‘Heartstring Strummer’ home in the Iris Garden at Springfield Botanical Gardens
Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Avenue, Springfield, MO 65807
By George Deatz

Recently I found out that Ben Johnson a member of the Iris Society of the Ozarks is also a member of the Tall Bearded Iris Society and the American Iris Society. It seems to be a well kept secret, but in addition he is an expert local iris hybridizer.

One of his irises ‘Heartstring Strummer’ is on display in the Iris Garden at the Springfield Botanical Gardens. Registered in 1997 ‘Heartstring Strummer’ was introduced in 2001 and is currently distributed worldwide. This locally developed iris won Honorable Mention 2003, Award of Merit 2005, President’s Cup 2005, the prestigious Wister Medal in 2008 and was a runner up for the Dykes Medal, the highest award an iris can win. It is said, this iris presents delightful coloration, exceptional height (40″), heavily ruffled flaring form, slightly sweet fragrance and is a child of Rapture In Blue X Conjuration.

Johnson said, “There are two other hybridizers who are members of the Iris Society of the Ozarks and who have representative varieties in the garden as well: Calvin Helsley of Mansfield and Barbara Nicodemus of Buffalo. Calvin has been hybridizing irises for a great many years, working mainly with Siberian irises, but also with the bearded irises. Barbara has been hybridizing for about the same length of time as myself (around 16 years) and has many fine varieties to her credit. Her Ozark Rebounder (which I am fairly sure is in the garden) is in contention this year for a Wister Medal as well.”

Johnson doesn’t live far from the Botanical Gardens and invited Katie Steinhoff and me to visit his private garden where his backyard is “wall to wall” iris plants, both for display and in various stages of development. After seeing his garden and hearing some of the interesting history of iris I can assure you there will be more locally hybridized iris to come.

The Iris Garden at the Springfield Botanical Gardens currently has a stunning floral presentation. I would say the garden is in peak bloom this week, you won’t want to miss it!

For more information and photos of ‘Heartstring Strummer’ visit the American Iris Society, Iris Encyclopedia at this link: http://wiki.irises.org/bin/view/TbFthruJ/TbHeartstringStrummer

(Local ‘Photos by George’ of ‘Heartstring Strummer’ avaiable by request)

We had a great night at Sammy’s Window last evening!
By Mark Hay, May 22, 2013

We had a great night at Sammy’s Window last evening! Thanks to Erin and her Mom, Marlene and Doug, Matt, M’liss, Rob and Jeanette, who in spite of me helping them, moved mountains last night.

Sometimes, walking into Sammy’s Window is much like walking into a hornet’s nest. In the midst of working, we also helped 6 kids, and gave away 3 bikes that Matt repaired from the bone pile. My only downer of the evening was not being able to provide a crib for a woman who is waiting on one to have a child placed in her home. As soon as we free up some ready cash, we will proceed if it is not too late. So many cribs have been recalled, you just can’t rely on used ones anymore.

Thanks to my “Too Live Crew” that invested their Tuesday night in Sammy’s Window. May you receive many happy returns. Also thanks to some of the parents who stopped in last night and quit looking for items for a while just to help us sort, fold and hang clothing. That was cool. And last but not least, thanks to those of you that stopped by and donated needed items, we can’t do it without you. Oh yes, one more. Thanks to North Bridge Church for allowing us the wonderful location for our ministry. Mark

Note from George: Would you or your group be in a position to assist Sammy’s Window? Sammy’s Window is a not-for-profit organization, whose special purpose is to help foster children enter the foster system with some sense of dignity, and assist foster parents with the transition. Mark, the founder and director, is also a member of Friends of the Garden and a FOG volunteer.

For more information on how you can help, contact:
Mark Hay, Director Sammy’s Window
Tel: 417.849.7941 Email: haym97@yahoo.com
Location: 3757 N. Glenstone (call before dropping by) Springfield, MO 65803

Sammy’s Window does have a group Facebook page, click here: http://www.facebook.com/friendsofthegarden#!/groups/53740542338/

Bob Childress ~ More good “Young Sprouts in the Garden” stuff
Frank Shipe shared this photo and comments…
FB Sunday May 19, 2013

More good “Young Sprouts in the Garden” stuff: Bob Childress, garden chairman of the Friends of the Garden, who’s played the biggest part in building nearly all of the 36 gardens in the Springfield Botanical Gardens, taught a huge flock of Brownies, Daisies, and Girl Scouts how to plant an annual plant. Each girl got to do one. And Bob survived.  Frank

Note from Lisa Bakerink: Thanks to Bob Childress, Cindy Baird, Kauleen Volentine, Amy Short, and Steve Craig for helping the Girl Scouts learn about planting, about butterflies, and then earn their respective badges. A special thanks to Dow and Linda Whiting, Garden Adventures Nursery, for providing seed packets and plants for the girls to take home from the Springfield Botanical Gardens last Saturday.  Lisa

Photo by Frank Shipe

Know Your Parks – Garden Minute with Peter Longley

It may be spring and chrysanthemums are synonymous with fall but find out why, and how to care for them after they bloom on The Garden Minute.

Video link: http://cityview.springfieldmo.gov/media/know-your-parks-garden-minute

Know Your Parks – Walking Paths in Springfield

What’s most affordable and accessible exercise regimen, with the lowest drop-out rate? Walking! And with 30 new designated walking paths in Springfield, getting started is easier than ever.

Excellent interview with Stephen Hall American Heart Association and Bill Ingemi Park Board Director Health & Wellness conducted by City View host Kelly Rostic. The interview was filmed in the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden. Video link: http://cityview.springfieldmo.gov/media/kyp-walking-paths-in-springfield

Learn more about the location of Springfield’s walking paths at www.startwalkingnow.org then use this link http://www.startwalkingnow.org/start_walking_paths.jsp.

A tree said to be the “grandson” of one that was first planted nearly 150 years before the American Revolution will be dedicated at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 22, in the Master Gardeners of Greene County Demonstration Garden located in the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathanael Greene-Close Memorial Park, 2400 S. Scenic Ave.

Tom Meshek, president of the Endicott Family Association, will give a history of the tree at the dedication, and a reception will follow the brief ceremony.

“This tree has quite a story,” said Master Gardener Gail Wright, “as the original tree dates from 1632.” The Endicott Pear Tree, the oldest cultivated fruit tree in North America, is a semi-dwarf variety that can get as tall as 15 to 20 feet and as high at maturity. It was gifted to Master Gardeners by Springfield resident Gordon Harmon, a descendant of Massachusetts Governor John Endicott, whose ancestors planted the first tree.

Since 1997, cuttings of the Endicott Pear Tree in Danvers, Massachusetts, have been collected by a gene bank that preserves invaluable plant genetic resources of fruit and nut trees. A clone was grown at an Oregon facility and made available to the Endicott Family Association whose mission is to make sure that the tree continues to survive.

University of Missouri Extension Horticultural Specialist Patrick Byers will plant the Endicott Pear Tree in the southwest corner of the herb garden.

For more information, contact Gail Wright at 417.988-0756 or gailwright44@yahoo.com.

Master Gardeners of Greene County, in coordination with University of Missouri Extension located in the Springfield-Greene County Botanical Center in Nathanael Greene/Close Memorial Park, provides horticultural information and training to the gardening public based on proven research specific to the local climate, soils and plants. For information, call 417.414.0363 or e-mail at mg.greenecounty@gmail.com.

News Release Master Gardeners of Greene County, prepared by Jeanne Duffey.