in this issue........

Tributes to Toby

Toby Bost Urban Tree Endowment Fund

Plants, Pests and Pathogens Clinic

First Presbyterian Garden Tour

Arboretum News

Master Gardener Volunteer Plant Exchange

Trip to JC Raulston Arboretum and Plant Delights Nursery

Agent's Corner

Thank You Toby

Master Gardener Volunteers and Friends of the Arboretum would like to thank Toby for all his years of hard work and service to the MGV program and the Tanglewood Arboretum. Toby has been both friend and mentor to many during his 18 years of service and will be sincerely missed.

Toby Bost has made a huge impact on the MGV program and Tanglewood Gardens.  Sometimes one not only sees the physical impact but feels Toby’s heartfelt efforts.  In the six years I have been working with Toby I can honestly say I have never heard an unkind word, only encouragement to each person and project.  We will miss this special man in our lives

­– Mary Conroy

Toby's irrepressible love of plants and his extraordinary ability to share his knowledge by example in the field, through his published works in books and newspapers is his lasting legacy.

Unforgettable, all best wishes and thanks, Toby.

-- Elen Knott

The arboretum won't be the same without Toby. Who will we ask to identify a plant? He always has a smile and a kind word. I'll miss seeing out there with a shovel in his hand and sweat running down his face. I wish you the best, Toby. But Wednesdays will be hard without you. It was always better when our teacher, advocate, friend, and fellow worker was there.

-- Anne Hester

I have little knowledge of Toby's 'program' creation but I am sincerely inspired in his presence both by his charisma and breath of horticulture knowledge, even bordering on the obscure. It spills out of his mouth in the most friendly and least intimidating manner for the novice horticulturist which is myself.  Thanks for doing this tribute to a fellow that can never be replaced.

-- Mary Caponera

There is something about Toby! He sees the big picture and knows where we need to go and he gets his hands dirty working out the most minor of details. He is the leader of the team and the most valuable player.

Example: We needed to determine if the irrigation to the greenhouse was compromised with the construction of the conifer garden. We were not getting any water into the greenhouse. Toby and I dug and got very muddy and encountered a very foul smell. We looked at each other and affirmed that it was the anaerobic soil and not us. I never understood anaerobic soil before.

You always earn something when you tag along behind Toby! Toby is my friend and mentor.

-- Connie Little

Toby Bost Urban Tree Endowment Fund

Toby Bost served (and continues to serve) as an Extension Agent in the N. C. Cooperative Extension Service for over 30 years, 18 years in Forsyth County. During his career as a horticulturist, he has impacted the lives of thousands of homeowners, gardeners, and Green Industry professionals who participated in his landscaping programs and read his gardening publications.

To honor Toby for his countless contributions and exemplary service to the citizens of North Carolina, we have established the “Toby Bost Urban Tree Endowment Fund”, This Fund will grow private dollars to support tree planting projects in the Piedmont region of the state. Recognizing the loss of green space in our region, the Urban Tree Endowment will ensure that both individuals and community groups have the opportunity to plant a canopy tree of their choice and positively impact our piedmont environment.

Our Endowment Fund goal is $15,000. When fully endowed, this Fund will provide $500 annually toward the cost of tree planting efforts. The Fund will benefit participating nurseries and the Green Industry when trees are purchased by award recipients.

We invite you to honor Toby with a tax-deductible contribution to this Endowment Fund. Your contributions will not only honor this special man, but will help ensure that Toby’s legacy of excellence in urban forestry and horticulture will continue into the future after his retirement with N.C. State University.

Thank you for your consideration of this request. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Tucker Co-Chair, Urban Tree Endowment     
Joe Marion Co-Chair, Owner of Joe’s Nursery/ Lands. Co.

If you would like to make donations to this fund, please see Dorothy Stobbs for a form or you can make checks payable to: Toby Bost Urban Tree Endowment

Mail to:
Toby Bost Urban Tree Endowment
NC Cooperative Extension Foundation
NCSU  Box 7645
Raleigh, NC 27695-7645
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Plants, Pest and Pathogens Clinic

The plant clinic schedule and line up of speakers and topics is now posted on the Plants, Pests and Pathogens website. The clinics are located at Winston-Salem State University in the Anderson Center in room G22.  The center is located next to the tennis courts off MLK Blvd. These clinics count towards MGV educational hours.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/garden/PlantClinic/schedule.html

The time for each of these clinics is 10am to 12 noon.

Tuesday May 13, 2008 - Landscape Turf Management in Drought
Tuesday June 10, 2008 - Tree Fruits in the Landscape
Tuesday July 8, 2008 - Small Fruits & Bees in the Landscape
Tuesday August 12, 2008 - Weeds, Water Conservation, Plant Disease
Each session will also feature David Stephan on insects in the landscape

Each of the speakers would be delighted to hear from you about specific subjects within the identified topic that you would like to ensure are covered on the show.  You can contact them directly (see links from the web page) or send your questions to me and I will forward them to the speakers. Please give some thought to this now, and contact them early so they have time to prepare.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/garden/PlantClinic/sites.html

First Presbyterian Garden Tour

The gardens of First Presbyterian Church in downtown Winston-Salem offer a special insight into creating and maintaining gardens in a public downtown environment. There are numerous unique Conifers, a special Wildflower Garden, an exquisite shade garden under a Treasure Tree Japanese Maple, spring & summer bulbs, numerous trees, as well as perennials, ornamental grasses and annuals to provide extra color.

Having recently received his Master Gardening training, Bill Colvin in late 2003 asked permission from the church staff to plant some pansies and daffodil bulbs provided by Keep Winston-Salem Beautiful. As with most projects, this planting then moved from a single flower bed to the complete renovation of the entire landscape around the church. This effort was done by a partnership with Rob Means of Yadkin Valley Nursery, Richard & Katherine Rierson of Rierson Greenhouse & Gardens, and a few great volunteers from the church. In late 2006, Bill in partnership with Rob Means received permission to develop the landscape around the new Worship Center that opened in Spring 2007. This brought the landscape supported to 23,000 sq ft.

The challenges to create and maintain gardens surrounded by concrete and asphalt in an urban environment are very difficult. Choosing the right plants has been a learning challenge.

Please join us for a tour of the First Presbyterian Church gardens in downtown Winston-Salem on Friday, June 6 at 9AM. The church is located at 300 North Cherry Street. Please contact Linda Dunn at 703-2850 to register.

 Arboretum News

A BIG Thank You to all the volunteers that helped make the Arboretum plant sale a success. The hard work and commitment to showing up to help either in the gardens or the greenhouse was essential. The profits after the expenses are accounted for will go toward the educational programs for the youth and adult programs, specific plants for the curated gardens, restoration to the common gardens, new gardens and financial support for our website.

The Fragrance Garden has been cleared and planting has started. The irrigation system is just now being installed by the MGV/volunteer men in charge. The Evergreen Gardens club which has donated the money to be able to restore the Fragrance Garden will be assisting in installing the plantings in a couple of weeks. They are checking into Braille signage.

Ground has been broken for the roof to the children’s amphitheater, and it should be completed in 3 weeks. At the time this newsletter is received we will have seen over 700 children in our youth program this year plus the ones that just show up and are taken on an educational tour

Deer fencing is in and the Wildflower Garden will get its much needed protection. None royal ferns were donated from a recent plant rescue dig.

Mark Tucker will be the interim director for the Arboretum starting May 2. Toby will be sorely missed at the Arboretum.

---- Connie Little

First Plant Exchange for All Interested MGVs

Friday June 6th from 9am – 11am at the Tanglewood Arboretum

Pot up those orphans/extra seeds and come out to the Gardens

Please pot up any plants you would like to exchange with other MGVs. We will line plants up along the pathway in the garden area. You will have 30 minutes to walk around and talk with other gardeners about plants they have brought and wish to exchange.  See the main page for a link to full instructions.

MGV Trip to J.C. Raulston Arboretum and Plant Delights Nursery

The Forsyth Master Gardeners will travel to Raleigh on May 22 to visit the J. C. Raulston Arboretum and Plant Delights Nursery, Inc.

Call Linda Dunn at 336-703-2850 to reserve a seat on the bus. Cost is $20.00 per person. The Raleigh trip [Raulston Arboretum & Plant Delights Nursery] is now subscribed enough that we have contracted a bus. Therefore, we have reopened reservations and easily have room for many more MGVs.

Join us, call Linda and pay up. We’ll have a great time.

Agent’s Corner

As all of you know we are recognizing Toby on his upcoming retirement from the N. C. Cooperative Extension Service with 31 years of exceptional service to the people of North Carolina and Forsyth County.  I will miss his immense knowledge and the friendship we have developed over the last 4 ½ years since my arrival here.  Toby and I first met while I was the horticulture agent in Davie County in 1989 with his arrival in Forsyth from Durham County.  His enthusiasm for the job was evident the moment I met him. 

Many of you have shared some great  stories about Toby and the adventures with  Master Gardeners over the years.  These are memories that have helped build our gardening experiences and friendships.  Toby, you will be missed.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed the flowers this spring, but it has been an exceptional season.  Many of the fruit trees are setting an abundance of fruit.  Remember,  your apple and peach trees can handle only so many fruits.  Evaluate your trees; thinning of the fruit may be needed to grow a quality crop. 

Enjoy your gardens and I’ll see you soon.

J. Stephen Greer
Extension Agent, Horticulture