Atlanta Botanical Garden

This past weekend I had a very quick tromp through the Atlanta Botanical Garden. We left the truck at 3:30pm and I promised my kiddos that we'd be back in the truck by 4:30. Well, I was an hour off. We had to hurry through so I just got glimpses of things, but you can find a few pictures on the Pulaski County Horticulture Facebook page.

Gnome Management in the Garden

Fall Images from the Extension Office Gardens

Redosier dogwood (red-twig dogwood)

Carolina sweetshrub

Nikko Blue hydrangea on left, Annabelle on right

American beautyberry

American beautyberry fruit


Asian species of beautyberry, fruits are much more prominent than the American!

Trifoliate orange

Look at what got brought in the office this morning!



Is this cool or what? I was stumped. This was in the edge of the woods, not generally where I think citrus would be located. But anyway, this is a trifoliate orange (Poncirus trifoliata).

I tasted the pulp. Boy, was it sour. Don't try that at home.

Skunked

Our dog Lily, once again, has given me an experience I never wanted.

I've had to call the emergency vet number at least 3 times with her. And she's not a bad dog at all. She just seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

This weekend, we stayed overnight in Paris, KY at my parents' house. We came back in the house around 10pm after watching a soccer game and let out the dogs. I heard a lot of commotion, knew something was up, and then I smelled it. That lovely smell of skunk.

Lily finally came back in the house and immediately knew she stunk of skunk. She didn't get a full-blown attack, but she definitely went through the bushes where the skunk had just let loose.

We gave her a bath of tomato juice, which totally grossed me out. Almost more than the skunk smell. We did it twice and she seemed to smell better.

My mom looked on the internet and found a different concoction to try. Turns out it worked pretty good. It was a mixture of vinegar, baking soda, and dish detergent.

After a couple of wash downs with that, we were all worn out, especially Lily. We half dried her off and she smelled pretty good. She may have a hint of that smell left on her but it's mostly gone. Incredible.

Just Sad

Isn't it sad that we have to designate September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month? Really sad.

Why Are There More/Fewer _____ This Year?

This interesting article comes from Lee Townsend, UK Extension Entomologist. We always attribute less insects with a harsh winter. Not so, he says. Read on:

Why are there So Many/Fewer _(Fill in the Name)_ This Year?
By Lee Townsend

Almost every year it seems that one or more species of insects are more/less abundant than “normal”. Sometimes increases are appreciated, as with lightningbugs or fireflies this summer. Just a few years ago, we were wondering why they were so scarce. On the other hand, increases in pests of crops, landscape plants, or humans can pose serious problems.

Weather, particularly temperature and rainfall, have major impacts on insect survival which can lead to significant increases (or decreases) in insect numbers from one year to the next. And, the effects are not consistent across species; conditions that allow some to thrive may be detrimental to others.

As a cold-blooded animal, insect development is accelerated or slowed depending upon temperature. A very warm spring can shorten the number of days required to grow from egg to adult. In turn, rapid development can reduce the length of exposure of vulnerable stages to predators so that a smaller percentage is eaten by natural enemies. It also can result in an extra generation of the insect. Longer warm periods also can mean species normally restricted to southern regions can move further north.

Rainfall amount and timing also plays a big role in insect population dynamics. Heavy spring rains leave areas wet for prolonged periods of time that favor some species. Increased nectar and sap flow is a boon to nectar gathers and sap feeders, including bees, butterflies, scale insects, and aphids. And, fungus-feeding insects benefit from an increased food supply. On the other hand, these same rains can wash small caterpillars and sap feeders off of plants to perish before they can find another host plant.

Weather also affects food abundance and quality from the insect’s perspective. The higher nutritional value of healthy, vigorous plants may result in more rapid insect development and more offspring per female. In some cases, plant development may be better synchronized with that of the insects that pollinate them or use them as some other resource. The impact of weather on some species can even be delayed. The apparent increased incidence in attacks of borers may be traced to the damage from past ice storms or droughts that stress, weaken, or kill trees and shrubs.

While temperature and rainfall have been identified as driving the population dynamics of many insect species, a myriad of factors other can be involved. In fact, the key factors governing survival and success are somewhat understood for only a few species. It is clear that only small increases or decreases in the relatively high mortality rate of most insects can lead to very big fluctuations in their numbers.

Spiders! At Least Their Webs

As I walked around the garden at the Extension office this morning, I was overwhelmed by spider webs. They were everywhere! Here's a few shots of what I saw this morning:

On pineapple sage

Along the walkway

In the yard (that's not cotton balls thrown out there!)

Between hosta flowering stems

Good ol' garden spider (this was a BIG one)

On the daphne

Between coneflower leaves

On boxwoods (there would be 7 or 8 webs per boxwood!)

Top 5 Reasons to Go to a Farmers' Market

Drumroll.....and I'm not as good as David Letterman's writers....

5. Socializing is a big part of going, and we all like to talk.
4. Where else can you have an intelligent conversation about 12 different cultivars of tomato?
3. TENTS! They just make for a party atmosphere!
2. If you buy from them, they might make enough money not to turn their farm into a subdivision.
And the #1 reason to go to a farmers' market....
1. GOOD FOOD, produced by people you can look in the eye!

Downtown Somerset Farmers' Market open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7am til sellout.
Somerset Farmers' Market at the Mall open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8am til 2pm.

Put Pruning Equipment Away

It's the time of year when I begin highly discouraging the use of pruners, loppers, saws, or any other implement used to cut woody plants. I usually tell people to just forget about pruning trees or shrubs from about the middle of August through leaf drop.

The why, if you think about it, is quite logical. Pruning sort of re-invigorates the plant. Makes the plant want to send out new shoots. If a little new shoot emerges below a pruning cut that's made September 1, it usually won't have time to produce wood and harden off completely before our first frost (about October 15). That makes for a dead little shoot.

Unfortunately, this dead shoot can then be the entryway for rotting organisms, like fungi or bacteria. Once they're in, they're in. And the rotting will begin.

The link above is UK's publication called 'Pruning Landscape Trees'. Here's the link to another called 'Pruning Landscape Shrubs'.

Cool Pics of Corn Silks

Sometimes when I come to a tough spot and can't think anymore, I go outside and look around in the garden. I did that today.

Have you ever really looked at corn silks? I mean, reeeeealy looked at them? Here's a couple of pictures of silks. Notice they have little appendages? Guess this makes them able to better grab the pollen as it's shed from the tassel.

Master Gardener Program

If you are interested in participating in the 2010 Master Gardener Program, the application and fee is due by next Friday, August 6. My horticulture page has the application available.

The program will start September 9 and end on December 16. Classes will be held on Thursdays from 9am to noon. I need 10 people to make the program happen this year.

For more information, call 606-679-6361.

Lunch from the Land (the Land of Pulaski Co, KY)

Most people would agree that a tomato you can pluck off your plant in the backyard is one of the best-tasting, most nutritious tomatoes you'll ever eat.

With this in mind, Edith Lovett, Richard Whitis, and I will be highlighting some foods from the next best place -- local farms right here in Pulaski Co.

Come eat lunch with us on Tuesday, July 27 at 11:30am when we will be using locally-produced meat, fruits, and vegetables.

We'd like you to pre-register and you'll need to bring $5 as well. Call the office at 679-6361 to sign up!

Get Outside and Get Healthy! It's a FACT!

According to some studies in Japan, getting outside around plants is good for your health. Well, duh! I figured everyone knew that. In my non-scientific way of looking at it, if you're outside you are probably doing something, something active -- which is good for you.

In Japan, they call it 'forest bathing'. Is that a cool way to put it or what?!

But the article goes on to state some more scientific facts than what I presented above. Being outside among plants and trees actually can boost your white blood cells. And it can lower your blood pressure and your pulse rate.

Another reason to help preserve our natural places and promote parks.

Guess I'll live til I'm 148.

Master Gardener Program 2010

If you are interested in becoming a Lake Cumberland Master Gardener, come to a meeting on July 15 at 1pm at the Pulaski County Extension office to learn about the program.

The Master Gardener Program in Pulaski County began in 2000. We have about 30 active Master Gardeners from 5 counties.

If you cannot make the meeting but are interested in participating in the program, PLEASE contact me. If all goes according to plan, the program will begin in mid-September, 2010.

Turf Research Field Day

Turf is a horticulture crop unto itself. And as such, UK hosts annual field days about turf and only turf. I try to go every other year or so. Here's a few tidbits of information gleaned from a hot day yesterday.

1. There are a TON of tall fescue varieties out there and we do highly recommend tall fescue for home lawns. However, there are so many good 'turf-type' tall fescues out there that using KY 31 (the old, old forage variety) hardly makes sense anymore. Get yourself a good turf-type tall fescue variety and watch a very attractive grass grow!
2. The most destructive grub (larvae of beetles) of turf is the grub of the masked chafer. I bet you thought I was going to say Japanese beetle, didn't you? The masked chafer is a brown, half-inch long beetle that skims over the turf surface at dusk.
3. Dr Dan Potter, UK Entomologist, noted that Emerald Ash Borer is not spreading as fast in KY as it has in other states, like Michigan. He's not sure why, but one speculation is that we are at the southern range of this pest. Only time will tell.
4. UK is working on some green tactics in turf. In particular, AJ Powell, our illustrious, recently retired turf specialist, spoke with us about white dutch clover in home lawns. We saw a study conducted about even a relatively high rate of 2,4-D amine on a fescue/clover lawn will get rid of many broadleaf weeds without reducing the stand of white clover. White clover can contribute up to 2# of nitrogen per 1000 sq ft -- no small amount!

So, there you have it. Some gleanings from the UK Turf Field Day held at Spindletop Farm.

Grasshoppers

Yesterday, I got two calls before 9:30 am concerning the over-abundance of grasshoppers. One was concerned about the sheer numbers of them, the other was concerned about their feeding on her vegetables and flowers.

I've noticed quite a few myself when walking outside in the grass, through the blackberries, or around the barns. I asked the entomologist at UK if there had been other calls like mine in the state and he said no.

If you believe grasshoppers are becoming a pest, especially in your garden, there are synthetic chemical sprays that will help control them in your vegetable garden and flower beds. However, for just being a nuisance, sprays will only win you a battle or 2 -- you won't win the war.

Here's another link on grasshoppers from UK.

Bark Lice City!

Bark lice -- I have gotten numerous calls on this, probably 5 or 6. If I get 5 or 6 calls, you can probably multiply that by 100 to get the real story of how much of this is out there this year.

Bark lice are black bugs that congregate together on the bark of trees. They move as a group and form black blotches on the bark. Not because of the damage they do but because they themselves form the black blotches.

They are not parasites of the tree nor are they something you need to treat for. Why they seem to be more prolific this year is anyone's guess.

Here's a link to Kentucky Pest News featuring an article on bark lice.

Late Blight Hitting Early

Late blight, the awful disease that reared its ugly head last summer late, has been confirmed in multiple counties in Kentucky this year. It's been found on both potatoes and tomatoes. The closest county so far is Marion Co.

In response to this, it is extremely important to keep up on fungicide sprays. You must take a preventative approach with this one. Some of our other diseases we can take a wait and see attitude (sort of), but it's critical to be preventative with late blight.

Listed below are some of the labeled products for late blight control for home gardeners:

• Fixed copper

• Daconil or Fung-onil (active ingredient is chlorothalonil)

• Mancozeb

These should be applied regularly, and the user should refer to the product label for rates, PHI, and safety precautions. These products, as mentioned earlier, will not function well if pressure is high or if disease is present before spray programs are started.

Listed below are cultural controls that can prevent or delay the fungus (information from OAK blog:

• Grow potatoes and tomatoes in areas with good air circulation and well-drained soils. The fungus only infects wet tissue.
• Use certified seed potatoes and resistant varieties, where possible. The fungus can survive in potato seed pieces, but is not spread by tomato seeds.
• Separate plantings of potato and tomato in space and time.
• Promote air circulation to keep leaves dry. Plant in wide rows, oriented with prevailing winds. Stake and prune tomatoes. Control weeds.
• Hill potatoes with high hills to protect tubers from infection.
• Water the soil, not the leaves, to prevent leaf wetness.
• Avoid over-supplying nitrogen. Lush growth is more susceptible to late blight. Scout regularly. Destroy infected plant tissue and plants surrounding infected spots.
• Let potato vines die back completely before harvest. Do not harvest tomatoes when foliage is wet.
• Destroy culled tomatoes and potatoes. Store potatoes and tomatoes from diseased fields separately from those from uninfected fields.

If you suspect late blight, please let me know so we can get it sent to the lab for confirmation.

Knockout Roses -- Yes They Can Have Problems!

Here at the Pulaski Co Extension office we have about 5 pink single Knockout roses and 5 double Knockouts planted. Last year I saw this problem and stupidly did not remove the plants. This year, the problem is here again!




This is called rose rosette virus. It is incurable and terminal. It's best to remove affected plants to protect others from getting the virus. It is transferred via mites.

Sorry plants, but y'all are outta our garden!

I've Gone And Done It

Well, like I didn't have enough to do -- I went and did it anyway. I am now the proud mama of 2 hives of honeybees.


These are called 'nucs' which are small, ready-made hives sort of. Inside these temporary homes, there are 5 frames with a laying queen, plenty of workers and drones, with comb and brood. They were ready for a permanent home, which are these hive bodies you see below.



I'm one of the 15 or so new beekeepers in Pulaski Co this year. I'm excited/anxious about the whole thing. But we have a strong group of beekeepers in Pulaski Co who are going to help all the new beekeepers out during their first year.

Now, if my bee suit wasn't a size too big....

What's NOT to Like Here....

Look at this tree and tell me one good reason NOT to plant it.

Just some facts first:

• It will not grow into power lines.
• It has survived the drought of 2007 and 08 with no supplemental water
• It has fantastic white, fragrant blooms
• It has close to no disease or insect problems
• It is a native plant
• Michael Dirr states that '...I would like to make a case for this as the national shrub for even dogwood does not carry itself with such refinement, dignity, and class when in flower' -- WOW!

This plant is....White Fringetree aka Old-man's beard. Scientific name is Chionanthus virginicus. Don't be like everyone else. Go get one of these -- and plant it.

The Great Flood of 2010

We're living through it. And your gardens (and maybe basements) had to withstand the deluge. Thank goodness, we didn't have a BUNCH of vegetables out yet. However, here's a bit of advice, gleaned from Rosie Lerner, Extension Consumer Horticulturist from Purdue University:

For those who have actually had a chance to put in early cool-season crops, the issue of food safety from the garden is best handled with caution. Clearly, if floodwaters are contaminated with raw sewage, it is risky to eat the produce. Crops that can be washed thoroughly, peeled and/or boiled should pose minimal risks. However, crops that are eaten uncooked, especially leafy crops such as spinach and lettuce, will be more risky for consumption since it is so difficult to remove all of the contamination with just plain rinsing.

Newly planted seeds and transplants may not survive even short-term flooding, and seeds may have washed away. Resist the urge to replant immediately; give the soil a chance to dry out first. Working wet soil will have long-lasting effects of soil compaction.

As for landscape trees and shrubs, it is difficult to say what the long-term effect of being underwater will be. When soils are completely flooded, oxygen is prevented from reaching the root system. Certainly, some trees are more tolerant of waterlogged conditions, but the longer the lack of aeration, the greater the chance of root death. The general thought is that most landscape plants can survive being submerged for about a week or so. However, extended lack of aeration to the roots will result in root die-back, with the above-ground symptoms appearing as leaf yellowing, droopy foliage, leaf drop and, eventually, branch die-back. Waterlogged root systems are also more susceptible to attack by root-rot organisms. In areas of severe flooding, concerns for plant health also include soil erosion and deposits of additional soil and silt. Both can damage the root system.

In addition to the obvious damage to plants, there are more long-term effects to soils, which have been flooded for extended periods. Soil microorganisms that require oxygen may be killed and those that survive without oxygen take over, which in turn affects availability of nutrients for plant use. The soil structure itself may be physically harmed due to compaction of soil particles.

There isn't much you can do other than wait for drier weather to prevail and allow water to drain. As more favorable conditions return, watch for signs of die-back, but don't be too hasty to cut limbs. Branches that have lost leaves aren't necessarily dead; even though leaves may drop, there may be buds that will be able to re-leaf yet this summer. Live stems and buds will have some green tissue visible. Remove only those limbs that are physically damaged or obviously dead. A light fertilization may be helpful to replace nutrients that were lost and to encourage re-growth.

We may not know the full effect of flooding until long after the water recedes. And then, of course, a lot will depend on what future stresses the weather may bring upon our landscapes.

Pulaski County Horticulture

I have finally gotten with the program. Pulaski County Extension is now on Facebook. No plans for Twitter. If I can't do it from my phone, I ain't doing it. Hope you can join me on Facebook!

Flight of the Helicopters (& other stuff)

My kids love maple helicopters -- they can spend hours throwing them up in the air and watching them land. Silver maple seeds are everywhere -- and just about everyone of them will germinate.



After a severe pruning, our Buddleia (butterflybush) is recuperating well.



And lastly, pawpaw (Asimina triloba) blooms are just finishing up, but they are unique.

Kinda Creepy

Well, when you get to looking at stuff in the garden, sometimes you never know what has materialized over the winter. Look at this:


It's a concrete face among the parsley! I don't remember that being there last year, but here it is now. It's serene yet creepy all at the same time. There's probably better adjectives to describe it but that's all I got.

Emerald Ash Borer -- Know It & Abhor It

Abhor is such a strong word....but we will all really, really, really not like this critter very much in the near future. I just came from presenting a program to our local Rotary Club on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). It's relevant enough that I'll update you on its movement.

Kentucky has 11 counties infested with the EAB.

So far, Pulaski County is not an OFFICIALLY infested county. But think about it....we get a few Ohio visitors each year. These visitors may bring infested firewood with them. Ohio has had this pest for a couple of years already.

Or maybe a shipment of ash trees for a landscaping business or nursery comes in already infested. That's all it takes for these insects to get started.

During late April or early May, EABs will emerge and begin doing what insects do best -- eating, mating, and flying. Maybe all of them at once!

We need help in tracking this insect, so I simply ask you keep your eyes open. If you see any of the symptoms (found on the website links above), please call me at 606-679-6361.

Home Vegetable Gardening

This time of year, many people in Pulaski County are thinking of their gardens. For some, growing their own vegetables has been a lifelong tradition. To others in the county, it may be a new thing. Or maybe you used to help tend a garden but have been removed from it for some time.

If you want to learn about growing vegetables at home, come to a class at the Pulaski County Extension office on April 15 at 5pm. We hope to share a bunch of information that will help you be a better gardener.

You can always go to our website and check out our other events as well.

Hope to see you at the home vegetable gardening class!

Sprung!

Yep, it's sprung here at the Extension office. We've got daffodils galore, the yellow really stands out well. You can see them a mile away.


Then we've got our Harry Lauder's Walking Stick whose catkins are dangling in the breeze.


And then I noticed a little purplish mound making its way up through the leaves. It's our perennial Agastache or hyssop.

Great stuff. Good to be alive in the spring.

Shiitakes -- Fresh From a Cube!

In advance of our Mushroom Inoculation class next week, I ordered a Tabletop Farm from Field and Forest.

My idea was to have actual live, growing mushrooms at the workshop for everyone to see. Well, the durn thing is already fruiting, even though I thought it might take 7 to 10 days to ramp up to production. Here's what it looks like:

I put it in a cooler area, hoping to slow it down some. It's a full week til the workshop. Yow.

Tasty Fungi

We all know what mushrooms are. We've seen them. And probably eaten some. But have you ever purposefully inoculated a log with spores of the fungi you like to eat? Well, if you haven't then you need to come to a class on How To Grow Mushrooms on Logs. It's on February 23 at 1pm and repeated at 6pm.

If you'd like to come, please call the office at 679-6361 and pre-register. By pre-registering, you are reserving a log for yourself. I'd ask that you bring a drill and a 5/16" and/or 7/16" drill bit. If you don't have these tools, we'll have some, but it'll take you longer since the equipment may be shared among participants.

We're going to grow shiitake mushrooms on the logs we inoculate. We're going to have a lot of fun -- and hopefully learn a lot in the process.

Beginning Beekeeping Session Cancelled

We've had to cancel the first session of the Beginning Beekeeping Course tonight. The speaker was coming from north of us where they are having much more problems with the weather.

We still plan on holding the entire course -- it will just be off a week. Those that have signed up, be sure to come to the first session next Tuesday from 7pm to 9pm.

Cold Outside (and stay that way!)

Over the past 3 days, I've seen the temperature at 4F and 5F on Saturday and this morning, respectively. We've got 3 outside cats who amaze me at their toughness. We built them a cathouse out of leftover insulating panels. We also make sure they have a fluffy old comforter inside their cathouse. In the mornings when I feed them, they saunter out of their house and feel warm to the touch.

Cats amaze me at how they handle the cold. And birds (we feed a bunch of them). But my plants do too. And they aren't provided anything to protect them. I took some shots of the ice that enveloped the bark and buds of some of my trees and shrubs over the weekend.

Here's my yellowood (Cladrastis kentuckea) bud encased in ice.
The bark of my young catalpa is frost-covered too.

January has been great (cold, I know, but great) since we haven't had any warm-ups. If we get some abnormally warm days, trees and shrubs can be tricked into growing. Remember April 2007?

As much as I hate to say it, I kinda hope it stays cold through February.

Beginning Farmer Program

Many people here in Pulaski County are rediscovering their roots by returning to the family farm. Some may not be moving back to their old homeplace, rather they are new landowners wanting to make a living on the farm. Regardless, being a farmer is cool once again.

Here in our area, we are offering a Beginning Farmer Program, which has been publicized as KyFARMSTART. It is for people who have less than 10 years farming experience. The program is very comprehensive.

Here's a link to my website where you can find more information on the program. Don't hesitate to call our office if you need more information 606-679-6361.

Beginning Beekeeping Course

I met with the local beekeepers the other night and between all of us, we put together a course for those interested in becoming beekeepers. The first class will be on Feb 9. We have to limit the number of people to 40, so register sooner rather than later. Here's a link to my webpage where you can get more information.

We've got some very, very experienced speakers who will be leading the sessions.

And I checked with the City of Somerset -- there are no ordinances that address keeping bees within city limits. You just need to be a good neighbor.

Insects are needed to pollinate about 1/3 of the food in humans' diets. Honeybees account for 80% of this. Apples, blueberries, strawberries, cucumber, watermelons, and muskmelon -- just think what it would be like without them. Not good.

Hope many of you get excited about honeybees by attending this short course.

Getting Educated Horticulturally Speaking

I came back from the Kentucky Nursery and Landscape Association Conference a little wiser than I was before. Here's a few tidbits of interesting horticulture information:

• The infamous Callery pear was an introduction from the USDA Lab in Beltsville MD. Shame on them. Invasive pears are now ubiquitous around Washington DC. The Mama plant at the lab had to be cut down -- guess why? -- it was falling apart.
• For every 1.8 degree F increase in temperature, our electricity use increases 2.4%. Urban trees are great at cooling the environment and should be used to help reduce energy consumption.
• Sadly, budgets for urban forestry programs are down 40%
• The US has the greatest diversity of ash in the world (and watch out, here comes emerald ash borer)
• The Chicago Botanic Garden was built on a swamp and had to built up in a series of islands. They have a new building which is covered with rooftop gardens which are accessible to the public.
  

Learning a Lot in January

Did you know....

• A Snuggie really does keep you warm and is very handy.
  
• $120 toy from Santa is quickly un-played with 2 days after the big man came
• My 5 year old knows about 15 species of birds by sight -- she is VERY into bird feeding this winter.
• Why chicken manure can sometimes be less seedy than hog or cattle manure? -- only 2% of seed pass through a chicken whereas 25% pass through cattle and hogs.
• They make silicon covers to put over a cat's claws

More useful, horticultural information to come....haha

Who Says Gardening is Over?

On New Year's Day, I harvested a big handful of carrots from my lasagna garden bed at home. Yes, I did, I really did. My daughter is loving them, as are all of us, plus our guinea pig George.
He loves carrots, cucumbers, and lettuce the most. Now, the carrot is twisted like that for good reason. After I sowed the seeds, something dug some holes in my raised bed. I salvaged what I could but it ended up twisting the carrot's roots. Most of the ones I pulled from this bed ended up with a really cool twist.