barbara Halverson, 11017 Ewing Ave. So., Bloomington, MN 55431-3846
tel. 952-884-4922
Please make your check out to FGCM
for the amount of $12 and send by July 18th, 2010
Name(s]
Phone Number
Club
6:30 pm Picnic Supper
Sloppy Joes Potato Salad Relishes
Green Salad Dessert
$12$12$12$12 $12$12$12$12
Picnic in the Park
July 28, 2010
Central Park
2540 Lexington Av N
Roseville, MN
A lovely scenic lakeside site in Roseville’s Central Park, Jaycee’s Shel-
ter. It has all the amenities for a relaxed gathering in a beautiful park
setting, surrounded by trails and play fields.
9
#1 #2
#3
Now we will show an
Exhibition Table, Type I
including a decorative unit
and staged using frame or
frames as in #1.
"Tables Again”
By Dorothy Brindle
The “Handbook for Flower Shows” discusses functional modes of dining
as Informal, Semi-formal and Formal. Informal is a casual setting with
any number of place settings and the decorative unit (flower arrange-
ment) place where best suited for the effect. Semi-formal has an even
number of place-settings, the decorative unit placed in the center of the
table and using pastel colors except for festive occasions. Formal tables
are not included in our flower shows.
In the last issue we had examples of three modes of tables: TV Tray,
Buffet and Exhibition Table, Type II with a background, all in the
Flower Show Schedule this year.
And, if I haven’t confused you
enough this time, there’s more fun to
come!
H B D B
L K A F
Also a functional table for one
(other than TV Tray) is a Func-
tional Capsule Table setting
for one using a decorative
unit. This design may be suit-
able for the size of the exhibit
or for an imagined full-size
dining table as in #2.
An informal functional ta-
ble for sit-down dining is
shown in #3.

10. 10
Bamboo won’t grow here!? Right?
There are so many plants that people think will surely not grow here in
Minnesota, unless it’s just for the summer or if you’re fortunate enough
to have a place to overwinter tropicals. There are some cacti for zones 4+
and a few banana species for zones 5+ that can be grown in-ground. And
how about a bamboo thicket to hide some unsightly areas!
Bamboo can create a wonderful atmosphere, add some elegance with
their form and create that tropical look. Bamboo has 2400 species
worldwide, but a surprising number of evergreen bamboos are true tem-
perate species and will tolerate zone 5 and even zone 4 conditions! One
species, Canebrake Bamboo (Arundinaria gigantea), is native to the
United States.
One of the main problems with growing bamboo was finding sources
of plants. Now there are many sources, especially if you go online, just
check your favorite nurseries. However many of them are rare and can
be expensive, so the best way I’ve found is to barter with gardening
friends that are already growing bamboo!
Characteristics. Once a year, usually in the spring, new growth arises as
bamboo shoots (or culms) emerge from buds present on underground
stems called rhizomes. The key to growing under temperate conditions is
understanding how and when different species of bamboo send up their
new growth and what is needed to maximize growth but keep the plant
within the boundaries set for it. Edith, a friend in my garden club and
now deceased, had beautiful bamboo plants, but then they just started to
take over. Her plants were runners, as many of the large hardy temperate
bamboo are. If that is the type you get and want to keep the plant con-
tained, find the largest tub or barrel you can to grow it in sunk down in
the soil with the bottom out. My favorite is the 30 to 35 gallon pond tubs
you get at the hardware/retail stores. However, there are Clump Bamboos
you can get and these grow like the perennial bunch grasses most of us are
familiar with.
Culture. The best time to transplant bamboo from the field is in spring
just before the new culms begin to appear. A layer of organic mulch is a
must in the first year to conserve moisture, especially in sunny sites. Af-
ter that, they will develop their own mulch layers through natural leaf drop.
Your Hort CornerYour Hort CornerYour Hort CornerYour Hort Corner
By Marsha Ocel, Anoka County Master Gardener
11
Clumpers-
Hardy Dragon Bamboo Fargesia dracocephala, hardy to -20 degrees
Umbrella Bamboo Fargesia murielae, hardy to -20 degrees (hardiest clumper)
Runners-
Canebrake Bamboo Arundinaria gigantea, hardy to -20 degrees
David Bisset Bamboo Phyllostachys bissettii, hardy to -25 (good performer)
Phyllostachys nuda, hardy to -25 degrees, tolerates bitter winter winds
Phyllostachys rubromarginata, hardy to -25 degrees, red margins on new shoots
Sasa senanensis, truly leaf hardy to -25 degrees & warmer parts of zone 3
Mary Eleanor Duvall, of Brook Park, MN passed away 5/21/2010 at the age of 85.
She was an avid photographer who traveled the world visiting at least 19 coun-
ties. Her intense interest in gardening kept her active in 16 organizations, most
recently the Mora Town and Country Garden Club and 6th District MN Horticul-
tural Society. She was also a member of the North Star Lily Society and the MN
Peony Society. Mary was an International Gardener who cultivated friendships all
over the world.
Submitted by Edie Godfrey
Treasurer, Daffodil Society of Minnesota
President, Iris Society of Minnesota
Recyclable vs. Biodegradable vs. Compostable
Recyclable? Biodegradable? Compostable? It 's great that we have so
many options besides throwing stuff in the trash, but sometimes it gets
confusing about what goes where!
Recyclable:
'Recyclable’ products can be collected and reprocessed to produce new
items. Common recyclable materials are: paper, cardboard, plastic, glass,
aluminum, and electronic waste. Recycling keeps these materials from
filling our landfills.
Many paper and plastic products are marked with the universal
recycling symbol. Many complex electrical products (mobile
phones, computers, printers, etc.) contain parts and materials
which can be recycled by disassembling the products. Other
products such as batteries, paints and fertilizers are specially processed
to reduce the environmental impact of their disposal.
Biodegradable:
'Biodegradable' means that a
product will break down into
carbon dioxide, water and organic material within a reasonable amount of
time in the natural environment. The term 'biodegradable' however has
no legal enforcement or definition therefore the term has been used
loosely by some manufacturers. But despite such Continued on page 18.