master gardener is here
Sweet Clematis in spotlight
aster Gardener classes have begun! Twenty-seven applicants are participating in this year’s Master Gardener Basic Training classes. The first class kicked off on September 19 with a short orientation and a two-part class presented by myself; Basic Plant Growth in the morning, and the Mastering Plant Identification class in the afternoon which complemented the plant growth lesson very well by reinforcing the concepts of plant anatomy, scientific names, and plant classification schemes. Master Gardener classes will continue until November 7, with a total of eleven core classes being presented by various instructors. All classes are scheduled on Tuesdays at the Southeast Kansas Area Research and Extension Center in Parsons.
Another activity this month was my appearance on KOAM TV’s Wildcat Wednesday show. My topic of discussion was the wild, white-flowered vine that seems to be growing everywhere fences and over the tops of shrubs and small trees. This vine is the sweet autumn clematis (also known as sweet autumn virgin’s bower). It was introduced into North America from Southeast Asia that as an ornamental vine. Having found its new home to its liking, it has escaped into the wild and is now naturalized in our area. Some folks love it, some folks hate it. I kind of like it, but have found it to be a bit of a nuisance. Although it has not a noxious weed one person I have met has given it the title, “OBNOXIOUS!” Enjoy it if you like; dig it out if you don’t!
Other activities included my weekly appearance with other Wildcat staff members on the KGGF radio talk show, Green Side Up. I’ve also answered numerous horticulture related questions, domestic entomology questions, and have made several home visits and written several soil test reports, etc. On September 21, I participated in the Farmer’s Market Vendor Workshop planning committee meeting via Zoom; our next Southeast Kansas Regional Farmer’s Market Vendor Workshop is scheduled for February 10, 2018.
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