Tanglewood Arboretum News

Fall is FINALLY here! The gardens are looking much better and so are the volunteers with these cooler temperatures. Our schedule of events for this fall is upon us now! Please check out the website tanglewoodgardens.org for the most current updates.

for fall are scheduling now. I will be contacting volunteers by phone. Come watch the fresh faces of children open up with awe as you share your knowledge of gardening and what lies beneath. Please contact me (577-7698) and we will buddy you up with a mentor if you are interested.

event is set for October 18. This is a thank you to the members that have financially supported the Arboretum. There will be a garden walk at 6:00PM with a salute to our 400 year old white oak followed by dinner with a short slide presentation and live entertainment.

Don't miss the

on October 24 at 11:00AM lead by Jim Nottke. The tour will start at the manor house. Come and learn about trees that are now recommended for homeowners and see the size of a fully grown specimen you may have bought and put in the wrong place. You will also learn how to ID trees bylistening to all the neat hints. Bring your clipboard and pencil for this opportunity to learn from an expert. The tour will end at the 400 year old white oak with refreshments and a birthday cake. Just imagine what that tree has seen.

November 14 at 11:00AM in the Arboretum greenhouse at Tanglewood. Come learn about the techniques involved in planting a variety of bulbs. You will also have an opportunity to pot up your own not frequently seen in the market amaryllis. The cost is $10, and you will be getting an unusual amaryllis to take home or use it as a gift for the holidays! We will also have paper white narcissus for sale. Call Dorothy Stobbs at the County Extension Office (703-2850) to reserve a spot in the workshop.

Our workdays are Wednesdays at 9:00AM now that it is cooler. Come on out! Connie Little, Volunteer Coordinator

Forcing Bulbs

There’s nothing more refreshing to the spirit of a winter weary gardener than the sight and smell of spring bulbs in full bloom. October is the month to start chilling bulbs for early spring forcing. The process is not hard but here are some tips to help make your efforts be more successful.

Start with clean pots and a good quality potting mix. Place the bulbs close together; be sure to plant the bulbs shallow so that the tips barely show. Usually 6 tulip bulbs, 3 hyacinths, 6 daffodils, or 15 crocus, will fit into a 6-inch pot. Placing the flat side of tulip bulbs next to the rim of the pot will produce a more desirable look because the largest leaf will grow in that direction. Allow a ¼ to ½ inch of space at the top for watering. Water immediately after planting; never allow the pot to dry out. There’s no need to fertilize because the bulb has enough energy stored for blooming.

The bulbs need a cold treatment of 35-48 degrees for a minimum of 12-13 weeks in order to bloom. They should never be allowed to reach temperatures higher than 65 degrees. You can either bury the pots outside in a cold frame under a covering of hay or straw or place them in a dark, unheated attic, basement, or garage. If you have space you can also place them in the refrigerator; be sure they don’t come in contact with fruits or vegetables because the methane gas produced by fruits and vegetables can damage the bulbs. Mark your calendar to help you remember when it’s time to move the bulbs to a sunny window. Once the bulbs are blooming you can extend the bloom by moving the pots to a cool place at night. After the bulbs finish flowering it’s best to throw them out because they aren’t likely to flower well again.

A recent caller to the MG Hotline asked how to protect her spring bulbs from forging rodents. The best solution is to cut a piece of chicken wire about a foot larger than the planting bed and place it over the top then cover it with mulch to hide it from view. Or you can make small cages of chicken wire, place the bulbs inside and plant the whole cage.

Article submitted by  Pamela Stewart

What's new on the website?

It has been a busy month for Kathie Burton and me updating the MGV and Arboretum websites.

Anne Hester has agreed to be the monthly editor of “Plant of the Month” for the Arboretum website.  She will be highlighting one of the plants in the gardens and adding a description with information where to find this plant.

We will be adding a link from the MGV website to go directly to this monthly article.  We believe this informational article will be of interest to the public as well as MGVs.

Please do not forget to send a copy of info to be added to the Terra Firma to both Pam Stewart and Mary Conroy (you can CC to both).   Also, please send Pam any committee meetings to be added to the MGV website.  It is important to make our calendar a place for MGVs to check both opportunities and updates as they are posted for meetings or cancellations.

Currently, we are looking for a volunteer who would like to help create a data base for plants in the Arboretum.  This would be a person who could take a sample html page and do research on each plant and insert this into the html page.  This is a big ongoing project and any help will be appreciated.  It’s a great way for someone to get hours at home!

See you on the web.

Mary Conroy, Webmaster

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