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About Cottage Grove sentinel. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1909-current | View Entire Issue (May 11, 2016)
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL May 11, 2016 Got a gardening problem? Call an OSU master gardener B OND BACKERS BASK AT B OHEMIA BY KYM POKORNY OSU Extension Service W Rally for Harrison bond draws a crowd photo by Jon Stinnett Supporters of Bond Measure 20-240, which seeks to replace Harrison Elementary School in Cottage Grove and make security and technology upgrades throughout South Lane School District, gathered under sunny skies at Bohemia Park Satur- day afternoon. The event featured games for kids, free hot dogs and hamburgers provided by Keller Williams Realty and root beer fl oats provided by State Farm. Speakers included Superintendent Krista Parent and teacher Debbie Taie, who encouraged those in attendance to vote in favor of the bond and let others know they had done so. Pictured above are SLSD Communications Coordinator Gar- rett Bridgens, Parent, Harrison Principal Ali Nice and School Board Chair Tammy Hodgkinson serving lunch. The deadline for voting in Oregon's primary is Tuesday, May 17 at 8 p.m. hen you’ve got a gardening ques- tion, try tapping out a local phone number for a cus- tomized answer instead of delving into the impersonal Internet. The one-to-one contact could mean the difference between success and fail- ure. At the other end of the phone line in 28 counties sit Oregon State University Extension Service Master Gardeners poised to solve your gardening problems – or help keep them from happening in the fi rst place. More than 3,000 volun- teers have graduated from 66 hours of intensive training in topics from insect identifi cation to vegetable gardening. They pick up phones prepared to lis- ten, investigate and furnish in- formation that’s been scientifi - cally vetted, according to Gail Langellotto, statewide master gardener coordinator. “Our tagline is ‘reliable, reachable, relevant,’” she said. “We get to know your garden- ing situation and provide cus- tomized advice based on your location, your preferences and your goals.” Going to the Internet to iden- tify a plant or insect can be problematic, Langellotto noted. A gardener may notice an in- sect that’s red and black, search those parameters and come up with a different insect. “You may not be able to dis- tinguish differences in the shape of the wing or type of antenna,” she said. “If the insect is mis- identifi ed, it could lead to ap- plying a pesticide on something that’s not a pest. Or you may kill something benefi cial for the garden. You need the correct ID to solve your problem.” Wading through plant descrip- tions online can be onerous, too, said Brooke Edmunds, an Extension horticulturist. Web- sites sometimes contradict each other, and some offer only the most basic or vague informa- tion. Growing a plant correctly depends on knowing its needs. Does it do best in sun or shade, moist soil or dry? How much fertilizer does it need? How and when should you prune it? Will it grow too big for the planned space or send out roots to dis- turb the sidewalk? What about cold and heat hardiness? There are so many questions. By calling Extension master gardeners and horticulturists like Edmunds, you’ll get per- sonalized information based on your particular problems and needs, all answered with a one- on-one phone call instead of time-consuming visits to mul- tiple websites. “In my mind, that’s a really important place master garden- ers come into play,” she said. “They stop and really fi gure out the situation.” Edmunds pointed out that the research-based information is appropriate for all gardeners’ viewpoints, whether they want to follow organic tenants, prefer to use synthetic products or fall somewhere in be- tween. “All options are pre- sented,” she said. “We’re showing everything that works. People can choose what fi ts best into how they like to garden.” That those options are based on science means you’ll get data specifi c to Oregon, Edmunds stressed. The problems that arise and plants that grow here can differ widely from other states, even from one part of the state to another. Local master gardeners are familiar with regional gar- dening, answer thousands of questions each year and quickly get timely, accu- rate answers to your questions. “A lot of times people call wanting verifi cation of some- thing they’ve looked up on the Internet,” Langellotto said. “We use that as a jumping off point for a conversation. We make sure a person knows the ques- tions to ask to get the answers they need.” Master gardeners also work directly with the public at farm- er’s markets, plant sales, garden shows, county fairs, demonstra- tion gardens, schools and cor- rectional facilities. Most coun- ties offer a seasonal slate of classes, too. “There’s nothing like a hands- on class,” Edmunds said. “Say you’re new to composting. You can read a lot about it and fi nd a lot of advice online, but it’s dif- ferent than going to a class and seeing what ‘wet but not drip- ping’ compost looks like and feels like and take that informa- tion away.” Check with your county Ex- tension offi ce or call your lo- cal Master Gardener hotline for information on classes in your area. From Baby to Graduate (it seemed like just a few short years) 8th Grade, High School, or College Grads name School: Birthday: Parents: Grandparents: Coming Wednesday, June 1st “Baby to Graduate Review” Deadline is Friday, May 23rd Now is the time to reserve your graduates a spot in this special section just for them. Just bring in or mail, with the coupon below, your graduate’s favorite baby picture along with a current picture to be published side by side on June 1, 2016. What a special way to show off that graduate you are so proud of! Enclose check for $20 00 Cottage Grove Sentinel + 11A and mail to “Baby to Graduate Review” Cottage Grove Sentinel P.O. Box 35, Cottage Grove, OR 97424 or stop by our office at 116 N. 6th St., CG Grad’s name: Grandparents: School: Your name: Birth Date: Address: Parents: Phone:
