Words from Asparagus Masters

I don't know where the saying "words from the master" came from, but I do remember using it facetiously a lot during my high school years, especially in reference to my own "brilliant perspectives." My, how times have changed. I can also remember adults suggesting that the more you learn about a topic the more you learn that you don't know.

Well, I'm nearly 60, and, finally, I'm getting a handle on what they meant. At this stage, we've just begun to learn, and it seems that our wisdom comes at a time when nobody really wants to listen to some ol' fuddy duddy. One thing I have learned well, however, is that there are a lot of wise people out there who know about things. And, if we listen, we might just learn something from them.

With that in mind and with a yard full of unfamiliar plants at this new place, I went to the Masters and found out some valuable stuff last week. This would be the Master Gardeners.

This horticultural learning experience all started when I asked my old friend Gary about caring for my asparagus. I tried to raise asparagus at the old place, but never saw even a single spear rear its head above the ground. When I came to this place, however, the 2006 asparagus crop had just ended, and some healthy spears were shooting toward the sky.

Not wanting to ruin them for next year, I started asking questions. Nobody seemed to know much about asparagus behavior. In the meantime, I finally had time to make the rounds of the huge beds of shrubs, trees and perennials that surround the front yard. While strolling and grimacing about all the weeds that needed pulling, I looked up and saw---not a bush but a tree with dark green leaves and thousands of bright red berries which resembled currants.

As one who loves to make jams and jellies, I immediately wondered if the berries were edible. Later, I noticed that some mint green bushes in the north lawn not only had their sharp thorns for attacking all would-be lawn-mowing addicts but they also had little red berries. It seemed that Jolene, the previous owner, had told me these were buffalo berry bushes, but she hadn't suggested making any jellies if I could reach past the thorns and pluck the berries.

Well, in my conversation with Gary, who's an Iris aficionado, my berry and asparagus queries yielded a suggestion.

"Why don't you check with the Master Gardeners?" he suggested. "They're available every Tuesday and Thursday morning at the U of I county extension office." Gary's suggested sounded like just the ticket, so I finally made it down there last week.

Three nice ladies were waiting in the tiny back room, which has a bookcase full of resources about plants, trees, shrubs and gardening. I showed them the sprigs from the two berry bushes and asked about the asparagus. Within seconds, one Master Gardener was scanning the bookcase looking for the right source, while another began giving me some great suggestions about caring for my gardens and flower beds.

She suggested that I invite another Master Gardener to tour my yard. The tour would include identification of species and suggestions on care for each. When the subject of blueberries came up, another lady told me to be sure to surround each bush with pine needles this winter. By the time I left 45 minutes later, I knew that one bush was indeed the silver buffalo berry but the jury was still out on the other.

The women promised to call when they had the answer. Two days later, I knew that the currant-like berries are tartarian honeysuckle and that they're more ornamental than edible. The women also put together an asparagus brochure, a book for growing blueberries ($3), and a helpful booklet for identifying and getting rid of noxious weeds.

I now know not to go out there and chop down those 6-foot high asparagus spears. Instead, I must wait until spring before they begin sprouting again. And, when they sprout, I'll know not to take the butcher knife out there because I could harm the growth of smaller spears. Instead, one must break the ready-to-eat asparagus spears.

So, at 59, I have received "words from the masters," and, unlike those teenage years, when I thought I knew it all, I'll probably continue to ask a lot more questions and actually listen when the master gardeners tell me what to do with my plants. Could be that their words might inspire some good asparagus eating in the spring.

Thanks, ladies, and thanks, Gary for your suggestion.