October
3rd Annual Garden Photography Contest
The Dodge County Master Gardeners Association held their 3rd Annual Garden Photography Contest on Saturday October 20, 2012. Tom Helfert, Dave Edwards and Wayne Brabender gave up the majority of their day to evaluate and score the 89 photos that were entered in seven different categories. 
When the three esteemed judges were finished reviewing the photographs, each of them conducted an educational photography presentation where they shared their knowledge and special techniques of the art. Unveiling of the winning photos took place during the awards ceremony held immediately after the educational series of presentations.
Winners included:
Youth Category:
First Place: Jordan Knoll, Beaver Dam, WI
Digitally Enhanced Category:
First Place: Rachel Westover, Beaver Dam, WI
Second Place: Rachel Westover, Beaver Dam, WI
Third Place: Mike Storck, Belleville, WI
Fruit Veggie, and Produce Category:
First Place: Carol Shirk, Mayville, WI
Second Place: Glen Greenfield, Waupun, WI
Third Place: Paula Storck, Mayville, WI
Fourth Place: Jan Krause, Watertown, WI
Fifth Place: Carol Shirk, Mayville, WI
Critters and Creatures Category:
First Place: Vikki Fischer-Kurth, Beaver Dam, WI
Second Place: Terri Main, Waupun, WI
Third Place: Sonia Memmel, Columbus, WI
Fourth Place: Vikki Fischer-Kurth, Beaver Dam, WI
Fifth Place: Ron Nampel, Beaver Dam, WI
Flowers and Foliage Category:
First Place: Jan Krause, Watertown, WI
Second Place: Gail Nampel, Beaver Dam, WI
Third Place: Rachel Westover, Beaver Dam, WI
Fourth Place: Paula Storck, Mayville, WI
Fifth Place: Laura Baima, Beaver Dam, WI
Gardens and Landscapes Category:
First Place: Vikki Fischer-Kurth, Beaver Dam, WI
Second Place: Sonia Memmel, Columbus, WI
Third Place: Carol Shirk, Mayville, WI
Fourth Place: Terri Main, Waupun, WI
Fifth Place: Al Krause, Watertown, WI
Garden Accents and Oddities Category
First Place: Terri Main, Waupun, WI
Second Place: Gail Nampel, Beaver Dam, WI
Third Place: Paula Storck, Mayville, WI
Fourth Place: Marianne Zastrow, Juneau, WI
Fifth Place: Al Krause, Watertown, WI
Each year the Master Gardeners award a special ribbon and $50 cash prize to the Best of Show Winner. Vikki Fischer-Kurth received this year’s honors for her first-place entry in the Critters and Creatures category.
The Dodge County Master Gardeners Association extends a sincere and special thank you to the three judges, for their tremendous contribution to the success of this event. In addition, they also thank the contestants for submitting their wonderful work and invite them to participate in next year’s contest scheduled for Saturday October 12, 2013.
September
About forty Dodge County Master Gardner Volunteers and visitors listened to Ken and Barb Bowman give their presentation on the subject of bats. The Bowmans used PowerPoint, a short video, preserved bats, large posters, and two live bats to educate the audience.
Some major points were as follows:
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There are over 1250 species of bats in the world; however, there are 47 species in the United States, and only 7 species in Wisconsin.
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Of the 7 bat species in Wisconsin, 4 hibernate in state over winter. They are considered cavity dwellers and live in colonies.
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The other 3 Wisconsin bats are foliage roosters who like more open spaces. They migrate south, will not use bat houses or buildings, and live in solitary.
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All Wisconsin bat species weigh between ¼ ounce and 1 ounce, with wingspans between 8 inches and 16 inches.
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Most bats have one baby (pup) per year, and can live 10 to 40 years.
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Bats can eat up to 1000 mosquito-sized insects per hour.
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Bats use echolocation to navigate and find insects at night.
Barb and Ken Bowman founded the non-profit Bat Conservation of Wisconsin in 1999. Through this organization they educate people about the benefits of bats in the environment, and are licensed to perform bat rescue and rehabilitation through the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Part of their program dealt with information about what to do if one finds a grounded bat or if one finds bats inside his or her house.
For information, answers to questions, rescue, removal, bat houses & plans, as well as consulting –
Email: ken@batcow.org
Website: www.batcow.org
Phone: (608) 837-BATS (2287)
August
The August monthly meeting featured Carol Kreif, owner of The Village Flower Shoppe in Kekoskee. She shared her 32 years of floral design experience with nearly 30 Master Gardeners and visitors at the Dodge County Administrative Building Auditorium.
Carol began her presentation by telling the audience that there are fewer “rules” to follow in floral arranging than there were in the past. Now, a floral designer should think of creating a bouquet as art and letting one’s creativity and imagination work much like artists create paintings and sculptures.
Carol explained, however, that certain hints and guidelines are helpful when trying to “put together” an assortment of flowers and foliage. Some of her major points were as follows:
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She explained that there are three types of flowers in most arrangements – line, focal, and filler.
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The perception of balance – how size, shape and color play into an arrangement.
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Carol talked about how flowers should be placed at an angle in a container as though coming from a center position.
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She also went on to explain the procedure in using warm water to revive flowers and the use of ice water and cool temperatures to ensure a bouquet’s longevity.
During her instruction and demonstration time, Carol Kreif answered questions from the audience. After the meeting those who brought their own cut flowers and a vase could create their own arrangement with Carol’s assistance.
July
About 80 Dodge County Master Gardener Volunteers and visitors had a unique and historic July 26th meeting. The DCMG met at the Martin and Chris Sell farm where they own and operate the Edwin Brix Vineyard on Welsh Road in the Town of Clyman.
According to the Wineries of Wisconsin, it is the state’s newest winery and was recently notified that it was approved for a federal basic permit. Sell believes it is the first winery in Dodge County. Master Gardeners took part in the first wine tour and tasting hosted on the property.
Marty Sell explained the science and art of grape growing and wine making on the spacious backyard deck of the Sell home. All participants then had the opportunity to walk through the vineyard looking at the design, grape trellising, and pruning techniques. Marty Sell answered numerous questions from the members of the tour.
The name of the vineyard and the wine is ‘Edwin Brix’, derived from the family name and the term referring to a unit of measurement for sugar content in grapes.
Martin and Chris Sell have contracted grape production and wine making in California under their own label for several years. Here, on their Dodge County vineyard, one variety of their 3 year-old vines will be picked toward the end of August.
They are hoping to harvest 2,000 pounds of grapes this year to make 450 bottles of wine.
June
The June monthly meeting featured Dorothy Legler who presented a PowerPoint presentation about butterflies in the garden. Her opening comments noted that there are 155 different butterflies in the State of Wisconsin while 137 butterfly species are regularly seen. Butterflies do not eat. They only sip liquids, especially from flowers. Most can utilize a variety of plants although they may have a specific plant variety they prefer. Native plants have more nectar than the hybrids.
Dorothy showed spectacular close-up photos of many different butterflies on their favorite host plants. She explained how various butterflies use numerous methods to “over-winter” in cold climates. In contrast, the monarch butterfly is the world’s strongest two-way migrating insect.
May
The May monthly meeting (5/24) featured Ron Kean who spoke about chickens and the garden. Ron discussed why a person might want to raise chickens. His PowerPoint presentation dealt with breed selection, sources of chickens, diagnosing problems, housing concerns, cold weather tips, feeding changes, and problems with predators and disease.
Ron Kean has been a member of the UW-Madison Animal Sciences Department for almost 20 years. He teaches courses on Breeder Flock & Hatchery Management and Biology of Companion Animals. He serves as the “Answer Man” for the Backyard Poultry magazine.
March
The March monthly meeting featured Seamus Garvey of Back-in-Action Rehabilitation of Fond du Lac, Kewaskum, and Mayville. He showed numerous ways to take on gardening work, but lessen the aches and pains that typically result from such efforts.
Garvey’s presentation covered multiple tips for lifting, raking/digging, pruning/clipping and kneeling. He included some general advice about warm-ups and stretches before tackling a project. He also encouraged mixing smaller jobs with bigger projects so that the same muscles and joints are not targeted repetitiously in a short time span.
February
Carla Oestreich, a Dodge County Master Gardener, spoke on the topic, “Gardening to Attract Bees” at the February meeting. Carla’s presentation provided specific suggestions for attracting bees. The zealous gardener may overlook a few of these practices that attract bees:
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A bee-friendly garden isn’t always neat and manicured; it may have some weeds that attract bees also.
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Rethink your lawn: Dutch clover, instead of grass in bare spots, and plantain are sources from which bees can collect pollen.
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Single flower tops are more attractive to bees; double flower tops look showy but produce much less nectar and make it more difficult for bees to access the pollen.
A major idea for all gardeners is to provide plant diversity and to plant at least 3 different types of flowers for each season to ensure bees have a constant source of both pollen and nectar.
Carla provided handouts that listed tried-and-true bee attractors, plants and shrubs that provide a balanced diet of pollen (proteins and fats) and plants that provide nectar (main source of energy). Additionally, numerous sources and websites were listed on handouts for more information.
