Coordinator's Corner

Maxine Yoon, Master Gardener Coordinator



Thank you so much for your patience at our last monthly meeting. It was quite the way to start off the new year! Despite our initial fumble, we have some exciting upcoming events that I would like to share with all of you.  

Mt. Cuba

I am very excited to be able to take many of you to my first educational field trip that the EAB and I have organized! Please join us for an exciting in-person event at Mt. Cuba Center (https://mtcubacenter.org) in Hockessin, DE. The Mt. Cuba Center is a botanic garden that highlights the beauty and value of native plants to inspire conservation. It features captivating blooms along garden pathways in formal and woodland settings, picturesque meadows and ponds with stunning vistas, and three miles of scenic trails. We will be meeting at the AAC Extension Office on Thursday, April 11^th at 8:30 AM and taking a UMD coach bus to Mt. Cuba! There we will take a garden enthusiast tour, have lunch together, and have some extra time to explore Mt. Cuba. More information and registration can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/803118136967?aff=oddtdtcreator. Act fast before they sell out! Tickets are $60 before Eventbrite fees.  

Pruning with Kim Forry (in-person)

Kim Forry and I will be hosting a pruning workshop on Thursday, February 8^th at 1pm. At the Chase Lloyd House, we will demonstrate proper pruning practices and techniques on boxwoods, yews, roses, and aucubas. If you are interested and would like to learn more, please sign up here! 

Diagnosing Plant Problems – Watch Party (in-person)

The Ask a MG Plant Clinic project and I will be hosting a watch party on Saturday, February 24^th at 1pm – 4pm. We will be watching the Ask A MG Plant Clinic Fall Training recording at the AAC Extension Office. If you are interested in becoming a part of the Ask A MG Plant Clinic team and/or would like a refresher on plant diagnostics, please sign up here! There will be snacks and beverages for us to enjoy.

Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) Update (virtual)

I have created a Spotted Lanternfly presentation that overviews the past, present, and potential future of this pest. Presentation will include insider insights from recent research into managing the SLF and future potential of SLF’s expansion. It will take place virtually via Zoom on Tuesday, February 20^th from 7-8PM. If you are interested, please sign up here! 

MG Spring Training: 2/7 – 5/8 (hybrid)

I am very excited to host and help organize my very first Master Gardener training! The statewide Master Gardener Spring Training will take place from February 7^th until May 8^th, every Wednesday night. It will be hybrid in-person and virtual, depending on the trainee’s preferences. We have about 30 new trainees that are very motivated and excited to be a part of our wonderful program. Let’s do our best to make them feel welcome. ^.^

Stay Classy Anne Arundel,

Maxine Yoon



2024 is the Year of the Heirloom Tomatoes!

This year in the Master Gardener Grow It Eat It program, we are celebrating all things heirloom tomato. Visit our "Year of..." webpage for resources, graphics, and to register for educational webinars related to heirloom tomatoes.

Apprentice Gardens

Planning has begun for the Apprentice Garden 2024 season. The eight family spaces have been offered first to the eligible families who participated in the 2023 Apprentice Garden. Available spaces will then be offered to families on our wait list.  Master Gardeners will open the garden in mid-March, and plant potatoes, lettuces and greens. April 10 is the expected date for our first meeting with the families, and we plan to meet in the Harvest Hall at Kinder Farm Park. The children will paint signs to adorn their garden spaces, while their parents sign paperwork and receive project information.

The Apprentice Garden is laid out with four 8’ by 42” plots along the side fences - these plots are assigned to the client families. The shared common gardens are in the corners of the garden and fill up the middle of the Garden. Flowers and strawberries occupy the corner gardens. Strawberry runners were tucked in pots for transplanting in the spring. One of the center spaces is dedicated to a Mediterranean garden, planted with perennial rosemary, thyme, sage and lavender; chives will sprout in spring and we will add basil. Potatoes and greens will be planted in the center spaces too, to be followed later with tomatoes, peppers, beans, okra, squash, marigolds, etc. 

Master Gardeners can participate by helping the families, or you can “adopt” part of the perennial gardens on the “outside of the fence” and maintain it on your own schedule.  Native goldenrod, mint and chives on one side, and brown-eyed, and black-eyed Susans on the other. Milkweed, tall phlox, iris, BES, mountain mint and a peony grow in front, on the garden gate side.

The Master Gardener volunteers and families meet at 6:30PM every Wednesday at the community gardens at Kinder Farm Park in Millersville, from April through September. 

Please consider volunteering in the Apprentice Garden. Occasional volunteers, and interns are welcome anytime. Volunteers who can do non Wednesday garden checks and watering would be much appreciated as well. Your children are welcome to join you. There is always a sign-in sheet in the garden mailbox for noting your participation and recording your hours. Many thanks.

We hope you can join us in the Apprentice Garden in 2024!

If you would like more information, please contact Janet or Kristin.

Co-chaired by Janet Clauson and Kristin Silva

janetclauson301@gmail.com, 410.987.2027

ka_silva@verizon.net, 443.254.3133

Compost and Native Gardens Project at Quiet Waters Park

After the last compost demonstration in November, the Wildwood Trail leading to the compost site was repaved and new signage was installed by the park. 

This year’s twice monthly work sessions at the compost site will begin in late March/early April. Composting demonstrations for the public will start with the park’s Earth Day celebration on Sun. April 21st and continue through early November.

If you enjoy working outdoors and would like to increase your knowledge of native plants and home composting, please consider becoming part of this year’s Compost (and Native Gardens) Team. Stop by our table at the Project Showcase or email pamdennisonmg@aol.com. We will happily welcome you!

Pam Dennison, Project Chair

The Dairy Farm Demonstration Gardens

Welcome to 2024 and a New Year for the Dairy Farm Project!

We have great plans to REORGANIZE, RENEW, REPLANT AND REFRESH our gardens.

We are seeking any Master Gardener who would be interested in designing and implementing some changes so our gardens can continue to be the best they can be.

Keep watching your newsletters and Friday Flashes for updated information.

And be sure to visit us and our sister project, Vegetable Gardening at the Dairy Farm at the Project

Meeting in February.

If you have any questions, please contact Malcolm Doying at oldcelt100@aol.com or 410-721-7610





Mark Your Calendar!

Monthly AAMG Meeting

February 15, 2024

6:00 - 8:00 PM

Trinity Methodist Church, 1300 West Street, Annapolis, MD

2024 Grow It Eat It Meeting

March 13, 2024

Join us virtually or in-person on Wednesday, March 13, 2024 from 10 AM- 12 PM

Get updates for the 2024 growing season, the Year of Heirloom Tomatoes, and the county GIEI programs. In-person location will be the NEW CMREC building by the dairy farm. Address: 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Building 671, Ellicott City, MD 21042 

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Stephanie Pully at pully@umd.edu by February 28, 2024. 

Zoom Registration - https://go.umd.edu/GIEIwinter24

In-person Registration - https://go.umd.edu/GIEIwinterInperson



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