Delaware County
Master Gardener Association

Benefits include recognition of specified levels of professional practice; milestones, benchmarks, and models for further levels of achievement; exert leadership and influence by serving as a model; earn distinction in your professional and local communities (helps with gaining grant funds); identify opportunities for collaboration.

Jim Wilson of the Bexley Tree Commission joined us next to speak on the purpose and benefit of making Bexley an arboretum.   Bexley Is the first municipal arboretum In the US.  In 1998, the city established a Tree and Public Garden Commission and eventually formalized stree tree requirements and species selection and became an advocate for planting in other public spaces.  In 2013, Bexley became certified as an arboretum by the Morton Register of Arboreta.

Jim said that administration Is easier If your city code supports your work as an arboretum, and includes street tree selection and replacement authority, planting and maintenance plans, stump grinding, and a mulch volcano ordinance (cheers erupted from the class when this was announced).  

Our next speaker was Todd  Hutchinson of the USDA's Northern Research Station in Delaware, who spoke on Ohio's oak forests.  Most of the oak forests are In southeastern Ohio and are usually second and third growth forests.  Todd spoke of "witness trees" which were used in surveying land and identifying property distinctions.  The land deed would describe the species and diameter of two witness trees and their distance to a post.

An Ohio land survey conducted in 2019 by Todd and a fellow USDA employee located a number of the witness trees used in old deeds.  Most of these were white oak.

Oaks are important as they are keystone species and so support other species.  Thjey are monoecious (both male and female flowers) and flowering begins at age 15 to 25 years; the annual flower crops are typically In May.  Pollen Is dispersed by wind over a two to three day period and weather conditions are critical.

Acorn enlargement and embryo development occurs In mid-summer and the white oak (WO) acorn will sprout in the ground the first year while the red oak (RO) acorn must over-winter in the ground and then sprout in the second year.    

Next up was Chad Hoff of the Columbus Parks and Recreation,  Chad spoke on Columbus' Urban Friendly Master Plan, whose purpose is to increase the overall canopy to 40% from its current 22%.    They only have authority over trees In city parks, roadways,  and other public lands.  They are prioritizing on areas with less tree canopy.

Our final speaker was Trenner Wile of ODNR, who talked about trees as hosts.  The class was amazed at the photos he showed of many types of fungi growing on trees, both saprophytic, that lives on dead or dying trees; parasitic, that forms a relationship with trees, usually through the roots but will actively harm the tree; and mycorrhizal, that forms a symbiotic relationship with the tree and Is found In 80% of plants and, without which, most trees would die.

Cindy Howe of Franklin County won a copy of The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohllenben.  Nancy Reynolds topped off our lunch with her  Maple-Apple Bars (yum!).

Next Dr. Rafiq Islam provided great Information on climate-smart agriculture, specialty crops, food quality, and public health.   By 2050, global food security needs to be doubled, which will make existing farming practices oncreasingly dependent on more chemicals, water, and energy inputs.  According to Dr. Islam, agriculture must be transformed to "C-based system", for which C stands for Conservation or Carbon agriculture.  

Research indicates that salicylic acid, which Is the active Ingredient in aspirin,  is a plant's natural remedy when attached by Insects, drought, underfed and Imbalanced fertilizers.  Three low-dose aspirins crushed with a pinch of baking soda and added to one gallon of water will improve a plant's immune system.

Dr. Islam also spoke about the antioxidant Lycopene, which helps lower LDL (the bad cholesterol), blood pressure, and so reduces the risk of hearth disease.  Flavonoid will reduce Inflammation and risk of hearth disease and cancer.   Anthocyanin will reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, and improve cognitive function.  All of these are found  In many vegetables and colored fruits.  

We next boarded the tractor-pulled wagon and toured the experimental growing areas.  We taste-tested the difference between raspberries grown under a row cover to those that were not and verified that the shaded raspberries were significantly sweeter.  There were a number of other test sites that we viewed, but unfortunately were not able to test.

We were then  given a tour of the laboratories and the greenhouses.

As If all this weren't enough, we were gifted a pint of fresh raspberries (from the shaded bushes) and a raspberry plant!  All agreed that the trip was well worth it!