Lavender is probably the most easily recognized and widely grown cultivated herb, and deservedly so – its delightful fragrance, and many uses have been enjoyed for centuries. It was the Romans who named the plant after the verb ‘lavare’ – to wash – as they were fond of adding it to their bath-water in those days before deodorants and gentle, scented soaps.
It was also the Romans that introduced the herb to England where it was grown in many a monastery garden.
In the days of Henry VIII, lavender was one of the ‘strewing’ herbs (strewn on the floor where the hems of ladies’ gowns and strolling feet released the perfume and sweetened the otherwise un-sweet air). It was also thought to ward off the plague, and was carried in nosegays (small bouquets held under the nose to mask unpleasant smells – pre-deodorant once again!)
Most of lavender’s finer qualities have been proven by modern science and it continues to be one of our most valuable herbs.
This is an herb from the Mediterranean region, so this should give you a hint about its cultural requirements – full sun and well drained soil. Fertile soil will promote the best growth, but a poorer soil produces the finest perfume. Lavender can be grown from seed, but it may not come true to type so it is best to purchase plants. There are many varieties on the market so do your homework before purchasing; the ‘English’ varieties are reliably hardy in this area, but the French or Spanish varieties are not, but can be overwintered as house plants in sunny, cool windows – just go easy on the water!
Lavender maintenance is minimal: spring trim to tidy up the overall plant, being careful not to trim back into old wood, trim again after flowering (just the flowering stems). Lavender does not appreciate a ‘hard’ pruning so be prepared for a ‘not-so-neat’ appearance after a few years.
To harvest lavender for use in sachets or pot-pourri, gather the flowering stems as they begin to open, tie into small bunches and hang up-side-down in a brown paper bag in a cool, dry, dark area. When dried rub the flowers off the stems. To make a sachet:
Cut a circle of muslin or other open-weave fabric, place a small amount of dried lavender on the center of the fabric; draw up into a bundle and fasten with a ribbon. These sachets will perfume your underwear drawer and also repel insects. (You may draw your own inferences).
The anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties of lavender are as valuable as its commercial use in perfumery, but did you know that just inhaling the fragrance can calm a headache, and the perfume can induce sleep?
But I bet you didn’t know that it flavors a great cookie recipe:
About 2 dozen cookies:
1 white cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
Lavender oil (6-8 drops)
Mix, drop on cookie sheet, by tablespoons (I think)
Bake @ 350* 12-16 minutes (check often)
Thanks Cheryl for the recipe!
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
What will be the last tree standing?: by Tom Butzler
I just don’t know how much more bad news Pennsylvania’s trees can take. Just last week, it was announced that the emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in Juniata County.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has desperately tried to contain the isolated EAB outbreaks from becoming more widespread but it seems an exercise in futility. There was a comprehensive EAB Action Plan that was created in 2006 to eradicate/suppress this insect when it came across our borders. Came across the Ohio/Pennsylvania borders it did in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since. It was first found in western Pennsylvania in Butler and Alleghany counties that year and has spread to nine additional counties in western and central Pennsylvania.
Each red dot on the map represents an emerald ash borer has been located in that area. The blue lines around the states and/or counties represent an area that has been quarantined. Map as of November 2009
I think our ash trees have a short future in Pennsylvania. Lest you think I am a pessimist, look at the following activity and fact. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has started the National Ash Tree Seed Collection Initiative in which seed is collected from ash trees throughout the U.S. in the growing regions of ash trees. If the ash tree populations are completely decimated by the ash borer, the stored seeds can be used as the genetic base for work to re-establish ash trees for future generations. Scientists are preparing for the worst. And why not? The following fact is enough to make me go buy a wood burning stove. Over 50 million ash trees have been killed by the EAB the past several years in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin. I think the ash tree will go the way of the American chestnut.
According to Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources, ash make up 3.6% of the forests in Pennsylvania, with more than 300 million trees throughout the state. What’s that you say? Ninety-six percent (96.4%) of the trees are unaffected by EAB and our forests will be fine.
Let’s look at the number of pests that are taking aim at our other trees.
• Gypsy moth –We see the immediate impact, defoliation, but the aftermath is more of a problem. Tree death can occur as leaf loss causes stress to infested host plants. Secondary organisms such as the two-lined chestnut borer and shoestring root rot successfully attack stressed trees causing mortality. They’ll feed on over twenty different types of trees.
• Hemlock wooly adelgid – Will we have to find a new state tree? This insect inserts their piercing-sucking mouthparts into the base of hemlock needles and removes plant sugars. Low infestations may cause a reduction in tree health while high infestations may result in premature needle drop, reduced twig growth, dieback, or death of trees.
• Butternut canker – Although the butternut tree has never dominated our forests and landscapes, they are an important tree for its value for wildlife and forest diversity. The fungal organism has infected 90% of the remaining butternut New Hampshire. The USDA Forest Service estimated that 77 percent of the butternuts in the Southeast were dead. Most butternut trees die within 15 years of infection
• Other problems, just to name a few are maple decline, beech bark disease, and oak wilt
Our forests and landscapes can only hope that they are not visited by what appears to be a “monster” of a problem, the Asian longhorned beetle. That will be a scary story that you can tell kids sitting around the campfire.
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture has desperately tried to contain the isolated EAB outbreaks from becoming more widespread but it seems an exercise in futility. There was a comprehensive EAB Action Plan that was created in 2006 to eradicate/suppress this insect when it came across our borders. Came across the Ohio/Pennsylvania borders it did in 2007 and hasn’t stopped since. It was first found in western Pennsylvania in Butler and Alleghany counties that year and has spread to nine additional counties in western and central Pennsylvania.
I think our ash trees have a short future in Pennsylvania. Lest you think I am a pessimist, look at the following activity and fact. The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service has started the National Ash Tree Seed Collection Initiative in which seed is collected from ash trees throughout the U.S. in the growing regions of ash trees. If the ash tree populations are completely decimated by the ash borer, the stored seeds can be used as the genetic base for work to re-establish ash trees for future generations. Scientists are preparing for the worst. And why not? The following fact is enough to make me go buy a wood burning stove. Over 50 million ash trees have been killed by the EAB the past several years in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin. I think the ash tree will go the way of the American chestnut.
According to Department of Agricultural and Natural Resources, ash make up 3.6% of the forests in Pennsylvania, with more than 300 million trees throughout the state. What’s that you say? Ninety-six percent (96.4%) of the trees are unaffected by EAB and our forests will be fine.
Let’s look at the number of pests that are taking aim at our other trees.
• Gypsy moth –We see the immediate impact, defoliation, but the aftermath is more of a problem. Tree death can occur as leaf loss causes stress to infested host plants. Secondary organisms such as the two-lined chestnut borer and shoestring root rot successfully attack stressed trees causing mortality. They’ll feed on over twenty different types of trees.
• Hemlock wooly adelgid – Will we have to find a new state tree? This insect inserts their piercing-sucking mouthparts into the base of hemlock needles and removes plant sugars. Low infestations may cause a reduction in tree health while high infestations may result in premature needle drop, reduced twig growth, dieback, or death of trees.
• Butternut canker – Although the butternut tree has never dominated our forests and landscapes, they are an important tree for its value for wildlife and forest diversity. The fungal organism has infected 90% of the remaining butternut New Hampshire. The USDA Forest Service estimated that 77 percent of the butternuts in the Southeast were dead. Most butternut trees die within 15 years of infection
• Other problems, just to name a few are maple decline, beech bark disease, and oak wilt
Our forests and landscapes can only hope that they are not visited by what appears to be a “monster” of a problem, the Asian longhorned beetle. That will be a scary story that you can tell kids sitting around the campfire.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Sunday Schmoozing: by Tina Clinefelter
Did you go to the Green Energy Fair last Sunday at the Central Mountain Middle School? If not you missed a wealth of information on saving energy, winterizing your house, new products that are environmentally friendly and lots more. In fact, you missed a chance to chat to three Clinton County Master Gardeners about rain barrels and composting; indeed, Karen, Cheryl and I talked up a storm on a variety of subjects so I thought to share with you what is on the minds of some of our local gardeners.
One couple wanted to find out if it was too late to plant a redbud tree that somehow was still in its pot by the back door, looking sad. ‘Get that red in the bed’ said I; fall is a great time to be planting - the cooler temperatures and plentiful moisture will result in a less-stressed tree, and there is ample time before the soil freezes for new root growth to occur.
The subject of skunks came up, especially their nocturnal digging for grubs in the lawn. The larvae of the Japanese beetles are still close to the surface of the soil where the skunks can find them, but as colder weather approaches the grubs will tunnel deeper to spend the winter, and Mr. Polecat will have to dine on other fare or take a long winter nap.
Wood-ash in the compost pile was on another gentleman’s mind, and I advised it may be better to sprinkle directly on the soil surface where a very light application can be controlled. Adding ashes to the compost pile may result in uneven distribution throughout the pile.
A soil test would reveal the pH balance of your soil and whether or not you even needed to add wood-ashes at all. This brought up a discussion on where to obtain soil-test kits, and after finding out that the person was from Centre County I directed him to the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte (3rd floor).
The dreaded late blight on tomatoes came up in conversation many times and there was some gnashing of teeth, but for the most part it was a ‘Oh well, there’s always next year’ kind of thing. I did stress a thorough clean-up and to send the debris to the landfill emphasizing that the organism that causes late blight does not over-winter here.
I heard mention of the Asian lady beetle, and hemlock wooly adelgid, magnolia scale insects, cover crops and trellising vegetables to save space. There were questions on growing vegetables in containers and in unheated greenhouses, and Commissioner Bossert waxed positively lyrical about organic gardening!
It was a very interesting day and I don’t think I sat down for 4 hours – a fact that my poor, tired feet will attest to!
I did get to speak with the organizers of the Fair – Senator Wozniak and Representative Hanna – and determined that the Senator still relied on the faucet for watering his landscape, but Mr. Hanna claimed to have water barrels. I would like to offer my congratulations to the ‘real’ organizers of the Fair – Mitzi and Julie – for a job well done!
One couple wanted to find out if it was too late to plant a redbud tree that somehow was still in its pot by the back door, looking sad. ‘Get that red in the bed’ said I; fall is a great time to be planting - the cooler temperatures and plentiful moisture will result in a less-stressed tree, and there is ample time before the soil freezes for new root growth to occur.
The subject of skunks came up, especially their nocturnal digging for grubs in the lawn. The larvae of the Japanese beetles are still close to the surface of the soil where the skunks can find them, but as colder weather approaches the grubs will tunnel deeper to spend the winter, and Mr. Polecat will have to dine on other fare or take a long winter nap.
Wood-ash in the compost pile was on another gentleman’s mind, and I advised it may be better to sprinkle directly on the soil surface where a very light application can be controlled. Adding ashes to the compost pile may result in uneven distribution throughout the pile.
A soil test would reveal the pH balance of your soil and whether or not you even needed to add wood-ashes at all. This brought up a discussion on where to obtain soil-test kits, and after finding out that the person was from Centre County I directed him to the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte (3rd floor).
The dreaded late blight on tomatoes came up in conversation many times and there was some gnashing of teeth, but for the most part it was a ‘Oh well, there’s always next year’ kind of thing. I did stress a thorough clean-up and to send the debris to the landfill emphasizing that the organism that causes late blight does not over-winter here.
I heard mention of the Asian lady beetle, and hemlock wooly adelgid, magnolia scale insects, cover crops and trellising vegetables to save space. There were questions on growing vegetables in containers and in unheated greenhouses, and Commissioner Bossert waxed positively lyrical about organic gardening!
It was a very interesting day and I don’t think I sat down for 4 hours – a fact that my poor, tired feet will attest to!
I did get to speak with the organizers of the Fair – Senator Wozniak and Representative Hanna – and determined that the Senator still relied on the faucet for watering his landscape, but Mr. Hanna claimed to have water barrels. I would like to offer my congratulations to the ‘real’ organizers of the Fair – Mitzi and Julie – for a job well done!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Ornamental Peppers: by Tom Butzler
I was thumbing through the October 2009 issue of Agricultural Research by the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture when I came across their story on ornamental peppers.
It appears we have completed a full circle on peppers. Peppers were more prized for their ornamental characteristics than as food in 15th century Europe. No doubt, when peppers are mentioned, people mostly think of it them as a food source today. Scientists are now closely looking at peppers for their ornamental qualities again. See the following story for more information.
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct09/garden1009.htm
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