CCMGA Fall Field Trip

Listed are some options for our Fall Field Trip. We will discuss these options and make a selection at the August CCMGA meeting. Other suggestions for a Fall Field Trip would be appreciated.

Caldwell Zoo
Tyler, Texas
Admission: Adults $8.50; Seniors $7.25
Distance: 30 miles

Tyler Rose Garden
Tyler, Texas
Admission: Free
Distance: 30 miles

SFA Arboretum
Nacogdoches, Texas
Admission: Free
Distance: 65 miles

American Rose Society Gardens
Shreveport, Louisiana
Admission: Adults $5.00; Seniors $4.00
Distance: 107 miles

Dallas Arboretum
Dallas, Texas
Admission: Adults $8.00; Seniors $7.00
Parking: $5.00/vehicle
Distance: 130 miles

Holistic Garden and Greenhouse
Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas
Admission: Free
Distance: 140 miles

Hodges Garden
Florien, Louisiana
Admission: $5.00
Distance: 150 miles

Fort Worth Botanical Gardens
Fort Worth, Texas
Admission: Adults $3.00, Seniors $2.50
Distance: 155 miles

Looks what's blooming, the Chitalpa was planted this spring form a one gallon pot.

x Chitalpa tashkentensis is the grex name for a cross between Catalpa bignonioides (Catalpa) and Chilopsis linearis, (Desert Willow). Chitalpa is hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 6. It is well adapted to hot, dry locations as long as the soil drains well.

Chitalpa is a small to medium tree with open, upright branches and good form. Flowers are orchidlike and produced in July or August at the ends of new growth.

Name: x Chitalpa tashkentensis

Common name: Chitalpa.

Description: Open, shrubby tree with orchidlike flowers in summer. For arid sites.

Dimensions: 25-30 feet tall; 10-15 feet wide.

Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 6-9.

Keith

Exam Question Often Missed

Most, I think would agree that a plant placed in a dark closet will soon die.
That has been my experience.

A True/False question often missed was:
Poinsettias placed in a dark closet to grow during November soon die.

I do realize some of you are now thinking why do you place your plants in a dark closets to grow?
I don't, but have gotten questions from those who do or are considering doing so.

~Joe

Exam Results

The 125 question final exams are graded.

All did well.

There were no 100s.

Scores went from 88.8 to 76.

All did better than on the pre-test.

In the next few days I will put some of the question most often missed on the blog.

100s were not expected.

Joe

Interns Visit SFA Arboretum and Complete Coursework

CCMGA 2008 interns enjoyed a perfect morning visiting the gardens and learning from Dawn's expertise. Before allowing us to visit two excellent Nacogdoches nurseries, we completed our "final exam" at an undisclosed location while Joe and Keith monitored closely.

Needed Rain

Two tenths of one inch of rain fell at my home in Ponta.
I know it will be gone in a few hours but it sure seems to have changed the world.
Dogwood leaves look much better.

~Joe

Ducher Named EarthKind Rose

Ducher (pronounced "doo shay"):

Joseph Pernet was a French rosarian born near Lyon. In 1879 he began his career with the Ducher nursery and in 1882, he married the owner's daughter. He then took on the name "Pernet-Ducher" under which he continued rose breeding until his death in 1928. Between 1907 and 1925, Monsieur Ducher won the Gold Medal thirteen times at the Annual Concours de Bagatelle International Rose Competition held in Paris.

The Ducher rose was introduced 1n 1869 and is considered the only white China rose available. The flowers are a soft ivory-white color with very round buds that may have a hint of pink on the outer petals. The flowers are extremely fragrant. Ducher is a relatively small China rose reaching a height of only 3 – 5 feet. This also makes it a very good candidate for use in containers. Many gardeners have observed that Ducher has lighter green foliage than some of its close relatives.

Cultivar Name Ducher

Blossom Color – Ivory White

Blossom & Fragrance Double – Very Fragrant

Blooming Period May – First Frost

Mature Height 3 - 5 feet

Mature Width 2 - 5 feet

Rose Category China

Growth Habit Shrub

Landscape Uses:

Ducher is a relatively small shrub rose that works well in the landscape or in a container. These plants require a well drained soil and do best in full sun. This repeat bloomer makes an excellent specimen plant and the fragrant blossoms are extremely attractive.

Joe

Barnyard Good for All That Grows?

With today’s interest in being organic, may folks seem to think “Barnyard Is Best”. Following is an excerpt from the July Pecan Press in which Dr. George Ray McEarchern discussed nitrogen sources for pecan orchards.

“Barnyard manure can be ruled out. In 1949 A.O Alben at the USDA Pecan Station in Shreveport learned manure from the Fort Worth Stockyards caused zinc rosette to the extent that it was discontinued. F. R. Brison called it the barnyard effect when trees failed to grow in soil containing manure. I learned pecan trees can actually die from barnyard manure at a sheep show lot in Lamesa and at a dairy feedlot in El Paso. So manure, even if it is free is not a workable source of nitrogen for pecans."

Last Class Meeting and Tour

On Tuesday July 15 the 07/08 class will have its final meeting. It will include a tour of the SFA arboretum and Nacogdoches area nurseries. We are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. at the arboretum. Those interest in carpooling will want to meet in the parking lot north of the Panda Cafe - south of the Tractor Supply shopping center at 8 a.m. As always, County Master Gardeners are welcome at any class.

Shade and Good Turf - New Zoysiagrass

http://today.ttu.edu/2008/06/new-texas-tech-grass-made-for-the-shade-2/

Often I find a good Master Gardener is accurately described as informed and skeptical. That is I think a good response to the article at the link above. Never-the-less we will want to follow this zoysiagrass with interest.

~Joe