Hello Gardeners!
Don’t forget the next Seed Talk on garden problems and pests!
Seed Talk – Problems, Pests and Poor Performance
Tuesday July 13th, 2021, 6:30 pm
Is your garden giving you problems? Do some of your plants look unhappy? Or maybe you've noticed some insect or other animal pests attacking your plants. Come to this Seed Talk to learn some ways to tackle some common garden problems. I don't have all the answers, but there may be someone at the talk that has had some success with a similar problem as yours. So tune in to ask questions and share your experiences.
Seed Talk via Zoom. You must register at least 3 hours prior to the event via Seed Talk.
Minnesota Botanist Who First Documented a Rare Flower
The Western Jacob's-ladder (Polemonium occidentale ssp. lacustre) is a rare plant with conspicuous sky-blue/bright violet flowers and ladder-like leaves. This rare beauty is only found in six locations in the word. It is found in rich conifer swamps in northern Minnesota and Wisconsin and was first documented by Dr. Olga Lakela who emigrated from Finland to Minnesota when she was a child. She founded the Olga Lakela Herbarium on the University of Minnesota, Duluth. The herbarium now holds more than 48,000 specimens available to scientists worldwide.
Where are the seeds?
The seed drawers and catalogs are back at the White Bear Lake library. You can access the seed packets during regular library hours. The Seed Library table is to the right as you come through the double doors. (White Bear Lake library, 2150 2nd St, White Bear Lake; M: 10-8, T, W: 1-8, Th, F, Sa: 10-5)
I must apologize as not all the seeds are in packets and the catalogs are not fully updated. Since March 2020 I have mostly packaged seeds as they were requested. You can find the current list of available seeds on the Seed Library website at Seed Library site. Or a less than current paper list on the Seed Library table in the library.
If you can’t find the seeds you’re looking for please let me know via email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com and I’ll get you the seeds if they are available.
The membership forms are back at the library’s main desk too. Again, I apologize as I did not update your membership form if you requested/donated seeds this last year. (It really was too much to do.) If you are new to the White Bear Lake Seed Library, the membership form is a means to find out the general location of people using the seed library and for you to let me know your email address. You can let me know if you want to be on the seed library’s email list to be informed of events and other cool stuff related to gardening. I never give out your email address to anyone.
Volunteer Opportunity
Help package seeds for the seed library. If interested, send me an email and I’ll get you seeds, supplies and instructions. You package the seeds and return them to the seed library table.
Summer is usually a slow time for the seed library, so it is easier for me to hand out envelopes of seeds for others to package as I don’t have to worry about someone requesting a seed variety I handed to someone else to package.
Another Volunteer Opportunity
Would you be willing to share the following information with members of your organization? I represent researchers from the University of Minnesota, University of St Thomas and the US Forest Service who are studying how yards and lawns can serve as bee habitat. We are researching how bees respond to different lawn management practices as part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Long-Term Ecological Research project funded by the National Science Foundation. We are seeking potential participants for a lawn survey study. If a household is chosen, sampling would entail surveying the vegetation, soils, and insects in your yard. The sampling would not be damaging in any way, but we would need access to front and back yards. The sampling would take ~1-2 hours and would occur 1-2 times during June-August, 2021 (vegetation sampling only) and 5 times during June-August in subsequent years (vegetation and pollinator sampling). We plan on continuing this research for at least 6 years, but folks would be able to drop out of the study at any time.
If folks are willing to participate in this research (if chosen), please fill out the following form (it should take less than 2 minutes to complete)
More information about our project and the type of sampling we will do is here: https://mspurbanlter.umn.edu/research-focus-areas/effectiveness-pollinator-habitat.
Thank you so much.
Jake Hodge, Alex Welter, Adam Kay
University of St. Thomas
2115 Summit Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55105
Grow a Row
All the packets of seeds for the Grow a Row project have been taken. If you missed out, I plan to do this again next year! I hope those who took a packet of seeds have a great harvest! Thank you!
How to Donate Seeds to the Seed Library
The seed library welcomes seed donations of hon-hybrid, non-cross-pollinated seeds. Place dry seeds in a paper envelope with the name of seed, year and location on the envelope. Drop off in the bin on the seed library table in the library during open hours.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
Field Day at a Farm July 13th
Extension, Big River Farms, The Grossman Lab, and Shepherd Moon Farm will be hosting a field day in the evening on July 13th. We'll be showcasing on-farm field trials as well as some other management strategies. The agenda for the evening includes:
· 5:00 - 5:45: Organic potato beetle management strategies at Shepherd Moon Farm (Lindstrom MN)
· 6:15 - 7:45: Organic disease management practices, summer cover crop trials, and nutrient management at Big River Farms (Marine on St. Croix MN)
You are welcome to come to both or either of the farms. The event is free, and dinner will be provided at Big River Farms. Spanish and Hmong interpretation will be available at both sites. Please wear a mask since we cannot confirm that all attendees will be vaccinated.
You can sign up at z.umn.edu/vegetablefieldday
This event is funded in part through a Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration Grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to investigate organic management practices for potato beetle management.
Natalie Hoidal, Extension Educator
Local Foods and Vegetable Crops
University of Minnesota Extension
Great River Greening Wonderhour
Join Great River Greening for nature-based skills and knowledge. Free.
Register here.
Climate Resilient Gardens (Wednesday, July 14, 6 p.m.)
The climate is changing, and that will affect Minnesota gardens. Learn about what to expect and how to adapt to grow a more resilient landscape.
Nature Heals (Wednesday, August 11, 6 p.m.)
Learn the science of how time spent in nature helps to improve our physical and mental well-being.
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Ramsey County Master Gardener Classes
Many online classes throughout the spring. See classes.
Future Seed Talks via Zoom, all at 6:30pm
July 13, 2021 Tues – Problems, Pests and Poor Performance
Aug 10, 2021 Tues – Without Good Soil All You Have is Dirt
This Seed Talk is all about improving the soil your plants depend on. The number one thing you can do to improve your garden is provide well-structured soil with ample nutrients for your plants to grow in. It's easy and guaranteed to provide better results. Fall is a great time to start improving your garden soil so it's more than just dirt.
Sep 14, 2021 Tues – How to Save Seeds
Learn how to save vegetable, herb and native plant seeds to use for future seasons.
Contact info for the Seed Library:
Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com
Blog site: WBL Seed Library
Pam
