Interns Complete Class

On June 30th Kathleen Ewing, Raman Sinivasan and LaRae Walley completed the 2008/2009 Cherokee Master Gardener Training.
All have several hours of their volunteer service already finished.

Davis Cherokee Hills Daylily Farm Featured

http://www.etfarmnews.com/local/local_story_168134625.html

Cherokee Master Gardeners are featured in this weeks addition of East Texas Farm News.

Until you get a chance to pick up a copy, you may wish to visit the above site.

Joe

Tomato Fest Success

The Tomato Fest was great fun and the Master Gardeners assisted Joe Daniel with running the home grown tomatoes contests. There were approximately 30 plates of tomatoes turned in, and lots of ballots cast in the "People's Choice" category.

The first place ribbon in the Heirloom Tomato category was won by a master gardener this year. Made easier was the fact that there was only one entry in that category!! Next year we hope to have a bigger showing across all the categories, especially from fellow master gardeners.

A good time was had by all. Thanks to Joe for putting this together and over-seeing the event.

June CCMGA Meeting

Thanks to Claude for teaching us about Yellow Knock Out and Dave for introducing us to Terra Preta.

Although the structure in the photo looks very much like a green rose, roses do not grow on willows. And while Suzan never found the insect, we believe this to be a gall caused by Rhabdophaga rosaria, the European rosette willow gall midge. Galls are abnormal growths found on plants that can be caused by parasites such as insects, mites, fungi or bacteria. Insects, particularly wasps and midges, are the most common cause of galls on plants. Plants form the galls in response to ovipositing or feeding by the insect, or from infection by another agent. The gall is an attempt to surround and isolate the invader. In the case of insects, the gall actually forms a protective chamber, where the larvae can develop safely away from predators.
This information and photo came from the Botany Photo of the Day web page.

Great Times

Saturday's garden tour was our best ever.
Tuesday's tour of the Gardens of Stephen F. Austin State University with Dr. David Creech was also one of the best ever. What a time to be a Cherokee Master Gardener.