Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Plan to join us on Tuesday Nov. 19

The Batavia Plain Dirt Gardeners will meet this coming Tuesday NOV. 19 at the Batavia Public Library.  A short program on recycling will be presented and then those who signed up PRIOR TO THE MEETING will be making a table decoration for Thanksgiving.  If you are one of the 18 who signed up to do this, bring a candlestick and, it is supposed to warm up a bit so if possible, please search your garden for pachysandra and ivy and other things that might be added.  Grasses, seed heads, evergreen branches ( small white pine tips are really nice additions) are all good.  Bring extras to share. The flowers in the decoration will be Fall oriented,  with mums and other long lived flowers: hopefully they will last until Thanksgiving if kept cool and additional water is added.  Bring garden shears of some sort to cut stems.

See you next Tuesday:
6:45 pm hospitality
7:00 Short business meeting
Speaker and activity to follow short business meeting

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Wild Strawberries

Robbin Lang is thinning out her native wild strawberry plants.  If you would like some, and are willing to help her dig, please contact her at 630-346-4320.
 

Garden Items - Free

Nancy is cleaning the shed at 415 Maple in Batavia.  She tells us she has too much stuff , not enough room. She put at the curb the following that could be useful......

6 white plastic stacking chairs 

tomato cages

large blue pot


lots of “leaky pipe” watering system hose.  If anyone from PDG wants it, I have a bunch of connectors and other hardware but I have to crawl up into the roof area to get it.  IF they call me I will get it for them.  (630) 482-1133

8 small Teepee shaped wood plant supports

A very rusty wagon

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Jumping Worms?

It may be hard to believe, but another invasive species has been identified in our region.  Read this carefully as you will not want to incorrectly identify them compared to the good worms that have been helping us in our gardens for centuries.  

Thanks to Lorayne Hrejsa for this catch (actually, if you find them you might go fishing or share them with a flock of chickens!!!)

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Volunteer Opportunity

Vista of Fox Valley, a nursing/assisted living facility on Farnsworth Road, is interested in having someone come and do an activity with some of the residents who may be able to do some minor gardening and tend a few house plants.  This would probably be a one or two time volunteer opportunity to work with people who are home-bound but interested in a plant project.

Toby (708) 543-3327 is the contact person at the facility looking for assistance from someone who knows about plants and could help put this together.

If you are interested in helping, please contact Toby directly.  If you need help coming up with house plants for residents, please contact me, Diana, at (630) 879-7578 and I will put out a call for plants from members of our club and blog.

Friday, July 19, 2019

Wildflower Work Day - Saturday

Wander down to the Wildflower Sanctuary to see the bees buzzing on the bee balm (Monarda fistulosa)!
 
We will be having a work day on Saturday, and we will be starting at 8:00 in order to beat the heat.  We will be meeting in the shade and cleaning up the crescent-shaped area by the start of the boardwalk on the west side of the sanctuary.  Please bring Water, gardening gloves, eye protection, clippers, loppers, weed diggers and something to haul the weeds and clippings in.  I will bring some treats, and hope to see you then!

Sarah

Sunday, July 14, 2019

Looking for Gardens

We are starting to look for gardens for Gardenwalk 2020.  We need to find them in the next few weeks.  Do you know of a great garden in the area that might be one for our gardenwalk?  We are looking for mature gardens in the Batavia area, preferring gardens where the homeowner is also the gardener.  Please email or call me with the information about the garden, the home address, gardeners name and contact information (if known).

Thanks.

Diana Sharp
(630) 879-7578
dleesharp@sbcglobal.net


Did you call?

Want to go on the trip this Friday?  Did you call Nancy?  If not, please do so Monday morning.  Thanks.

Friday, July 12, 2019

Summer Trip Next Friday - CALL NOW TO COME!!!

Our summer trip is Friday, July 19th will be a “road trip” including a stop at Contrary Mary, 2735 US 52 in Minooka, Lizzie’s Garden Center, 2455 W. 111th St.in Naperville, a stop somewhere for lunch and then a final stop at the Growing Place - 2000 Montgomery Rd., Aurora.

We will meet in the lower level of the library parking lot (drive down the hill and park at the lower level) and will car pool from there.  If you can help drive, it would be great.  Plan to throw in a couple of dollars toward gas if you are “riding”. 

CALL NOW if you want to come.  We only have 3 people so far and will otherwise cancel this one.  Call Nancy Hollmeier know by phoning her at (630) 482-1133 by Sunday, July 13th 5pm.

Another idea - We are considering a trip to Racine to go to a “high end artsy” craft museum and then stopping at a large garden center up there.  It would include going somewhere for lunch.  Like that idea?  Let Nancy know and we will plan it.  Call her at (630) 482-1133 ASAP.


Thursday, July 4, 2019

Wildflower Sanctuary Workday and Bloomers!



Come see what is blooming at the Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary!  We will be having a work day on Saturday (July 6th) starting at 8:00 am.


We will be working in the shade on the east (wooded) side on pulling weeds, trimming, edging, and moving that last little bit of mulch.  If you have them, please bring gardening gloves, a water bottle, eye protection, weed diggers, clippers, loppers, and a bucket or tarp for hauling.  I will bring the weed wrench.
We would love to see you, but please do not come if it is raining more than a few sprinkles.
 
Hope you have a safe and happy 4th!
Sarah

Sudden Oak Death/ Ramorum Blight from purchased Rhododendrum

From the University of Illinois Extension/Master Gardeners

Dear all,
As many of you may be aware, Phytophthora ramorum, the pathogen which causes Sudden Oak Death and Ramorum Blight, has been detected on ornamental plants in multiple Midwest states due to a shipment from an infected supplier. In Illinois, it has been detected on multiple varieties of Rhododendron, sold in some Walmart and Hy-Vee stores across the state. The Illinois Department of Agriculture press release is available here: https://www2.illinois.gov/Pages/news- item.aspx?ReleaseID=20288

People who are concerned about possible infected plants are directed to contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture or their local Extension office, and we are anticipating increased questions from the general public. While this is certainly a concerning situation, please remind people that there’s no reason to panic just yet. Sudden Oak Death has devastated natural areas in California and Oregon, but there’s no evidence that this disease is present in Illinois. The pathogen causes two diseases, depending on the host: Ramorum blight on many ornamental plants, and Sudden Oak Death to oaks. No oak trees have been found to be infected in Illinois, and the fact that the infected plants were detected quickly minimizes the possibility of this pathogen escaping into the environment.
If someone contacts you because they are concerned about their plants possibly being infected, please use the following questions to determine risk:

1. When were the plants purchased? If the plants were not purchased in 2019, it is unlikely that they are infected.

2. What are the plants? While the disease has a very wide host range, currently only rhododendron and lilac plants shipped to the Midwest have been confirmed as being infected. If the host is something other than a rhododendron or lilac, it is less likely that they are infected.

3. What symptoms are the plants displaying? Ramorum blight in woody ornamentals can look a lot like bacterial blight (especially on lilacs) and winter injury (especially on rhododendrons). Dark, chocolate-brown lesions on the leaves and terminal tip dieback with dark brown lesions on the stems are classic symptoms of this disease. Wilting and brown or black discoloration on trunks can also occur. For more pictures and descriptions, please see the following: http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/diagnosis-and-management/hosts-and-symptoms/ and https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8156.pdf

If, based on the questions above, you suspect that a plant may be infected with Phytophthora ramorum, please contact the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 815-787-5476 or Scott.Schirmer@Illinois.gov. Please include the host and variety if known, and the year and location of purchase. Because this is a regulated pathogen, do NOT destroy the plant without the approval of the Department of Agriculture. This pathogen can spread through irrigation water, so we recommend either not irrigating possibly infected plants, or watering at the base of the plants (try to avoid wetting the leaves or creating irrigation runoff). Sanitize any tools or equipment that may have come into contact with suspect plants (10% bleach or 70% ethanol solutions work well for most situations).

Tuesday, June 25, 2019

Wildflower Sanctuary News and Next Work Date

Thank you to Terri, Sue C., Kathie, Carol, Melissa and Nancy H. for their help at the Wildflower Sanctuary last weekend!  You can see the before and after views of the path up the hill in the attached photos taken by Terri H., and if you look closely, you will see a green dragon plant to the left of the path.  It is done blooming, but still cool.  A lot of weeding and trimming also got done on Saturday. 
Thanks too, to George Alewel from Fister Quarries for providing the sand!
Please save the date: our next work day will be Saturday, July 6 at 8:00 or 9:00 if you prefer.  I will have more details when the date gets closer.
Until then, have a happy July 4th!
Sarah

Friday, June 21, 2019

Thanks and a Dish Towel......

Thank you to everyone who helped set up and/or clean up our Batavia Plain Dirt Gardener’s potluck on Tuesday, and for bringing the yummy food!  It seemed like a good way to kick off the summer. 

I found a blue and white dish towel just outside the Peg Bond Center.  If you lost it, please email me at Kimber2@mc.net.
 
Sarah        

Saturday, June 8, 2019

Yellow with brown stripe.....

Want some day lilies that bloom yellow with a brown stripe?  They will be “on the curb” later today at 696 N. Van Nortwick.  The gardener there is “redoing” her garden in a new way.  Just drive by and pick some up.  Not sure if they will be in bags or sitting “by themselves”.  Enjoy!  

Thursday, June 6, 2019

Garden Walk Coordinator Needed

We need someone to coordinate the 2020 Garden Walk.  We have a committee of experienced people who helped last year and are willing to help with all the activities.  We need someone to cooordinate the committee and connect with the gardeners on the walk.  If you are interested, or even if you just want to learn more and decide not to do it, please call me and let’s talk.  This is a fun fund raiser for the club that brings people together and provides gardening joy to those in our community.  We hope to continue this tradition and have already identified at least two gardens to consider for the new gardenwalk in 2020.

This is the year we look for gardens, next year we hold the garden walk.  We have simplified the activities of the day of the garden walk and have local ticket sites and automated the ticket sales to make this a fun event.  If you like people and like bringing people together, it is easy to be successful with this project.

Please give me a call!  Diana Sharp (630) 879-7578

Sunday, May 26, 2019

Soil - The Zoo Beneath Our Feet....A read for a rainy day!

Terri Hoehne shared with us this excellent article in today's Washington Post. It may change the way you think about soil and gardening.  Enjoy!


The Zoo Beneath Our Feet:  We’re only beginning to understand soil’s hidden world
https://wapo.st/2HT8K6Z 

Friday, May 24, 2019

Wildflower Sanctuary Work Day Saturday May 25

Please join us for a work day at the Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary on Saturday, May 25 at 9:00.  We will be working on trimming, weeding, mulching, and laying a stepping stone path.  (Lots of options to choose from!)  We will be on the wooded (east) side of the Riverwalk, and I promise cookies!  If you have them, please bring gardening gloves, clippers, shovel, loppers, and eye protection.
 
If it rains more than a sprinkle, please don't come, but otherwise we hope to see you there!  
Sarah
                                    

Friday, May 17, 2019

Tomatoes, Basil, and Time with Gardeners

Come join the Batavia Plan Dirt Gardeners meeting Tuesday, May 21 featuring Sue Schroeder from Heinz Brothers Nursery and Garden Center.  She will speak on planting and caring for tomato plants, best performing tomato plants, new perennials for 2019, and a basil plant that flowers late in the growing season providing more useful leaves.  

Where:  Batavia Public Library meeting room
Time:  6:45 social time; 7:00 short business meeting and Sue will talk immediately following.
Date:  Tuesday, May 21

Happy Gardening....get ready for Tomatoes and Basil!

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Hosta Virus X

Nancy Hollmeier alerted us to information on Hosta Virus X that may affect plants in our gardens.  To learn more about this, there are some great articles on the internet.  One of the best found is at a site called Gardening In the Shade.  

The virus cannot be eradicated from an infected plant, but you can take precautions to not spread it to other hostas.  The preferred method is to destroy the plant and its roots and to thoroghly disinfect any tools that may have come in contact with it in order to not spread the disease.  The following site will help you with identification of the virus in a hosta plant and how to deal with it.

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Thank You!!!!

A big THANK YOU to everyone who came to our plant sale, worked the plant sale, donated plants and all kinds of great things to the plant sale, and to those hearty souls who did all the planning and set up to make it such a success.  You all rock!  

Friday, May 10, 2019

Final Teaser for the Saturday (May 11) Plant Sale

The gym is FILLED!!!!  Plant Sale Saturday morning!  We have a great assortment of native shade and native sun plants that are hard to find (wait until you see them!), named iris and named day lilies, herbs, sun and shade perennials, small trees (pagoda dogwood, crab apple, maples, rose of Sharon, and more), bushes (wigelia, bush clematis, medium sized boxwood, and too many more to list), flats of ground covers (ajuga, sedums, stepables) looking for a space under a tree or in a rock garden.  There are daffodil, grape hyacinth, and some other spring perennial bulbs.  We also have some tender bulbs of dalias, cannas, and elephant ears.  The ferns are in fantastic shape after the great rain this spring.  There is even rhubarb ready to use in sauces, cakes and pies (and plants of it to start in your own garden).  We have some larger urns, a seed spreader, horticultural vinegar, plant markers and who knows what will arrive in the morning!


Come join us for the sale at 9am to noon, Saturday, May 11 at the Bethany Lutheran Church gymnasium.  We have boxes for you to take your plants home in.  We have help to get them to your vehicle.  The proceeds help support the Batavia Wildflower Sanctuary in downtown Batavia along the riverfront and scholarships for horticulture students.

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Plant Sale Teaser

Wondering what will be at the plant sale.....here are some teasers (just a few of the 1000 plants that will be coming for you to choose!). In these pictures just from one yard are ferns, Jack Frost brunnera, meadow rue, black cohosh, blue bells, trout lily, bush clematis, celandine poppy, trillium, scented leaf geraniums, fall and spring anemone, sedum, oat grass, blue fescue, violets, baby alllium, wild ginger, sweet cicely, fireworks goldenrod, spiderwort, variegated queen of the prairie, and more will be coming in other varieties from other homes. Come see us at 9am Saturday morning to get the best choices!








Thursday, January 10, 2019

January 15 - Focus on Food via film "Wasted!"

The January, 15th Batavia Plain Dirt Gardener's meeting will include the movie "Wasted" which is a story of food waste and the way we can move to be more conscious of choices as we buy, cook, recycle and eat foods.  According to the film jacket, the film focuses on "some of today's most influential chefs and how they make the most of food by transforming what most people may think of as scraps into incredible dishes that create a more secure food system".  Learn how to make small changes that will help solve the food waste problem at your own home as well as lead to larger contributions to our planet.

6:45 pm social time and gathering
7:00 pm short business meeting
7:15 or so, "Wasted"

Meet in the meeting room at the Batavia Public Library on the corner of Hwy 31 and Wilson in downtown Batavia.