The Tulsa Master Gardener program is looking for active adults that enjoy interacting with people, get along well with others, are life-long learners and are ready, willing and able to volunteer their time to enhance the numerous Master Gardener community outreach programs.

 

If you are interested in learning how to become a Tulsa Master Gardener, click HERE for more information.  The second and final MG Orientation session is next Wednesday.  Hope to see you there!

{Purple Coneflower}                             {Christmas Fern}

. . . . to name a couple . . . more selections can be found in the article

This is no country for fussy plants. You know, those plants that whine and wilt when the going gets tough. Sure, you can keep even fussy plants alive with constant watering, as long as the roots can absorb it faster than the heat bakes it out of the leaves. But, plants need oxygen in the soil in order to survive. And, too much water removes all the oxygen and drowns their roots. Sun? Yep, plants need sun. The tags on many plants show even full sun is needed. But, full sun in milder parts of the country is not the same as full sun in Oklahoma where even late afternoon sun can be brutal. So, enough on what you probably already know about Oklahoma summers.  The real question is........which plants do well in this environment?  

Click on OKLAHOMA HEAT LOVING PLANTS to learn which plants do better than others in terms of surviving our sweltering Oklahoma heat and humidity.  

{Lace Bug}                                       {Squash Bug}

There are a couple of really nasty pests that attack virtually everyone's flower bed and/or garden each year.  That would be the Lace Bug and the Squash Bug.  While many of you may already be familiar with these pesky critters, a refresher may be in order to remind folks of how they overwinter themselves, what Lace bugs can attack ( Sycamores, Oaks, Elms, Azaleas, and Hawthorns) and what Squash Bugs can attack (virtually all cucurbits), and how best to control them.

So, click on SUMMER BUGS to quickly learn some of the basics about them.

A Few Other Common Pests To Be On The Watch For This Time Of Year

We've all seen the beautiful blooming orchids in most stores or greenhouses, and possibly wondered if we could purchase something like that and have it prosper in our home environment. The answer is both YES and NO.  To bring you up to speed on this mini-series:

In Part 1 of this series on orchids, general environmental needs, light requirements and basic watering practices were presented.  If you missed that article, here is another chance at ORCHIDS: PART 1. 

In Part 2, proper watering practices and a look at some of the potting mediums and re-potting issues were explored.  If you missed that article, here is another chance at ORCHIDS: PART 2.

In Part 3, the final in this mini-series, we will briefly touch on a few natural tips for orchid care and discuss some of the more interesting orchid myths. For that information, click on ORCHIDS: PART 3.

How is your garden looking so far this year? Did your spring and summer perennials produce a full flush of blooms as expected, or were there fewer or smaller blooms this year? Or perhaps the centers of the plants are weakened or sparse...or maybe they're getting too crowded for the space?

Perhaps you answered "no" to all of these questions and your perennials are at their peak size and health.

Did you know that a plant does not have to be in decline to benefit from division? In fact, the prime time to divide a perennial is when it's at its best! But either way, consider dividing your perennials to increase vigor, harvest new starters for open spaces, and overall, breathe new life into your garden.

Click on DIVIDING PERENNIALS  for more information on some tips to make dividing perennials a big success. 

{Dandelion}                                       {Red Clover}

{Japanese Knotweed}

From the beginning of spring to the end of summer and through late fall, many gardeners can attest to the fact that their landscape is filled with weeds. Most often, we find ourselves picking, pulling and yes, spraying weeds. But, how often have you gazed across your garden and thought that I'm so thankful for these weeds in my garden? Well, despite our desire to rid our landscape of weeds, if we dare to think outside of the box, there is a unique beauty in weeds and potentially a place for them in the garden. 

Click on BEAUTY OF WEEDS to find out which ones that are not only beautiful but beneficial to our gardens.

What is a planting calendar? Seems rather obvious, but let's be clear just in case.  A planting calendar is simply a guide that helps you plan the best time to start planting your garden. Planting calendars are usually based on frost dates, which dictate when you should start seeds and when it's safe to plant outdoors.

So, w hy is a planting calendar important to us gardeners?   Click on PLANTING CALENDAR to find out the top three reasons.

Through the years, gardeners have been very creative and that is certainly the case today. Because we are invested in gardening, we are conscious of the footprint we are leaving on the earth and try, to the best of their ability, to leave their space better than when they found it. This type of "Earth-Kind Gardening" leads to conservation of resources, improved preservation, and maintenance of their property. Safeguarding our earth with sound tested practices are what most gardeners are about.

So, while the subject of "Reduce, Reuse and Recycle" isn't necessarily directly related to horticulture, gardeners are generally good stewards of the earth and environment.  One of the best examples of this is our desire to recycle organic matter through composting.  But composting is just one of the many ways we can co-exist with our natural environment.

  
Interested in knowing more about how you can do your part to help?  Click on THINK GREEN to learn more and to have immediate hyperlinked access to a ton of additional informational resources, both State (Oklahoma and others) and Federal.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Tulsa Master Gardener Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) organization.  As such, it receives no city, state or federal funding for its Tulsa community outreach programs. In fact, the Tulsa's Master Gardener programs are self-funded by its own fundraisers, from member donations, and from public donations.

The main Tulsa Master Gardener fundraiser is its Annual Spring Plant Sale that is held each April.  Other fundraisers include the Garden Tour and Garage Sale in June.  And, one of the most important income sources that sometimes gets overlooked are the personal and corporate donations.  These are so important in helping us to meet our financial obligations and we want you to know they are very much appreciated. 

Our Master Gardeners are on hand to assist you with even the toughest gardening questions. Visit us in person, by phone, via email or online! Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m.

Address: 4116 E. 15th Street, Gate 6 at the Fairgrounds

Phone: (918) 746-3701