Volunteer Needed to Learn and Teach Flower Drying

I would like for one or two Master Gardeners to learn and teach drying and preserving flowers and plant materials. It would be a wonderful addition to our classes. The web site below is a good starting place.

Joe

http://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1115/

Curling of leaves ...

double click picture for detail

I have a row of yellow and red Bell peppers and I noticed yesterday that the leaves are curling up. I checked for bugs and didn't see anything. As noted in the photos, there are splotches on leaves if that gives anyone an idea.

If someone can get us some quick remedy it would be greatly appreciated as we are leaving tomorrow evening to hopefully see the shuttle launch on Saturday and be gone all next week ... Don't mind a call if you don't mind. You know the area code 586-2182 ..

Charles and Pam failed to actually publish until afternoon ... sorry thanks anyway

Compost Teas Vs Manure Tea

Compost Teas

Compost teas are made by putting a small quantity of mature compost (in a perforated bag) into water and allowing it to steep (also known as brewing). This creates a compost tea solution that can be applied to the crop as a foliar source of nutrients. Some research has also found suppression of certain plant diseases when applied to crop foliage. Compost teas should only be made with fully mature compost to reduce pathogens. Adding sugar or molasses materials during the steeping process has been reported to increase the incidence of pathogens in the compost tea. Compost tea must be aerated during the "steeping" process and used immediately after steeping to reduce the risk of pathogen contamination. Do not apply compost teas to edible parts of the crop or apply near harvest time.

Manure tea is made using non-composted or improperly composted manure and may contain high levels of pathogens. Do not apply manure tea directly to crops. After field application, observe the appropriate waiting periods before harvest of food crops (example: 4 months).

http;//www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/engineer/facts/05-021.htm

Dollar Weed Managenent

The weed in the photo from N.C. State was discussed by Cherokee Master Gardeners. Following is some additional data.

This perennial weed is commonly found in very wet areas. Dollarweed can float in water. Plants reproduce from rhizomes, and have leaves that are on long stalks. Solid scalloped leaves are attached to the stalk on the underside and form an inverted "umbrella" shape. Clusters of white flowers form in late summer.

CULTURAL PRACTICES Perennial broadleaf turf weeds are capable of living more than two years. They thrive in weak, thin turf; golf fairways and roughs; home lawns; playfields; and industrial grounds. Proper turf maintenance is the key to control of this weed. First, select adapted turfgrass cultivars for your area and then properly fertilize, mow, and water to encourage dense growth.

This weed is an indicator plant for poor drainage.

HERBICIDE INFORMATION Dollarweed is a difficult weed to control for an entire growing season. Repeat spring applications of trifloxysulfuron (Monument), metsulfuron (Manor, Blade, etc.), or imazaquin (Image) in tolerant turf, as well as two, three, and four way broadleaf herbicides offer postemergence control.

Daylily-Cottage Garden Clinic

Horticultural Hints

Daylily Clinic

You are invited to view the daylily collection of Wayne and Kathie Davis and attend a Hemerocallis Clinic on Saturday May 31 at their home in the Sardis community of Cherokee County. The name hemerocallis comes from the Greek terms hemero (for a day) and callis (beauty). It is the genus of the daylily. Daylilies are perhaps the best sun-loving perennial for the south. The Davis family are avid gardeners and in recent years greatly expanded their daylilies. Joe Daniel, Cherokee County Extension Horticulturist will be discussing the propagating and using daylilies in the landscape. The Davis garden is located at 8217 FM 1857 not far from the Sardis church. The program will begin at 10am. Cherokee County Master Gardener Amanda Childress will also be presenting cottage garden tips at the meeting. Anyone who drives by the Childress home on San Antonio Street in Jacksonville knows her garden tips will be top notch. For additional information contact the Cherokee County Office of the Texas AgriLIFE Extension at (903) 683-5416.

CCMGA Newspaper Column

This morning, I spoke with Richard Nelson, the editor of the JDProgress about the Master Gardeners’ column. Following are the specifics:

Cherokee County Master Gardeners Monthly Column in the Jacksonville Daily Progress

Who? – Members of the Master Gardeners Assn. will send information to me about a specific subject. It does not need to be a finished article or even written in complete sentences. I can put it into a finished form if necessary. If you do not type, I will be happy to interview you about your chosen topic. Although I will be the contact person, all members of the association will contribute to this effort. Each of us has his/her area of expertise or interest.

What? – We need articles on topics relevant to Cherokee County . Possibilities include specific plants (annuals, perennials, shade, sun…), shrubs, trees, small ponds, landscaping, walkways, walls, garden fences, composting, irrigation, pests, weed control, vegetables, fruit trees, greenhouses, propagation (cuttings, seeds…), internet resources, dealing with drought (xeriscape, etc.), local water problems, winter tasks, etc. The possibilities are endless. Other topics that come to mind for our area are how to prune shrubs (especially, how NOT to murder Crepe Myrtles!), how to use (and not fight) the natural beauty of East TX as a backdrop to home landscaping, what to do with a native vine invasion (Virginia Creeper!), safely dealing with poison ivy, etc. Photos – We can include a photo with each article. Photo suggestions – close ups of specific plants and/or a picture of the Master Gardener who submitted the article with whatever subject (plant, greenhouse, compost pile, etc.). I will be happy to take the picture or you can send it to me along with your article by email. Pictures should have high contrast, be uncluttered and very clear. If you cannot send the picture by e-mail, I can borrow it, scan it, and then return it to you.

Mr. Nelson said they never know how much space they will have, but roughly 500 words would be a safe length for the articles.

When? – The newspaper wants to have at least 2 articles on hand each month in case something happens and we are slow submitting one for the next month. I, on the other hand, would like to have a whole FILE of future articles – even a year in advance! – so that I can get him two this first month (June, ’08), and one each month thereafter. Because it is now late spring/early summer, you might want to take photos of blooming plants, etc. while you can – even if you don’t write the article (or send me the info. so that I can write the article) until later. In other words, get busy now and do not think one article is enough!!! Our column will probably run the last Sunday of the month.

How? – As mentioned above, you can send your article (or info.) and photograph to me at this address moak@suddenlink.net , bring it (them) to the next Master Gardeners’ meeting, or mail it (them) to me –

Kathy Moak

220 Beach St.

Jacksonville, TX 75766.

If you need for me to take a photo, give me a call – (home) 903-586-4548 (cell) 903-752-1331.

Why? – The purpose of this monthly column is to assist Cherokee County residents with gardening/landscaping while at the same time promote the Master Gardener program. This regular newspaper column is an excellent opportunity to do both. However, the effort will not be successful without the cooperation of each and every Master Gardener.

I am looking forward to receiving your articles!

~Kathy Moak

Virtual Garden

For those of us stuck at the computer, here's a cute virtual garden. Who knows, you may win something.
http://www.wish-bone.com/Digital-Garden.aspx
Have fun. Pam Miller

More than one way to skin a cat.

Keith came out to take advantage of our offer of free bamboo. We're anxious to see what he creates from it. Wayne and Kathie

Your Are Invited

1. Field Day for Master Gardeners - Dallas Arboretum
2. Saturday September 6
3. 9am to 5 pm

Attention Getter

This plant was the most asked about at the our recent visit to Keith's garden.
Family: Solanaceae
Genus: Cestrum
Species: aurantiacum

Grows 5-6 ft tall, accepts full sun and is drought tolerant. In this zone 8A, it does freeze down in the Winter but does return in the Spring. It is attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

Place for photos

I recently linked some to my photos of the Colorspot visit to my personal Dropshots site but there were too many other photos on the site. However I have since generated a ccmga site for photos by anyone in the group. It's great place to store any you would like or take any for use elsewhere. The signon user name is the same as the blogspot, except for the blog letters and similarly the password is the same except for the "blog" letters. Comments can also be added to each picture if you wish. Here's the link to the site

http://www.dropshots.com/ccmga#

Like anything else ... there is a bit of a learning curve... but you can do it.

Charles (added late ... sorry)

Bamboo stakes

If anyone wants stakes for tomatoes, bean poles, trellises, etc, we have plenty - all sizes. Just come and get them. Wayne and Kathie, 743-5494

Fun and games @ Gardendale

The entertaining saga of the Gardendale "garden". While visiting my mother in law in early April, I discovered a garden plot in a corner of the Gardendale facility. It appeared the site had been "lightly" tilled and someone had planted some onions and peppers along one edge of the garden ... no rows, no hills just in the flat tilled soil. At the opposite end was an envelope of watermelon seeds.
I made a few contacts and met Gene and Pee Wee at the home. I suggested helping them by making up a few rows and tilling up the garden a bit more. I had planned to do that the next week, but when my wife stopped by the next day, they were all excited. Therefore, on April 21, I brought the tiller over and tilled the area and some additional space. I had also just learned Joe’s best technique for making up rows at the HOPE garden and applied the same principles.
The next day I met Gene at the garden and he asked me to get him some seeds at the feed store and some jalapeno pepper plants. His $5 yielded him more than $10 worth of plants a

nd seed. The seed (kale, mustard greens, brocolli, green beans, etc.) were each more than enough for either of the 20' completed rows.
When I returned the following week, I found that both rows had been planted and it appeared that all the seed had been used. So much for a semi-professional garden. About a week later I checked the garden in preparation for making more rows and finding a home for more of the plants left over from the HOPE garden. What I found was a few new rows planted a

long the edge of the garden and a nearby picnic table with numerous tomato plants and other seeds. It appeared we had new donations. A few days later we had two rows of tomatoes planted about 8" apart.

By now I had concluded that I was too busy to manage this project and Gene and Pee Wee had much more time than me. I have driven by and watched them just watching the garden grow. I’m confident if I were in similar circumstances, I would probably be doing the same. At least we provided great therapy for some of them.

Last week I went over and staked some of the tomato plants that appeared to be doing well. No more that every third one. Later that day I had complaints from Gene that he had vision problems that kept him from seeing the stakes and had tripped over one. Today (5/7/8) ... I discovered that most of the stakes had been removed and at least one of the healthy plants had been yanked up with the stake ... Oh! Well! maybe we'll get a few things out of this garden in a few months.

Charles

Dollar Value of Volunteers

Agri-LIFE Extension Administration has made the decision to use $19.51 per hour for the "Dollar Value of Volunteer Time."

Garden Signs

I don't believe everything I read. Sometimes people read and write just for fun. At this year's garden tour I discovered that such fun can be found in Jacksonville gardens.

Joe

H.O.P.E. Vegetable Garden

Squash at the H.O.P.E. garden is off to a great start. It will soon be time for very regular harvesting. As I recall there are 3 types and 4 or 5 rows.

The Bee Lady

Hello, fellow gardeners! I thought this may interest you. About a week ago, my husband came running in the house yelling at me to go outside and look. Well, as soon as you stepped out the door, you could hear a steady buzzing sound and the air was absolutely full of honeybees. They were madly circling around a pecan in our alleyway. After about 15 minutes, they settled into this makeshift hive on a branch.

We called Joe, who had some recommendations on beekeepers in our area. We finally found one who was interested, and after setting up a very precarious ladder (!), he and his helpers removed the bees and took them home to their own hives. It is estimated that there were close to 30,000 bees in this particular swarm. Dimensions of the swarm were somewhere around18-20 inches in diameter, and it was approximately 20-24 feet off of the ground.

FYI: Bees swarm when the queen leaves the hive in search of a new 'home'. The worker bees follow her, protect her, and even carry honey with them to feed her. They often will rest on a branch, as seen here, before reaching their final destination. Unfortunately, sometimes they will nest in a house, so that is why I thought it important to find someone to remove (and take good care of!) this swarm. I didn't really want my house to turn into a giant bee hive. For those of you with cable/high-speed connection, be sure to see this video about a woman whose house is filled to the brim with millions, yes, millions of honeybees.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2008/05/01/anderson.bees.in.wall.wrdw?iref=videosearch

Also, it is worth mentioning that pollinators, namely honeybees, are responsible for 1/3 of our food supply! So, "bee" kind to the bees!!!





- Amanda Childress aka "The Bee Lady"