Gardening in the Keystone State

The Envelope Please: by Tom Butzler

2012-01-23T11:34:00.001-05:00

The entertainment award season is upon us as shows continue through January and February highlighting the glitz and glamour of this industry. Just as notable achievements in the movie, television, and music industry are recognized, the plant industry also gives acknowledgement to plants that perform above expectations in trials and tests and ready for the gardening public.

There are a variety of plant communities and associations out there that promote new plants but there are a few that are notable in their selection process. The All American Selections (AAS) has been around since 1933 to promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America. Their long track record gives them some authority in the gardening community on top performing plants.

Two of the 2012 AAS award winners are peppers, one selected for its ornamental qualities and the other for it vegetable garden characteristics. ‘Black Olive’ pepper was notable for its purple leaves that stand-out in a landscape setting. The ornamental fruit also starts off purple but turns red as it matures and is very eye appealing with the dark, purple leaves in the background. If hot summers become a trend, this is one plant that should make it into your flower garden as it withstood heat very well in southern trials. The chile pepper 'Cayennetta' (mildly spicy) was chosen for its ease of growing, prolific fruit production, and its ability to withstand heat.

All season long 'Black Olive' kept its upright habit
with nicely draping leaves and dark purple/black
fruit which appeared in small clusters along the stems.
Photo courtesy of All America Selections

'Cayennetta' is a mildly spicy 3 to 4-inch chili
pepper that requires no staking which would make it perfect
for a container or patio planter.
Photo courtesy of All America Selections

Two other plants were selected as winners by AAS. A non-traditional watermelon, 'Faerie’ was chosen for several characteristics such as its creamy, yellow rind with thin stripes and sweet pink-red flesh with a high sugar content and crisp texture. Salvia 'Summer Jewel Pink' was on the award podium because of its blooming capabilities and earliness over other salvias.

Home gardeners will like growing something unique
in their garden and the fact that 'Faerie’ vines are vigorous
yet spread only to 11' means it takes up less space in the garden.
Photo courtesy of All America Selections

Salvia 'Summer Jewel Pink' dwarf sized, compact
plant has a prolific bloom count throughout
the growing season. Photo courtesy of All America
Selections

Whereas the AAS picks multiple winners, the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) picks just one based on its suitability for a wide range of growing climates, low maintenance requirements, multiple-season interest, and relatively pest/disease-free status. Their 2012 Perennial Plant of the Year is Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’. This is a great plant for those garden spots that get shade or only early morning sun. One of its ornamental appeals is the silvery leaves with touches of green along the veins and margins. The other eye appeal is the mid to late spring, blooming blue flowers that hover above the foliage.

Brunnera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' is noted for its shade tolerance and
early baby-blue, forget-me-not like
flowers. Photo courtesy of the
Perennial Plant Association.

The award shows on TV just don’t excite me much but show me an award winning plant and my eyes will light up.

Are Invasive Plants Always a Threat?

2012-01-17T10:54:00.000-05:00

"A relatively small percentage of introduced species are truly problematic and a threat to native biodiversity," says Tomas A. Carlo, Penn State assistant professor of biology. "Most introduced species become 'naturalized' and fully integrated into their new communities."

Read the full story on here

The Arboretum at Penn State to Build Children's Garden

2012-01-13T09:23:00.000-05:00

Thanks to two leadership gifts totaling $4 million, The Arboretum at Penn State will create and grow the Children's Garden, an interactive place for children to learn and to explore the natural world. A gift from Edward R. and Helen S. Hintz will fund the construction of the space, and a gift from Charles H. "Skip" Smith will create an endowment to maintain the garden and develop its educational programs. A previously announced gift from Marcia Day in 2008 will provide endowment support for children's education programs.
"The Children's Garden will play a key role in the mission of the Arboretum, and I think it will become one of the most popular features in the H. O. Smith Botanic Gardens," said Kim Steiner, director of the Arboretum and professor of forest biology in the College of Agricultural Sciences. "The Children's Garden will help us to foster an appreciation for nature through experiences that may spark a deep and lasting interest in plants and their environment. This aspect of the Arboretum has been a priority from the very beginning, and we are truly thankful that Skip, Helen and Ed have made it come to life."

More information can be found here.

TreeVitalize: Helping Communities Increase Tree Canopy Cover

2012-01-12T11:06:00.001-05:00

Pennsylvania Community Forestry Lunchtime Webinar by Christine Ticehurst, TreeVitalize Program Administrator, DCNR Bureau of Forestry

In recent years, studies have shown that built communities across Pennsylvania have lost tree canopy cover. Community losses are not just in numbers of trees, but in the many benefits trees provide. Fewer trees translates into reduced air and water quality, less energy conservation, and a loss of economic vitality and quality of life. Learn how the TreeVitalize program works to reverse those losses and helps to revitalize communities across the Commonwealth. This tree planting initiative has expanded its reach from the Philadelphia Region in 2004 to currently 14 metropolitan regions across the Commonwealth. Find out more about the grants program that provides financial assistance to municipalities and the Tree Tender program that has trained thousands of volunteers to plant and care for their community trees.

This first Pennsylvania Community Forestry Lunchtime Webinar is part of a growing series to expand training and outreach opportunities on urban and community forestry topics.

This webinar was developed through a partnership of Penn State Extension, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and Pennsylvania Community Forests.

Date: February 7, 2012
Time: Noon to 1 pm EST
Webinar URL: https://meeting.psu.edu/pacommunityforestry (click on this link or copy and paste it into your browser window). Login in by registering as a guest (type your name).

Create and Enhance the Wildlife in Your Backyard

2012-01-11T10:04:00.001-05:00

click on photo to enlarge

The Problems with Firewood: by Tom Butzler

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

Last week was the coldest so far in the late fall/early winter season and as a result, I have been going through more firewood than usual. While sitting around the wood stove the other day enjoying the warmth, I noticed a black carpenter ant crawl out of the wood box onto the concrete floor.

I have had questions in the past on the concern that carpenter ants brought into the house on firewood will result in a nest or infestation. It is a good question, as carpenter ants tunneling and excavating throughout a wooden structure can cause extensive damage. The literature I have read states that carpenter ants brought into the house on firewood are just a nuisance and not cause for concern.

Carpenter ants love wood, not to eat, but to tunnel and create nests. In order to do this, the wood needs to be moist or wet. If firewood had been properly stored, then most of the moisture that is required for these ants has been removed. Even if ants are in the wood brought into the house, the interior atmosphere and is too dry to allow the ants to start a nest. Nuisance or not the ant got squished.

After a long and cold winter several years ago, I ran out of seasoned firewood and burned wood that was not completely seasoned. As a result, my fire wasn’t very hot as most of the energy went toward getting rid of the moisture before combustion could occur. Green wood can contain up to 50 percent moisture while air dried and seasoned wood should contain around 20 percent water.

The easy way to determine if wood if dry enough to burn is an auditory inspection. Pick up two pieces of wood and slam together. If a dull thud is emitted then it is still green but if it is a sharp cracking sound then it is dry.

A more scientific approach to determine water weight is to weigh a small piece of firewood cut from the middle of a large piece. Record the weight in ounces. Dry the small piece several hours at 200 to 300 °F in your oven and weigh it again. The difference in weight is the weight of the water in the wood (step 1). Divide the weight of the water by the oven-dry weight of the wood to find the moisture content of your firewood (step 2).

In reality, in order to get good dry wood for the 2012-2013 burning season, one should be spending much of their time outside the next couple of months cutting and splitting wood.

Weather: by Tina Clinefelter

2012-01-03T14:17:00.004-05:00

I’m going to fall back on what most people do when stuck for something to say – discus the weather!

In the dark ages before Doppler radar, satellites, weather balloons and other helpful instruments, the farmer, sailor and herdsman had to rely on personal observations and interpret what they saw, heard and felt. I’m pretty sure the original building that housed Accuweather did not have any windows, and this caused us to kiddingly call them In-Accuweather, but the farmer, sailor and herdsman actually went outside and peered at the clouds, checked the wind direction and took note of any weird animal behavior.

A lot of the ‘weather lore’ doesn’t hold up to scientific scrutiny, but there’s a grain of salt in many of the old sayings. I particularly support the science behind the ‘Red sky at night’; ‘the higher the cloud, the finer the weather’ and ‘mackerel sky and mares’ tails make tall ships carry low sails’ (indicating wind).
Incidentally the reason most of the old sayings were in rhyme form is so that they were memorable and could be passed down to the next generation.
Some old lore seems to make no sense: Easter in snow – Christmas in mud, and vice versa; If Candlemas day be sunny, winter will hang around for another 6 weeks (and we all know how many times the Groundhog has seen his shadow on February 2nd. There was a popular weather saying in England that states if it rains on St Swithin’s Day, (July 15th) it will rain for the next 40 days – I never checked it out… although on a vacation back home it rained 21 days out of 30…

Now let’s check out some of the modern meteorologists’ bag of tricks: the barometer is an instrument that measures air pressure and it is air pressure that moves weather from one place to another. Nature strives to equalize air pressure so the changing highs and lows bring us weather patterns and wind conditions.
An anemometer measures wind speeds and it is horizontal winds across the Earth’s surface that also moves weather patterns. We all know what a thermometer does and that exhausts my knowledge of weather predicting gizmos that measure tides, topography and relative humidity (whatever that is…)

Back to the ‘lore’: cows lay down in the field before a rainstorm to ensure they have a dry place to snooze, swallows fly low over water before a rain, and scarlet pimpernels and morning-glories close their petals when a storm approaches. Bees are never caught in a shower, and the smoke from a campfire rises during a high pressure system, but swirls and descends during a low. I love this stuff!

Just a quick note about clouds – high, white clouds = fine weather; low, black clouds portend a storm, a grey veil of clouds approaching – take cover!
It is said that one can predict the coming severity of winter by several signs: the heaviness of the mast crop (acorns/nuts), how high in a tree did the bald-faced hornet build its nest, and how much food did squirrels and chipmunks stash away.
You’re on your own with this one, but I do know that with all the preceding information, how come you get caught without an umbrella sometimes? Look out before you leave!

Happy New Year to all!
PS. How many of you can identify a scarlet pimpernel?

Horticulture Wish List: by Tom Butzler

2011-12-28T09:05:00.001-05:00

My kids had a chance to visit Santa last week and asked for a multitude of toys and games. Although too old (or maybe it is really too heavy) to sit on Santa, I also had a wish list that would fulfill my horticultural needs. Below are several items that I would love having for next year’s growing season.

A Normal Growing Season
One of the first items on my list is a growing season where we get adequate rainfall and good growing temperatures. This year will go on record as the wettest year in many areas of Pennsylvania. Just to give you an idea how wet the year was, the Williamsport area broke the old record of 61.27 inches back in October and are still getting more moisture. Just a bit to the west of Lock Haven, it has been a little drier around State College as it has only been the third wettest year on record.

Contrast the details in the previous paragraph to what happened over the summer where it was hot and dry for several weeks. At one point the thermometer hit 100 degrees in Lock Haven on July 22. This dry patch put a crimp on several agronomic crops such as corn.

Late blight in tomatoes occurs
when the disease organism is present
with wet, cool conditions. This disease
will wipe out a tomato patch
in a matter of dasy.
Click on photo to enalrge

Please Santa, give me enough rain that I don’t get blossom end rot (caused by low soil moisture) on my tomatoes next year but not too much that plant diseases run rampant.

A Reprieve From Invasive Insects
The United States has always had to deal with foreign organisms throughout history and many of them made their way into our area such as the gypsy moth (from Asia) and dandelions (from Europe). In the past several years, it seems we have opened the doors to Pennsylvania and welcomed the likes of the emerald ash borer, viburnum leaf beetle, brown marmorated stink bug, and spotted wing drosophila.

Santa, it would be nice to send us an insect or two that would be helpful in the garden. Maybe one that would eat just weeds?

A Solution to the Honeybee Decline
Fruits and vegetables should be a huge part of an everyday diet and many of these fresh eats come about when insects ensure proper pollination. We do have native pollinators but honeybees are used in large growing operations to provide enough pollinators for that short flowering season. The problem we have is that honeybees are dying off in large numbers due to a variety of reasons such as stress, pesticides, diseases, and mites. From the 2010/2011 winter season, losses from managed honey bee colonies nationwide were 30 percent according to the annual survey conducted by the United State Department of Agriculture.

Honeybees are facing many problems
such as exposure to pesticides, stress,
diseases, and mites which are leading to colony
collapses throughout the Unites States.
Click on phto to enlarge.

Santa, could you give the local mosquito population the gift of stress, pesticides, diseases, and mites and give the honeybee a break next year?
I hope everyone enjoys the holiday break with family and friends and I look forward to writing about the horticulture world in 2012.

Beekeeping For Beginners – Virtual Webinar Series

2011-12-22T09:28:00.003-05:00

Here is a great Christams present to a family member or friend that has an interest in learning about the exciting world of beekeeping. Penn State Cooperative Extension is conducting a virtual Beginner Beekeeping Class starting in March 2012. The webinar course is designed to create a foundation of beekeeping knowledge in order to confidently help beginners manage honeybees.

Horticulture educator,Tom Butzler,
talking to a beekeeping class
about hiving a swarm

Webinars are web-based seminars which delivers training through the Internet directly to your computer. You are able to view the presentation via your home/office computer and listen to the audio portion of the presentation through your computer’s speakers. These are interactive and will allow the participants to ask questions and communicate with the presenters. If you can’t join the session or would like to review a certain topic, sessions will be recorded and available to participants until the end of the year

The Beekeeping for Beginners is a two month course that will include the following:

1. An eight part live webinar series (all sessions will be recorded and available until December 31, 2012)

2. Virtual Beekeeping Field Day

3. Accessibility to instructors through:

Virtual office hours
Discussion forum

Registration and agenda information can be found at: http://agsci.psu.edu/beekeeping-for-beginners

The agenda for the course can be found here.

Mistletoe, Myths and Mysteries! by Tina Clinefelter

2011-12-19T19:40:00.003-05:00

As we rapidly approach the Christmas season, I feel an in-depth look at one of our staple decorations is in order, namely mistletoe.

This hemi-parasitic, wild tangle of greenery growing on branches and twigs of oaks and apples (preferably) is a small, viny shrub providing some of its own nutrition via photosynthesis in its evergreen leaves, but snitching water and minerals with its root-system implanted in the host tree. This explains its hemi-parasitic designation. The name ‘mistletoe’ is derived from the Anglo-Saxon word ‘mistel’ meaning ‘dung’, and ‘tan’ meaning ‘twig’, and this explains its propagation method: birds eat the berries, birds sit on twigs, birds leave a deposit and as the seeds are sticky they do not fall upon the ground but germinate on the twig – ingenious eh?

Mistletoe used to be regarded as a pest and indeed, a heavy infestation can kill a host tree, but this rarely happens. Now mistletoe is recognized as an important food supply for many birds and animals, with the dense growth providing shelter and roosting/nesting places for many species including the Northern Spotted owl.
There are many different species of mistletoe, and from research I have found varying opinions concerning the toxicity of the plant, but I also found that American Indians used a tea for epilepsy, headaches, hypertension, and many other complaints. It seems that eating the white, waxy berries may pose the greatest hazard so keep it well out of the reach of pets and children and, no, the poinsettia is not poisonous!

On the historical side of this issue, the Druids regarded mistletoe as a sacred plant, endowing it with the power to heal diseases, protection from witchcraft, and a potent aid in human fertility; harvesting mistletoe was done with a golden sickle, dropping it into a white sheet (it must never touch the ground) and hanging in the home until the next yearly harvest to protect the house from lightning. Handy stuff – mistletoe! Somewhere in this harvesting ritual a couple of white bulls were sacrificed, but where they got two white bulls from on a yearly basis I have no idea…Let’s hope the steaks didn’t go to waste!

The Vikings believed that mistletoe had the power to raise the dead – makes me wonder when they realized it wasn’t working, but it was another Norse legend that originated our custom of kissing under the mistletoe. In a very confusing tale with lots of unfamiliar names, I gather a Norse goddess had a problem with a son, mistletoe helped solve the problem and she kissed everyone in sight in gratitude. Now – proper etiquette for using the mistletoe requires that the gentleman remove a berry for each smooch, and the smooching will cease when the last berry is plucked! I’m not certain how to regulate the use of plastic mistletoe…

In closing I want to note that mistletoe is the Oklahoma State Floral Emblem (not the State Flower) and that a young man by the name of Justin Beiber has a current song on the market about mistletoe, but I bet it will never be as popular as Jingle Bells!
Please note that I do not wish to be kissed under any more mistletoe as fertility is not in my future! Merry Christmas!!

Time to ‘Get Educated’: by Tom Butzler

2011-12-14T09:56:00.001-05:00

Regardless if you are a vegetable grower, landscaper, or home gardener, the winter season is a bit slow as outdoor work is reduced compared to the growing season. This slowdown doesn’t mean that you are done working as this is a great time to ‘get educated’.

For vegetable growers, the marquee event is the four day Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Hershey toward the end of January. As always, it will be several days of very educational talks and workshops attached to a great trade show. If it can be grown in Pennsylvania, chances are there is a session or at least a talk centered on that crop from asparagus to zucchini. There are some interesting topics between A to Z such as the growing of hops for beers and brussels sprouts production (what, everyone doesn’t eat brussels sprouts?).

Of course, travel or cost may be an issue so there are plenty of local, smaller vegetable meetings throughout Pennsylvania. This might be a good time to visit Penn State Extension’s new Vegetable and Small Fruit Production website at http://extension.psu.edu/vegetable-fruit to find out where local meetings are occurring. In addition to meeting and events, it is a starting point to finding production guides, fact sheets, and newsletters.

If travel is a big impediment, then visit a meeting from your home computer. Penn State Extension’s Vegetable and Fruit Team is running a series of webinars to provide convenient access to timely updates in vegetable and small fruit production. For those not familiar with the technology, a webinar is a live interactive learning opportunity involving multiple locations using the internet. The next several webinars will cover resources for organic vegetable growers, disease management, and new insect pests. Information on these webinars can also be found at the Vegetable and Small Fruit Production.

The green industry is not as organized as the vegetable and fruit folks. At this time, there is no state-wide meeting to showcase flowers, trees, and shrubs. That is not to say there are meetings across the state addressing green industry needs. Penn State Extension’s Green Industry Team is holding a series of meetings January through March on a variety of topics such as plant selection, updates on invasive insects, and pesticide selection to preserve beneficial insects in the landscape.

The new year will also see the launch of the Penn State Extension’s green industry e-newsletter. This will feature events, spotlights on landscape plants, and pests that are on the move.

This is only a glimpse of the educational material available to horticulture lovers in the form of meetings and reading material. Take the time this winter to read, listen, watch, and learn about your garden and landscape. It is an exciting world!

Nutty as a Fruitcake!: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-12-13T21:17:00.004-05:00

The late, great Johnny Carson joked that there was ever only one fruitcake and it was just passed around to a different recipient each year, but I tend to disagree with him as I know a number of people that have actually eaten some and liked it!

I like it too if it contains NO candied fruit peel, and has been well cured with brandy!

As you might suspect, the Romans had a hand in the birth of fruitcake which they whipped up during the Saturnalia celebrations; their recipe consisted of a mix of raisins, pine-nuts and pomegranate seeds in a barley mash base. Progress was made in the Middle Ages when honey, dried fruits and spices were added to a bread dough and through the years our modern fruitcake has emerged in many differing guises; textures can range from light to dense, fruits may vary to what is readily available, and the amount of fruit used results in ‘cake with fruit’ or ‘fruit with cake’.

A typical recipe for fruitcake contains some, most or all of the following ingredients: butter, sugar, eggs, flour, baking powder, chopped nuts, chopped, dried fruit (apricots, figs, cherries, raisins, currants, cranberries etc.) and brandy. Using a heavy-duty mixer (the batter is very difficult to mix by hand), combine all the ingredients, pop into the oven and bake for a very long time at 300 degrees.
After the cake cools, it is stored, up-side-down in an airtight container and is ‘fed’ brandy once a week until Christmas (you need to make the fruitcake in early November). If anyone is interested in attempting this seasonal delicacy for next year, I have a much more detailed recipe at hand and will be delighted to share.

Now for some more fun-filled facts about Christmas cake, as the English call it:
In parts of Europe, in the dim past, the making of fruitcake was restricted, by law, to Christmas, Easter and weddings. I’m not sure what the penalties were for possessing and consuming fruitcake at non-legal times of the year, and I’m equally not sure how they checked on the citizenry to bust a chap for nibbling on fruitcake out of season – fruitcake cops? I wonder if the law is still on the books…

The English Christmas cake is made in a round pan (not a loaf-pan), and is upholstered in marzipan (almond paste) before being completely covered in royal icing. The marzipan was to prevent the icing becoming discolored by the cake. I detest marzipan so it became necessary to peel off the icing, and scrape off the almond junk before I could devour the icing which I adore. I once made a proper Christmas cake – it took me months – first the cake, then a lengthy search for marzipan, then days making pink royal icing roses. I proudly presented the family with my creation only to discover that nobody liked fruitcake – must have been a genetic abnormality…

I’m thinking of trying it again next year – twice in a life-time would be a personal best!

You may have noticed that this column is not about gardening – I’m all gardened-out for this year – so I will close with another non-gardening comment:
Why is it that so many people have not heard that, by law, one should turn on one’s headlights when one turns on the wipers? Guys in pick-ups are the worst offenders! Thanks for letting me get that off my chest!

Thank Goodness for Google!: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-12-05T17:40:00.003-05:00

Today, I’m writing an article on a subject I know nothing about, with the exception of its name – Kohlrabi - a funky, freaky outer-space kind of vegetable, so let’s fire up Google and see what information is available…
First – the name: ‘Kohl’ is the German word for cabbage and ‘rabi’ means turnip; thus we have ‘cabbage-turnip’, and while kohlrabi belongs to the cabbage family it tastes more like a turnip. Very aptly named don’t you think?
Many people mistakenly think of kohlrabi as a root vegetable but in reality the plant produces a swollen stem just above the soil level and this, plus the young leaves are the edible parts. I’m told the flavor is mild and sweet, much like broccoli stems, cabbage hearts or raw turnips, and the texture is crisp and moist.
Most times the vegetable is eaten raw, peeled (if necessary) sliced or diced, and maybe dipped, but I found many recipes for roasting, barbequing, and stir-frying and the leaves may be chopped and added to green salads or steamed like spinach.
Kohlrabi is low in calories, high in dietary fiber, high in potassium and a good source of Vitamins A and C, folic acid and calcium. Yum!
Now for the history lesson – yes, the Romans ate kohlrabi but it was Charlemagne the Holy Roman Emperor, somewhere around 800 AD, who ordered that kohlrabi be grown in his Empire, and as he lived in what is now modern-day Aachen, therefore the German name!
One thing I forgot to mention when buying (or growing) kohlrabi, select or harvest the smaller ones (no bigger than 2 ½ inches in diameter) as the larger ones get woody and fibrous. Kohlrabi has a good shelf life of about 30 days and this piece of information led me to understand how one of our local vegetable gurus could exhibit the same huge kohlrabi in three different local County Fairs and win three times. The judge probably didn’t know it was totally inedible…but really big…
Now, who wants to grow kohlrabi? First, it is a cool weather crop, so spring or fall is the season to try. Setting out transplants is the best way to go, so start seeds indoors four weeks before the last frost date and plant out when they have five leaves. This vegetable prefers a near neutral soil (pH 7) with good fertility and regular watering. Space 4-6” apart. If we get a blistering hot spell in spring shade the plants if possible. Harvest by slicing off at the base when the stems are the size of a tennis ball.
Recipe for roasted kohlrabi:
1 ½ lbs fresh kohlrabi, thick end trimmed off, peeled if desired and diced.
Toss in a bowl with enough olive oil to cover; season with a little garlic powder and salt to taste. Roast in a 450* oven on a jelly-roll pan for 30-35 mins stirring often to prevent burning. Sprinkle with vinegar at the table.
I don’t have a good photo of a kohlrabi but I’ve heard it described as follows:
Imagine a hot-air balloon – the thickened stem is the basket, the long leaf-stems are the wires, and the leaves themselves are the balloon – got the picture?
If not – go to Google!

Vegetable Production Webinar Series

2011-12-05T08:24:00.001-05:00

Click to enlarge

Nature’s Hitchhiker: by Tom Butzler

2011-12-02T08:51:00.001-05:00

The weather was beautiful two weekends ago and so I took my two younger kids out hiking on a Sunday. I picked a hiking trail off of the Pine Creek Rails to Trail as it was an easy hike for my travelling partners and dog. About five minutes into the hike, I saw a tick on my daughters light colored sweatshirt and stopped to brush it off. While removing that tick, I noticed she was covered with them as was the dog. I looked at my own clothing and I too had ticks all over me. Needless to say, the hike stopped and we turned around and skedaddled back to the car.

I have read Penn State’s factsheet on ticks numerous times and one paragraph always stood out to me. ‘Hunters and hikers increase their risk of encountering a blacklegged tick by following deer trails.’ Later in the paragraph it also states that ‘adult ticks more often are collected from narrow forest trails than from general sites throughout the forest, and they are more prevalent in high, brushy vegetation.’

On our retreat out of the forest, we stopped numerous times to see why the literature emphasizes narrow trails and the vegetation that crowds those trails. My son and I checked many of the branches of small shrubs that were protruding into the trails walking space and we found them. Those tiny ticks were at the very tip of the branches, just waiting for a warm blooded animal (human or deer, they don’t seem to mind) to come by.

Adult blacklegged ticks become active
in fall – this ‘questing’ female has
raised her front legs to sense suitable
wildlife hosts as they pass by.
(Image provided by Graham
Hickling, University of
Tennessee.) Click on picture to
enlarge

This ‘hanging out’ on the plant tip is called questing. A tick crawls to the tip of vegetation and waits for a host. Certain triggers such as heat, movement, and carbon dioxide from a passing host cause the front legs of the tick to extend and grasp on a creature as it passes by.

We did checks on our clothing, bodies, and dog throughout the rest of the day and we probably removed close to one hundred ticks. Even then, we missed one that had just started to embed itself into my daughters scalp.

Of course the concern in with ticks in our neck of the woods is Lyme Disease. The Center for Disease Control describes the typical symptoms of the disease to include fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash. If left untreated, infection can spread to joints, the heart, and the nervous system.

The hunting season is upon and people will be interacting with tick habitat over the next several weeks. Precautions can be taken by using an insecticide on exposed skin and clothing and checking the body every day. I suppose I could say wear light colored clothing as it makes the ticks stand out for identification purposes but I don’t know of to many hunters that will wear whites, yellows, and light blues into Pennsylvania’s woods.

Life’s Horticultural Lessons: by Tom Butzler

2011-11-21T08:21:00.003-05:00

As a parent, I try to teach my kids many of the things I have learned over a lifetime both formally and informally. The past couple of weeks have provided me ample opportunity to show them some lessons in the horticultural world.

Know More than the Three Leaves
Anyone who has spent time outside in the woods with their kids has probably taught them "leaves of three let it be." This old saying is a way for kids to identify the characteristic leaf shape of poison ivy. When bare skin comes into contact with the leaves, the toxic oil urushiol rubs off and causes an adverse reaction. Typical symptoms are red, blistering rashes that itch.

Posion ivy vines are very
characteristic with a 'fuzzy rope' look.
Click on picture to enlarge

Poison ivy is a vining creature and will tend to crawl and climb over an area and other nearby objects. The vine can get quite thick but it does have a unique characteristic in that it is very hairy and looks like a fuzzy rope. My kids are great at identifying poison ivy leaves but I have failed miserably in having them identify other plant parts such as the vine itself.

One day, I took my kids to my son’s cross county meet. I watched the race while my two younger kids played in an open field and around a small tree. The next day, the two kids had rashes all over their face and hands. It looked like poison ivy but they were playing in an open field where there was no habitat for this plant. After looking at the rash for three days, I could find no other explanation other than it was poison ivy. I took a trip to the cross country site, the only place that I knew they were playing outside earlier that week. As soon as I crested the hill, I saw it. The ‘tree’ looked out of place in this open field and I walked over to it. It was no tree but a massive poison ivy vine that had climbed an old fence post. To a young child, it looked like a small tree to play around and under.

Honeybees Sting
My dad has a saying that he would repeat over and over as I was growing up, “don’t do dumb things”. Pretty much it says that you shouldn’t do dumb things. I have repeated this mantra to my kids but I’m not sure it has sunk in.

I have several hives on my property to supply us and friends with local honey. My kids work the honeybees with me sometimes and have occasionally gotten stung. I suppose it is a rite of passage if keeping bees. The point is that they know bees sting and it hurts.

Baseball bat dropped at the 'crime scene'

On Halloween day, my oldest son and his friend decided to check out my honeybees. Being below 55 degrees, they were hunkered down in the hive and minding their own business. These two bright young men decided that taking a baseball bat to the hive was a great way to see how the bees reacted. The bees poured out of the hive as the bat repeatedly hit the boxes.

I wasn’t present at the time but my wife stated the two came running through the yard hollering and screaming into the house. No sympathy was felt on my part when a bee stung my son right under the eye. His left side of the face swelled up, as bee stings normally do, and we gave him ice. Over the next three days, the swelling got worse and a trip to the emergency room was necessary.

Both my son and I learned a new term that day, cellulitis. Cellulitis is where bacteria get into the skin and spread to deeper tissues by way of a cut or insect bite. Without anti-biotic treatment, it can lead to some serious complications.

I suspect my kids will still get poison ivy over the years as I have not found a way to identify the vine in the dark when they are playing spotlight. With certainty, I can say that my kids will never hit my beehives with a baseball bat again.

Eat Your Veggies! by Tina Clinefelter

2011-11-14T17:21:00.003-05:00

As I write this, I have just returned from maybe the last trip of the season to Lewisburg Farmers Market, and a beautiful day it was in the company of a dear friend. Gone are most of the summer fruits and vegetables (I did find strawberries from California) and in their place is an abundance of root crops and green-leafy goodies. My friend, Verna, bought cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Romaine lettuce and apples and as there wasn’t much room left in my car I bought a light-bulb!
During lunch at the Country Cupboard with two other friends a discussion came up about how to prepare turnips and I offered my standard ‘boil’em and mash’em’ recipe. Verna suggested mixing the mashed turnips with mashed potatoes or eating them raw. Anybody else have some suggestions?
Anyway, I have been noticing that the Farmers Market clientele ranges from mostly middle-aged to elderly (I fall in between these categories) and I began to wonder how to get more kids and younger adults to ‘eat your veggies’!
The Internet is full of good advice on this subject – from psychological to practical, and I give full credit to the purveyors of this good advice because when my children were young I once served them liver and Brussels sprouts in the same meal, and they’ve never forgiven me…
The new government nutrition icon shows a plate half-covered in fruits and vegetables – well, lots of luck with that! But with a bit of ingenuity and sneakiness plus some bribery and parental examples, your kids may learn to eat and enjoy vegetables and fruits – and – no, French fries and potato chips don’t count!
Here, culled from numerous Internet sites are some suggestions:
Serve veggies cut into bite-sized pieces, before a meal, with a dip (yogurt, cream cheese, peanut butter, ketchup) that the child has helped to prepare and while said child is hungry.
Hide the vegetable by chopping it REALLY fine or pureeing and adding to soups, stews, meat-loaf, or mac ‘n cheese. This is the sneaky method! I just heard my daughter, Katy, say ‘Yuck’!
Have an all-veg night and put a lock on all other foods – not recommended without a lot of parental intestinal fortitude, or the ‘take one bite’ before ‘no!’ strategy, but this ranks right up there with the ‘no dessert’ option. I’m beginning to like the ‘sneaky’ approach!
One novel idea was to re-name vegetables, but I don’t think my daughters would have eaten Brussels sprouts if they were called ‘Hero Buttons’ or ‘baby cabbages’, however, I liked ‘apple moons’ and ‘banana wheels; but ‘broccoli trees’ didn’t jog the old taste buds!
Here’s another suggestion – toppings – brown sugar on carrots, ice-cream sprinkles on apple slices and a crumb-topping on vegetables – mix 2 tablespoons of butter or olive oil into ½ cup of breadcrumbs – this will make some (??) veggies more palatable.
Now, my parents employed none of the above suggestions and yet I relish most fruits and vegetables with gusto (exceptions: sweet potatoes, raw celery, and apricots). Some new vegetables I only encountered when I arrived on these shores, yet I love lima beans and sweet corn especially when combined into succotash! Some things you just have to grow into!
Final note: a band of migrating robins just invaded my lawn and have quite upset the resident Carolina wrens – bird wars! No casualties so far…

Can You Make a Link with Horticulture and Crime?

2011-11-14T13:03:00.000-05:00

In a Tuesday, December 22, 2009 blog posting titled Plant Sex and Pollen, I talked about the beauty of pollen grains. Apparently, their beauty may help solve crimes in the future.

In a British newspaper, The Guardian, there was an interesting article titled Forensics: Bullets tagged with pollen could help solve gun crimes. The article goes on to state "Pollen could be used to identify the perpetrators of gun crimes, thanks to developments in nanotechnology. The microscopic grains can be coated onto bullets during manufacture and are sticky enough to hold on even after the gun has been fired. Each 'nanotag' is made up of pollen and a unique chemical signature that can be used to identify the batch of ammunition."

2011 Penn State Pumpkin Variety Trial: by Tom Butzler

2011-10-31T15:40:00.002-04:00

My yearly pumpkin trial came to a conclusion earlier this month with a two-day harvest. As always, it is a joy to be outside on a cool, sunny day lugging around pumpkins. Probably the most annoying part of this process is chasing down which pumpkin goes to which plot. The vines of some of the tested varieties can run over several plots and it can be maddening at times following those vines as they twist and turn, over and under other nearby unrelated vines. It’s almost like a giant puzzle over an acre.

Overall, my yield was pretty good. Pumpkin harvests, however, varied across the state and region. Dr. Mike Orzolek, vegetable specialist for Penn State, was able to get an industry wide perspective as he interacted with many growers, extension educators, and other out-of-state specialists. “Whereas the western part of the state had an average year, eastern Pennsylvania experienced a down year,” said Orzolek. “The combination of some very hot weather and very wet late summer/early fall conditions led to lower yields. “

He also believes that this down year extended well beyond the Pennsylvania borders. “New York and New Jersey experienced the same wet, fall conditions as eastern PA,” said Orzolek “and everyone knows of the extensive flooding damage that occurred in the New England states, especially New Hampshire, from Tropical Storm Irene.” As a result of reduced yields in the Mid-Atlantic and New England region, consumers may find pumpkins a bit pricier this year than years past.

Knucklehead
(click picture to enlarge)

We looked at 25 large (25 pounds and over) and medium (9-25 pounds) sized varieties that were submitted by seed companies. Over the years, several trends are emerging, based on the submissions. Companies are looking to expand beyond the traditional dark orange carving pumpkin with new and different looks.

Bunch O' Warts
(click picture to enlarge)

Although ‘warty’ pumpkins are nothing new, I am seeing more and more appear in catalogs, stores, and farmers market. Two pumpkins in this category, Bunch O’ Warts and Knucklehead, were looked at. Both had an attractive display of bumps but Knucklehead had a little darker orange skin than Bunch O’ Warts. Bunch O’ Warts weighed in on average at about 26 pounds whereas Knucklehead was slightly smaller at 19 pounds.

Although off color pumpkins will never be as popular as the traditional orange, it will still have a niche in the decorative market. White pumpkins have appeared in our variety trial over the years and this year we looked at one called Moonshine. It was a yellowish-white with a flat round shape that weighed in around 9 pounds.

Moonshine (click picture to enlarge)

Moonscape (click to enlarge)

Rascal (click picture to enlarge)

The other niche that is being targeted is what I call the ‘dual purpose’ pumpkin. Most of your decorative pumpkins are not bred for eating and cooking. Likewise, pumpkins bred for cooking are not the most eye-appealing. ‘Rascal’ and ‘Moonscape’ are two varieties that are decorative and good eating. ‘Rascal’ averaged around 18 pounds with a pinkish-orange color. It also had the deepest ribbing of any variety tested this year. ‘Moonscape’ was a little more pinkish and weighed in at 12 pounds.

Rascal (above and below) makes a good eating pumpkin with thick orange flesh and small seed cavity.
Seeds removed from Rascal highlighting the large amount of orange flesh for cooking purposes

Hibiscus, swamp mallow – whatever…by Tina Clinefelter

2011-10-23T19:17:00.006-04:00

The plant name ‘Hibiscus’ can cover a whole swoop of different species including the rose-of-Sharon I mentioned a few weeks ago. This is the small shrub Hibiscus syriacus and I was researching a variety that would not self-sow with the enthusiasm of some of the older types. Rose-of-China is a tropical hibiscus houseplant; by all means let it enjoy a summer vacation outside, but bring it into the house in the fall. The hardy, perennial hibiscus that I researched for a neighbor recently also goes by the name of ‘swamp mallow’ or ‘rose mallow’, so, you see, it is very important to know the plant’s proper name so you get the proper information on care and cultivation.
My friend’s question concerned pruning – how much and when, and as I hate to waste good research I’ll share it with you all. As I now have hibiscus seeds, I may also be able to share plants with you next spring – I’ll keep you posted!
There’s an ad running on TV at present – Big! Big!! BIG! Just keep in mind that hibiscus needs space. There’s nothing shy about this plant with its large leaves and ‘in-your-face’ blossoms so it performs well as a specimen plant, but it also can become a stunning hedge. In a garden bed it definitely is a ‘back-of-the-border’ flower, and it will also do splendidly in a boggy area. Full sun is a must for a shady area will cut back on flower production and promote spindly stems that will need to be staked. It prefers rich soil, but will be happy in most ordinary garden soil as long as water is provided during drought conditions – wilting is a sign of thirstiness!
Now for the pruning requirements: cut the stems back to about 8 inches in fall and mulch with fallen leaves (chopped); when growth begins in late spring cut off all the dead stems entirely. Pinch the new stems back when 1-2 feet tall to promote bushier growth.
There are some insect pests that attack hibiscus but Japanese beetles are likely to do the most damage – get out there in the early morning mists with a container of soapy water and flick the sleepy bugs to their doom! Other pests include aphids, whiteflies and scale, and rust and leaf spots can occur; overall a vigorous and problem-free plant!
So, let’s move on to my new garden progress: I have installed a Viburnum dentatum 'Christom' variety 'Blue Muffin' and in order to do this (not knowing where the electrical and utility lines were buried) I called the PA One Call System. I just dialed 811 and chatted with a cheery young lady who took all my details – address, phone, email address, county, township, nearest intersections, area of proposed digging and size of digging area, who would be doing the digging and when said digging would be completed. The very next day, in my absence, the lawn was marked with paint and flags, crossing the macadam road to the pole, and an email arrived confirming the electrical services had been marked and that water/sewer were not in that area! I was impressed!
The viburnum seems to be doing well, but is probably too small to give me much of a show next year, but I look forward to its glossy foliage, white flowers and glorious blue berries in fall in the coming years!
A quick closing note: ticks are terrible this year, and the Extension Office has a great fact sheet with good colored photos from Ohio State University. If interested, call 726-0022, leave your name and mailing address, and I’ll get a copy to you.

Revenge of the Landscape: by Tom Butzler

2011-10-21T15:59:00.003-04:00

In a previous blog posting, I mentioned several fruiting ornamental plants that added some pizzazz and character to the landscape. One thing I did not mention was the downside of these fruiting ornamentals in relation to children. Of course, a landscape should not contain fruits and berries that might be hazardous to young children. However, based on my experience as a parent, this is not the downside to which I am referring.

Several weekends ago, my children had numerous friends over to celebrate two birthday parties. The activities were centered around a bonfire with hot dogs and s’mores. Things were going pretty well as I tended the fire and my wife prepared the food. Sure, there was a lot of yelling and running around but what could you expect on a cool Friday night with a bunch of pre-teens and young teenagers.

Something was up when my younger son ran to the bonfire saying that berries were flying all over the place. I moved pretty quickly to the site of the kid’s activity and stood aghast as I surveyed my kousa dogwood, stripped of all the ornamental fruit. As I surveyed the damage, I noticed that the pavement was littered with smashed fruit and many of the boys had fruit stains on their shirts and bodies. There wasn’t much to say at this point as the damage had been done.

Somewhat stomping back to the bonfire, I passed my prized deciduous hollies loaded with berries. I decided that I had to be pre-emptive on these plants and made an announcement that these berries were off limits. It was a good thing I moved on the hollies as I was informed by one of the kids that the small red berries were good projectiles. Luckily, he hadn’t passed on the word to the ‘warring’ parties.

Nightfall was fast approaching and the crowd was itching for a jailbreak game. This activity consists of two teams where one team must hide and the other must try to find the team that is hiding. Before the group left the campfire, I stated some basic rules 1) no picking berries and throwing them, 2) stay out of the roped off area (I was putting in a sidewalk) and 3) watch out for the uneven areas. I’m not sure they were listening but off they ran.

Some of the best hiding places around my place were where the managed landscape slowly merges with the unmanaged landscape. It is a wonderfully diverse area full of wild brambles and various trees to hide behind. It is also home to some of the best poison ivy patches in Jersey Shore. I never gave it a thought to mention this piece of information to the fast moving mob. It was a raucous game but the evening ended quietly as parents came in shifts to pick up the various age groups

It was only about three days later that I realized how serious these kids took their jailbreak game. My son had a rash all over his body and I asked him if he had been rolling in the poison ivy. He showed me several of the places that he had hid the night of the bonfire party, very well concealed but covered in poison ivy vines. He then went on to tell me how many members of the party that were itching their way through the school day and visiting their doctors for relief. I even received a call from a parent who wanted to know what the rash might be and I explained jailbreak and the efforts the kids took to hide from the competition.

P.S. – One of my favorite activities as a child was going to an abandoned orchard with my siblings and friends and throwing apples at each other.

Good Neighbors: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-10-07T17:48:00.005-04:00

At a recent Flea & Farmers’ Market a new neighbor of mine posed a question on pruning perennial hibiscus. I had to admit to ignorance on that subject, but promised to do a little research. Further into our conversation she mentioned that she had been telling other neighbors that they had a Master Gardener nearby who would help with their gardening questions, but then she quoted her husband’s next comment: “but have you seen her garden…?”

He meant, of course, that I have shamelessly neglected the gardens while spending time on making the living quarters more comfortable. I also have very solid gardening techniques in mind by letting the foundation plantings go berserk, and taking the rest of this growing season to observe and inventory the plant material. In short, I am conducting a site evaluation before making any changes.
I first need to determine the sun/shade patterns and am finding my house sits in pretty much full sun all day long (except when it’s raining – natch!) This means developing some shady areas. The front of the property slopes gently down to the paved road, but in the back there is a more pronounced bank where I suspect water will collect and as this is where I would like to establish an asparagus bed I may have to do a little raised bed gardening.
I now know that I have a full complement of common weeds, many volunteer locust seedlings, euonymus shrubs infested with scale insects and artillery fungus!
Oh, I forgot to mention the yellow jackets under the shutters – I shall wait until the frost kills them before doing any work in the beds – this time of year they are getting quite aggressive and I don’t need another trip to the ER.
As far as the plant material is concerned there are a number of flowers that will be moved to form clumps, some will be eliminated and potted up for next year’s Master Gardener Plant Sale, and some will be consigned to the landfill. I’m thinking next year will be devoted to filling the beds with colorful, self-seeding annuals while I develop a native plant plan.
Now, neighbors, am I forgiven for having a messy, weedy garden? I offer an apology and will make amends!
A few moments ago, while writing, I heard a gaggle of geese approaching – Canada geese – watched them angle across the valley, set their wings and come in for a landing in a recently harvested corn field. How did they know a free meal was available?
Speaking of collective nouns, (weren’t we?) my sister-in-law insists that it’s a ‘Giggle of Girls’ and a ‘Noise of Boys’. I love a ‘Murder of Crows’ and an ‘Exaltation of Larks’
Enough frivolity, back to serious business: Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs.
The Extension Office has a new brochure covering this timely subject which may be obtained by stopping at the office and requesting one. The brochure details the life history, description of the insect; damage it can inflict, how to exclude it from dwellings and what procedures are NOT recommended. It is in your best interest to be informed!
Finally, thanks to all who supported the Farmer’s Market, and those who stopped by to chat with us at the Master Gardener’s table. See you next year!

The Pawpaw

2011-10-06T13:18:00.000-04:00

I love fruit. When in-season, I'll gorge myself on the likes of strawberries, blackraspberries, and apples. During the off-season fruits, I'll eat less because of the expense. One fruit I have not tried is the pawpaw. This is a native american fruit but difficult to find becasue it is not grown much on a commercial scale. There were two segments on NPR last week that reminided me that I need to give it a try. The segments can be viewed here and here.

When someone describes it as "mango-meets-the-banana ... with a little hint of melon", I have got to give it a try!

More Catalog Art

2011-10-03T09:42:00.001-04:00

A reader of Gardening in the Keystone State blog, Ray E., also pointed us to another resource for colorful, historical garden catalogs. It appears that Cornell Univerity also has a large collection of old catalogs, some of which can be viewed online here.

Taken from Cornell's website is the following for their extensive collection.

The L. H. Bailey Hortorium, part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, maintains an extensive collection of nursery and seed catalogues. With holdings of over 136,000 pieces, this collection is one of the largest of its kind. It includes catalogues from foreign countries as well as the United States and Canada. Started by Liberty Hyde Bailey around 1888, the collection was turned over to his daughter, Ethel Zoe Bailey, in 1911. She curated the catalogue collection for over 70 years, volunteering her time after retirement. The collection was named in her honor following her death at the age of 93.

The Beauty of Garden Catalogs

2011-09-30T06:47:00.004-04:00

The garden season is winding down and we'll soon head into the winter months. This is often a time to sit back and thumb through the various catalogs and see what types of flowers/vegetables you would like to have in your garden and landscape.

Sample of catalogs with the
Smithsonian Institution Libraries
(click picture to enlarge)

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries have a really cool collection of old catalogs. Thumb through their database and check it out at this site. The description of the collection is below.

The Smithsonian Institution Libraries have a unique trade catalog collection that includes about 10,000 seed and nursery catalogs dating from 1830 to the present. Many of the trade catalogs were part of the Burpee Collection donated to the Horticulture Services Division by Mrs. David Burpee in 1982. The collection includes both Burpee and their competitors' catalogs.
The real gems of the collection date from 1830 to the 1930s and are both beautiful and important multidisciplinary historical documents. The seed trade catalogs document the history of the seed and agricultural implement business in the United States, as well as provide a history of botany and plant research such as the introduction of plant varieties into the United States. Additionally, the seed trade catalogs are a window into the history of graphic arts in advertising, and a social history, through the text and illustrations, showing changing fashions in flowers and vegetables.

The seed and nursery catalogs are part of the Smithsonian Libraries Trade Literature Collection, which is held in the National Museum of American History Library (NMAH). The Library's Trade Literature Collection is available to the public by appointment only. Because this collection is unique and irreplaceable, items do not circulate.

Fruiting Characteristics of Woody Ornamentals: by Tom Butzler

2011-09-27T09:43:00.002-04:00

Imagine how boring our life would be if every time we ate, it was the same food. The same taste and texture would get old after awhile and we would not look forward to mealtime. For many of us, a varied menu can really get the taste buds going.

The same thing applies to a landscape. Imagine going into a landscape that had just junipers and boxwoods. All that green, month after month would get very tiring to the eyes. An aesthetically pleasing landscape should have a mix of trees (small to large), flowering and evergreen shrubs, annuals and perennials. One aspect of the landscape that is often overlooked is the berries.

Berry producing trees and shrubs add many different facets to the landscape with their different fruit colors and attractiveness to wildlife.

The blue fruit of Viburnum denatum
‘Synnestvedt’ attracts numerous birds
into the landscape

There is an eye popping display of fruit on a Viburnum denatum ‘Synnestvedt’ at the Penn State Extension Trial Gardens in Clinton County. I think this shrub really stands out as the deep blue berries put on a display in August through October. Birds love the fruit and will pick it clean before winter sets in.

This shrub, which can grow up to 8 feet in height with an equal spread, has several desirable characteristics beyond its’ fruit. It will produce white flowers in late May to early June that last for about two weeks. During the summer, the shiny, dark green leaves stand out compared to lighter green colors in the landscape. And depending on the year, fall foliage can run the gamut from yellow to orange to red.

A favorite I have in my landscape is the winterberry holly. Unlike Viburnum denatum ‘Synnestvedt’, it does not have a showy display of flowers, nor is there any appreciative fall color. This shrub makes up for its lack of four season interest by the most outstanding display of fruit of any other shrub out there on the market.

Ilex verticillata x serrata ‘Red Sprite’ berries stay on long after the leaves
have dropped off adding interest to the winter landscape

There are many cultivars out there, but the one in my landscape beds is Ilex verticillata x serrata ‘Red Sprite’. This one grows to about half the size of other winterberry hollies at about 3-4 feet. The fruit will start forming shortly after the small, non-showy flowers are pollinated. They will reach full size and show their intense color by August. This is not a preferred fruit by birds and will only feed on them when nothing else is available. As a result, the fruit stays on until late winter providing much winter interest in the usually drab landscape. To get berries, it is critical that you plant a male holly somewhere in the yard.

Very few trees can offer the numerous
aesthetic benefits of the kousa dogwood

I love our native dogwood, Cornus florida, but my landscape gets full sun, all day long. Our native dogwoods are an understory tree so they would not perform real well at my site. Kousa dogwoods (Cornus kousa) can withstand an open area and several are planted around my house. This is a four season interest plant in that it has a beautiful show of flowers in the spring, shiny dark summer foliage, attractive fall color, and interesting bark for winter interest.

The pinkish red fruit is just another attractive feature of this small tree and stands out in the late summer/early fall against the dark leaves. It is somewhat edible for humans (I didn’t like it) and the literature states that wildlife, such as squirrels and birds, will eat the fruit. The only animal I see feeding on my kousa dogwood fruit is my dog. I don’t place too much into her likings as she also ventures into the kitty litter box for a taste of the exotic.

Caution – Handle with Care!: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-09-21T19:24:00.006-04:00

Most people know there are some plants that come with a little something extra – a dangerous and dark side, so here’s a reminder to ‘handle with care’.

Let’s begin with pokeweed, a tall, red-stemmed, large leaved perennial weed of damp roadsides. The purple berries that hang in drooping clusters, following pretty white flowers, are ripening as we head into September. All parts of this plant are poisonous if ingested, but it was a disposal method that got a friend into trouble – weed-whacking! Instead of cutting the plants off at the base and leaving them to shrivel, he pulverized them into submission and emerged covered in plant debris and sap. He thinks some of the debris infected a cut he had on his hand and he wound up in the hospital with red streaks running up his arm and suffering respiratory distress. Many of my books list dermatitis as a problem due to contact with pokeweed, but as with most things, there is a silver lining concerning this plant; one of the highly toxic chemicals found in pokeweed is being tested for properties that may be useful in treating cancer and HIV.

Next on my list of wonderfully wicked weeds is Giant Hogweed – a Hollywood-style horror! Everything about this plant is super-sized, even its scientific name – Heracleum mantegazzianum! It produces 20,000 seeds per plant, it can quickly crowd out all other plants in its path, it can grow to 15 feet tall, some of its leaves can measure 5 feet in width and the compound flower-head can reach up to 2.5 feet in diameter! There is little to doubt in the identification of a mature plant, but the earlier stages are very confusing. As this is a member of the carrot family it may take 2 or 3 years to mature, but after it flowers and sets seed it dies; the confusing part is that in the early stages of its life it may have many differing leaf shapes making certain identification harder. Giant hogweed is on the federal noxious weed list and there are efforts underway to eradicate this highly dangerous plant. This is something best left to the experts as exposure to the sap of Giant hogweed can cause severe photodermatitis – the sap on the skin when exposed to sunlight can cause 3rd degree burns, and if the eye is involved, blindness may occur. This is one seriously malignant plant, and I have been unable to discover any silver linings, but initially it was introduced from Eurasia as an ornamental – what were they thinking…

Last in my trio of holy terrors is a flower one could hardly suspect of being hazardous to your health – the non-native, but still beautiful yellow Iris or yellow flag as it’s sometimes called. Under favorable conditions it can become invasive, and has been banned in some states, but its cautionary status is because of the possibility of severe dermatitis from the sap, and if ingested may cause nausea, high temperature, abdominal pain and severe purging.
Although I doubt anyone is planning on making an Iris leaf salad, here’s what happened to a friend who ran afoul of Iris in another fashion. She was dividing a clump; placed the clump in a bucket having already trimmed back the leaves. Upon lifting the plant from the bucket she grazed her arm on a leaf edge sustaining some splinters. Severe swelling occurred, pain, infection and red stripes running up the arm. The medical profession was stymied and denied the presence of splinters, but in a couple of days ‘bits’ began emerging from the scrape. With whatever medications the medics prescribed and natural healing, my friend is much better now! The culprit was a cardiac glycoside – Irisin, contained in all Iris varieties – wear gloves when handling this plant!

In conclusion – one more plug for the Master Gardener Training – if you would like to be involved call Quentin Stocum at 726-0022…Please!

'Battle of the Bugs' at Penn State's Great Insect Fair

2011-09-16T09:42:00.000-04:00

If you have a free day tomorrow, you should take the family to Penn State's Great Insect Fair. There is alot to do and a great day to spend with the kids.

Sponsored by the College of Agricultural Sciences' Department of Entomology, the fair takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 17 in the Snider Agricultural Arena, at the corner of Park Avenue and Fox Hollow Road (across from Beaver Stadium) on the University Park campus.

This year's fair will feature special exhibits, such as native pollinators and a butterfly tent. Ladybug Theatre will offer performances of children's books such as "The Hungry Caterpillar" and "The Grouchy Ladybug."

Other fun and interactive events will include:
-- Bug Battles in Insect Olympics
-- Build-A-Bug Competition -- Bring your homemade insect for judging and a chance to win prizes (for rules and guidelines, visit the Web at http://ento.psu.edu/public/kids/great-insect-fair/build-a-bug).
-- Cockroach Races
-- Putt Putt Golf
-- Insect Construction Company
-- Insect Zoo
-- Insect Deli
-- Live Musical Entertainment
-- Honey Tasting
-- Insect Collections
-- Face Painting
-- Insect Vendors -- Shop for insect pets, art, crafts, books and T-shirts.
-- The Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program's "The BugMobile!"
-- The Bug Doctor Is In

Admission to the Great Insect Fair is free, although donations will be accepted to help defray costs. Free parking is available at the Snider Agricultural Arena and across Park Avenue behind the Centre County/Penn State Visitor Center. For more information, call the Department of Entomology at 814-865-1895 or visit the department's website at http://ento.psu.edu/public/kids/great-insect-fair online.

Biodegradable Mulch Walks Planned

2011-09-12T10:24:00.002-04:00

Come see for yourself! Penn State Extension Educators across the state are collaborating with local growers to look at biodegradable mulch. Biodegradable Mulch Walks are an informal opportunity to see how biodegradable mulch performed at the end of the season and talk to participating growers. Two Biodegradable Mulch Walks are planned for September 13 and 14. No fees or registration are required for these two walks.

September 14th - Montgomery County 5:00-6:30 p.m.
98 Allentown Road, Souderton, PA 18964
Corner of Allentown and Nice Roads in Elroy, PA
Contact: Andrew Frankenfield, 610-489-4315

In addition, a demonstration plot at Raub’s Farm in Easton will be showcased at the Southeast Pennsylvania Vegetable Growers Twilight Meeting on September 15 (see below for more info).

Southeast Penna. Vegetable Twilight Meeting

This meeting will be held at the Raub Farm, 1459 Tatamy Rd, Easton, PA 18045. Come see thirty different pumpkin varieties including face pumpkins and specialty pumpkins. Dr. Mike Orzolek from Penn State Horticulture is planning to talk about the varieties in this state-wide pumpkin trial. We also planted tomatoes and peppers into four different types of biodegradable mulch this spring. Come see how it performed!

Plan to stay for the backpack calibration session at the end of the evening that will qualify for a core pesticide credit. A light supper will be served and there will be an $8 fee. For further information, contact Emelie Swackhamer at 610-391-9840 or exs33@psu.edu. Registration is required and can be done online at http://extension.psu.edu/vegetable-fruit/events/files/vegetable-twighlight-september-15.

Vegetable Diseases on the March

2011-09-09T09:18:00.000-04:00

Late blight reports are on the rise!
Due to the cool and wet conditions over the past wekk or so there have been an increasing number of reports of late blight in Pennsylvania and New York.

Continuous rain = Phytophthora Fruit Rot
The the continuous rain, there has been increasing concern about Phytophthora fruit rot.

Cucurbit downy mildew update
The continued unsettled weather first from Hurricane Irene and now Tropical Storm Lee this past weeks has put most of PA at high risk for downy mildew disease development and localized spread!

Potpourri: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-09-08T20:40:00.009-04:00

One of the most satisfying aspects of being a Master Gardener is helping people to find answers to their very interesting questions. In the research process I get to learn something too, but at my age my brain is rather full of ‘stuff’, so in order to retain any new information I have to forget an item of ‘stuff’ to make room for it. This means that I may not recall your name next time we meet, but you will know that I just learned something new. Here are a few things I have learned recently:
I was asked if I knew of a variety of Rose of Sharon that would not produce a gazillion seeds as many varieties are considered to be weedy and invasive. First let me explain that the name ‘Rose of Sharon’ is applied to many differing plants around the world, but in this instance I am talking about the small, deciduous shrub that is blooming right now in August in this area. Hibiscus syriacus is the botanical name, but many know it as Shrub Althea; it may be pruned into a small tree (late winter – early spring) but most prefer it as a multi-stemmed shrub. It likes full sun and well-drained soil and loves the heat, but its one draw-back (besides its potential weediness) is the fact that it leafs out in the spring rather a lot later than other shrubs leaving the gardener to think it may have given up the ghost. Just be patient and hold off on the chain-saw…
Hummingbirds are most attracted to the single flowers rather than the doubles but the doubles are more rose-like. The newer cultivars that do not set seeds are ‘triploids’, this having to do with additional chromosomes (something I am not about to get into), and the varieties I discovered are called ‘Aphrodite, Diana, Minerva or Helen’.

Next thing I learned was that people are still mixed up about tent caterpillars and fall webworms. Let’s review: tent caterpillars occur in the spring; cherry trees are the prime target and the ‘tent’ is formed in the crotch between trunk and twig. The caterpillars leave the tent to forage and return to its protection at night; they can do significant damage to a young tree.

Fall webworms are becoming very apparent right now but their life cycle began in late July. These pests spin the web at the end of a branch, enlarging it when necessary; they feed within the web so it becomes disfigured with chewed leaves and frass (poop). As it is near the end of the growing season, the webworms do not cause much damage to the black walnut trees that are their food of choice, but they are an insult to the eye!

How to ripen pears was another query posed this past week. Having never grown pears I discovered that pears left to ripen on the tree get mushy in the middle before the outer areas are edible; hence, it is better to gather them and pop them into a brown paper bag with an apple or banana and let the ethylene gas do its ripening thing. Frequent checking on progress is recommended as they can go from unready to rotten in a flash. Best place to eat a ripe pear is in the bathtub, naked!
Anyone interested in the Master Gardener training (so you too can garner all these wonderful bits of information) should contact Quentin Stocum quite soon at the Extension Office 726-0022.

September Issue of Penn State's Vegetable & Small Fruit Gazette

2011-09-07T10:43:00.000-04:00

Go here to check out the Septmber issue of Penn State's Vegetable & Small Fruit Gazette

Washing Pesticide Contaminated Clothing
High Tunnels in Philadelphia
Blueberry IPM Training at Adams County Winter, Adams County, PA
Professional Development Webinars on Berry Crops
Spotted Wing Drosophila - More You Should Know
Organic Research Extension Associate Job Announcement
eOrganic: On-line Resource for the Organic Community
Southern Tier (NY) Commercial Berry Growers Workshop; Upcoming Meetings

Late Summer Blues: by Tom Butzler

2011-09-06T08:56:00.002-04:00

I was walking through my landscape and the Penn State Trial Garden last week enjoying the sights and sounds. Plants seem to be in pretty good shape, compared to last month, with the onset of cooler temperatures and frequent rains. One thing that stood out to me as I walked about was the color blue. Of the primary colors in the landscape, blue and violet are considered cool compared to the warm colors of red, orange and yellow. Cool colors are considered relaxing and soothing.

Pollinators loves visiting the
light blue flowers of the blue
mist shrub. Click on photo
to enlarge

The small shrub that stands out in my front yard is bluebeard or as some others call it, blue-mist shrub (Caryopteris x clandonensis). It is only about two feet high with bright blue flowers borne on upright branches. My place gets full sun all day long so this plant is situated well; less sun or shade results in fewer blossoms. Although it is woody plant, a gardener should treat it as a perennial. Flowering occurs on new growth only, so it is important to cut back in the late winter.

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) takes about a bit more space compared to bluebeard. This originated in the Mediterranean which is a bit warmer in the winter than central Pennsylvania. Further down south (Georgia, Florida), this is grown as a 10-25 foot tree. We will never see that height in our landscapes as most of the plant dies back to the ground.

Vitex. Click on photo to enlarge.

Occasionally a branch or two may make it through the winter. I usually wait until late-spring to see what portion of the plant died and what made it through. Any branch that might not make it through the winter is pruned out once the bush has broken dormancy which can be quite late in spring. The appearance in my landscape is a rounded mound that is 6 feet high and the same spread. The flowers are bright blue and somewhat fragrant and are borne on a panicle that is around 8 inches long.

A favorite that had been used heavily in the landscape industry is Russian sage (Perovskia atriplicifoli). I think this has been mostly a result of being named the 1995 Perennial Plant of the Year. This plant comes out of the Afghanistan/Tibetan region, a hot dry region.

Russian sage in the forefront
with a mass planting of
Karl Foerster's feather reed grass,
(Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Karl Foerster')
in the background. Click on
photo to enlarge

Russian sage reaches a height of 4-5 feet with a similar spread. Its light blue flowers are borne on 15-18 inch spikes and flowers well into the fall. Even before it flowers, it stands out a bit with its silvery green foliage. I suggest you prune this back in the spring, otherwise the plant can take on a floppy appearance over the years. Although this works well as a specimen plant (only one plant), I think it is most effective when planted in groupings.

My house gets full sun all day long as a result; I need plants that can take the heat. These three late flowering shrubs not only add color as the summer winds down but add a calming effect to the garden.

Diversity - In the Seed World

2011-09-02T09:34:00.000-04:00

Really interesting article in the July 2011 issue of National Geographic. The topic deals with the importance of genetic diversity of our food crops and the various efforts to save seeds for our future generations. You can read the article here. It is a very easy, informative read.

They had a couple of really cool graphics, one of which you can view here. It illustrates how man has selected vegetables over time (by comparing an old seed catalog from 1903 to those same varieties that are availavble today). As an example, there were 341 varieties of squash in the 1903 catalog and now only 41 can be found in the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation (formely known as the National Seed Storage Laboratory). The article goes on to explain that the loss of this genetic diversity can be a issue when we face some future problems.

There are some pretty cool pictures in the article. I know there are alot of different potoates out there but to see many of them in one photograph was eye candy. You can see individual photos of these potatoes here but you lose the collage effect. Best to go to your local library and check out the magazine.

Horticulture Updates: by Tom Butzler

2011-08-31T08:57:00.001-04:00

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
There is usually a pretty steep learning curve for researchers when encountering a new problem and the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is putting that thought to the test. They need to figure out the life cycle, mating habits, and feeding patterns in order to develop a management plan. As research is done, old ideas are thrown out and new discoveries are made.

A Penn State fact sheet on the BMSB lists a variety of plants that this insect will feed upon. This long list includes apple, peach, blackberry, sweet corn, field corn, soybeans, tomatoes, lima beans and green peppers. Extension educators and researchers were caught a little off guard this growing season with its feeding activity. Although sweet corn is listed as a host, some observations in the field are showing that this food source should be at the top of the list.

A USDA scientist visited with a West Virginia organic grower a few days ago to look into BMSB activity. The grower had side-by-side plantings of sweet corn, various pepper varieties, and tomatoes (remember, it was thought that sweet corn, tomatoes, and peppers were preferred equally by the BMSB). The organic grower’s sweet corn had unbelievable numbers of bugs, up to 40 per ear. The USDA scientist estimated that 99% of the bugs observed on the farm were on the sweet corn. He saw a few on peppers and essentially none on tomatoes. Mature sweet corn seems a highly preferred host. We even observed adults flying from the periphery directly into the corn. It was noted that the entire plot of mature sweet corn was lost to the insect. This observation was not an isolated incident either as a Virginia Tech vegetable specialist found that the insect is clearly drawn to mature sweet corn when it is available.

The Plant Destroyer is Back
Do you remember a few summers ago when many of the tomatoes throughout Pennsylvania died because of a plant disease? Well, it is back this year. There appears to be a pretty good outbreak in New York where growers and home gardeners alike are losing plants. There was also a report of late blight in Pennsylvania. It is important to scout your tomatoes and potatoes and look for lesions that are pale green or water-soaked and gray in color on the leaves, petioles and stems. Under humid conditions, white sporulation (fuzzy growth) can develop especially on the underside of the leaves. Applications of protectant fungicides, such as chlorothalonil, can manage this disease if applied as the organism moves into the area.

Penn State Master Gardener Classes
The Penn State extension office in Clinton County is offering Master Gardener classes this fall. If you are interested in any aspect of horticulture, whether it is in the landscape or the vegetable garden, it is a good idea to understand the science behind successful gardening. Applications are being taken for Master gardener training classes for this fall. Contact Clinton County Master Gardener Coordinator, Quentin Stocum, for more details.

More or Less: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-08-24T17:03:00.005-04:00

Various people have asked me recently if I thought the butterfly population was down this year and after reflection I have to agree that it seems so. This the first year I did not see a Mourning Cloak as it emerged from hibernation on one of the early warm spring days; the diminutive blue butterfly of unknown species is also on my ‘did not see’ list, and the Monarchs are missing from the butterfly weed and butterfly bush, however there are plenty of white butterflies flitting around the alfalfa fields in front of my house. I am wondering if the very wet spring followed by blistering heat upset the natural rhythm of these beautiful insects’ life cycle…
On the plus side of things, the azure-blue chicory wildflower seems to have gone berserk invading lawns and out-competing the grass for space. It appears that chicory can grow six inches overnight, and after being mowed can flower at much lower heights while the grass doesn’t need to be mowed at all due to its current dormant state. Don’t tell anyone, but I really prefer chicory to grass…
Since moving back to the country, I have been delighted by the abundance of huge, puffy, white clouds that pop up over the mountain ridges almost every afternoon (Joe Murgo –Altoona TV meteorologist, calls them ‘instability ‘ clouds), and the camera is getting a work-out! During my ‘forest-dwelling’ period, my sky was very limited, but here I have ‘big’ sky – most I’ve ever had to be honest, and like most photographers I find a clear-blue sky boring…
In the ‘less’ category I must relate that I have suffered only one mosquito bite this year whereas I am usually the main dish on the lunch buffet. Various factors come into play here: it’s been too hot for mosquito mischief – they are not active at above 85* temperatures; it’s been too hot for me to venture outdoors and there are no mosquitoes in my air-conditioned living room- (first time I ever had an air-conditioned living room) and when I did go out I ‘glowed’ so much that the pest couldn’t get a grip! ‘Horses sweat, men perspire but ladies merely ‘glow’!
Can’t wait for less humidity – enuff sed!
One more subject in the ‘more or less’ department – I am witness to the fact that less men can do more work in less time as long as they have really big machines. I am referring to the ‘Agricultural Ballet’ as performed in the abovementioned alfalfa field on two separate occasions this year so far:

Day 1: one man, one very large machine that unfolded its wings and one hour later the alfalfa was cut off from its life-support system.
Day 2: One man and one huge machine raked the fallen alfalfa into rows while another monster machine scooped it up and swooshed it into a really big truck rolling along-side, with another really big truck waiting on the side-lines to fall into place when the first truck was full. This went on in perfect synchronism until the field was harvested. Impressive – can’t wait to see it again and with the recent rainfall it should be soon! You can almost hear it growing…

A Hop, Skip, and a Jump Away: by Tom Butzler

2011-08-19T09:01:00.001-04:00

The Emerald Ash Borer moved from Ohio into western Pennsylvania and quarantine was put in place in 2007 to slow the spread into the rest of Pennsylvania. Four years later, that quarantine has been lifted as the insect has moved throughout Pennsylvania in over 20 counties (although a federal quarantine still exists to prevent the borer to moving into other states). Fortunately, this insect only attacks ash trees but still could wreck the industry surrounding this wood.

Asian Longhorned Beetle photo from
R. Anson Eaglin of USDA Animal
and Plant Health Inspection Ser¬vice (APHIS)

Now our neighboring state to the west has another nasty insect to deal with and let’s hope this one doesn’t come close to our borders. The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) was discovered in June in western Ohio. This beetle is even more troublesome in that it goes after a variety of hardwood trees that include maple, horse chestnut, mountain ash, mimosa, birch, hackberry, katsura, golden raintree, sycamore, poplar, willow, elm, and ash.

USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) considers Pennsylvania at risk
because infested wood may have moved to this area.

Damage by the ALB occurs out of site. The female lays eggs on the bark and the tiny larva that hatch burrow under the bark and start feeding. Over time, they destroy the vascular system (the plumbing) and the tree dies.

Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the nation’s leader in the production of hardwood lumber and maples make up much of that timber. Millions of dollars could be lost if maples go by the wayside. In addition, if this insect ever makes it into our state, it could adversely affect maple sugar processors, severely impact the nursery industry, and put a damper on Pennsylvania’s beautiful fall foliage season. How attractive would Renovo’s Flaming Foliage Festival be without the fall colors of maple?

To give you an idea on how concerned authorities are, you need to look no further than the plan of action in a site where ALB was found. The beetle was positively identified in Worcester, MA in early August 2008. A survey was completed to determine the spread of the infestation and all infested trees were cut down and either chipped or burned from that area. Next, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) treated 96,000 trees susceptible to the (ALB) in the spring with an insecticide. This was a very labor and money intensive control program.

If this one ever gets loose beyond its isolated pockets the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Ser¬vice (APHIS) estimates that the ALB “has the potential to damage such industries as lumber, maple syrup, nursery, commercial fruit, and tourism accumulating over $41 billion in losses. Now you can see why a lot of time and effort is thrown at this insect.

Herbes de Provence: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-08-02T21:06:00.006-04:00

During my long, unwilling and quite undistinguished career as a cook, I have managed to learn a few things that help to make food more palatable namely the addition of various herbs and spices. My mother, bless her heart, used salt and pepper – the sum total of the contents of her flavoring cupboard and my father, sometimes enlivened things with a liberal splash of malt vinegar especially mint sauce for the lamb roast, but during the last forty-something years I have boldly experimented with a wide range of herbs and was delighted to find that I use most of the herbs found in the famous ‘Herbes de Provence’.
Here’s a basic recipe to make your own concoction beginning with the most-often used herbs:
Combine 2 tablespoons of each of the following dried herbs – summer savory, rosemary, thyme, oregano, basil, marjoram and fennel seed. Mash them up a bit with a pestle, mix them well and store in a tightly-lidded jar in a cool, dark place. They will be fine for about 4 months and when they get stale just add them to the compost pile!
If there is something in the above list that is not to your taste, remove the offending herb and substitute any of the following: mint, dill, tarragon, chopped bay leaf, sage and culinary-grade lavender! Bet you never saw that coming – the lavender, I mean, but it adds a little ‘je ne sais quoi’ to the mix, and tourists visiting Provence (in France) see fields of lavender growing alongside all the other herbs and assume it can be used in a similar fashion.
‘Herbes de Provence’ can be used to season meat, chicken, fish, and vegetables. Most commonly, they are used as a dry rub, or mixed with olive oil and used as a marinade, or added to soups and stews, or added to the coals on the grill. Tres versatile! I use a version of this to season my dumplings…
Now for the good part…most of these herbs are very beneficial to your health-for instance, sage helps to cope with the symptoms of PMS and menopause (fat lot of good that knowledge will do me now); bay leaves ease pain (even the Romans knew that!); oregano is a major antibacterial powerhouse (move over penicillin) and dill is a gas-buster (no myth here)!
Another interesting factoid is that a combination of some of these herbs intensifies their beneficial effect – an actual example of ‘if one herb is good – two are better’! Now, how many herbs are there in pizza? Does this qualify pizza as a health food? I may have to do an ‘in depth’ study into the benefits of pepperoni before I can answer that question…
At the beginning of this article I referred to myself as a reluctant cook – well – my late husband, Jere, always maintained that the difference between a cook and a chef was that a cook always cleaned up her own dishes and that HE was a chef!
I love my dishwasher!

Spotted Wing Drosophila

2011-08-02T08:36:00.000-04:00

Growers and educators had been anticipating the possibility of a new pest in small fruits this year. The Spotted Wing Drosophila had been reported in several other states last year and a monitoring system was set up in Pennsylvnaia to detect its presence. Go here to read all about it.

Bits and Pieces: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-07-30T22:55:00.003-04:00

I’d first like to announce that the Clinton County Master Gardeners will be opening a branch of their garden problem Hot Line at the Farmers’ and Flea Market on Tuesdays at the Clinton County Fairground. Please stop by our table and ‘set’ for a spell and chat about growing pains of the plant type. We will be happy to search out answers to your questions about garden bugs and thugs and will have informational brochures on a variety of subjects. Meanwhile I’d like to extend congratulations to Ruth Eoute for her splendid efforts to get this project off the ground and in full swing; it is fast becoming ‘the’ place to be on a Tuesday!
My next announcement is of a less happy nature – the demise of the square-foot garden project! I shall be putting it under wraps (literally) until next year when I hope to have more time to tend it properly. During these past few weeks I had little time to keep an eye on things and the blistering temperatures dried out the soil too quickly. One thing I have discovered is that the soil-less mix is too high in peat moss which becomes water-repellent when dry making it very difficult to re-hydrate. Back to the drawing board with this problem! I did manage to harvest some great lettuce but this soon became bitter in the heat; the spring onions did well, the kale did not; the patio tomato never stood a chance but the zinnias bloomed nicely, as did the alyssum. The basil was beginning to show promise before it became ‘dried basil’ and the green beans managed to produce a couple of recognizable pods. All in all it was a management and environmental disaster – not one of my finer efforts…
On quite a different subject I wanted to mention that it is worth a trip to the children’s library at Ross to see a collection of art pertaining to the summer theme of world-wide interests. The paintings were done by the mother of one of our local citizens and are quite remarkable!
Back to doom and gloom – I’d be willing to bet that with the current drought will come questions of ‘blossom-end rot’ on tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. This is a physiological disorder not a disease or insect problem, meaning it has to do with the improper uptake of calcium from the soil due to irregular watering. Water, at the rate of about an inch per week is necessary for good fruit set and growth and a mulch can lessen the evaporation from the soil as well as prevent other soil-borne pathogens from splashing up onto the leaves. It is also a good idea to avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizers at the onset of fruiting as this causes vegetative growth to increase at the expense of blossom production.
To close I have something in the ‘waste not, want not’ department: while I have advised in the past to rinse out the milk containers and feed it to plants, I just read that one can do a special favor to a favorite flower by rinsing out the beer cans and bottles and giving the garden a ‘pick-me-up’ or a ‘night-cap’!

Watering in the Garden

2011-07-28T13:58:00.002-04:00

Officially, we are not in a drought but it sure is getting dry out there. For it to be official, Governor Tom Corbett would have to make a proclamation based upon surface water, groundwater, precipitation and soil moisture indicators, the status of public water supplies, recommendations of the Commonwealth Drought Task Force and input from county officials within affected counties.

Pennsylvania is not in a drought yet but areas have been designated

as abnormally dry (one step below drought status). The U.S.

Drought Monitor is a joint effort of the USDA, the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration, and

other agencies. http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html

Official or not, plants need water and lots of it. The United States Geological Survey estimates that an acre of corn gives off about 3,000-4,000 gallons of water each day, and a large oak tree can move 40,000 gallons per year through its leaves.

I expected my annuals to suffer through this prolonged dry spell but was surprised to see my perennials and shrubs suffering, even though they have been in the ground for a couple of years. As a result, I have had to irrigate my garden and portions of the landscape. There are some things to consider if you add water to your landscape and garden to counteract the hot, dry weather.

Equipment seems pretty basic; get a hose and water. If that is all you have on hand, it will work, but there are some downsides to a simple hose. Typically, water comes out of a hose end rather quickly and more water will run-off the application site than sink into the soil. This method of watering requires the individual to stand there and move the hose around in order to distribute water evenly. A spray wand can be attached to the hose end but it still requires constant human action to spread the water around.

A piece of equipment many homeowners utilize is the sprinkler. This attaches to the hose end and allows for a more uniform distribution over a wider area with little labor (you can walk away after set-up). Water is also applied slowly, over a longer period of time which results in less run-off (more goes into the soil profile).

sprinkler

The downside to sprinklers is that leaves get wet. This is especially problematic in vegetable gardens as this provides the ultimate micro-climate for diseases. Many foliar diseases, such as early blight on tomato and bacterial leaf spot on pepper need water on the leaf to start the infection process. Without water, the organism has trouble taking down your plant.

The best piece of equipment to use is a soaker hose; a porous tube that allows water to seep from it. This applies a slow, steady trickle of water with hardly any water run-off (almost all goes directly into the soil) and no water touches the leaves.

For those that are trying to do some type of gardening in this brutal weather, stay hydrated and go jump in a pool to cool off.

Central PA Turf and Ornamental Field Day

2011-07-27T09:20:00.002-04:00

Thirsty Fields: by Tom Butzler

2011-07-25T10:13:00.001-04:00

It was not too long ago that Pennsylvania newspapers’ had reports such as “Wet spring seriously delays planting and harvesting for Pa. farmers”. In fact, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration stated that Pennsylvania experienced its wettest April since 1895. How quickly the pendulum can swing from one extreme to another.

Drive around Clinton County and the surrounding area and you could see the effect of the hot, dry days on summer crops. Corn fields have that ‘pineapple’ look as leaves stand straight up instead of arching or ending over and water is being applied to crops to compensate for the absence of the occasional summer shower.

Water requirements vary depending on crop being grown but it is safe to say that vegetable crops require large amounts of water, anywhere from 6 inches of water per season for radishes to 24 inches for tomatoes and watermelons. In addition, there are certain periods during crop growth where water is critical to ensure a good yield. For example, research has shown that the critical time period for sweet corn is when the plant is silking and tasseling. With cucumbers, watering is important during flowering and fruit development.

Here in Pennsylvania, growers use two methods of applying water to their crops, overhead and drip irrigation. They both have their advantages and disadvantages

Potatoes along Bald Eagle
Creek are irrigated with
overhead irrigation. Click on picture
to enlarge

Overhead irrigation, as the name implies, is where water is applied to plants from above the plant canopy. The nice aspect of this type of irrigation is that it provides a uniform distribution of water over the entire field and is typically used in large acreage situations like potatoes, snap beans, and sweet corn. It is also the most economical way to get water to thirsty crops.

There are several disadvantages to using overhead irrigation. Large amounts of water are used in this system; as a result, a grower must have easy access to a stream or river. Foliar diseases love wet leaves. Overhead irrigation keeps those leaves wet enough that fungi can get a good start on causing havoc in a field.

Drip solves some of those problems of overhead irrigation simply the way it is applied. Drip irrigation is where water is supplied directly to or near the plant’s root zone by moving water through plastic tubing which is emitted through small openings.

Drip irrigation is supplying
water to tomatoes on Great Island.
Click on picture to enlarge

Compared to overhead irrigation, drip can reduce water use by 50 percent. In addition, since the water doesn’t touch the leaves, foliar diseases are greatly reduced. One of the big disadvantages is costs as the investment of a drip system will be more than overhead. Cost is the main reason that drip is more suited for high value crops such as tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries.

Looking at the weather forecasts, it appears we have a chance of some rain next week. I’m hoping as I don’t have good access for water to my vegetable garden.

Table from North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service
Click on picture to enlarge

Beware of Sprouts: by Tom Butzler

2011-07-14T14:39:00.002-04:00

By now, most people have heard of the food scare that is going on in Europe where an E. coli outbreak caused illness in nearly 3000 and killed approximately 30 people. This outbreak has potentially been linked to a vegetable crop.

E. coli (short for Escherichia coli) is a bacterium that lives in the gut of humans and other animals. This organism leaves the animal through fecal matter and in most instances is not a problem. There are times where certain strains of E. coli produce a nasty toxin. If this aggressive bacterium gets back into a human body, then serious health issues can follow.

Europe’s food detectives had a tough time with this one as they didn’t know where the source of the E. coli was coming from. At first they thought it was cucumbers then sprouts. They backtracked on the sprouts but came back to them in the end as the most likely source of the problem.

Sprouts contain many health-promoting
phytochemicals but there are some concerns
with this vegetable as a possible
bacteria carrier for human diseases.

I find the sprout lead pretty interesting. I eat a lot of vegetables and have had bean sprouts occasionally in certain meals. Sprouts are considered a health food as they are low in calories, fat, and sodium. In addition, they supply fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Sprouts can come from mung, kidney, pinto, navy, and soy beans but also sunflower, broccoli, mustard, radish, garlic, dill, and pumpkin.

Some basic knowledge of sprout production helps with understanding the link between sprouts and E. coli. According to the Penn State publication, “Topics in Food Safety, What You Should Know About Sprouts”, seeds are soaked in water, drained, and spread out in specialized drums or trays that are warm and humid. The seeds are continually irrigated and, depending on the desired level of maturity, are harvested 3 to 10 days after sowing. The sprouts are washed to remove their seed coats and packed into bags or plastic trays.

It is the growing environment that is not only conducive for sprout production but also the bacterium. Even if a few bacteria get into the production cycle, the population explodes in the nutrient rich and environmentally favorable incubator. The bacterium can enter the cycle on seeds but it could also be introduced by a worker’s hands. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) put out a press release in 1999 in which it suggested that people who are high risk for complications from food borne illness should probably not eat raw sprouts.

Lest you think we are immune to the problems occurring in Europe, similar issues have occurred in the US. Just last month, twenty-three people in 10 western states had serious health issues (although caused by a different bacteria than E. coli) linked to alfalfa sprouts. In fact, during the 2010 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases, C.C. Chen from the CDC stated that during a 10 year reporting period (1998-2008) in the US, there were 33 outbreaks, with 880 illnesses, 67 hospitalizations, and 1 death that were classified as sprout-associated.

Fireflies or Lightning Bugs?: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-07-13T17:50:00.007-04:00

For the past few evenings I have been delighted with the show put on by thousands of lightning bugs as they dance outside my new living-room window. Is it just romance on their minds or do some have a deadlier purpose – we’ll get to that burning question in a while; first I need to pass along the facts I garnered at 3:00am this morning when sleep eluded me and the computer was still awake!

Lightning bugs are winged beetles of the order ‘Coleoptera’ and occur worldwide except for the coldest regions. There are many species and sub-species and most are nocturnal; the majority of the diurnal species do not produce light.

The life cycle of our most common, local variety is thus: after mating the female deposits her eggs in the ground where they hatch into a grub (larva) with the ability to produce light as a warning to predators that they possess really bad tasting chemicals in their bodies. This is the ‘glow worm’ stage. The larvae feed on worms and slugs by injecting them with a fluid that immobilizes the potential meal; at the end of summer the larvae overwinter in hibernation, pupate in early spring, developing to adulthood in late spring/early summer when the cycle begins again.

Now let’s explore what is known about the lightning bug’s ability to produce ‘bioluminescence’ which it uses to attract a mate or prey (told you there was a dark side to these light-producing insects!)…Bioluminescence is a ‘cold’ light, that is, it has no infrared or ultraviolet wavelengths, and is 100% efficient in producing light – no heat! By contrast an ordinary electric light-bulb produces 10% light and 90% heat! The firefly ‘flashes’ are chemically manufactured in the abdomen when oxygen is combined with ‘luciferin’ in special cells and this involves enzymes and proteins and as I am a gardener not a chemist, this is as far as I go with the most commonly accepted theory and I’m sticking with it!

Here we get to the dangers of being a male firefly; in the normal sequence of mating behavior, the males are aloft flashing a constant light pattern attractive to females of his species; the females are usually on the ground watching for a particularly enticing male – the flashes match and the game is on! But sometimes the ‘femme fatale’ flashes a different species signal and reels in a nice snack. This tactic is called ‘mimicry’ and the only explanation I can imagine is that the lady didn’t get enough flower nectar during the day!

If you would like to create a lightning bug paradise in your back yard, here’s how: eliminate all lawn chemicals; darken the area as too much light interferes with mating activity and let the grass grow lengthy to provide cool daytime areas for resting. Do kids still collect fireflies in a jar and watch them perform? Bet not!

Most of you know of my affection for alliteration – here’s a beaut…
Clinton County Fairground Farmers’ Market – Fleas, food, fun, friends, family, farmers, French fries! (Tuesday 8:00am to 4:00pm) Be there or be square!
BTW (by the way) what do you call them – lightning bugs or fireflies?

Numbers 20 & 21

2011-07-07T15:42:00.000-04:00

The emerald ash borer (EAB) continues its march across Pennsylvania. The EAB was found on a purple panel sticky trap and has been confirmed in Wyoming County. The location of this detection is in the southern part of the county in Monroe Township (county number 20)

Huntingdon County has been confirmed positive for the EAB. On July 5th eight adult EAB specimens were recovered from a purple panel sticky trap baited with manuka oil in a small wooded lot in Mt. Union, PA adjacent to warehouse. This detection brings the total number of confirmed EAB-infested counties in Pennsylvania to 21.

Elephants to Grapes: by Tom Butzler

2011-07-05T11:03:00.002-04:00

Last month, I spent a few days with other Penn State agricultural educators for some association business meetings and education in Bedford County. Although meetings are a necessary part of our association, it was the educational tours that were stimulating.

Jackson, the bull elephant in the background, is
kept separate from the two females at the ICC.

The first tour stop of the day was a visit to the International Conservation Center (ICC) in Somerset, Pa., a facility owned by the Pittsburg Zoo. The property was a former 700 acre hunting preserve that contained elk and white tail deer and now houses elephants. There are certain species of animals that do not breed very well in zoos and this is an effort to increases those odds.
At this point, there are three elephants on site; females Bette and Kallie along with a bull elephant named Jackson. He is the most successful breeding African bull elephant in the United States with nine offspring. That doesn’t seem like a lot but that illustrates the difficulty in elephant breeding. He has been so successful that they will no longer breed him as to not overwhelm the gene pool in the US.

The next stop was Maple Hollow Farms, a 225 acre farm which produces Polled Dorset and Tunis sheep. In addition, they also graze steers and chickens.

Maple Hollow Farms have their chickens outside
as much as possible. This ‘chick-tractor” is moved daily
so the animals are on fresh ground every day.

After lunch we traveled to Hernley Harvesting in New Paris. This is a operation that raises their own grains as well as purchases grains from local farmers for marketing in larger volumes. Owners Dave and Crystal Hernley also run a small custom harvesting business.

Penn State agricultural educators get an
overview of Hernley Harvesting facilities in New Paris.

Briar Valley Vineyard is located on poor soil
which European vines thrive. Too rich of a soil
will negatively impact growth, taste, and aroma.

The first three stops were interesting enough, but it was the final stop to a vineyard that was really interesting (at least to a horticulturist). Briar Valley Vineyard and Winery located in Imlerton has over 12,000 vines of Chardonnay, Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Cabernet Franc and Lemberger.

I am familiar with many aspects of growing grapes, especially pest management. I am not very familiar with pruning techniques. Co-owner, Tod Manspeaker, gave a detailed discussion on the cordon pruning system they utilize in their operation.

Pruning is just not the vines themselves. They also prune leaves off (better air circulation around grape clusters) and prune out a certain percentage of grape clusters. The theory behind removing some of the grapes is that carbohydrates and other resources go to fewer grape clusters and impart better flavor and aroma in the wines. This whole pruning operation starts in March and ends in September, very labor intensive.

Starting a vineyard is not only labor intensive but money intensive. Manspeaker estimated that is costs about $15,000 an acre to establish a vineyard. This covers vines, trellis, fence and labor.

Briar Valley Winery produces award winning
wines from grapes grown in Bedford County.

The tour finished with a stop at Briar Valley Vineyard and Winery shop to taste some wines. Apparently they produce some very good wines as they not only have won some regional accolades but also national awards. I don’t care much for dry wines (that is their special niche) and will occasionally drink a sweet wine. I’d much prefer a good cold beer. Maybe our tour next year will include a microbrewery.

Tina’s New Garden: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-06-29T18:47:00.003-04:00

By the end of June I shall have moved into my new country home but no new gardening will commence until next year except for some weeding and the creation of a small spring bulb bed.
This is the time for monitoring the shade and sun situation, inventorying the existing plants, identifying the trees, watching for any poor drainage areas and altering the slope of one bed that I know is a potential problem.
A soil-test is another requirement and doing it quite soon will allow for plenty of time to add amendments. I can also spend the fall and winter months researching the style and plant material for my (hopefully) last garden! Composting shall also commence next week – this is the longest I have lived without a compost pile for at least twenty years and I feel guilty about all the ‘good stuff’ I have thrown out in the past 6 months!
I’m quite torn about the style of garden to pursue. I love the English cottage gardens but they are chock-a-block full of plants and require a fair amount of physical fitness to keep in shape, and as Tom Butzler is fond of reminding me – I’m not getting any younger! How about the other end of the scale – a Zen garden- one with a few choice rocks and wavy lines in sand…Nah! Too boring!
Shall I try for a native plant garden, or a butterfly garden, or a pollinator garden?
Help me out folks; call the Extension Office at 726-0022 with suggestions!
In the meantime, here are a few gardening tips to try or not:
Painting new terra cotta pots with yogurt or a solution of manure will age them to perfection; growing different varieties of cut-and-come-again lettuce in containers by the back door will give you easy access to salad fixin’s all summer long. Did you ever want drifts of spring bulbs in the lawn? Here’s how: with a sharp spade cut an ‘H’ shape where you want the bulbs (about a one by two foot area). Peel back the sod, loosen the soil underneath, add bulb fertilizer and mix into the soil, plant the bulbs and replace the sod. Water well to encourage the grass to re-root and the bulbs to begin growth. Remember to let the foliage mature in the spring to feed the bulbs before mowing the grass and if the bulbs become too crowded lift them ‘in the green’ and replant in a more spacious area.
If you are a seed-saver also be a silica-gel package saver – the little packets that are enclosed with electronic equipment, cameras, and shoes etc to protect against moisture are excellent for protecting seeds.
Got an old venetian blind due for the landfill? Cut 6” lengths, taper one end into a point and use as plant markers. Write the plant info on one side and insert into the soil facing away from the sun. This prevents some fading!
Finally, as the tomato season is upon us, let it be known that erratic watering affecting the uptake of calcium, is the main cause of blossom-end rot and that regular, deep watering can help avoid skin-splitting! Happy summer!

Upcoming Compost Workshop

2011-06-10T09:16:00.000-04:00

Click To Enlarge

Rhubarb – Fruit or Vegetable?: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-06-08T17:00:00.002-04:00

Who cares! In my not-so-humble opinion asparagus and rhubarb are two of the greatest gifts of spring (the other being the cessation of the snowy season…) My father had a wonderfully huge rhubarb plant and one of the best treats was to be given a stalk and a bag of sugar in which to dip it – I just loved the momentary sourness before the sweet kicked in!
This fruity-tasting vegetable is a perennial, so care should be taken to site it in the proper place first time around, although it is fairly easy to move in early spring while dormant– just dig and divide by plunging a shovel down through the middle of the plant and lift out the desired piece. Plant each root division containing an ‘eye’ in a deep, wide hole that has lots of organic material amended into the bottom and backfill soil. Although rhubarb grows best in cooler climates, full sun is preferred, but it will take some shade; fertile and well-drained soil is essential and a yearly top dressing of compost will keep the plant producing thick stalks. Mulch the area to suppress weeds and conserve moisture. It is important to cut off the flower stems as they appear – they sap the plant’s vigor and the seeds are not going to produce viable offspring – so cut the rounded stems to the ground.
Do not harvest any stalks during the first year, but watch for the flower stems. In the second year stalks that are an inch thick may be harvested once or twice. In the third year you can go to town, harvesting for a month, and in the fourth year cut as many as desired being careful to not cut too many in a single harvesting.
Besides pies, jam, crumbles, wine, muffins and a host of other delicious treats, rhubarb leaves make a dandy aphid spray - just remember that the leaves are poisonous so don’t use this on edibles:
Chop 3 – 5 rhubarb leaves and boil in a quart of water for 30 minutes; cool, strain and add a squirt of liquid soap (non-detergent). Fill a spray bottle and go get’um!
In addition to being a tasty and beautiful plant, rhubarb also contains Vitamin C, Folate, Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorus and Potassium. In the old days, the original ‘species’ rhubarb had some medicinal properties and was widely respected, but our modern, edible version is just a fruit or a vegetable – as you wish!
Finally, I wish to share a recipe for rhubarb and custard – an English culinary delight:
Cut rhubarb stalks into one inch pieces and ‘stew’ gently in a little added water until soft (about 5-10 minutes); add sugar to taste.
Following the directions on the package of Bird’s Custard Mix, not forgetting to add the sugar as I did last week, make a batch of this delicious vanilla sauce and serve it over a warm bowl of stewed rhubarb. A splendid spring tonic!

The Viburnum Leaf Beetle: by Tom Butzler

2011-05-31T12:48:00.001-04:00

Two years ago, I had the chance to wander around Lock Haven University’s campus and look at the variety of trees and shrubs. During my walk, I came across a grouping of viburnums that had holes eaten throughout the leaves. It was so bad that you could hardly tell it was a leaf except for the petiole still hanging onto the shrub. At the time, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at and had to go check some reference material.

There was a good reason why I didn’t know about this problem as it was relatively new. The damage I observed was from the viburnum leaf beetle (VLB). It was first discovered in Erie County in 2001 and only detected in our region around 2008. Since that time, it has become commonplace in area landscapes.

Two or three years of early leaf loss before autumn will eventually kill the plant so it is critical to manage this insect. By understanding a bit of the VLB’s life cycle, one can prevent viburnum loss in the landscape.

The insect overwinters in the egg stage on viburnum twigs. Although the eggs are quite small, the egg laying site is easy to find, especially in the winter when the shrub is bare of all vegetation. The female covers the eggs with pieces of wood and excretment. Pruning out the twigs that contain the egg masses from the viburnum shrub is the most effective means of controlling the VLB.

Viburnum leaf beetle larvae can defoliate a
viburnum before spring is over.

The eggs hatch in the spring and is pretty closely timed to leaf emergence on the viburnums. This part of the life cycle is very susceptible to a wide range of pesticides, both organic and non-organic types. Insecticides; however, are not as effective when the larvae pupate into adults around mid-July. The adult beetle will also chew holes into the leaves until first frost. Up to that point, the adult female will be laying eggs in current years’ growth and can deposit up to 500 eggs. There is only one generation per year.

I don’t want calls coming into the office on this next suggestion but it can be very effective. Bring in the lady bugs! Yes, just when you can’t stand the polka-dotted critters anymore it turns out that they are very effective predators of the immature VLB.

The next suggestion is for those who have not yet planted a viburnum in the landscape. Researchers have observed that the VLB is pretty picky and does not prefer viburnums that have hairy leaves. The most susceptible viburnums are those that have few hairs and include the arrowwood, mapleleaf, and the European and American cranberrybush viburnum. Steer your plant selection toward the likes of Koreanspice, doublefile, or the leatherleaf viburnums.

Two excellent references for this insect are Penn State's fact sheet and Cornell University's website devoted to VLB.

"It is now the most destructive forest insect ever to invade North America."

2011-05-28T05:53:00.001-04:00

How bad is the emerald ash borer in the United States? According to Deb McCullough, an entomologist at Michigan State University, "It is now the most destructive forest insect ever to invade North America" or how about the statement from the on-line Time magazine article "he toll of dead trees will likely surpass those felled by Dutch elm disease by the end of this year."

Ironically, American cities and towns began planting ash trees to replace those killed off by the Dutch-elm scourge.
This information is located here and a very good, short read.

Square-Foot Garden Progress Report: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-05-25T14:40:00.003-04:00

My square-foot garden is now a reality! My son-in-law built the four foot square box with a plywood bottom (with a ¼” drainage-hole drilled in each square foot); this we set on cinder blocks to raise it up from ground level and I filled it with the required soil-less mix after covering the bottom with a layer of Remay to prevent the soil from filtering through the holes.
Figuring out how much of each soil material was a bit of a hit or miss operation. I started out by buying one of the large bales of peat moss (3.8 cu ft) and used about half, a 2 cu ft bag of horticultural vermiculite and several large bags of differing-source compost. As all this material was quite heavy, I mixed 1 bucket of each ingredient in my wheelbarrow at a time mixing it together with gloved hands much like ‘creaming’ butter and sugar. I had to purchase 2 extra regular sized bags (8 dry quarts) of vermiculite and also added in a couple small bags of composted manure and a half bag of worm castings. To fill the box took 5 buckets of each ingredient and two hours crouched over the wheelbarrow for which I paid dearly the next day having hyper-extended my knee and aggravated my sore back! Who knew that gardening could be a contact sport!
Next job was marking off the square feet which I did using nylon cord and push-pins. Moistening the entire soil mixture was accomplished by Mother Nature with a nicely timed downpour and ‘Bob’s your uncle’ it was time to plant beginning May first!
So far I have planted 16 yellow onions, 15 Cherry Belle radish, 4 Salad Bowl lettuce, 4 New Red Fire lettuce, 2 yellow Profusion zinnias in separate square feet, 4 violas, 4 common Basil (only 3 survived), 3 dwarf kale, 3 alyssum and some Blue Lake bush green beans that will have to be re-planted as germination was atrocious (too cool)! I have a Mini yellow tomato to install when the weather permits and shall put in more onions to stagger the harvest over a period of time.
Besides keeping an eye on the soil moisture conditions no weeding or fertilizing needs to be done and extra compost is only added when a square is re-planted; the rest of the soil can be re-used over and over!
To round out this article to 500 words I would like to comment that this has been one of the most floriferous and pollenacious springs I have ever experienced. The spell-checker doesn’t like my ‘pollenacious’ word, but that’s OK – I just coined it to describe the yellow haze covering my car every morning and the sneezing fits every afternoon. Should have bought stock in Kleenex years ago!
Concerning the floriferous-ness of this spring I want to point out that this should produce a tremendous ‘mast’ crop (acorns) – good news for the forest creatures, but this soggy weather is perfect for fungus proliferation. It will behoove you to keep a daily eye on your plants and bring any suspicious symptoms to the Extension Office for identification – the Hotline is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 to noon. Ha! Too many words!

New Site For Bed Bug Information

2011-05-25T08:42:00.000-04:00

Penn State has developed a very comprehensive site on bed bug information as it goes well beyond the basic fact sheet. The site contains articles, control measures, upcoming training events, and a gallery of pictures. Check it out here.

Many Ways to Control Weeds in the Landscape: by Tom Butzler

2011-05-19T11:51:00.002-04:00

My wife and I often argue over whose turn it is to mow the grass. It’s not what you think as we both fight to get the privilege of pushing the lawnmower back and forth for a few hours. Oddly, we both use it as a way to get away from the kids and get lost in our own little world, if for only a few hours.

One aspect of landscape maintenance that she wants no part of is weed control. I have yet to find her in any of our landscape beds taking out the unwanted and unsightly plants. This task is bothersome and a nuisance to many homeowners and professionals.

Good weed control starts, if possible, before the landscape bed is installed. All perennial weeds should be eliminated from the site before woody and herbaceous (perennials and annuals) material is planted. Examples of perennial weeds include dandelion, Canada thistle, and mugwort.

Generally, many people mulch their beds for the looks but one of the additional benefits is weed control. Some weed seeds, such as crabgrass, need sunlight to germinate. A layer of mulch that covers the seed blocks out the sunlight, hence no germination. There are some seeds that do not require light to germinate. To tackle those seeds, apply a 3 inch layer of mulch as it is just too much for new seedlings to grow through.

Brad Brooks of Brooks Landscaping applies a layer

of mulch in landscape bed in Jersey Shore.

Not only does it add beauty but it gives a level

of control over weeds.

A thinner layer of mulch can be applied if using landscape fabric which will also block out light and creates an impermeable barrier for seeds that are germinating. This works if the bed is mostly trees, shrubs, or clumping perennials. Fabrics do not work real well in annual beds due to the short-term nature of the planting. Overtime, this weed control method breaks down as weeds seeds start to germinate on top of the landscape cloth.

Then there is the mechanical method of controlling weeds which includes cultivating, hoeing, and hand-pulling. This is probably the most tedious of all methods but probably the most effective. To make it easy, remove the weeds when they are young and before they develop an extensive root system.

Herbicides are a viable option and can be broken down into two categories; pre-emergence and post-emergence. In order for pre-emergence herbicides to work, they must be placed into a bed before weeds seeds start to germinate. The timing is critical and you must determine whether you are targeting winter or summer annuals. Apply too early and it starts to break down (very little weed control) before seeds start to germinate. Apply to late and it has no effect on emerged weeds.

Post-emergence herbicides are those products that target weeds after germination. Some of these products are selective in that they target specific plants. Other herbicides are non-selective and see no distinction between weeds and desirable plants. It is critical that pesticide labels are thoroughly reviewed before purchase and application.

For those that don’t like the thought of applying post-emergence herbicides, there is always fire. There are catalogs that sell flamers which involves using a small, portable propane burner to torch new weed seedlings soon after they emerge.

I’ll stick to the hand-pulling method as it gives me a break from the screaming and fighting kids.

Tick Season: by Tom Butzler

2011-05-16T13:16:00.000-04:00

I was working outside the other day, between raindrops, getting the landscape cleaned up when I felt a sensation on the bottom of my leg. Looking down, I saw a small tick crawling around and looking for a place to settle.

As animals of all type become active with emerging spring weather, so does the tick population. There are about 25 species of ticks that can be found in Pennsylvania with four that seem to be the most prevalent: the American dog tick, the blacklegged tick, the lone star tick and a ground hog tick. Of these four, it is the blacklegged tick that can transmit the organism that causes Lyme’s disease.

One of the most common places that these ticks can be found is the interface between the managed landscape and unmaintained borders such as a forest edge. Research from Cornell University has shown that ticks require high humidity such as a heavily shaded, damp area. Some other high risk areas can be found along rock walls, woodpiles, or brush piles. One place that ticks are normally not found is in the open, sunny part of the yard. There, the humidity is typically lower and very dry (compared to the interface between the yard and the woods) and ticks cannot survive.

One way to manage ticks is to modify the environment so that it is unfavorable. This can be accomplished by several easy landscape tasks.

Keep the grass around the home mowed. Humidity levels beneath tall, unmowed grass can be very high. Ticks will need grass that is over 3 inches high to survive. This cool, rainy spring has provided ideal conditions for grass growth, unfortunately, it is also difficult to get out there and mow. Keep the grass low to prevent ticks from moving from the forest or unmanaged part of the landscape and into the grassy areas.

Pay some attention to that border area between the grass and unmanaged areas. Lowering the humidity here can be accomplished by removing the low branches of shrubs and trees. This will allow sunlight and air movement to dry that micro-environment.

One of the interesting aspects of ticks is their complex lifecycle. Early on in their lifecycle, they require a small host to move onto the next stage. Typically, this host is a mouse (although they can be birds). Eliminating the habitat favorable for mice, such as rock or brush piles can break the tick’s lifecycle.

Habitat modification is just one aspect of tick control. You must also take care when you are in an area where ticks are likely to be found. Penn State entomologist, Steve Jacobs, has some simple suggestions when venturing beyond the yard.

--Wear light-colored clothing so that ticks can be spotted more easily.

--Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.

--Spray insect repellent containing DEET on clothes and on exposed skin other than the face, or treat clothes (especially pants, socks and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact.

--Wear a hat and a long-sleeved shirt for added protection.

A Call To Action

2011-05-12T09:17:00.000-04:00

Penn State researchers and government officials are trying to get a handle on the stink bug problem in Pennsylvania and are asking for help form growers and homeowners. Aweb-based tool has been developed that they hope will help enhance their understanding of this invasive insect pest. Developed in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, the mapping tool is embedded in a website found at http://stinkbug-info.org/ online. More information can be found here.

Tasty Treats: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-05-10T19:29:00.006-04:00

It was my turn to provide the training presentation at our last Master Gardener meeting and as it is my turn also to write this week’s article, I thought I would further use the research on Edible Wild Plants and introduce the reader to some unusual tasty treats.
First, however, I must urge you to use caution when trying a new food and here are the rules:
…Do not gather plants from roadsides due to the pollutants from traffic and pesticide spraying.
…Some wild foods may be toxic when eaten in large quantities and may also be hard on the digestive system due to higher minerals and vitamins than ‘normal’ vegetables.
…Just because you see an animal eat a plant does not necessarily mean you can too!
…Always positively identify a plant before sampling.
…Eat only a little at first to see how your system tolerates the new food.

Let’s begin by tasting the beautiful violet – one of my favorite spring flowers. There are over 50 species in the US and many are native and most are edible.
The leaves are very high in vitamins A & C and can be added raw to salads or lightly steamed with other vegetables or added to soups. The blossoms are delicious raw and yet when ‘candied’ can be kept for many months. If anyone would like the recipe for ‘candying’ violets and other edible flowers contact the Extension Office and I will mail you a copy.

At the other end of the growing season, from August to November, the sometimes much-maligned goldenrod is another edible plant of wondrous qualities. There are a dizzying 75 species of goldenrod, all native to the US, and not one of them causes hay-fever (blame instead the inconspicuous ragweed). The Latin name –Solidago – means to make whole or to heal, and the American Indians and colonists used goldenrod for the relief of stomach cramps, colic and dysentery. To make an aromatic and invigorating tea immerse the blossoms, foliage and upper stalk in 2 quarts of steaming water for 15 minutes; the blossoms – fresh or dried – may be added by the cupful to bread, fritter and cake batters. Yum!

Now let’s turn to weed control…Blooming right now in great profusion is the invasive weed garlic mustard. It is a tall plant topped with small white flowers in a cluster and has heart-shaped leaves that smell of garlic when crushed. It forms dense colonies that crowd out other wildflowers hence its invasive status, but it has a culinary silver lining. The blossoms, young seed pods and leaves are delicious raw and may also be used as a pot-herb. Muddling (bruising) the leaves and sautéing them in butter is a great basis for a garlic sauce. I expect all good citizens to do their part to eradicate this weed by eating it!
Space prevents me from profiling any other edible wild plants, but the list includes stinging nettles, cattails, dandelions, chicory, elderberry and an incredible staghorn sumac lemonade!

Soil Compaction Risk Greater with Wet Soils

2011-05-04T11:42:00.000-04:00

Fellow Penn State Extension educator, Eric Oesterling, had a good article in the May issue of the Penn State Extension The Vegetable Small Fruit and Vegetable Gazette on soil compaction. This issue applies both to large growers and homeowners, especially with this wet season.

Cool, wet spring weather has given us few good days to do field work, increasing temptation to work soils when they are still too wet. Resist that temptation if at all possible. Our soils are more susceptible to compaction than most. Working when soils are too wet can cause surface compaction in the topsoil layer that lasts through the current growing season, and deeper subsurface compaction that lasts for many years.

An ideal soil volume for crop production contains about 25 percent water and 25 percent air by volume. The air and water fill the pore spaces between and among actual soil particles and aggregates. The remaining 50 percent of the volume consists of mineral soil particles and organic matter. Soil compaction reduces the pore spaces in that soil volume. Tillage and wheel traffic that reduces pore space results in a dense soil with poor internal drainage and reduced aeration. Plant roots don't grow well in dense soil. Inadequate moisture and nutrients reach the plant, and yield is reduced. Generally, the higher the clay content of a soil, the more compaction reduces the yield.

Research in the Midwest has shown that surface compaction can be alleviated by tillage that goes deeper than the area of compaction. However deeper subsurface compaction is relatively permanent. Tire inflation pressure has the biggest impact on surface compaction. Subsoil compaction is due to axle load. Axle loads should be limited to less than 6000 pounds per axle. Our friends in dairy and field crop production generally use bigger, heavier equipment such as manure spreaders, grain wagons and combines that can easily go over those axle limits. But even in vegetable growing equipment used today is larger than it was years ago. Lime trucks, and other equipment can push or exceed those limits. 70% of surface compaction occurs on the first pass over the field so as much as possible it is better to run in the same track to minimize compacted areas.

The only real solution is to avoid, as much as possible, field practices that cause compaction. Do not travel on wet soil unless it is absolutely necessary to do so. Try to avoid excessive axle loads, which cause deep compaction. Eliminate unnecessary tillage operations. Keep tire pressures on the low end of the recommended range.

This information taken from the following publications on the subject:

“Soil Compaction, Causes, Effects and Control” University of Minnesota Extension
DeJong-Hughes, Moncrief, Voorhees, Swan

“Understanding and Managing Soil Compaction” Iowa State University

Master Gardener Plant Sale

2011-05-03T06:42:00.000-04:00

What’s in YOUR Easter basket?: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-04-30T16:48:00.004-04:00

Today is Wednesday, and I have just returned from a trip to Lewisburg Farmers’ Market where I purchased some watercress (for sandwiches), a single crab cake(I can’t eat two),
and a box of super-looking strawberries (the proof will be in the eating…) On the way home I stopped at the Country, Farm & Home store in Mifflinburg to pick up some supplies for my square-foot garden and, was seduced into buying a beautiful Easter basket of flowering plants for my grand-daughter.

The pink basket is holding some purple pansies, rosy-pink snapdragons, white alyssum, and a branch of pussy-willow catkins, a white baby bunny, a butterfly and the herb thyme. All of the plant material except the pussy willow can be incorporated into the garden when weather permits – when will that be? When all danger of frost is past, when the soil warms, when the monsoon season ends and before the summer drought begins! The pussy willow twig will be too dry to survive.
If you dead-head pansies they will produce bloom for most of the growing season, and after a ratty period in mid-summer they will perk up again in cooler temperatures.
Dead-heading snaps will also encourage extended blooming and alyssum just keeps rolling along – a little tidying and a fertilizer boost will be appreciated.
Letting a few flowers set seed at the end of the year will most likely produce some volunteers next spring.
Jim Croce sang about ‘Time in a bottle’, but what I have is ‘Thyme in a basket’ and it is just the common variety. There are many different types of thyme and they vary in flavor and uses; there is wooly thyme, lemon thyme, variegated thyme, creeping thyme and my favorite, with leaves so tiny it is called minus thyme.
This valuable herb has been in use for thousands of years with its properties of being antifungal, antibacterial and antiseptic well known to the ancients. Today we mostly use thyme in cooking, especially soups, and stews, marinades and casseroles.
As it is fishing season I might mention that trout may be poached in enough water to cover; add lemon slices, some white wine and sprinkle with chopped thyme and snipped garlic chives. Simmer briefly (about 6 minutes). Serve with asparagus and baby new potatoes slathered in herb butter…Oh my…
As far as the square-foot gardening saga is concerned my multi-talented son-in-law has manufactured the ‘Box’ and it has been installed at the Extension Office. I stained the exterior last week, just before the weather had another hissy-fit. We put it up on cinder blocks to demonstrate that it could also be a handicapped-accessible garden. The box is four-foot square, 6 inches deep with a plywood bottom, having a ¼” drainage hole in each square foot. Today’s trip was to pick up some of the soil supplies – you see, the new Square Foot Gardening technique does not use garden soil – it is a mix of peat moss, vermiculite and compost.
No soil pathogens, no weed seeds, no fertilizer, no digging, no soil compaction;
I’ll keep you posted! Meanwhile I wish you all a Happy Easter and may all your Easter baskets have a flower in them (plus a smidge of chocolate – my favorite vegetable)!

While we’re waiting for spring to arrive…by Tina Clinefelter

2011-04-30T16:37:00.002-04:00

There’s an old saying regarding spring weather:
‘March winds and April showers
bring forth May flowers’.
So I guess we’re right on track, but I think the long, hard winter has made folks a little more anxious than usual to get on with the season. I can sympathize as I too am chomping at the bit to begin spring clean-up and get dirty fingernails again!
Here I would like to mention that the Master Gardener Hot-Line will be opening up at the beginning of May. Details will be published and we will be ready to answer all your gardening questions.
A couple of articles ago I mentioned my awareness of the need to prepare an emergency kit in the event of a disaster requiring materials to survive alone for a 72 hour period before rescue. Well, it’s harder to do than I thought but here’s what I have gathered together so far.
First I pressed into service a no-longer-used camera back-pack. It is storm-proof and has two compartments. In the bottom compartment I have packed a hand-cranked radio, and hand-cranked flashlight. These I already had on hand, together with a whistle for signaling. (This is an authentic London policeman’s whistle making a sound that, it is said, can be heard for two miles). A small, plastic drinking cup contains a plastic ‘spork’ (a combination spoon, fork with a serrated edge for a knife), wet-wipes, a small flossing toothbrush, a plastic, hooded poncho and waterproof matches. Finally I added a manual can-opener, a roll of Blaze orange duct tape and as many individual packs of Kleenex that would fit.
The top compartment holds my first-aid kit (probably too large), a supply of zippered freezer bags (stronger than storage bags), and more Kleenex. I shall add a roll of toilet paper and some clean underwear…
Now for the food supplies all to be stored in a large, heavy-duty cooler on wheels.
This was the hard part as our food supply today is readily available 24/7 so non-perishable foods are difficult to find. I wound up with trail-mix, raisins, granola bars, canned salmon, canned ham salad, applesauce, mandarin oranges, flavored drink crystals and crackers. I did find some dried apples and berries and I need to add some dried milk and hard candy. Most all of these supplies need to be rotated every six months.
The absolute hardest thing to deal with is the water supply. At one gallon per person per day, that is a heavy, bulky, but vital life saving item. Would someone please invent dried water?
I still need to gather blankets, clothing, tools and personal care items so I’ll keep working on it. Why bother? Here is the list of the 10 most likely emergencies:
Floods, Fires, Winter storms, Summer storms (tornadoes/windstorms), Influenza pandemic, Hazardous material incidents, Earthquakes, Landslides, Nuclear threats, Dam failures and Terrorism.
Final note: A flood/storm watch means a flood/storm is possible; a flood/storm warning means a flood/storm is occurring – get ready to evacuate or fend for yourself for 72 hours! Go to www.readypa.org for more information.

Elm Clichés: by Tom Butzler

2011-04-26T22:04:00.001-04:00

When it Rains, It Pours

This old cliché has nothing to do with the non-stop rainy days we seem to be having but the myriad of problems Penn State’s elm trees are facing. First, it was the dreaded Dutch elm disease.

This disease is caused by a fungus and uses a beetle to move around the environment. A healthy tree that becomes infected starts to show symptoms of the disease; wilting and yellowing of leaves. The organism gets into the vascular tissue (the tree’s plumbing system) and the elm fights back by producing substances in the vascular system to counteract the fungi. Unfortunately, everything gets ’gummed’ up and water has trouble moving through the system, hence the wilting symptom. Eventually, the infected tree dies.

Dutch elm disease has been around for over 70 years and Penn State has been very aggressive in managing this problem in its world renowned elm plantings. They have lost many trees over the years to this disease but seemed to have most everything under control by practicing sanitation, applying insecticides, and by injecting preventative fungicides.

As dealing with Dutch elm disease wasn’t bad enough; a new disease hit the elm stands of Penn State. Elm yellows, caused by bacteria, started to kill off trees in 2008. Just like Dutch elm disease, this organism uses an insect, the whitebanded elm leafhopper in this instance, to move around. The bacteria get into the vascular tissue and interfere with the movement of nutrients to all parts of the tree. By the end of a growing season, the tree’s leaves yellow and the tree dies. There is no known cure for this disease and management efforts like that to control Dutch elm disease are ineffective. Fifteen percent of Penn State’s elms have been infected with elm yellows.

Since 2007, the University has removed 82 elms because of Dutch elm disease or elm yellows.

Another tree that has fallen victim to Elm Yellows is being removed from Penn State's University Park campus. This American Elm tree is outside of Hammond Building along College Avenue. Photo courtesy of Tina Hay.

Turning Lemons Into Lemonade cliché

The diseased elm trees that are removed are being utilized for a good cause. Penn State is working with a wood working company to use the elm wood to create a line of furniture and frames. The wood, especially from trees removed because of elm yellows, is not damaged or discolored.

When you are in a hole, stop digging cliché’

Penn State and many other college, universities, and communities, liked the look that a majestic elm imparted on the landscape. As a result, elms were planted up and down roads and walkways, exclusive of any other trees. When Dutch elm disease hit, the removed elms were often replaced with another elm. In agriculture, we call this monoculture or the planting of one type crop at the expense of all others. This type of planting is okay until a problem occurs. When a problem happens, it affects all the same plants.

The digging cliché’ is this; the hole is the dying elms. For a while, we tried to dig ourselves out of the problem by planting new elms to replace the dead elms but the elms just keep dying. The stop digging part is where Penn State has decided to diversify its tree planting with several different species of trees that will have a similar height and spread to elms when mature and are no longer planting elms exclusively.

Start-Up Food for Honeybees: by Tom Butzler

2011-04-10T07:23:00.001-04:00

As a parent, I enjoy winter as much as my kids do. It is a chance to go sled riding, play hockey on frozen ponds and rinks (thank you McElhattan for providing winter recreation), and watch the kids bounce off the walls when snow cancels school. As a horticulturist, I worry very little about our landscape plants as they were created with survival techniques to withstand the long, cold winters. As a beekeeper, I’m getting worried.

Our honeybees, just like our plants, have evolved over time to withstand northern climatic conditions. With enough food in storage, they can hunker down and wait out Mother Nature’s cold onslaught and pick-up their activity as spring rolls around.

Over the centuries, there was always some bee loss coming out of winter but nothing like we have seen the past several years. Some of surveys coming out of southeast Pennsylvania suggest that bee losses this past winter were pretty high with over fifty percent of the colonies not making it through winter. My small operation falls right in line with those numbers as I lost 4 of my 8 hives. In addition, I have no idea on the health of those remaining hives as the cold weather has prevented me from opening them up and conducting an inspection.

Winter losses were minimal in the past, but since the arrival of the varroa mite in the mid-1980s, honeybees have been taking it on chin. Colony Collapse Disorder has been the name given to the ailment that is affecting our bee population. At this point, no one factor is the main culprit of the bee decline but a combination of the varroa and tracheal mites, bee stress, pesticides, and viruses.

My concern at this point is with my remaining, living honeybees. The queens probably started laying eggs in late January or early February (her egg laying is more in response to longer days than warming temperatures) to get ready for the spring. As the colony grows in March and April, they will need a lot of food, in particular, pollen. Food stores are typically running low at this point and pollen, which is a protein source, is needed for the young honeybees.

Skunk cabbage provide pollen to insects, such as honeybees, in the early spring.

Because of the food shortage, especially pollen, honeybees have to go out and forage. Looking outside today, you have to wonder what is possibly in flower and providing pollen. As cold as it has been, several plants are flowering and waiting for bees and other small early spring insects.

In many landscapes, crocuses are pushing up through the snow and mulch. Large beds of these early spring bulbs can be an inviting food source to honeybees. In a more naturalized setting, skunk cabbage along stream banks and wetland areas provide a valuable source of protein. As soon as the weather warms up, many other plants will start pushing out flowers and insects, including honeybees, will have a multitude of food sources on which to feed.

I’m just hoping it will warm up soon so my bees can go out and forage. The extended forecast does not look promising.

More Local Growers: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-04-05T19:19:00.003-04:00

It is Wednesday, March 23rd as I write, and I was going to open up with some sprightly spring comments, but as the country-side is blanketed with the white stuff again I shall hold off until the season catches up with the calendar!
Last week I again roamed the county visiting more of our local growers, the first of which was the Amish-operated East End Greenhouse. Here, the ladies took a little time from building new fixtures to share with me an overview of their plant inventory. They will be offering annual flowers and vegetable transplants, perennials, seeds, ferns, herbs and pond plants. Along with a selection of indoor plants they will be carrying the Knockout roses and hybrid teas.
They are open right now but their main season hours are 8:30 – 7:30 Monday thru Friday; 8:30 – 5:00 Saturday.
My next stop was at Hillcrest Farm & Greenhouse where I located Emily, the office manager, and got the low-down on new offerings in the annual department. She kindly shared some of her catalog pictures with me and I have to say, there are some stunning new colors available.
I was particularly taken with the ‘Black Velvet’ petunia, the ‘Blackberry Punch’ million bells, and the ‘Voltage Yellow’ osteospermum or African daisy (sometimes called Cape daisy). There was also a new variety of alyssum called ‘Snow Princess’ bred specially for hanging baskets that is very vigorous, heat tolerant and fragrant and has to be seen to be bowled over!
In addition to annuals, Hillcrest carries trees, shrubs, grasses, roses, herbs and vegetable transplants. In the fall they handle Mums, come Christmas they have ‘Festivus’ trees and fund-raisers are available.
Hillcrest is open year-round, but from May to July they are open 7 days a week, 9:00 to 5:00
My last stop of the day was at Rizzo’s Gift & Flower Shop, always a pleasure! I asked Paul about new offerings and he was very excited about a new ‘high sugar content’ tomato, and an Italian paste tomato that was very disease resistant. He also mentioned a very early variety of pepper that would have enough time in the growing season to mature to red, yellow or orange.
In the greenhouse were many house-plants including Easter lilies and a lot of exotic plants I have never heard of (I’m not an indoor plant person)! There were roses galore – hybrid teas, floribundas and re-blooming lilacs, geraniums and a ‘Boomerang’ plant. One thing is for sure, you’re never sure of what is to be found at Rizzo’s. They handle a good selection of garden statuary and have a fine range of gift items and fountains. Couple this with the vegetable and annual flower transplants and you have a destination! Their hours are 9:00 to 5:00 Mon – Fri, 9:00 to 3:00 Sat. Open on Sunday during the height of the season.
Well, there you have it – if I missed anyone, or if you have anything more to add, please contact me through the Extension Office and I will make nice!
Everyone – think spring, I don’t want to shovel any more white stuff…

Losing the Battle, but Still Fighting: by Tom Butzler

2011-04-04T13:49:00.002-04:00

On April 15, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture will lift the quarantine that restricts the in-state movement of ash materials and all hardwood firewood. The reason for the lifting is the emerald ash borer (EAB) "is moving so fast and unchecked across the state and the in-state quarantine restrictions no longer serve a productive purpose," said acting Agriculture Secretary George Greig. EAB has killed tens of millions of trees in the Midwest and is starting to make its mark in Pennsylvania.

Although the effort to keep EAB from spreading across Pennsylvania seems lost, there are still efforts underway to prevent a complete loss of ash trees. Instead of quarantines and insecticides, the fight now involves other insects.

Scientists have traveled over to China to collect the EAB in various life stages and observe other insects that prey upon them. In China, the EAB is in a constant struggle to survive against natural predators. Here in the United States, no other insect evolved with the EAB so it is coming into our area unopposed.

Three Asian species of parasitic wasps were found to go after various stages of the EAB. These were brought back into the U.S. and studied in Michigan (the epicenter for the EAB) in a joint effort between the USDA and the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

There is an old saying that when you are in a hole, stop digging. More digging just gets you deeper in the hole. With that in mind, scientists have to be careful and not to try to solve the EAB problem by bringing in another non-native insect. These Asian parasitic wasps could go after some of our "friendlies."

To prevent the nightmare scenario of bringing in non-natives to control another non-native and the process running amok, an intense environmental assessment is done. This study looks at the potential effect the release would have on our native insects, mainly insects that are related to EAB. It was determined there was no risk and the parasitic wasps were raised and released.

A female Oobius wasp lays its offspring on an emerald ash borer egg. Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture.

The Oobius wasp attacks the egg stage of the EAB whereas the Tetrastichus and Spathius wasps go after the larva. These have been released in several Midwestern states and Pennsylvania may be next. Researchers hope to see some measure of control to slow down or prevent tree mortality in the near future.

Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference Part III: by Tom Butzler

2011-04-01T14:28:00.001-04:00

My grandmother Nanny used to make a Polish-Slovakian dish for us whenever we visited her house outside of Pittsburgh when I was a young boy. It was a cabbage and noodle dish called halushki (yes, there are variations on how to spell this but I will go with the one that was handed down through the family). It is one of my kid’s favorite dishes, although I believe if you put enough butter in anything, it will taste pretty good (see recipe below).

The recipe is pretty simple, with cabbage being a main component. Before I prepare the meal, I would head to the local supermarket and purchase any head of cabbage. And cabbage is cabbage. At least that is what I thought until I sat in on a talk at the 2011 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference where Jan van der Heide of Bejo Seeds talked about the different types of cabbages. Below are some comments he made on the different types of cabbage for fresh market sales; boxing and shipping cabbage, sauerkraut and coleslaw (processing) cabbage, and storage cabbage.

Fresh market cabbage matures quickly and has relatively high water content. This makes the leaves tender and juicy (great for fresh eating) but makes it very difficult for this type of cabbage to store well. This cabbage is easily bruised by rough handling.

Any producer looking to ship cabbage should go with boxing cabbage. The leaves on this type are harder than on fresh market types and stand up to handling and shipping (in boxes). The eating quality is good, but boxing cabbage is harder and denser than that of fresh market cabbage. It can be stored for months.

Any type of cabbage can be used to make sauerkraut but the final product will vary widely by the variety of cabbage that is used. Kraut cabbage has been bred specifically for a high dry matter content, high sugar content (rapid fermentation), and high vitamin C content (prevents oxidation-nice white kraut).

Halushki
Ingredients:
1 large head of cabbage
2 teaspoon of salt
½ pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter (must be butter; margarine will not brown)
1 medium onion
1(12 ounce) package broad noodles

Directions:
Grate cabbage, sprinkle with 2 teaspoons of salt. Let it sit at least 1 hour. Squeeze cabbage dry. Brown onion in butter in a large heavy skillet. Add squeezed cabbage, steam and brown, at least 10 minutes, usually longer. If cabbage mixture seems dry, add a little more butter. For best tasting Halushki, cabbage must be browned well. Meanwhile, cook the noodles. After cabbage mixture is browned, mix the cabbage and noodles together. Serve. Good with applesauce or cottage cheese. Serves 6.

Spring Travels: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-03-13T15:49:00.007-04:00

Regardless of the weather, the indications of spring continue to accumulate. My daughter in Tennessee has seen her first coltsfoot and had the temerity to send me a picture – and I spotted my first red-winged blackbird whilst out on my travels today. The purpose of these peregrinations is to visit local greenhouses to check on the range of plants being offered this year.

I visited three greenhouses operated by our Amish neighbors today, and will be checking on others for a future article. If anyone is looking for anything in particular leave a message for me at the Extension Office and I will do my best to track it down.

My first stop was the Sugar Valley Greenhouse just outside of Loganton. They are actually open right now for anyone wishing to purchase plants for growing in a hot-house. They had some delicious looking lettuce plants, tomato plants just bursting with health and vigor and many other veggies suitable for growing in protected circumstances. Of course, it is way too early to purchase plants for setting out, even if you could find the garden under the snow, but there’s always someone who can’t wait to rush the season…
The specialty of the house this year is the strawberry Topsy-Turvy container planted with ever-bearing strawberries as well as the ones planted with tomatoes. Their flowering containers were superb last year so I expect them to be likewise this year, and their pansies and violas are already in bloom. In addition to vegetables and bedding plants they also handle perennials and herbs.
Hours: Mon – Fri 8 to 8, Sat 8 to 4, closed Sunday.

My next stop was the Fishing Creek Greenhouse on Fishing Creek Road just east of Clintondale. The young couple is just beginning their second year in the plant business as an adjunct to their dairy farming. We had a lively conversation and they seem eager to gain information and experience. While offering a good range of annual flowers including ‘Wave’ petunias, they also have perennials, vegetables and herbs with an emphasis on ornamental grasses, followed by Mums in the fall.
The herb selection was quite extensive, mostly the culinary types, and the perennials included the stalwarts of the garden especially Dianthus sp. They also had some unusual ideas about the plant selection in hanging baskets including lobelia and black-eyed Susan vine. Another area they will be covering is aquatic plants.
They will be opening March 30th and the hours are: M-F 8 to 7, Sat 8 to 4

My final stop was at the Mackeyville Greenhouse and Produce, located, of course, in Mackeyville. There production was in full swing, and the potting soil smelled great! Many flats of bedding plants, vegetables and herbs were basking in the gentle, moist heat of the greenhouse, and both old and young hands were busy transplanting seedlings. The tomato varieties include Big Boy, Early Girl and Mountain Fresh, and any of these can be purchased in the Topsy-Turvy containers. Another convenient feature is their mixed herb containers that can be grown at the kitchen door – herbs at your fingertips! Anyone want to try an Earthbox? The folks at Mackeyville Greenhouse can offer them at really good prices with helpful information brochures. In addition they are selling brand-name potting soil that includes moisture-retention crystals and a 3 month supply of fertilizer, and a wide variety of planters and baskets.

It was quite a busy day, and I never bought a thing…but I wanted to! I’ll be
baaaaccckk!

March into Spring! : by Tina Clinefelter

2011-03-04T20:10:00.009-05:00

I have various topics I wish to address today, so let’s begin with some good news; to whit – I think the prognosticating rodent may have been right for once. I have found skunk cabbage in bloom, seen here.

Snowdrops and crocus are putting on a show; migrating birds are back in town (although I have not seen a red-wing blackbird yet); I found a maple tree with about-to-burst buds and have seen quite a few dead skunks along the roadsides. Still to be discovered is the dead groundhog and the first coltsfoot. Any day now I will get a phone-call from my daughter in Tennessee gloating about finding the first coltsfoot before I do – big deal! She’s about 500 miles closer to the equator than I…
In honor of spring I shall quote my favorite vernal poem variously attributed to Ogden Nash or someone of his ilk, but probably written by our old friend Anon.
(This will drive my spell checker nuts!)

"Spring is sprung,
Da grass is riz,
I wonders where the boidies iz?
Da little boids is on the wing
Ain’t that absoid -
Da wing is on the boid!"

I never said it was pretty…

Next I have an interesting factoid; I recently attended a mini-workshop on ‘Orchids for beginners’, presented by Deb Burrows at our first Master Gardener meeting of the year (and very nice it was too). The only thing not explained was the origin of the word ‘orchid’. I found in one of my weird word books, that its origin was Latin and Greek for ‘testicles’ due to the shape of the bulb. Not quite as glamorous as the flower itself. The factoid concerns a medical procedure called an ‘orchidectomy’…you now know what has been removed…

Now for something a little more serious: Emergency preparedness!
During a recent winter storm – the dreaded ‘wintry-mix’ – I was forcefully reminded that I now live in a fully electric house. What to do if the power goes out for an extended period; where to seek shelter; what to have on hand to survive for three days until help arrived; who to ask for information???
Well, I contacted Bill Frantz of the Clinton Co. Department of Emergency Services, phone # 893-4090 ext. 3406. He arranged for a tour of the Communications Center and provided me with Web sites and other valuable information. It appears that the Red Cross is the agency that will prepare emergency shelters, radio and TV will be used to broadcast vital information and the police will cruise the city with loud-speakers.
This is all fine and dandy if one is able to receive radio and TV transmissions, if one has a fully charged cell phone, if one can drive to safety and one is not deaf.
It comes down to the fact that we all should be prepared to fend for ourselves in an emergency and let the authorities do their jobs to secure the area. The Web site www.readypa.org is an essential visit to gain all the information you need to prepare a survival kit, and prepare a survival plan for either yourself or the whole family. You need supplies to survive for a three day period, you need a gallon of water per person per day; you need to inform yourselves of your needs!
Bill Frantz will come to your organization or church group and present a program designed to inform the public of what emergency preparedness is all about.
From the Extension Office, Laurie Welch is also available to give presentations on this same subject, and can be contacted at 726-0022.
If anyone needs this information and cannot access the Web site, I will be able to provide you with copies of the official handouts. You can contact me through the Extension Office.
TGINS – Thank goodness it’s nearly spring!

Confessions of a Collector: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-03-04T19:54:00.002-05:00

I have long suspected that I was more of a plant collector than just merely a gardener and the Extension Office Trial Gardens bear me out. We have collections of hydrangeas, viburnums, dogwoods, ornamental grasses, sedums, chrysanthemums, daffodils, roses – well you get the idea, but I was not content with one of each! Oh no – not blooming likely! There are four white willows (these are the ones with the glowing red stems that are brightening up the area), 5 weigelas, 6 butterfly bushes, 8 or more sedum varieties and on and on…
Someone said that any time you have more than one of anything you have the beginnings of a collection and during my recent move I was made painfully aware that I collect more than just plants. When one lives in a big house it is not immediately apparent that a dozen flashlights is a collection or that nine table lamps are too many for a current living room ¼ the size of the former one. I have 4 fans, 3 space heaters, 15 wicker baskets, 3 potato peelers, 6 gargoyles and 15 thumb drives. In the book department I definitely have a problem; after giving the Ross Library 180 books I still have 130 gardening books left, 13 digital photography books and everything Bill Bryson has ever written! (It used to be that I would willingly wash Paul Newman’s socks, but I have switched affections to the man who can make almost any subject amazingly interesting and laugh-out-loud funny; I’m sure that Mrs. Bryson keeps Bill in clean socks so my offer is purely rhetorical!)
In my last article I mentioned the need to investigate the Square Foot Gardening method due to my much reduced gardening space. I am reading Mel Bartholomew’s book on the subject and have to report that much he advocates makes a lot of sense. You build soil up in raised 4x4 foot square boxes instead of digging down into the existing soil; the soil is a special mix of peat moss, vermiculite and various store-bought brands of compost if you don’t have any home-made stuff available. Each bottomless box is at least 6” deep and topped with a wooden lattice grid marking each square foot – so there will be 16 planting squares in each 4x4 box. You may have as many boxes as space and desire permits, but the aisles should be 3 feet wide to allow for the passage of wheelbarrows, for example.
This is as far as I have read at the moment, and already plans are dancing in my head. What to plant – edibles or beautifuls? I understand the need for accurate record-keeping and crop rotation but it is difficult to estimate the number of plants needed to maximize the efficiency of the garden. Much more planning is necessary!
Final word on collections: What would you call a person who has a large number of glass electrical wire insulators, and an equal number of horse brasses? OK, so I’m hopeless! But it’s going to be one heck of a garage sale!
PS. Horse brasses are metal medallions depicting breweries used to decorate the harnesses of dray horses making beer deliveries to pubs in the olden days in England. Cheers!

Losing Battle Against the Emerald Ash Borer

2011-03-03T09:39:00.001-05:00

"Because of the beetle’s aggressive movement across Pennsylvania, the in-state quarantine – initially intended to slow the pest’s spread – is now unnecessary." This statement was in a press release from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Full release is below.

News for Immediate Release
Feb. 18, 2011

State Lifts Emerald Ash Borer Quarantine, Federal Quarantine Remains

Pennsylvania Hardwoods Industry will Benefit from Changes

Harrisburg – The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today announced that the state Emerald Ash Borer quarantine restricting the in-state movement of ash materials and all hardwood firewood will be lifted April 15. However, a federal quarantine remains in effect.

The Emerald Ash Borer is a highly invasive, wood-boring beetle that kills ash trees and poses a threat to the state’s $25 billion hardwoods industry.

“Lifting our quarantine will allow free movement on Emerald Ash Borer-regulated materials within Pennsylvania,” said acting Agriculture Secretary George Greig. “As Emerald Ash Borer has moved rapidly across the state, the in-state quarantine restrictions no longer serve a productive purpose.”

Because of the beetle’s aggressive movement across Pennsylvania, the in-state quarantine – initially intended to slow the pest’s spread – is now unnecessary.

Since 2007, when the Emerald Ash Borer was first observed in Butler County, the pest has been found in 17 additional counties, including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Centre, Clarion, Cumberland, Fulton, Indiana, Juniata, Lawrence, Mercer, Mifflin, Somerset, Union, Washington and Westmoreland.

The state quarantine includes the counties where the beetle was found in addition to the contiguous counties, for a total of 43.

A parallel federal quarantine, also established in 2007, will remain effective in Pennsylvania to help stop the spread into other states. International and federal interstate restrictions will apply to exporting Emerald Ash Borer-regulated materials from Pennsylvania to non-quarantined domestic areas and regulating countries.

Greig added that Pennsylvania remains committed to finding ways to control the beetle, which in turn will protect the state’s important hardwoods industry.

The quarantine initially restricted the movement of ash nursery stock, green lumber, and any other ash material, including logs, stumps, roots and branches, from the quarantine area. Because it is difficult to distinguish between species of hardwood firewood, all hardwood firewood—including ash, oak, maple and hickory—was quarantined.

The Emerald Ash Borer is native to China and eastern Asia. The pest likely arrived in North America in wooden shipping crates. It was first detected in July 2002 in southeastern Michigan and neighboring Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

In addition to Pennsylvania, the beetle is attacking ash trees in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Typically, the Emerald Ash Borer beetles will kill an ash tree within three years of the initial infestation. Adults are dark green, one-half inch in length and one-eighth inch wide, and fly only from early May until September. Larvae spend the rest of the year beneath the bark of ash trees. When they emerge as adults, they leave Dshaped holes in the bark about one-eighth inch wide.

For more information about the quarantine, contact Walt Blosser at 717-772-5205, and for more information about Emerald Ash Borer, contact Sven-Erik Spichiger at 717-772-5229.

Media contact: Jean Kummer, 717-787-5085

Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference – Part II: by Tom butzler

2011-03-02T21:00:00.002-05:00

There are over 40 educational sessions that occur over the four day Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference (MAFVC), covering anything and everything that can be grown in Pennsylvania. This would include sessions on snap beans, tomatoes, cut flowers, apples, blueberries, and potatoes. By far, the most heavily attending meetings are the ones that cover sweet corn and pumpkins.

No wonder growers want to know the latest information on sweet corn. It is estimated that Pennsylvania farmers harvested more than 100 million pounds of fresh-market sweet corn on almost 20,000 acres. This generated $30 million and places Pennsylvania in the top ten sweet corn growing states.

Pumpkin production places Pennsylvania in the top five every year, however, most are not for consumption. Contrast that to Illinois, the top pumpkin growing state, where almost all pumpkins are grown for eating. Pennsylvania’s pumpkins are destined for porches and windowsills.

Seed companies are always breeding new pumpkin varieties to interest growers in their company. For growers, one of the main questions is “how will this variety perform in my area”. To help Pennsylvania farmers answer that question, several Penn State educators, including myself, conduct pumpkin variety trials every year. Our findings were presented at this year’s MAFVC.

We looked at pumpkins from Rupp Seeds, Harris Moran, Outstanding Seed, and Seiger’s Seeds. In addition, we looked at pumpkins in the following categories; (small, those that were up to 6 pounds), medium (those that fell in the 7-24 pound range), and large (anything that was over 25 pounds).

In the central Pennsylvania trial, the variety Charger produced the most fruit per plant in the small category. Unfortunately, it seemed to be more susceptible to viruses than the others and diminished its appeal. In addition, the rind color was a light orange. Probably the most attractive small pumpkin in the trial was Iron Man. It had a nice dark orange color with minimal virus issues. In addition, the stem was a very attractive green. Because there is very little ribbing with this variety, it can be easily painted.

A medium sized pumpkin that has an attractive dark orange shell performed very well in variety trials in central Pennsylvania. Photos courtesy of Penn State educator, Tim Elkner.

It was tough to pick out a favorite in the medium category as several varieties really stood out. Magic Wand produced two pumpkins per plant and weighed about 15 pounds each. For a grower, that would produce about 21 tons per acre. It had a dark orange color with some very nice ribbing (some people like smooth pumpkin, I like pumpkins with deep ribbing). The varieties Gladiator and Gold Standard also performed very well in the trial.

The pumpkin variety, Gold Rush, was a good performer in the large category. It averaged almost 30 pounds with good coloring. I also liked Phatso II as it had an even darker orange and impressive ribbing. It was a little smaller than Gold Rush as it weighed in around 23 pounds.

The large pumpkin variety, Phatso II, weighed almost 23 pounds. Photos courtesy of Penn State educator, Tim Elkner.

Report From the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference – Part I: by Tom Butzler

2011-02-27T02:27:00.002-05:00

I spent several days in Hersey, Pennsylvania for the annual gathering of fruit and vegetable growers which is a great opportunity to network, learn something new, and visit the trade show. Four days of information packed presentations, however; is the main draw for the growers. I had the chance to present some information on a winter squash project I have been working on with some other Penn State educators and faculty member Dr. Elsa Sanchez.

Winter squash are a good crop for extending the marketing season into December or beyond. The winter squash market has room for growth and we are seeing Pennsylvania growers producing more of them. Selecting which cultivar to grow is critical to successful production. When a cultivar suited to an area and having high yield or quality for market is grown, growers can make a profit. However, because numerous cultivars are available in the marketplace, it can be difficult to select the best cultivar. In 2010 we evaluated several acorn, butternut, spaghetti squash, kabocha and other types of winter squash cultivars in western, central and south eastern Pennsylvania.

In central Pennsylvania, we looked at seven butternut squash cultivars and compared them to the industry standard ‘Waltham Butternut’. This is one that has been popular for decades as it was the All American Selection winner in 1970. Its popularity is from its sweet flavor and exceptional yield, 4-5 fruit per plant that weigh about 3-4 pounds. This would translate into 12-16 tons per acre, music to a grower’s ears.

Several cultivars seemed to perform comparably to ‘Waltham Butternut’. One that was interesting was ‘Atlas‘. This produced fewer fruit per plant then ‘Waltham Butternut’ but made up for it in weight. At my site, the fruit averaged about 6 pounds but weighed in at 8 pounds at my colleagues site in southeastern PA (that is about 17 tons of butternut squash on a per acre basis). The largest numbers of fruit per plant were from ‘Bugle’ followed by ‘Betternut 401’.

Butternut squash ‘Atlas’ produced fruit that weighed over 6 pounds. Photo courtesy of Tim Elkner.

In the acorn squash category, we evaluated eight cultivars with ‘Tay Belle’ considered the industry standard. ‘Harlequin’ and ‘Celebration’ produced higher numbers of fruit than ‘Tay Belle’. In terms of fruit weight, ‘Autumn Delight’, ‘Harlequin’, ‘Table Star’ and ‘Jet’ performed very similar to ‘Tay Belle’. The two that interested me were ‘Celebrate’ and ‘Harlequin’. Whereas most acorn squash have a dark green shell, these two are striped green, gold, yellow, and orange. Set it on the porch in the fall for some decoration and then eat it after you get tired of looking at it.

Acorn squash ‘Celebration’ produced higher numbers of fruit than industry standard, ‘Tay Belle’ in 2010 central Pennsylvania winter squash variety trial. Photo courtesy of Tim Elkner.

Acorn squash ‘Harlequin’ produced higher numbers of fruit than industry standard, ‘Tay Belle’ in 2010 central Pennsylvania winter squash variety trial. Photo courtesy of Tim Elkner.

Kabocha squashes are Japanese squashed which closely resemble buttercup squashes, except they lack the turban or navel. They are not much to look at but are considered very good eating. In central PA, ‘Sweet Lightening’ produced more fruit than all other cultivars tested followed by ‘Sunspot’ and then ‘Red Kuri’. By weight, ‘Sweet Lightening’ and ‘Red Kuri’ fruit yield was heavier than all others.

Yearly environmental conditions can affect results; therefore, we will repeat the winter squash trial in 2011 to provide more concrete cultivar recommendations. My next column will review information I presented at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference on the 2010 pumpkin variety trial.

And the Winner is….: by Tom Butzler

2011-02-24T15:27:00.002-05:00

This is the time of year that awards are handed out for performances that are above and beyond the ordinary. Not only do movies receive this recognition but also plants.

The number of potential plants for the garden and landscape is huge. Look through a catalog and it is mind-boggling the number of annuals, perennials, and vegetables you could choose. Picking plants for your garden based on pictures or a flowery description can often lead to disappointment because it may not be suited for certain climates, pest pressure, or soils.

One way to narrow the list of plants that are proven performers is to look for ones that have won awards. These are plants that have been chosen based on trials completed by universities, arboretums, professional plant growers, or other horticultural institutions. They are looking for plants that not only look aesthetically pleasing (or taste good) but can withstand problems commonly encountered in the everyday landscape.

The All American Selection (AAS) mission is “to promote new garden seed varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.” One of their 2011 award winners is the tomato ‘Lizzano’. This is a plant that was bred for growing in patio containers or hanging baskets. It can also be grown n the garden but should be staked to keep growth compact. Judges noted better eating quality, yield and plant habit than other similar tomatoes.

AAS Winner ‘Lizzano’ Photo Provided by All America Selections

The reason this tomato caught my eye is it tolerance to the late blight disease. Gardeners shudder when they think of the 2009 growing season and the disease that wiped out the tomato crop.

Whereas the AAS picks multiple winners, the Perennial Plant Association (PPA) picks just one. Their 2011 Perennial Plant of the Year is Amsonia hubrichti (common names are Amsonia or thread leaf blue star). There are several features that stood out in the trial that made it a superior plant. It is drought tolerant, unappealing to deer, and has no insect or disease problems.

Late fall color of Amsonia hubrichti. Photo courtesy of Washington State Cooperative Extension

According to the PPA, the ornamental value is its fall color. “The autumn color of the feathery leaves is a major reason that gardeners grow it. The stunning pale pumpkin color of the foliage creates an excellent combination with purple coneflower, gayfeather, and ornamental grasses.”

Most popular plants have their own die-hard followers and have awards to promote their best. For example, the All American Rose Selections is an association dedicated to the introduction and promotion of exceptional roses. Their 2011 pick is ‘Walking on Sunshine’ because of its prolific blooms, easy care, and pest resistance.

All American Rose Selection, ‘Walking on Sunshine’

There a hundreds of hosta varieties in the trade with new ones being released every year. I easily get lost with this plant and need assistance in wading through a catalog. The American Hosta Growers Association recognizes my problem (and others) in choosing just the right hosta for the landscape. So the association has a Hosta of the Year award to help gardeners. This year’s winner is ‘Folding Hands’. It is unique in that the leaves grow upright and are narrow and folded (resemble hands folded in prayer).

Take the time to look at plants as they roll down the ‘red carpet’. Just as there are numerous plants to choose from, there are numerous awards handed out each year for plants that have performed well in tests and trials.

February Blues: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-02-15T18:51:00.004-05:00

Well, January is history, and now we face February – a usually miserable month, but thankfully a short one! There is a good reason that February is short on days…
This is where our old pals, the Romans, surface again. It seems that July (named for Julius Caesar) had 31 days, and they needed to honor Augustus Caesar – see where we are headed? August only had 30 days so they pilfered one from February to make it equal with July. Even then February was a lousy month!
The only thing going for February (except for its wonderful shortness) is that it contains Groundhog Day – a day of great importance to the Clinefelter family.
It was on this auspicious day, 46 years ago, that I first set foot on American soil – well, actually it was concrete, but you know what I mean. It was on February 2nd 1965 that I walked down the gang-plank from the liner Queen Elizabeth after a rollicking 5 day sea voyage to begin a new dynasty – and they are doing very nicely, thank you!
Now, as I write this, it is February 2nd and the Punxsutawney resident rodent has predicted an early spring for a change, but if you remember, last spring was about 2 weeks early and it confused some folks – many missed the strawberry season, there was hardly time for peas to produce and the spinach bolted in record time. So…if you put your trust in the toothy one it may be time to start seeds soon. If you need help I have some handy-dandy brochures at the Extension Office that may be helpful!
I have also been asked to make mention of the up-coming Master Gardener Training being offered beginning March 3rd. Call the Extension Office at 726-0022 and request information from Quentin Stocum.

To wind up, I have a pet project I would dearly love to complete (besides the rain garden) before I retire from the Master Garden program. Last year a gentleman stopped by the gardens as I was hacking away at the weeds and asked if I would be interested in helping to create a labyrinth – one designed to help cancer survivors to attain a peace of mind.
Now, what is the difference between a maze and a labyrinth, you may ask?
The popular corn mazes are designed to provide confusing dead-ends and frustrating re-tracing of foot-steps; a labyrinth is a circular winding pathway designed to slow progress toward the center, giving the user time to contemplate. Upon reaching the center, one leaves behind the fears and problems and walks out to a new beginning.
In history, almost all civilizations have created labyrinths independently from each other. There is something calming in walking a labyrinth, but also something rewarding – in Lewes, Delaware, my daughters and I, with grand-children in tow, found a labyrinth in a church-yard. Emma, grand-daughter, walked the path, and upon reaching the center did a spontaneous “Ta-Da”! She was four!
At the Extension Office is a piece of land currently a weed patch. I wonder if I can persuade the Commissioners to let us create a labyrinth there…At very least the mowing would prevent all those weed seeds from being blown into the Trial Gardens! Just wishing…for daffodils…

Happy New Year!: by Tina Clinefelter

2011-01-24T16:36:00.002-05:00

Sorry I’ve been out of touch lately, but I was busy moving from the depths of the Pennsylvania forest to the more civilized confines of Castanea (which incidentally is the botanical name for the chestnut tree). The move has been completed and my time is being spent unpacking boxes and deciding how to put the contents of a 5 bedroom house into a two-bedroom townhouse. The basement is full and I see a gigantic yard-sale in my future…
I also need to re-think all my gardening strategies as I seem to have about 100 square feet of tillable land with soil so abominably wretched it will need massive infusions of top-soil, compost and chopped leaves. I see raised-bed and square-foot gardening in my future…
My inspiration for this new venture is, of course, Mel Bartholomew’s book ‘Square Foot Gardening’ and the first thing I have learned is that I need to be a bit of a carpenter to create the raised beds and some of the devices to protect and support the proposed plants. I see the skills of a devoted son-in-law in my future…
I am thinking this experience will make an ideal Master Gardener program and I shall begin a photo-essay as soon as the weather breaks in the spring. Meanwhile let the reading and research commence!
A few weeks ago, a friend in Alaska called me with an interesting situation; it seems a local indoor ‘farmer’ of the naughty weed was caught, and all his equipment donated to a local school for the purpose of using it in class to grow plants hydroponically to raise funds for other programs. The possibilities seemed endless: indoor gardening, record-keeping, retailing, finances, budgeting, science, fresh veggies, healthy diets (it is well known that kids will eat what they grow) (sometimes) and responsibility… Wonder if any of our local entrepreneurs’ equipment could find similar usage here in the event of their unfortunate incarceration??? It might be nice!
Well, with all that’s on my mind at the moment, this is about as creative as I can be – I didn’t even find time to make any New Year’s Resolutions with the exception of making a voodoo doll of the inventor of the ‘jake-brake’ and sticking pins in various painful places. Since leaving the mountain I am appalled at the traffic noise that wafts up from the Lock Haven bypass – and I used to think that blue jays were noisy!
Happy and Healthy New Year to you all - see you in the spring!

The Color Purple: by Tom Butzler

2011-01-20T10:36:00.003-05:00

Here is how most hard-core gardeners survive the long, gray, cold winters. We look out the window, sigh, and go back to thumbing through the garden catalogs that come in the mail. Open one up and it is a rainbow of color and it makes the winter blues go away (at least temporarily).

One of the things I like to do when browsing through the various catalogs is to read about the new introductions of plants for the garden and landscape. Why are they different and why would gardeners want to purchase these new seeds/plants?

I have noticed the past couple of years that the color palette of carrots is changing. Orange will always dominate but there are some pretty interesting colors appearing in this root crop, such as yellow and purple. Harris Seeds describes their carrot ‘Purple Haze’ as having a deep purple exterior color and a contrasting orange interior color. Interestingly, the purple color does not hold up when cooking so it is best in salads or cole slaw. Seeds of Change describe their ‘Dragon’ carrot as having a deep reddish purple exterior with a yellow orange interior, making for an interesting contrast when sliced or peeled.

As a side note, carrots originated in Afghanistan where yellow and purple carrots were predominate. As they spread into Europe and Asia and became domesticated (bred and selected for specific purposes), orange became the color of choice. I guess we are going back to the roots of carrots.

Purple Haze carrot picture from Harris Seeds catalog

We are all pretty familiar with the everyday potato. Many of them are red, white, or yellow skinned but most contain a white interior. I am starting to see purple ones crop up in trade shows and catalogs. For example, the Burpee catalog describes their ‘Purple Majesty’ as a rich dark purple from the skin through all the succulent purple flesh. Very good tasting, sweet buttery spuds add a unique color pizzazz to salads and mixed vegetables.

Park Seed Company carries a cauliflower, Graffiti, which will “brighten the plate and jazz up the vegetable patch! This widely adapted, vigorous variety sets large heads of deep purple that keep their color even after cooking (reaching a shade of mauve).”

Grafitti picture from Park Seed Company catalog

New purple plants are not unique to the vegetable garden. There are many butterfly bushes (Buddleia) on the market these days and at times it is hard to distinguish one from another. Unfortunately, the purple varieties we have in the trail garden at our Penn State Extension office in Clinton County are showing up in parts of the garden they were never planted. Dr. Dennis Werner of NC State University developed a Buddleia that is unique in several ways from the majority of butterfly bushes. It is low growing and can be utilized as a ground cover (unique horizontal branching) and the flowers are sterile so unwanted bushes don't appear throughout the landscape. Ironically, it is called ‘Purple Haze’.

ROYGBIV: by Tom Butzler

2011-01-03T13:21:00.001-05:00

Do you remember the grade school mnemonic device, ROYGBIV, used to describe the visible color spectrum Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet? These colors are in full display when walking through a grocery store’s produce section; orange carrots, red tomatoes, and green bell peppers. Those colors, however, do more than just make a salad look more attractive to the stomach.

Several years ago, the United States Department of Agriculture created a new food pyramid called MyPyramid. Of the 6 food groups listed, vegetables, grains, and milk are suggested to be a larger part of the diet than the others. Within the vegetable grouping, it is suggested that an individual eat a variety based on their nutrient content. How does one know the differences in nutrient content when shopping? Look at the color. Penn State Extension’s counterpart in North Dakota has a nice brochure explaining vegetable colors and associated nutrient content which I included in the discussion below.

Red vegetables are colored by anthocyanins. Research is starting to show that this chemical may help reduce risk several types of cancer, especially prostate cancer. Anthocyanins also act as powerful antioxidants that protect cells from damage. Antioxidants are linked with keeping our hearts healthy, too. Vegetables that would give you this benefit would be beets, red cabbage, tomatoes, red peppers, radishes, and red potatoes.

Green cucumbers and peppers provide nutrients that may prevent late age sight issues and reduce risk of birth defects. Red peppers can play a role in reducing cancer.

Blue and purple fruit are also colored by anthocyanins. Choices for vegetables is rather limited (eggplant) and this color is more prevalent in fruits such as plums, prunes, blackberries, and blueberries.

How many times has your mother said, “Eat your carrots because it is good for your eyes.”? North Dakota State Extension talks about a study where people who ate a diet high in orange/yellow colored vegetables were 43 percent less likely to develop age-related macular degeneration, an eye disorder common among the elderly, which can lead to blindness. Vegetables in this grouping usually colored by natural plant pigments called carotenoids.

Another reported study showed that carotenoids also may be good for your heart. Men with high cholesterol who ate plenty of vegetables high in carotenoids had a 36 percent lower chance of heart attack and death than their counterparts who shunned vegetables.

Load up on yellow peppers, pumpkin, yellow summer and winter squash, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, and yellow tomatoes to take advantage of this life saving chemical.

When I say salad, what is the first color that comes to mind? I would suspect it would be green. Green vegetables are colored by chlorophyll which contains lutein. Lutein may help reduce risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness if untreated. In addition, these green vegetables are excellent sources of folate, a vitamin that helps reduce risk of birth defects.

Radicchio (upper right) and radishes (lower right) contain anthocyanins which play a role in reducing cancers. The red contrasts to the green kale (lower left) and spinach (upper left) which may help with sight issues.

Green is plentiful in a store’s vegetable section as a consumer has unlimited choices. Green beans, asparagus, cucumbers, brussels sprouts, green cabbage, and zucchini to name a few.

White fruits and vegetables are colored by pigments called anthoxanthins. They may contain health-promoting chemicals such as allicin, which may help lower cholesterol and blood pressure and may help reduce risk of stomach cancer and heart disease. Some examples in this group are cauliflower, garlic, onion, potatoes, and turnips.

Next time you are putting together a salad or dinner, make sure that there is a rainbow of color on your plate to get the maximum health benefits from your food.

New Butterfly Bush Introduction: by Tom Butzler

2010-12-30T10:51:00.001-05:00

There are alot of butterfly bushes (Buddleia) on the market these days and at times it is hard to distinguish one from another. Unfortunately, the ones we have in the trail garden at our Penn State Extension office in Clinton County are showing up in parts of the garden they were never planted. Dr. Dennis Werner of NC State University developed a Buddleia that is unique in several ways from the majority of butterfly bushes. It is low growing and can be utilized as a ground cover (unique horizontal branching) and the flowers are sterile so unwanted bushes don't appear throughout your landscape. For more information on growth characteristics, culture requirement, and pictures check out here and here.

Webinars – A Great Way to Learn About Horticulture: by Tom Butzler

2010-12-28T15:30:00.002-05:00

In an earlier blog posting, I talked about staying abreast of horticulture news by reading a wide variety of material. My emphasis this winter is to read some of Penn State University’s new and revised publications. Although I like to read, I have also been using webinars to catch up on current events and research in the horticulture world.

A webinar is short for a seminar that is web-based and where training occurs in your office or home computer. You don’t sit there and just read the screen but listen to the audio, view visuals and participate by asking questions and communicating with the presenter. I have listened to a variety of webinars and wanted to highlight a few that I found educational. The ones listed below are recordings (were live at the time I listened to them) so they will not be interactive at this time. You will still hear the conversations that occurred between the presenters and participants.

The emerald ash borer (EAB) first made its presence in the US in 2002 and has steadily moved eastward into Pennsylvania. Since that time it has killed millions of ash trees in several states. Being a new insect, I didn’t know much about its history, life cycle, and control measures. To learn about this insect, I turned to the “Emerald Ash University”, a collaborative effort between Purdue, Ohio State, and Michigan State. They had a scheduled line-up of eleven lectures with a variety of topics such as “History of EAB”, “Pesticides to Manage EAB”, and “What Happens After Ash Is Gone?” The sessions I listened to were very informative and easy to understand. To find and view, type “Emerald Ash Borer University” into a search engine.

Trying to broaden my horizons on small fruits, I viewed a webinar out of Cornell University’s Raspberry/Blackberry webinar mini-series. It was a good overview on raspberry production in high tunnels and the yields on certain varieties. I also learned a great deal on some of the new trellising methods used in raspberry production. Cornell has a whole library of small fruit webinars with mini-series on strawberries and blueberry/brambles. To view these sessions, Google “berry webcasts” to get the links and listings.

I thoroughly enjoyed this method of learning and decided to give this technology a try as a teacher. This past year, Don Woodring (Master Beekeeper) and I conducted a six part beekeeping webinar series where we covered the information needed to get into beekeeping. We tried to keep our presentations to 30-40 minutes and allow the other 30-20 minutes for discussion. We had participants all over the US and even a listener from England. We are going to try this again with some added features. If interested in our 2011 Beekeeping Virtual webinar series, please visit http://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping.

If it is too cold to go out, sit by the computer and pull up a webinar to expand your horticulture knowledge. The best thing about these webinars and others like this is that they are free.

Beekeeping For Beginners – Virtual Webinar Series: by Tom Butzler

2010-12-21T09:38:00.004-05:00

Penn State Cooperative Extension is conducting a virtual Beginner Beekeeping Class starting in February 2011. The webinar course is designed to create a foundation of beekeeping knowledge in order to confidently help beginners manage honeybees.

Webinars are web-based seminars which delivers training through the Internet directly to your computer. You are able to view the presentation via your home/office computer and listen to the audio portion of the presentation through your computer’s speakers. These are interactive and will allow the participants to ask questions and communicate with the presenters. If you can’t join the session or would like to review a certain topic, sessions will be recorded and available to participants until the end of the year

The Beekeeping for Beginners is a one year course that will include the following:

A seven part live webinar series (all sessions will be recorded and available until December 31, 2011
Virtual Beekeeping Field Day
Accessibility to instructors through:

Virtual office hours
Discussion forums

The registration fee for the one year Beekeeping for Beginners is for $150. Registration and agenda information can be found at: http://extension.psu.edu/beekeeping.

It Was a Great Ride While It Lasted: by Tom Butzler

2010-12-16T14:12:00.007-05:00

I thoroughly enjoyed this past fall as the temperatures and rainless weekends/evenings provided many opportunities to garden and recreate. The past few days however, have really put that weather behind us and we now face the reality of winter.

One thing I try to due during the winter months (beyond the futile effort to try and clean my office) is catch up on my horticulture education. At times, this might be attending a horticulture meeting or two such as the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Most of my continuing education is reading the journals, newsletters, publications and factsheets that I didn’t have time during the growing and harvest season. One area I want to concentrate on this winter is reading some of Penn State’s new, old and revised horticulture publications. TO READ MORE, CLICK BELOW!

One of the old ones I like to review on a yearly basis at this time is the Caring for Your Cut Christmas Tree. It is just a good reminder for me on the basics of tree care in the house and a refresher on some important points for questions that will soon come into the office. As an example on the tidbits offered in the publication, it states that adding water-holding gels to the stand is not beneficial and they can reduce the amount of water in the stand that is available to the tree. Water is all that is needed in the stand for your trees to make it through the Christmas season.

Horticulture professor, Dr. Jim Sellmer, made a huge effort to revise the Guide for Selecting Shrubs for Pennsylvania Landscapes. When designing a landscape or just adding to it, woody plants comprise a majority of material in the setting. Unfortunately (or fortunately-depends on how you look at it) there are hundreds upon hundreds of shrub varieties to choose from. It’s like going to a supermarket and coming upon rows and rows of breakfast cereal. What do you choose? His guide helps the reader what to consider when selecting shrubs, aesthetic qualities of the shrubs, and shrubs for specific conditions.

A new publication that the department came out with was the Production and Marketing of Specialty or Novel Vegetables, Vol. 1: Bitter Melon, Figs, Ginger, Globe Artichoke, Novelty Winter Squash, Specialty Peppers, Watercress. I’m not sure I’ll try to grow any of these but I am interested to see how they can be produced in our area. This reference may useful to growers that have roadside stands or participate in farmers markets and are looking at something to diversify their usual produce mix.

This is just a sampling of publications available through Penn State’s Publication department. Take the time to visit the site their publication site. Some are for cost but many can be viewed on-line for free.

Please Don’t Top Trees!: by Tina Clinefelter

2010-12-07T17:31:00.003-05:00

Tree-topping is a crime against nature, but I can understand that some homeowners have it done in order to control a tree that has become too large for the property and they misguidedly believe this pruning technique will solve the problem. Prepare to be enlightened…
Before I go into the dark side of tree-topping here are a few other names that this procedure masquerades under: heading, rounding-over, lopping, stubbing (self-explanatory), and de-horning (say what?) All of the aforementioned methods will disfigure and devalue your tree, and hasten its demise!
Tree-topping shortens branches to stubs instead of removing the entire branch to the trunk. The branches are shortened to a flattened canopy or a rounded shape like a green lollipop. This spurs the tree to produce a myriad spindly twiggy stems called water-sprouts at the end of each stub, causing weak, tangled growth much prone to storm damage. The stubs themselves open the inner tree to insect and disease invasion! The tree will regain its former size quite quickly, but with a bad case of ‘bed-head’. The ‘ugly factor’ is most visible in winter when the leaves have fled.
Now let’s examine the slow starvation of trees caused by topping: well, for a start it’s missing a lot of leaves! Leaves feed a tree – roots store food. In a desperate effort to replace leaf-bearing twigs a tree will use vital energy stores and strength is depleted – health declines – death hastens!
In terms of dollars and cents, topping will reduce the value of landscape trees by thousands: ugly and un-natural silhouettes are not assets and an unhealthy tree is a hazard.
One of my stand-by pieces of advice goes like this: ‘when is a good time to plant a tree?’ – twenty years ago! Likewise, the ‘right plant in the right place’ is standard good sense. Many of us inherit a large tree as part of the property and give no thought to the future, but as time goes by the problems multiply. When it becomes apparent that a mature tree is in decline, one should plant a suitably sized tree nearby and take out the larger one when it is necessary. Topping will not save the larger tree but proper pruning of the replacement tree will ensure correct branch development and structural soundness.
In closing I want to mention a couple of things:
First: I am in the process of down-sizing and am donating many of my gardening books to the Ross Library. There will be books on container gardening, annuals, perennials, diseases, insect problems and other subjects plus a number of cook-books (I no longer cook very much)! Check it out!
Last: Come to the Green Energy Fair at the Central Mountain Middle School on December 12th at noon. I will be there along with fellow Master Gardeners, ready to answer questions and provide green information. Hope to see you!
Really last: Love this quote concerning fall clean-up of the garden with regard to being friendly to wildlife creatures: ‘avoid excessive tidiness’! OK!

Buying Produce With Your Eyes

2010-11-24T08:19:00.004-05:00

Several weeks ago, I brought home a watermelon that had escaped a season ending harvest at the Penn State’s Horticulture Research Farm. The family hadn’t had watermelon recently and was anticipating the snack. Once I cut it open however, my kids pretty much walked away and wanted nothing to do with it. Why? The flesh was yellow, not the traditional red/pink color. I picked up a piece, closed my eyes, and ate it. Yep, it tasted like any other watermelon I had all summer long. The color did not take away from the taste at all. I had the watermelon all to myself the next couple of days.

Watermelon with yellow flesh tastes just as good as the traditionally red fleshed melons. Photo courtesy of North Carolina Cooperative Extension

Consumers buy produce with their eyes, and then buy with their taste buds. But before I knock the general public (and my kids), I too found I am guilty of this practice.

I was walking through the grocery store the other day when my son tugged on my arm in the produce section. He wanted me to buy a package of dates. In Sunday school lessons, they had talked about the Bible and life in the desert where many stories took place. During one of their sessions, they talked about dates.

Dates are about 1.5 inches long and half as wide. When dried properly for sale, the skin is wrinkled and brown in color. Basically, it looks like a giant raisin and not much to look at. I have seen these on store shelves and walked right by them as they really looked unappetizing.

Normally, I say no to all the food requests from my kids as the cart would be stacked with ice cream, sugary cereals, eggnog, and chips. But his request was something he learned about and wanted to experience. How could I say no? I relented and we picked up the dates.

While we waited in the check-out line, my son talked about what he had learned in class. Now he had my taste buds curious.

Once in the car, we ripped open the package and held the dates in our hands. The fruit had a curious look and feel as the wrinkled skin was coated in a thin layer of natural wax. We popped them in our mouths and chewed. Wow, what a taste! I’m not sure how to describe it, but it was like eating candy. I had several pieces in the car ride home as I couldn’t resist the taste.

Don’t let the appearance of dates fool you, they pack a wonderful taste.

Not knowing much about this plant, I did a quick search and one of the first sites that came up described it as “Dates – The Candy That Grows on Trees.”

Dates pack a sweet punch as they are very high in sugars. One hundred grams of dates contain 66 grams of sugar and 277 calories whereas 100 grams of seedless grapes (which I consider sweet) contain 15 grams of sugar and 69 calories. This may be one fruit to avoid if you are trying to lose weight. Dates also contain some trace amounts of vitamin A, calcium, and iron.

There is an advantage of this bias against odd looking fruit in my family. Expect more yellow watermelons at my house next year!

Potpourri: by Tina Clinefelter

2010-11-19T18:16:00.002-05:00

When I’m having difficulty coming up with a subject about which to write, I usually fall back onto an herb profile – well, here we go again, but this time I’m choosing a plant not too many of us grow in our vegetable gardens – horseradish!
There are various reasons for this and the main one is the aggressive nature of the plant (think invasive); another is its relatively limited uses – beyond being a sauce to serve with roast beef, and an ingredient in cocktail sauce, what else is it commonly used for? The deciding factor for most is the cheaply available, ready-made stuff in the grocery store – that’s where I get mine, and one small bottle will last me a year (at least)!
But for those who love a challenge here are the cultural needs of horseradish: Soil should be light, moist, and manure enriched in full sun; I would recommend planting in a separate area where this thug can be whipped back in place when necessary (and it will be necessary…) – maybe in a bottomless container at least two feet deep; it may be sown from seed in spring or root cuttings in fall, and at harvest make sure the entire root is removed as even the tiniest piece will rejuvenate. My father grated his horseradish roots with the wind at his back to avoid being blinded by the pungent fumes, and preserved it in white wine vinegar.
As with most herbs, horseradish also has a medicinal side; as a syrup (?) it has been used to sooth (?) coughs and post-nasal drip (see the paragraph above about the wind at your back); the sliced root has been used topically on boils and in poultices to relieve arthritis pain. This should be done with care as skin irritation may occur. All in all horseradish belongs on the dinner table with roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. I must also confess that once I planted some horseradish and it died…what does that say for my gardening skills…
On to other things!
In a recent article I referred to the Universal Edibility Test from the US Army Survival Manual and having read deeper into its wisdom, I’m amazed at what a well-informed individual can achieve armed only with a plastic, hooded poncho – a lean-to shelter, a raft, a water filter, and a stretcher; another section deals with improvised cooking utensils and yet another on how to safely cross raging torrents. All of this is important information, yet on a civilian level the nursery industry fails to provide the public with very basic information on certain landscape plant toxicity.
I bet you have an azalea or a rhododendron on your property; how about a hydrangea? I bought a lantana plant for my daughter this past year and I plan on introducing hellebores (Christmas roses) to my garden soon. All these are poisonous either in part or whole. Knowledge is your protector and vigilance around your children and pets is your duty!
PS Poinsettias are not poisonous! Urban myth!

Heaving Soil: The Good and Bad: by Tom Butzler

2010-11-08T13:41:00.007-05:00

Although not on the level of earth movement in the California earthquake zone, your garden and landscape soil moves up and down during the late fall and winter months. The phenomenon is called heaving and it occurs when the weather fluctuates between freezing and thawing. This can both be a blessing and a curse for garden enthusiasts.

An unfortunate aspects of this cycle is the damage done to ornamental plants, especially late fall plantings. As soil is pushed up during the freezing process, shallow or poorly rooted plants are “thrown out” of the soil. Roots that were once safely tucked under the soil line are now exposed to the harsh environment above ground. Exposed roots quickly become injured and in many instances, leads to plant death.

One of the plants that suffer greatly from this occurrence is the garden mum. Many folks like to buy these mums and place them on the porch for fall decorations. Soon after the flowers heads are shriveled, they either end up in the compost, garbage, or the garden. Unfortunately, those mums lucky enough to be planted in the landscape meet the same fate as those thrown in the compost. The roots of these planted mums never have a chance to become established into the soil and are pushed up with the first couple of freezing events. As a result, many gardeners do not see their mums survive into the next growing season.

One way to increase the odds of surviving is to apply mulch to newly planted/heaving susceptible perennials. A 2-4 inch layer of mulch (shredded bark, leaves, etc.) can moderate the temperature extremes around the roots zone and minimize soil heaving.

Soil heaving can also work to a gardener’s advantage. There are times when a soil pH needs to be raised to a level appropriate for plant growth. This can only be determined by having your soil analyzed.

Your soil tests results may call for the addition of lime but it takes several months for lime to change the soil chemistry. Application of lime in the spring will not help garden plants that growing season. One way to get ready for next year’s garden season is to apply lime to the soil surface this fall. The heaving process that takes place over the winter months will move the liming material into the soil profile and start the chemical reactions that are necessary to raise the soil pH.

This also works on lawns. In the Penn State publication, Liming Turfgrass Areas, it states that “Rain, snow, and heaving of the soil during winter help work the limestone into the soil. Movement of limestone into the soil is slow, even under the best of conditions.”

Be careful of heaving soil but make it work for your garden.

The Wonders of Witches: by Tina Clinefelter

2010-11-07T16:44:00.004-05:00

Although Halloween is almost upon us, my subject here isn’t about witches and wizards but the charming witch hazels that are blooming along the forest edges at the moment. This large native shrub often bears last year’s fruit, this year’s bright yellow fall leaves and strap-like, fragrant, yellow flowers all on the same branch at the same time; witch hazels grow 10-15 feet high and wide as multi-trunked, open-crowned, crooked- branching oddities with a wealth of benefits to mankind!
First, let’s get past the bewitching name – witch hazel; the ‘witch’ part is a corruption of an Anglo Saxon word – wych – meaning ‘pliable’, and ‘hazel’ because the leaves resemble the hazelnut leaves, although they do not belong to the same botanical family. Getting back to the ‘pliable’ part, the twigs were (and still are) used to douse or ‘witch’ for water and gold, and in the olden days this was considered to be witchcraft. The wood was also used to make archery bows.
Now for the enchanting benefits, which (pun intended) are considerable, and somewhat magical! (Although there is no ‘Love Potion #9’)
The store-bought witch hazel is usually found in the rubbing alcohol and Epsom salts department of the pharmacy and is meant primarily as an astringent or disinfectant, with the addition of isopropyl alcohol, but this is only the tip of the ice-berg in the virtues of this mainstay of the American Indian’s medicine bag.
Incidentally, many of the traditional uses of witch hazel, in various forms, have been validated by modern science.
Here goes with a formidable list of applications for witch hazel: bruises, sprains, spider veins, varicose veins, insect bites, sunburn, hemorrhoids, bleeding, aftershave lotions, many cosmetics, eye drops, burns, diaper rash, boils, inflammation and swellings. I may have missed a few but you get the general idea. This is one valuable shrub and one well worth adding to your landscape for its ornamental appeal. There are a number of cultivars available on the market, blooming at various times during the winter months, from late October to February/March. Witch hazels prefer sun to part shade in a moist, acidic soil. The key is ‘understory’ – do not plant them on the front lawn as a specimen tree.
Personal note: I have been trying to propagate witch hazels for some time, and have collected seeds, storing them in a brown-paper bag. I didn’t know that upon drying the seed pods would explode in all directions – imagine my surprise when the bag began dancing along the kitchen counter with sound effects!
Happy Halloween to all – and watch out for that witch – Hazel!

A Perfect Fall Day: by Tina Clinefelter

2010-10-27T20:45:00.007-04:00

As I write this, it is Wednesday, October 13th 2010, one of the finest fall days I have ever experienced. My beloved sister-in-law, Carolyn, and I had decided that we would enjoy a ‘skip and play’ day – no gardening, no shopping, and no house chores – just take our cameras on a road-trip in the big woods just to see what was around the next corner. We were not disappointed!
After stashing Carolyn’s gift of various frozen soups in the freezer (I must mention that she is a ‘super souper’) we loaded up my car with camera gear, extra batteries, polarized filters, cookies and a drink, plugged in the GPS and set off into the wilds…
The plan was to take the Eagleton Road off the Renovo Road which we accomplished with ease, and settled down for a leisurely ride in the fall splendor. I have driven this road in other seasons but fall is the most spectacular; the temperature was a perfect 63*, the breeze was pleasantly felt, and the air was fresh, with the sky almost a Montana blue. Of course, the plant life was putting on a colorful show with the yellows being the brightest, but I particularly like the reddish hue of the huckleberries in the understory. The flowers of the witch-hazels are not very showy this year due to the recent hot, droughty conditions but an occasional one tried extra hard to shine. I appreciate their efforts!
Riding along quietly, we were only disturbed a couple of times by men driving large pick-up trucks way too fast and kicking up clouds of dust – they must have really needed to get somewhere in a hurry. Bet they wondered what two little old ladies were doing in the middle of nowhere…
Some miles up the dirt road we came across a clearing that appeared to be a parking-lot complete with handicapped spaces and a manicured trail leading off into the distance. We saw a truck and people down the trail raking leaves – intrigued, we parked in a designated space and prepared to investigate. Meanwhile one of the rakers began walking toward us – and I was delighted to recognize the ever-lovely Lin Greenaway, Forester extraordinaire. It appeared we had stumbled across one of her latest projects – a series of forest management techniques, show-cased along a walking/handicapped accessible trail where Lin will be giving educational tours to groups of interested locals. Carolyn and I took a stroll along the trail, took some pictures, admired the forest re-growth in a fenced-in area, and asked Lin some questions, but we need to get the full treatment some other time as the brochures and important signage is yet to be put in place.
After this encounter we continued along the Eagleton Road until it joined the Beech Creek Mountain Road where it became a traffic infested, pot-holed disaster area. The gas drilling frenzy has really changed the landscape. We escaped to an area I have been trying to find for the last two years – Big Rock Vista. I visited the Vista about 20 years ago with my late husband, and when we finally found it I was not unhappy with my memories. The Vista has been allowed to be obscured by overgrown trees, but the Big Rocks are still as awe-inspiring. Many photos were taken!!!
Following lunch at Yesterdays, in Renovo, (very good, by the way) we travelled back to Lock Haven enjoying the scenery along the way. I can’t imagine living in a place that had no such seasonal changes; I don’t enjoy summer too much, and winter has its own challenges, but spring and fall are beyond compare! Enjoy!