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| MG Interns Janice Ruggles and Pela Soto, MG Chris Ceder
Photo: J. Pothress |
By MG Intern Pela Soto
Montgomery County Master Gardeners were invited to a community event celebrating 100 years of service by the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) on Saturday, October 4. To fit in with the theme, KVFD asked MGs to present information on fire resistant landscaping and plants.
Several MGs jumped in and helped to create an evidence-based resource to share, but MG Intern Janice Ruggles deserves special credit. Janice created a comprehensive visual aid using published materials from several sources, including Firewise Maryland and the National Fire Protection Association. We also had examples of different types of landscaping materials and their relative fire safety, as well as examples of plants that are fire resistant (there are no fireproof plants!) and those with higher contents of oils or resins, which are recommended to be farther away from a home. Rubber mulch and pine needles have the highest combined combustible characteristics, according to a study that evaluated flame height, rate of spread, and temperature.
In addition to Janice, MG Chris Ceder and MG Intern Pela Soto staffed the event. Johnson’s Florist and Garden Centers provided KVFD a $50 gift certificate for the MG table to give away in a raffle. Overall it was a successful event and we each learned something new about creating a more fire resistant landscape. The materials used will be stored in the Ballard Room at the Derwood Extension Office. If you think they could be useful at a future event, be sure to ask your event lead if you can include them.
