Class # is 24553  Registration for this online course is through WITC. Register online at courses.witc.edu; Search for and choose your course; add it to your cart. Should you need assistance with registration, call the number provided on the WITC web page for the campus closest to you and leave a message. Your call will be returned.  This class is online using the free BlueJeans software. Sign up, receive your log-in information, and attend from the comfort of your space. You will need reliable internet service, a camera and microphone on your device. To learn how easy it is to use our BlueJeans software to take classes from your home or work computer, view the free video tutorial at http://learningcommons.witc.edu/bluejeans

Note:  On May 29, Noon to 2:00 pm will be another gardening program online through WITC.  You can register for both at the same time.  
​Class # 24464 Create a Potager Garden - 
Potager is a French term for a kitchen garden.  These gardens can include not only vegetables but herbs, fruit, berries and cutting flowers.  The program will cover where to site your potager, plants to include and how to maintain it through the growing season.  These gardens can be an attractive addition to your yard and provide your family with food and flowers throughout the growing season. 

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Going Native –
On April 23 – 10:30 am to Noon, the Sherman & Ruth Weiss Community Library-Hayward in partnership with the UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program is providing an online gardening program via Zoom, as part of National Library Week, "Find your Library at your place". 
This program will cover what, when and where to cultivate native plants that provide food for butterflies, song birds, hummingbirds and beneficial insects.  Also learn about phenology: the study of the development of plants and animals as affected by our climate and weather.  By using your observations you can know the best time for planting, the blooming cycles of plants, and the emergence of insect pests.  All will help you become a more natural gardener.  The presenter will be Sue Reinardy- UW-Extension Master Gardener Volunteer. 
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Register in advance for this meeting: https://uwextension.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvcO-hrTouG9YSWNKCXExwjkDrGV5XA-q4  in order to receive handout materials, the Zoom link and password.

Spring started this week which gets gardeners excited like kids anticipating Christmas.  Except it is still way too early to start gardening.  Even starting seeds is at most about 6 weeks before planting and we usually can not plant until late May. 

I’ve always thought the astrological seasons were off kilter; even meteorological seasons are too early for those in Zone 3.  Yesterday we received about an inch of snow which is now melting on top of the foot of snowpack left from our winter that started before Thanksgiving (i.e. “fall”). 
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 What can a gardener rely on to determine the proper planting time?  

​A few weeks ago, I received a gift from a neighbor of a bonsai plant that she passed along from her brother's collection.  I looked over the seven she had, and picked one that I found out later is a Ficus benjamina.  Good choice because it is considered one of the best for a novice.  It was like taking home a puppy – love the cute little guy -- but don’t know the first thing about how to take care of it.  

Above:  Ficus benjaminia that is now mine!

This year I managed to bring my Rosemary plant in before it succumbed to the elements and it is now thriving.   When I’m feeling the need for the fresh smell of plants, Rosemary is there and just brushing my hand across the leaves produces that wonderful fragrance. 
 
This summer the entire nursery pot was put into the container with other herbs.  When it came time to bring it inside, I just popped the pot out and brought it in.  Rosemary doesn’t like its roots disturbed.  By keeping it in the same pot on the move from outside to inside, those roots remained happy.  I also cut back the tops by one-third before bringing it inside.  Now it is adding new growth.  

This fall we took a trip to Seattle since we had never visited that city except as a way-point through the airport on our way somewhere else.  We took in all the sights a tourist could want:  the Space Needle, a harbor cruise, Pike Place Market, a Wine & Waterfalls tour to Woodinville, museums, the aquarium, and many fine meals.  There is so much to do in this city. 

What I didn't expect was the enjoyable hours we spent at the Chihuly Garden and Glass right under the Space Needle.  I was familiar with Dale Chihuly's work since it is featured on the Mendota Wall in the Kohl Center at UW-Madison.  

The tour begins in a room that shows the early objects that influenced Mr. Chihuly and showcases just a few of his many collections with Native American blankets and baskets.  

The remaining rooms highlight dramatic displays of glass. 

And then the gardens are a true inspiration of color, plant combinations, and glass shapes.  

Even the gift shop was inspirational and an easy place to get carried away with all the wonderful items.  Luckily I had no more room in my suitcase.

There is still time to order, receive and plant bulbs for next spring.  I doubt that how your garden looks next April or May is on your mind as the leaves begin to change color and start dropping.  However, if you take a few moments now there will be a reward next year.  

It is time to bring in your houseplants from their summer vacation outdoors.  This includes any tender plants that you plan to overwinter inside.  Many of our houseplants and tender perennials are from the tropics and get stressed when nighttime temperatures dip lower than 50°.  I used to scramble the night of the first killing frost to bring these plants inside.  It was stressful both for me and my plants. 

I now start moving houseplants and tender perennials to shadier spots in the garden around the beginning to mid-September.  This gives them time to acclimate to the lower light conditions in our homes.   ​