Join us for Music In the Garden August 7th

This week's rain has been beneficial to our declining gardens. The cooler temps help motivate us to get out and do some cleanup, deadheading and revitalization of our garden beds.

Now is the time to divide iris. Cut the leaves in a "fan" shape. Then use a sharp shooter or spade or a dividing fork. You'll need some cardboard boxes to put the iris in as you dig.  If you wish to mark the color or variety (ie rebloomer) have a Sharpie type marker and write right on the Iris fan.  Share with friends or neighbors or plant in another area. Remember to not plant an Iris bulb too deeply. The top of the bulb should be visible.

Mark Your Calendars

Reno County Extension Master Gardener's host, Music in the Garden, Tuesday, August 7 at 5:30 at Hutchinson Community College. Join us in the Crimsom Courtyard right behind Lockman Hall and the Library at the water fountain and pool. There will be KSU Extension master gardeners (EMGs) in each of the garden areas to visit with guests, The gardens include beds of annuals & perennials, the newly developed Thomas Jefferson area, the iris/daylily/annuals border,  the raised beds with vegetables, a berm/native grasses section and a large shade garden.  EMG's will point out interesting features and the best/favorite plants in the various garden areas, they'll talk about a gardening procedure used in the area and answer questions. 

As guests move through the gardens some of the things they might observe or learn are:

• Proper rose deadheading, rose care

• Diving iris, iris care

• Deadheading, digging & storing   cannas

•  Cutting different types of   hydrangeas back in spring

•  Mulching around hostas & hosta care, pests

• Pruning shrubs

• Dividing grasses

• Starting seeds for the Thomas Jefferson Garden

• Curing/drying onions & garlic

• Growing cucumbers, gourds

• Taking cuttings to propagate more plants

Hope to see you there!!

Submitted by hutchgaudygardener