Gardener News July 2016

TAKE ONE

Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities

July, 2016

GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 159

Hard Cider Becomes New Farm Flavor

Melick’s Town Farm Cidery in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, New Jersey

By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor Hard cider in America is an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented juice of apples. And it’s gluten-free.

In the Garden State, it

can contain up to 7 percent alcohol.

The juice of any variety of apple can be used to make cider, but cider apples are best.

Hard cider and beer differ dramatically in their composition. Hard cider is

made from a combination of yeast, apples and sugar.

Beer’s composition is of yeast, hops, barley, and other grains.

With that said, Peter Melick, a featured columnist for the Gardener News and a co-owner of Melick’s Town

Farm in Oldwick and Califon in Hunterdon County, along with his brother John, sister Rebecca, father George and mother Norma, added hard cider to their farm offerings this year.

On several occasions, Pete asked me to sample

Tom Castronovo/Photo

and taste test their hard cider as they were refining the recipes. I must say that it was an honor and educational.

The hard cider tasted a bit like beer, but with a little less carbonation. Over several months, we paired it with (Cont. on page 12) different

2 July, 2016

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4 July, 2016 The ancestors of those fabulous Jersey Fresh peaches that are coming onto the scene now first grew in China and Spain, and then were brought to South America and finally to Jamestown, Virginia.

Soon after that, in the 1600s, peaches were being cultivated in New Jersey, originally in the coastal regions of our state in huge orchards. Later, peach tree stands could be found in almost every region, from mountainous to flat.

Counties from Hunterdon to Gloucester to Cumberland were, at one time or another, the peach production centers of the state. Today we have hundreds of thousands of trees producing an abundance of this fabulous fruit. In fact, New Jersey ranks fourth in the nation for peach production.

All 44 million pounds of Jersey peaches are picked exclusively by hand. Yellow fleshed peaches compose 84 percent, whites 6 percent, yellow and white nectarines 9 percent, and doughnut or flat peaches 1 percent.

How many times have you heard someone utter something special about a Jersey peach? A lot, I suspect.

GardenerNews.com NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

The Jersey Peach However very little mention is made of the varieties available to us. Consider the fact that there exist 100-plus varieties to ask for and that each peach is unique in its flavor profile. The different months’ crops from July to September have various concentrations of color, texture and taste.

There are two basic types of peach – clingstone and freestone. The name itself gives a clue as to clingstone, because the flesh tends to cling to the stone of the peach, which makes it hard to separate. An abundance of clingstones end up in processing. Freestone, on the other hand, has a pit that, just as the name implies, separates easily from the flesh; they are nice size, firm and juicy, and easily devoured.

About 75 percent of peach producers in our state grow on about 5,000 acres. I suggest that you ask at the farm market or store where you shop about the particular fruit being offered.

For instance, at Battleview Orchards, when I was last there, I fell in love with the “Loring Peach.” The owner, Scott Applegate, told me it was an old variety that really doesn’t ship well because it bruises easily. At Battleview, the peaches are sold as via a pick-your-own method, and, of course, you get to pick the ripest, juiciest jumbo ones for your table.

Other favorites are Desiree, Sentry, John Boy, Flamin’ Fury, Gloria, Lady Nancy, Fantasia, EasternGlo and dozens upon dozens more, all imparting something very

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Robert Pine, who is best known as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the hit NBC television series CHiPs (1977–83), looks over the Gardener News in Parsippany, Morris County, N.J. Pine also starred on the soap opera Days of Our Lives as Walker Coleman and had guest appearances in many American television shows, including CBS’ Gunsmoke, Lost in Space, The Silent Force, The Wild Wild West, Barnaby Jones, and Lou Grant. He also appeared on NBC’s Knight Rider. On CBS’ Magnum, P.I., he appeared as Thomas Magnum’s father in a flashback episode.

special for the palate.

Of course, peaches are for more than just eating by themselves, as they are such a fabulous complement to so many dishes. It’s so easy to conjure up images of peach cobbler, peach ice cream, peach enchiladas, peach salsa, pies, jams, jellies, and so on. Today, with Pinterest and other such Internet sites, mouth-watering recipes are just a click away and accessible in a matter of seconds.

Don’t forget that Peaches can freeze really well. For freezing, follow these steps.

First, simply slice soft, ripe Jersey Fresh peaches into a self-sealing freezer bag.

Second, add two tablespoons of sugar for every cup of peaches. Seal and let sit at room temperature for 20

minutes. This allows the sugar to extract the juices from the peaches. Mark the date on the bag and enjoy the fruits of summer all year long.

For more information about anything Jersey Fresh, go to www.jerseyfresh.nj.gov.

Here you will find where our growers have farm stands and farm markets. You can also find out about pick-your-own opportunities and CSAs. Peak peach production is now through the end of September. These are the times to savor and enjoy the flavor, scents, and tastes of all that we produce right here at home.

Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976.

For more info, please visit: http://www.state.nj.us/agriculture

GardenerNews.com

July, 2016 5

6 July, 2016

RUTGERS NJAES/RCE

Dr. William A. Meyer Named the First C. Reed Funk Endowed Faculty Scholar Dr. William A. Meyer has been named the first C. Reed Funk Endowed Faculty Scholar in Plant Biology and Genetics at Rutgers University. This is a tremendous honor for Meyer and the Rutgers Center for Turfgrass Science which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Dean Goodman presented the award to Dr. Meyer at the Rutgers Golf Classic Fundraiser at Fiddlers Elbow Country Club on May 2 in front of over 350 golf industry professionals from eight states and Canada. This is an annual event that has raised over 1.5 million dollars for turfgrass research over the past 20 years.

Dr. Meyer joined the Center as director of the Turfgrass Breeding Program in 1996 after 21 years spent as a commercial turfgrass breeder and corporate president and is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading breeders of cool-season turfgrasses. “Since coming to Rutgers in 1996, Bill Meyer has taken the Rutgers Turfgrass Breeding Program to a whole new level,” said Dr. Bruce B. Clarke, director of the Center for Turfgrass Science. “The turf breeding program was already recognized as the top program in the world during Reed Funk’s tenure, but Bill has really raised the bar in terms of developing new turfgrass cultivars with enhanced pest and stress tolerance that require less fertilizer and water.”

NJAES established the first turfgrass evaluation plots in 1923 and expanded its research and outreach efforts in the 50’s. When pioneer Dr. C. Reed Funk joined the faculty in 1962, the program took a giant step forward. Dr. Funk was the first full-time cool-season turfgrass breeder at a university in the United States. He had a very productive career that spanned over four decades and was responsible for developing landmark cultivars of ryegrass, tall fescue, bluegrass and fine fescue. The breeding team led by Dr. William Meyer and Dr. Stacy Bonos has continued to expand this world famous turfgrass breeding program. They travel the world in search of new sources of turfgrass germplasm. This has dramatically expanded the germplasm base for many of the cool-season turfgrass species that the Rutgers breeding program is famous for and is one of the reasons Meyer and his team have been so successful over the past 20 years.

“I cannot think of anyone more deserving of this award,” said Dr. Bonos, turfgrass breeding faculty and team member. “Dr. Meyer and Dr. Funk worked together on turfgrass cultivar development for years, and Dr. Meyer exponentially grew the turfgrass breeding program to become one of the best in the world. Bill is one of the most respected turfgrass breeders in the industry. I was so pleased to hear of this accomplishment and am honored to be working with such an icon in the industry.”

“Dr. Meyer is richly deserving of the Endowed Scholar award. That this honor is named after his mentor and friend makes the award even more poignant,” said Chris Carson, golf course superintendent-Echo Lake Country Club and past president, NJ Turfgrass Association. “I know that Bill was deeply moved when this was announced, and his many friends in the turf world are thrilled that he has received this recognition!”

Dr. Meyer’s past honors include: the 2011 Breeder’s Cup AwardTurfgrass Breeder’s Association, the 2009 New Jersey Turfgrass Association’s Hall of Fame Award, and the 2009 Professor of the YearPlant Biology Graduate Student Organization.

Scarlet Fire™ Extends Ornamental Dogwood Season The Rutgers 250 All-Star Variety ‘Rutpink’ Scarlet Fire™ dogwood tree is the first Cornus kousa variety released in over 45 years to the ornamental nursery market. Rutgers plant breeder Tom Molnar, continued the decades of work started by renowned breeder and professor emeritus Elwin Orton in the 1970s.

Scarlet Fire™ is a gorgeous deep pink to fuchsia-bracted dogwood tree, known for its deep, consistently pink bracts that contrast beautifully with its dark green foliage. This tree blooms in late May to early June, making it one of the latest-blooming dogwood tree varieties developed at the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

You will be able to find this new variety for sale in New Jersey later this summer into early fall, as well as early next spring. Learn more about the Rutgers dogwood breeding program history, varieties, and news: http://breeding.rutgers.edu/dogwood-trees/ Where can you find Scarlet Fire™?

RareFind Nursery will be selling retail for homeowners late August to early September. You MUST call in advance to be added to their waiting list.

Good Earth Nursery will be selling both retail and wholesale during this time period, but quantities are limited, so be sure to call in advance.

Pleasant Run Nursery will be filling wholesale orders for the nursery and landscape industry in August. Call your local nursery as soon as possible to be added to their waiting list.

GardenerNews.com

From the Director’s Desk

Rutgers Outreach Provided by Larry S. Katz, Ph.D. Director

Strengthening a Zika weak link: what gardeners should know Home gardeners without a travel history will be the “canaries in the coal mine” for emerging Zika virus, the harbingers of transmission.

Although Zika virus infection in healthy humans is usually mild (www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms), this virus can have dangerous and life-long effects in newborns of infected mothers (www.cdc.gov/ zika/pregnancy/index.html). It is therefore especially important to understand the risks and best strategies for prevention and control.

Zika virus infections primarily result from a bite by an infected female mosquito looking for a bloodmeal, and mosquitoes only become infected by biting an infected person. Infected travelers from Central and South America will be the mode of entry of the virus to North America and already almost 600 travel-associated cases have been reported.

However, as of this writing in early-June 2016, there is yet no ongoing transmission of Zika virus in the United States. As the “mosquito season” starts, the questions in everyone’s mind are: Will local transmission occur? And how many people will become infected?

Due to their exposure risk, gardeners may become the first victims and the weak link enhancing Zika virus transmission. However, informed gardeners can take steps to significantly reduce the risk to themselves and their communities.

Mosquitoes, like garden plants, can be “native” or “exotic.” Like native plants, native mosquitoes are often skittish, hard to grow, and rare in cities and suburbs. In contrast, like exceptional exotic plants developed through careful breeding, exotic mosquitoes have been unwittingly “bred” to thrive in polluted nutrient-rich cities and suburbs with no predators, which allow them to become very abundant. Our close association has also selected for mosquitoes that bite humans.

There are currently two mosquito species known to transmit Zika virus, both day-biters and both can occur in New Jersey. Aedes aegypti, a tropical species originally from Africa, was first identified as the vector of yellow fever virus (and therefore called the “yellow fever mosquito”) and Aedes albopictus, the “Asian tiger mosquito,” originally from Japan. Like Purple loosestrife, Japanese honeysuckle and the common daylily, these exotic mosquitoes also spread aggressively, often aided by gardeners. Aedes albopictus has a year-round presence in NJ surviving the winter as cold-hardy eggs. Tropical Aedes aegypti occurs in New Jersey only during the summer, after chance introductions from Southern states.

Aedes females lay eggs in small containers with water. Eggs are deposited above the water line and develop after a rain event or a sprinkler floods them. Mosquito immature, which are called larvae or wrigglers, are aquatic. The most common mosquito-infested containers in New Jersey are used tires, buckets, toys, birdbaths, plant saucers and corrugated gutter extensions in private yards and gardens. While well developed, New Jersey professional county mosquito control programs have very limited jurisdiction in private areas and are unable to develop cost-effective approaches to control these domestic mosquitoes.

The incontrovertible conclusion is that those that spend time outdoors during the day are most at risk to become infected with Zika virus, and if infected will serve as sources of infection to local Aedes mosquitoes, fueling local transmission. While any outdoor activity, such as construction or deliveries, increases the risk of a mosquito bite, dusty, hot and especially dry environments (construction) and continuous motion (deliveries), deter mosquitoes.

In contrast, home gardeners or those tending urban farms surrounded by cool moist environments and crouching close to the ground are easy prey for low flying biting Aedes females. Gardeners must be aware of the risk and act on it.

The first line of defense is personal protection. Use effective repellents and reapply them according to label and CDC guidelines (www.cdc.gov/zika/prevention). Wear long sleeves and long pants and treat your clothing with recommended insecticides such as permethrin or other Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insecticide.

To reduce local mosquito populations, empty or remove unnecessary water-holding containers in your property.

However, if feasible, maintain one or two containers with water treated with a long lasting larvicide such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI), a naturally occurring bacterium (www. cdc.gov/chikungunya/pdfs/surveillance-and-control-of-aedes-aegypti-and-aedes-albopictus-us. pdf). Formulations of BTI are labeled for organic gardening and are harmless to people, pets, wildlife or fish. Although this “decoy” approach is still broadly experimental, it acts to prevent females looking for a place to lay eggs from just moving on. Instead, they will lay eggs in the treated water where the larvae will perish. However, this will only work if the BTI is kept active, otherwise the trap will instead become a source of dangerous mosquitoes. A BTI dunk in water degrades slowly, releasing the bacterium and will last for at least a month. Talk to your neighbors, organize and spread information on mosquito control and prevention. Make sure that is the only similarity between you and a canary.

Editor’s Note: This month’s column is written by Dr. Dina Fonseca, Professor of Entomology, Ecology & Evolution and Public Health.

GardenerNews.com

July, 2016 7

Protecting against mosquito bites will be more important than ever this summer

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Mosquitos are not only irritating, they can carry transmittable diseases.

In New Jersey, there is a large variety of habitats for mosquitoes. With every passing rain storm come new breeding areas. Standing water needs to be drained.

Every day, Christopher Eustis, a Plant Health Care and Insect Control Technician for the Caffrey Tree and Landscape Company, performs a safety inspection on his spray truck before leaving his companies yard in Scotch Plains, Union County, N.J. When Eustis inspects and treats a property, he looks for areas that hold water. These areas will allow mosquitoes to deposit their eggs and develop. Areas he looks for include: old tires, clogged gutters, saucers under pots, culvert pipes, bird baths, toys, wheel barrows, a Frisbee, and buckets. He also looks for wet areas in your lawn or ditches that have standing water.

Since adult mosquitoes often seek refuge in thick shrubs and low-hanging trees, he will also inspect them, and if necessary, recommend thinning and pruning them to reduce their density, which can also help mitigate populations.

His company’s mosquito spray program is designed to eliminate mosquitoes that are currently living in your yard, and is geared to help prevent future infestations from occurring.

Swamp Milkweed

By Hubert Ling Would you like to save the world or at least a part of it? Well then, plant our native swamp milkweed!

Much of the world’s wildlife is in steep decline due to loss of habitat; butterflies have been particularly hard hit with a 96-percent drop in monarch butterfly population during the past 17 years.

Milkweeds are a favorite food for caterpillars and are also a favorite nectar food for the adult butterflies, moths, bees, and hummingbirds.

The name milkweed comes from the fact that the plant, if injured, releases large amounts of milky sap which contains 1- to 2-percent latex and toxic cardiac glycosides.

Thomas Edison and later scientists, in both Germany and the United States, tried to use this latex as a rubber substitute, but these attempts were not successful on a commercial scale.

Swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnata, grows three to five feet tall and is a native perennial, although as with other “soft perennials” the plant must be replaced with seedlings about every six years, since older plants have a tendency to die off. In New Jersey, swamp milkweed produces showy clusters of soft pink, fragrant flowers in July, followed in fall by narrow pods packed with silky “parachutes” (comas) attached to a quarter-inch flat, brown seed.

The silky material from various species of milkweed, although possessing a beautiful silky sheen, has seen very limited use as thread since the fibers are short and brittle and are thus difficult to spin by traditional methods. This material, however, has been widely used as a shimmering backdrop for framed arts and crafts projects.

It was initially used primarily to provide a luxurious background for

pressed butterfly displays, but in our more ecologically sensitive era, it now makes a great background for pressed flowers and ferns. During World War II, millions of pounds of milkweed fluff were collected by patriotic children for pillow stuffing and use in lifejackets. This silky material is currently being experimented on as a humane and superior replacement for downinsulating material for jackets, sleeping bags, etc.

Although the Internet will explain how to get a butterfly kiss from a loved one, right here and now in this article I will explain the mysteries of how to get a real butterfly kiss. First, grow several swamp milkweed plants.

Next, position yourself near some newly matured flowers, use care to avoid pollen or bees if allergic. When a butterfly lands slowly position your nose or cheek very near to the butterfly; the butterfly will naturally flex its wings upon landing and

give you the light brushings of a genuine, wild butterfly kiss!

Swamp milkweeds are easy to grow. They are generally started from seed: simply sow the seeds in a good garden soil as soon as they are ripe in the fall and cover them with about a quarter-inch of soil. A light mulch can be added, but this must be removed gradually starting in April so as not to smother the young seedlings.

Although, as the name implies, swamp milkweed does very well in heavy, damp soil, it will also grow well in lighter, slightly acidic to neutral soil, with moderate watering. They are found growing naturally in damp, full sun to partially shady areas, in the United States and Canada, from Quebec south to Florida and west to Nevada, and are somewhat deer-resistant.

Swamp milkweed is toxic if taken in large amounts, but if used in smaller doses, the Native Americans found that

this semi-toxic mash was a good emetic and worming agent. The monarch butterfly accumulates these toxins within its body without harm; the end result is a very bad tasting butterfly and birds soon learn to avoid monarchs.

A few people develop dermatitis from contact with milkweeds.

The tough fibers of swamp milkweed stems can be used by humans to make twine, rope, and fabrics, and birds such as orioles find them useful for nest construction.

Swamp milkweed plants are found at many garden shops and two cultivars, as well as the native species, are available: “Ice Ballet” is a white selection and “Cinderella” is the normal pink, but with an extended blooming season.

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is the Horticulture Chairman for the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@verizon.net

8 July, 2016

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July, 2016 9

Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

Special Recognition

This month, I am proud to honor Jeannie Geremia, a featured columnist for the Gardener News and the Gardener News 2012 “Person of the Year.” She is also a forward-thinking visionary in the Garden Club of New Jersey.

Since receiving the “Person of the Year” recognition, Geremia has traveled all over the Garden State promoting and educating the state’s residents on the importance of pollinators and backyard wildlife habitats. She has spent countless hours, even days, at Springfest and the New Jersey State Fair in Augusta, Sussex County, the New Jersey Flower and Garden Show in Edison, Middlesex County, community gardens and county fairs throughout the state in her quest to educate. And all on her own time! She is a volunteer extraordinaire.

She is constantly preaching that the pollinator populations are changing. And, that those populations are in decline and this decline is attributed most severely to a loss in feeding and nesting habitats. She also says that pollution, the misuse of chemicals, disease and changes in climatic patterns are all contributing to shrinking and shifting pollinator populations.

Geremia also worked hard to get a State Butterfly in the Garden State. Butterflies are pollinators.

Butterflies benefit plants. They transfer pollen and ensure fruit and seed for the next generation.

They help to maintain genetic diversity among plant populations, and help, through pollination, to provide the food we eat. Without the help of butterflies, there would be no gardens and hardly any food to eat.

On June 9, Geremia received a Joint Legislative Resolution from Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman and Assemblyman Jack M. Ciattarelli and Andrew Zwicker, because pollinators need you.

And you need pollinators.

Here is the exact wording from the Joint Resolution: WHEREAS, The Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey are pleased to honor and salute Jeannie Geremia, a highly esteemed resident of the Garden State, who will be recognized during the Garden Club of New Jersey Inc.’s Annual Meeting, Roots and Wings, at the Bridgewater Marriott Hotel on June 9, 2016; and, WHEREAS, In 2013, after noticing that New Jersey did not have an official State butterfly, Jeannie Geremia led the Garden Club of New Jersey’s efforts to designate the Black Swallowtail butterfly as the Garden’s State’s Lepidoptera, and it was signed into law on January 11, 2016; and, WHEREAS, Jeannie Geremia is to be commended for her steadfast and tireless campaign and extensive research in finding the perfect butterfly to represent the State of New Jersey; and, WHEREAS, Jeannie Geremia has given generously of her time and energies to the Garden Club of New Jersey, including as a member of the Board and as Chairman of the Horticulture Committee and of its State Flower Shows on several occasions, and she has lent her talent as a writer with the Gardener News; and, WHEREAS, Accredited by the National Garden Club Inc. as a flower show judge, Jeannie Geremia has shared her wisdom and expertise at fairs and community events as a speaker on birds, bees, and butterflies; and, WHEREAS, In addition, Jeannie Geremia has demonstrated superb public-spiritedness to Raritan Township as a member of the Open Space and Historic Committees and the Board of Health; and, WHEREAS, It is altogether proper and fitting for this Legislature to recognize Jeannie Geremia, and to salute her as an individual of outstanding character and exceptional determination; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: That this Legislature hereby honors Jeannie Geremia for her invaluable efforts in promoting the Black Swallowtail butterfly as the official butterfly of the Garden State, and extends sincere best wishes for her continued success in all future endeavors; and, Be It Further Resolved, That a duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Senate President and the Assembly Speaker and attested by the Senate Secretary and the Assembly Clerk, be transmitted to Jeannie Geremia.

Geremia also received a Presidential Citation from the Garden Club of New Jersey President at their Annual Meeting.

By protecting natural habitats, creating and maintaining butterfly gardens, and monitoring butterfly populations, we can continue to protect and appreciate these delicate and well-adapted beauties in our urban-suburban landscapes.

If you see a large black butterfly in the garden or in your yard this summer, it’s probably the official New Jersey butterfly.

By the way, Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman was the Gardener News 2014 “Person of the Year.”

Thank you, Jeannie Geremia, for all that you do.

As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable.

Until next time…Keep the “garden” in the Garden State.

-Tom Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

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10 July, 2016

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The Cup Plant, Revisited!

By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey Imagine my horror when I picked up the June issue of Gardener News from Kings Supermarket and read my column, “Gotta Love It!” for the first time since I had written it and proofread it a few weeks before.

I “screwed up” royally, my gardening friends, as I described the perennial cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum as growing four to 10 inches.

Oh, what an error that was, and I caught it immediately this time round. It is a GIANT of a plant that starts out in May, pushing through the earth at 10 inches, and is soon on its way to being all of six to 10 feet tall, and three to six feet wide!

That’s why it is the perfect native plant in a sunny, open location, providing much needed nectar, water, shelter and nesting materials for assorted wildlife. It is a wildlife habitat all in one as the stems are thick and its leaves emanating from the stem form a cup that traps water for birds to get a quick drink. It provides shade on a hot summer day, and its daisy-like, yellow flowers provide nectar for bees and butterflies, plus seeds for birds.

I initially purchased three plants from the Garden Club of Long Valley’s plant sale three years ago, planted it in the pollinator section of the Raritan Township community garden, whereupon it has thrived and I see a few new plants popping up by the parent plants. I went on Lady Bird Johnson’s Wildflower Center site and found it called “Indian cup.” According to the Xerces Society, it has special value to native bees, bumble bees, honeybees, and is a member of the Aster family, but needs space so a cottage garden/meadow

garden setting is perfectly suited to this imposing plant. Sometimes there’s a good reason for “screwing up,” and the cup plant just wanted more good press as a “boon” to our pollinators.

Pollinators are big news as evidenced by countless newspaper, magazine and educational programs devoted to stemming their decline and providing the elements necessary for their survival and ours. It really is a joy to be out and about and see our wildlife up close.

I would love to know how many birds are nesting on our half-acre of property, as their melodies are constantly heard from dawn till dusk.

My husband only got so far with power washing the siding on our house as he uncovered a hidden catbird nest with three gorgeous, large deep turquoise eggs.

Mama catbird was not put off by his intrusion, and is dutifully sitting on these exquisite eggs until they hatch, and then the fun begins with an intense feeding schedule for another three weeks or so. Meanwhile, our robins have hatched out in a nest on the drainpipe and are being fed an assortment of tasty worms and bugs.

Floodlights and backyard lights are doused for the duration. I hear wrens warbling away, but not sure where their nest is, and just a lot of action from chickadees, cardinals and finches.

We’ve stopped feeding the birds, as we don’t want to encourage a bear visitation, plus I always worry about my black swallowtails and other butterflies and their caterpillars being part of the birds’ menus. Hence my butterfly habitats come into play. What can I say, I’m guilty as charged for trying to interrupt nature’s natural pecking order. I just don’t want my caterpillars to be “pecked” upon.

This leads me to a mystery that I don’t know how to solve. I’m hoping some of you will join me in raising black swallowtails, now New Jersey’s official state butterfly, so we can work on solving this together.

The mystery that causes me no end of consternation is not being able to determine when my overwintering chrysalises will hatch out.

The caterpillars all make their chrysalises within days of each other in October, for they’re the generation that will go into diapause, and hibernate overwinter.

I had seven chrysalises last October. One hatched out on December 15, two days before the New Jersey State Assembly passed the bill for it to become the state butterfly. I figured it just had to be a part of the celebration. The second one hatched out on April 25, an exceedingly warm day, followed by many more days of cool, overcast days. Finally, the third one ventured out on May 18, with the fourth and fifth on May 27, sixth on May 28 and the seventh seems to want a June birthday. Some were even on the same twig together. Why such a disparity? And isn’t nature great??!!

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Community Gardens Chair, the Butterflies & BeeGAP Chair, and the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Chair for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., and is a National Garden Clubs, Inc., Accredited Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie can be reached by emailing: jeannieg42@earthlink.net The Garden Club of New Jersey website is: www. gardenclubofnewjersey.com and phone number is: 732249-0947.

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GardenerNews.com Every garden center carries an assortment of annual bedding plants in the spring and summer. For most, as soon as Mother’s Day arrives, their carts are filled with impatiens, begonias and marigolds.

Often I wonder why customers fall into a rut, planting the same thing over and over again. Great landscapes are all about mixing color, texture and size. Years ago I visited a private garden in Nutley, N.J., where white caladiums were part of the foundation planting for striking color in the shade. Instead of the typical humdrum solution, this exciting plant caught my attention from across the street. So I got to thinking; what could I do in strong western sun, at our house, that would be different?

Croton plants are widely considered to be a houseplant in New Jersey, or only seen in the tropics on vacation.

Typically seen as having variegated leaves with shades of yellow, red and green, Croton was originally found in Indonesia. Native to Indonesia, Malaysia, We l l hello!

HELLOOOOOOO! The Jersey shore is at its absolute full strength.

Stronger than ever and better than ever! The best I’ve seen since before “that storm.”

Awesome, normal and full strength. It is finally time to say “Goodbye to the negative forever.”

As much as I am sentimental, I am not sentimental. We have moved on and things are well! Things are good, or however you want to put it. This season finally seems like we are completely back and ready to go. It seems that way from most of the businesses I have spoken to as well.

We are also now into prime time Jersey fresh season! The best stuff we have to offer from our amazing Garden State is here and ready for harvest!

Yes, August and September are still big producers for us, but this is actually Jersey Fresh peak season. Seek it out and let your local market know it is what you are looking for. From peaches, tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, herbs and, of course, corn, to name but a few. Check www.JerseyFresh.nj.gov for

July, 2016 11 Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

Paint Outside The Lines With ‘Picasso Paintbrush’ Australia and the western Pacific Ocean islands, Croton grow in open forests.

Fairly easy to grow indoors, Croton can add a terrific punch to any outdoor planting, particularly if you place them in brightly colored pots and add them to your landscape beds.

Appreciative of a bright location, this helps keep their bold colors strong; they thrive in western and southern locations.

Minimum nighttime temperature of 55 degrees Fahrenheit, they really only require constant, even moisture like any other annual. Not too wet and not too dry! Humidity should be between 40 to 80 percent, something we never seem to have a problem with in New Jersey. After all, how

many times have you heard people talk about our heat and humidity? We certainly don’t have a dry heat like Arizona!

The Croton plant, Codiaeum, comes in many shapes and colors, from yellow, orange, red, green and purple-red. New leaves are green and change color as they mature. Glossy, leathery, smoothed-edged leaves and their bright markings, involving patterns that are blotched and striped, are both bold and unique.

As with most plants, there are a wide variety of cultivars available to the consumer. “Brasil” is an Oakleaf-style Croton with dark-green leaves that appears to be smeared with yellow paint while “Banana” has narrow, dark-

green foliage with yellow streaks. “Congo,” the variety I love to use in our foundation bed, has thick, leathery leaves with a range of colors; orange, green, yellow and red. However, my new favorite, which we’re using in our cobalt blue, outdoor planters this year, is “Picasso Paintbrush.”

Extremely narrow leaves with green, orange, yellow, red and purple, this plant has a unique, free-form growing habit, almost like colorful dreadlocks.

Annuals are plants that you replant every year.

They go from our last frost date in the spring until the first one we have in the fall. Customers sometimes balk at the cost of planting annuals; not seeing the reward they have on a

From the Deep

By Craig Korb Executive Chef

Grilling fish, clams and veggies the nearest farmers market as well. These are usually local farmers with great stuff at a good price.

The French term for wrapping or sealing your food in paper and cooking it is call “en pappilote,” which basically means “in paper.”

It is super easy and great for summer outdoor eating. You can also get very creative with these and create your own signature recipes.

Being that I love fish, as well as summer produce, I will be doing this particular recipe. Feel free to change or alter it to your liking. First, find the type of protein you would like to use, such as fish, shrimp, scallops, lobster tails, sausage, or whatever.

Next up, choose the type of vegetables you would like, either from your own garden

or the store. I’m going to use corn, tomatoes and potatoes.

Next up is the herbs. You can use things like dill, tarragon, thyme, basil, parsley, cilantro or whatever flavorful herb you desire. A little salt and fresh black pepper, a splash of wine or beer, a squeeze of lemon and a sheet of aluminum foil and you’re ready to go.

Good luck and have fun with this one, it is really hard to mess this one up. ENJOY SUMMER!!

Fish, clams and veggies in foil on the grill (serves 1) 1 ear of fresh Jersey corn, shucked and broken in half 1 large sheet of aluminum foil, a little extra doesn’t hurt 1 fresh filet of fish, such as striped bass, cod, sea bass, grouper or snapper 2 sprigs of fresh thyme 1 ripe Jersey tomato, cut

into quarters 1 red bliss potato, cut into thin slices juice of half a lemon 1/2 tsp. good quality olive oil salt and fresh black pepper 1 Tbsp. dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio 3 fresh clams in their shells 4-5 slices of chorizo sausage, OPTIONAL method-preheat grill to mediumhigh heat -lay foil sheet out on table to assemble ingredients -brush the center of the sheet with the olive oil -begin by placing the fish down first followed by the rest of the ingredients except the wine, which will be last -once everything is down, start to gather up the foil

daily basis. My argument has always been that when you go out to dinner for a better meal, that experience is gone the next day. The cost of planting annuals can be rewarding from mid-May thru October.

Croton offer so much more than the casual companion plant in a dish garden. And while they can exceed heights of four to six feet in their native space, our outdoor growing season will limit them to only one to two feet, making them suitable and exciting for just about any outdoor planter or landscape bed.

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331. loosely around the food; you want to allow a little space for the steam to circulate inside -crimp the edges together as tightly as possible and just before the “pouch” is almost closed, carefully add the white wine, then seal completely -place on a sheet pan directly on grill, being careful not to puncture the aluminum; if you do, just grab another sheet and double it up -allow to cook on the grill with the lid closed for approximately 12 minutes.

Let rest a few minutes, serve on a plate. When ready to eat, just carefully open the foil pouch using a knife to make a slit, be careful, because the steam will shoot out and be very hot.

ENJOY! Editor’s Note: Craig Korb is executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn, Lavallette, New Jersey. He has an Associates degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelors degree in Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. For more information visit www.TheCrabsClaw.com or phone (732) 793-4447.

12 July, 2016

GardenerNews.com

Hard Cider Becomes New Farm Flavor foods. And it was refreshing.

I learned that the apples used to make the line of Melick’s Hard Cider are handpicked and crafted into cider on their traditional rack and cloth cider press. The apple juice process is then fermented into hard cider.

The Melick family debuted their new hard cider to the public during their first ever hard cider festival on June 4, on the family’s farm in Oldwick. Hundreds of people attended and sampled this new Jersey offering

under the hot sun as they enjoyed hay wagon rides around the apple orchards.

Attendees also learned about old-fashioned apple pressing equipment that was on display in a museum tent.

And the Oldwick Volunteer Fire Company sold food as a fund-raiser. I must admit that this was my first time attending a hard cider festival. It was fun. After spending an enjoyable day on their farm, I decided to feature this newest farm-tobottle operation.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Peter, left, Rebecca and John Melick in the family’s cidery.

(Continued from page 1) When I contacted Pete a few days later, he was busy planting pumpkins and sweet corn. And I learned over time to never bother a farmer at planting time. He put me in touch with his brother, John, who is spending more time working in the cidery.

John and I chatted for a while on the phone. He invited me back to the farm to give me a VIP tour of the hard cidery and answer some questions.

What year did the family farm begin?

In 1728.

What generation farmer are you?

I am a 10th-generation farmer.

What year did your family’s farm begin producing sweet apple cider?

My father started in the sweet cider business in 1964.

What year did your family’s farm begin producing hard cider?

Fermentation started in September of 2015 and we

Tom Castronovo/Photo

George Melick gets ready to bottle the family’s hard cider. started bottling and selling our finished product this past January.

What’s the difference between sweet apple cider and hard cider?

Sweet cider is freshly squeezed apple juice. To produce hard cider, we take our fresh sweet cider and place it in fermentation tanks where the sugars slowly convert to alcohol. Prior to bottling the hard cider, we add carbonation.

How many different apple varieties do you grow on the farm?

We grow approximately 25 different varieties of traditional apples and eight varieties of hard cider apples.

How many acres of apple trees do you have?

We grow about 75 acres of apples between our Oldwick and Califon farms.

Are special apples used for making hard cider?

Hard (Cont. on page 16)

GardenerNews.com

July, 2016 13

Old and New Garden Favorites There are certain plants that gardeners learned in their youth and then dismissed as mundane when they began to garden for themselves.

Monarda, or Beebalm, was one of those plants for me. I recall how the red flowers glowed in my parents’ garden, and enjoyed its ability to attract a variety of bees and pollinators, as its common name belies. However, when I first started to use it in designs, its aggressive nature and lackluster autumn appearance caused me to dismiss this genus.

As is often the case, age and education changed my impression.

Monarda is in the Lamiaceae, or Mint Family, as is made evident by the square stems that typify this family. The genus name was penned by Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) and honors In this article, I’m going to talk about four action items that, if followed, will yield gorgeous floral results any backyard enthusiast and professional estate gardener would be proud of.

The first is really how popular container planting has become. The second topic I will cover will be basic plant selection. The third area will be setting up and preparing your container and plants, and finally, caring for your masterpiece.

Container planting has become a beautiful accent piece to any house entrance, deck, patio and pool. I know firsthand from my landscape installation crews that they work long hours during the spring to get all our commercial clients’ lobbies, front entrances and pool area containers planted up with just the right “wow” factor.

It’s almost comical when the truck arrives at my garden center from Florida, loaded with tropical plants. Most of what is not already preordered by our garden center customers, or booked for installation clients, flies out of there within a week.

Nicolás Monardes (14931588) who was the physician for King Philip II of Spain and wrote an extensive three-volume treatise on medicinal plants of North America. The plant of my youth, Monarda didyma, is native from Georgia to Maine and west to the Mississippi.

The species epithet was crafted by Linnaeus from the Latin meaning “in pairs” or “twins,” referring to the stamens that appear in pairs.

Typical to the genus, the flowers appear in dense terminal clusters of 20 to 50 atop 24- to 30-inch stems that, for this genus, are deep red. The flowers are generally 1 to 1½ inches long and are two-lipped; the upper lip is narrow and arches upwards, while the lower lip consists of three parts, with the central lobe the largest. This species is often called Oswego Tea, reflecting the history of how the Oswego Native American Indians of New York taught the European settlers the medicinal

benefits of a tea steeped from the plant’s leaves.

The red flowers are also a magnet for hummingbirds!

The plants prefer average to moist, humus-enriched soils and spread readily by underground rhizomes.

The biggest problem is the development of powdery mildew on the foliage during late-summer; it is exacerbated in areas with poor ventilation and can result in defoliation.

Although Monarda didyma is probably the best known species, there are numerous other species that rank as excellent garden-worthy contenders.

The species that Linnaeus first described and is the “type” species for the genus is Monarda fistulosa. The species epithet is from the Latin for a narrow duct or passage and describes the tubular shape of the corolla.

Native to Eastern North America, this species is often found in old fields of Northern New Jersey and it brandishes light to medium

pink flowers in mid-August through September. Unlike its aforementioned cousin, it is less susceptible to powdery mildew and it grows happily to three feet tall in drier soils.

It, too, spreads via rhizomes, but also throws numerous seedlings, allowing it to readily colonize large gardens or meadows. The flowers attract large numbers of pollinators, including the Eastern Swallowtail Butterfly.

Another species that I recently discovered is Monarda bradburniana, Bradbury’s Beebalm.

Bradbury (1768-1823) was a naturalist who explored regions around the Mississippi River, which is home to this species. Named in 1826 by Lewis Caleb Beck (1798-1853), this species unveils dense heads of purplish-pink flowers with purple subtending bracts from late-May into June.

Clump forming in nature, the mildew-free foliage also displays attractive purple and red fall colors.

The NJLCA Today

By Tom Canete Association President

Bringing the Tropics to Your Backyard Plant selection is very important. If you are unsure of what can or can’t be planted in the sun or the shade, wet areas or dry, don’t be embarrassed to ask for assistance when purchasing your plants. Don’t just buy it because you really like the plant. The plants must be suited to the environment you are planting them in, much like when you plant directly in your garden.

Here are a few popular container plants we use and sell categorized into three areas: “Thrillers” – are the focal point of your container. It almost always stands up higher than the rest of the plants.

Some examples of thrillers are annual grasses, Canna Lily, Palms, tall Coleus, and spikes.

“Fillers” – do exactly that.

They fill up the empty areas

with a variety of seasonal color. Examples of fillers are Nemesia, upright Petunia, Euphorbia, and annual Vinca.

The third type of container plants are “spillers.” These are plants that cascade or spill down the side of the container. A few spillers are: Sweet Potato Vine, Million Bells, Trailing Verbena, and Scaevola.

Selecting your containers is usually a one-time task, since you can re-use them every year (protected from frost), unless you add onto your container collection, and it does become addicting.

First, decide what kind of pot you will use and make sure it has drainage holes at the bottom. Use a good quality potting mix soil (don’t use a previous year’s soil as it may harbor diseases) and

fill the container halfway to start. Arrange the plants in your pot so that the thriller is planted in the center and the fillers around it. Plant the spillers closer to the edge of the container so they will spill over the sides.

When all the plants are in place, make sure all pockets between them are filled in with the potting mix. It is most important to water your container thoroughly after planting. Make sure the water flows out of the drainage holes.

The most important facet of this article is to talk about proper maintenance. Here are a few “tricks of the trade” to keeping container plants and hanging baskets looking great: Trim them back once a month to encourage new growth back at the base of the plants so the plants don’t get

Providing flowers and nutrition for pollinators from May to September, Monarda is easily woven into a sunny or part-shade garden composition, once again proving that age and education only helps to improve the gardener and the garden.

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth; is the managing director of the Rutgers Gardens, a 180acre outdoor teaching classroom, horticultural research facility and arboretum; an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; regularly participates in the Rutgers – Continuing Education Program; and the immediate pastpresident of the Garden State Gardens Consortium.

He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu too leggy. After pruning, give your plants a shot of fertilizer, which encourages new growth on the plants. Lastly, but most importantly, container plants and hanging baskets need water daily. The morning is the best time to water, as they tend to dry out during the day. Also, water sitting on the plant leaves at night can cause fungal issues. On very hot and dry days, you may have to water the container more than once a day. You always need to keep an eye on your plants to make sure they are not wilting.

If you need any assistance in choosing plants for your decorative containers and other landscape projects, come visit us at the Canete Garden Center. We are open seven days a week.

Editor’s Note: Tom Canete is president of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association, also known as the NJLCA. He is also owner of Canete Landscape, Inc., Canete Snow Management, Inc. and Canete Garden Center, Inc. all located in Wayne, N.J. He can be reached by emailing tom@canete.com

14 July, 2016

GardenerNews.com

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July, 2016 15

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16 July, 2016

GardenerNews.com

Hard Cider Becomes New Farm Flavor (Continued from page 12)

The apple press. cider can be made from any apple. However, apples high in tannins and acidity tend to create a more complex flavor profile. For that reason, we select some of our freshmarket apple varieties that have these characteristics.

We have also planted a new 1,000-tree orchard that contains eight different hard cider varieties. These apples will be used exclusively for hard cider.

What is the alcohol content of hard cider?

Our hard ciders range from 6.0 to 6.9 percent alcohol content How many different types of hard cider do you produce?

Currently, we produce a traditional one that combines champagne yeast with old and new world cider apples to create a crisp, semi-sweet, and full-flavored hard cider.

One that combines the zing of fresh ginger, a touch of sweetness, and a blend of old and new world cider apples to create a crisp, semi-dry, full-flavored hard cider. And a lemon shandy cider that combines a blend of apples, lemons, and pure cane sugar to create a refreshing summertime, anytime drink.

We continue to experiment and plan to release peach, cherry, pear, hops and blueberry hard ciders in the future.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Scott Wyant, the cider maker at Melick’s, labels bottles and packs them for distribution.

Cooperative Extension programs from Pennsylvania and New York have been helpful in fine-tuning our skills, avoiding pitfalls and trouble shooting.

How much time does it take to make hard cider?

Initial fermentation takes about two to three weeks. After that, we filter and transfer to another tank where we let it age. Aging can be as little as a few weeks or as much as many months.

We monitor and evaluate the hard cider through the whole process and we won’t bottle it until its ready.

Does hard cider need to Tom Castronovo/Photo be refrigerated like sweet cider?

Do you have to have a Although refrigeration special license to produce is not necessary, it is my hard cider? recommendation that We have a federal customers avoid temperature license from the Alcohol extremes. Store it like beer. and Tobacco Tax and Trade Refrigerate before serving.

Bureau and a farm winery license from the New Jersey Alcohol Beverage Control.

Candidates for farm winery licenses must not only grow the fruit and squeeze the juice on the farm, but all fermentation and bottling must take place on premises.

Was it easy to get?

The licensing process took about one year. The NJABC will not issue a license based upon an idea.

They waited until all of the equipment was in place and ready to operate.

I see a non-family member running the cidery. Norma Melick checks on Oldwick store.

Can you tell me who he is?

Scott Wyant.

Does hard cider have a How did you meet shelf life?

Scott?

Just like beer, consume A mutual friend of ours hard cider sooner rather than brought the two of us together later. Since it is a carbonated over drinks. The original beverage, its quality will reason for the introduction deteriorate over a long was Scott’s interest to join duration. the local fire company How is your hard cider where I am a member. After packaged? talking a while, I discovered Currently we sell our Scott’s hobby and passion hard ciders in 500 ml (16.8 for making hard cider that he ounce) bottles and kegs. acquired while living abroad We have plans to sell it in in Switzerland.

16-ounce four-packs as well.

Have you visited any Is it available in your hard cider industry trade farm stands? shows?

We sell directly to Scott and I attended customers at our Oldwick CiderCon in Portland, Ore., farm stand and plan to offer at this past winter. our Bridgewater and Califon What about education stands when they open for and training? the season.

Is there anywhere else I can get it?

We are self-distributing to a few dozen area liquor stores and restaurants.

We maintain a complete list on our website, www. melickstownfarm.com.

Do you have any cider swag yet?

Currently we have T-shirts and custom made bottle openers, but many other things are in the works.

Are there any other products that you produce using your farms’ apples?

Utilizing our newly purchased carbonation equipment, we have been producing sparkling nonalcoholic cider. This is sold in 750 ml glass bottles.

When I was getting ready to leave, I purchased a few bottles of each flavor. They made my night.

Anytime I get a chance to

Tom Castronovo/Photo

the display at the family’s visit a family farm is a real treat. Thank you, John, for taking the time to host me.

I’ll be back for my sweet corn and pumpkins later in the season.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

GardenerNews.com

July, 2016 17

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Tiny Wasp Battles Big Invasive Menace

By Sharon Durham Public Affairs Specialist A wispy wasp may pack a potent punch in the fight against the emerald ash borer (EAB), an insect pest that causes catastrophic ash tree losses in the United States.

EAB has wings that are deep emerald green on the outer edge and a body underneath that’s iridescent magenta. Its stunning appearance belies the fact that it is a deadly, non-native pest that has killed tens of millions of ash trees in North America since its detection in 2002 in Detroit, Michigan, and Ontario, Canada.

The cost of EAB damage is staggering. According to U.S. Forest Service estimates, responses to EAB infestation between 2009 and 2019—including treatment, removal, and replacement of more than 17 million ash trees—could total $10.7 billion.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists, along with collaborators at the University of Massachusetts, found a tiny titan—Tetrastichus planipennisi—that can reduce EAB population growth by a whopping 90 percent.

A recent 7-year field study

conducted by scientists from the Agricultural Research Service (Jian Duan), the Forest Service (Leah Bauer and Mike Ulyshen), and the University of Massachusetts (Roy van Driesche and Kris Abell) showed that the T. planipennisi released between 2007 and 2010 in central Michigan spread quickly and contributed to a significant reduction in EAB population growth. T. planipennisi parasitizes EAB larvae by drilling through the bark and laying eggs on its host.

The research team observed a 90-percent decline in live EAB larvae in infested ash trees at both parasitoid-release plots and control plots. According to Duan, 7 years’ worth of field data demonstrated that the decline in EAB larvae was correlated with significant increases in EAB larval parasitism, first by native parasitoids, then by T. planipennisi. The study was recently published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.

Editor’s Note: Sharon Durham works for the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

She can be reached at 301504-1651 or by emailing Sharon.Durham@ars.usda.gov

18 July, 2016 Most people have a pond on their property in Maine or live in close proximity to one. There are three goodsized ones within walking distance of my house.

This past weekend, three times I had to slow way down and put my flashers on because a gaggle of geese or a brace of ducks decided to use the roadway to go to wherever they were going. Now, this is where it gets interesting, folks.

I had a pet domestic white duck as a child that popped out of the egg right in my hand. Needless to say, we bonded. Sylvia would preen my hair, etc.

Anywhere I went, Sylvia went. And she talked to me all the time and I mimicked her and talked back. She really seemed to like it.

So anyway, I park the car, get out and start softly duck whispering to the Mallard brace; seven ducklings and the mom.

They stopped, looked at me, and this is the God’s honest truth, and I have witnesses, followed me out of the road up on the lawn, around the fence and back to the pond One part of our business that has really taken off over the past few years has been the production and sale of fresh cut flowers. With many of the traditional independent florists going the way of the video store and the local blacksmith’s shop, it seems as if the options for purchasing a fresh bouquet are becoming more and more limited.

While it is true that you can usually find something that used to resemble a rose at certain gas stations and convenience stores, and most of the modern supermarkets do a pretty decent job of keeping a selection of some decent-looking flowers, the fact of the matter is that there are usually some very limited options for finding a quality bouquet of flowers on the spur of the moment.

We got started growing cut flowers in a very small way. I planted a 100-foot row of zinnias one year, not with the intent of selling them, but in the hope of maybe trying to impress my future wife.

They grew pretty well and we were able to sell some of the ones that were left over, (of course, my wife got the

GardenerNews.com The Miscellaneous Gardener

By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer

Braces and Gaggles Everywhere! where they marched single file and all went in.

I sat on the edge of the pond for a little while talking to them. They did not talk back, but stayed very close, much to the amazement of my friends.

I got up from the pond’s edge, walked back to my friends who just shook their heads and told me that they would not have believed it if they had not seen it with their own eyes. I gotta tell you, it cracked me up as well and was a very nice, heartwarming moment.

Eh-hem…my feeding them wild duck food for the past couple of weeks may have played a part in all this, because they obviously recognized and liked me but, the ol’ Duck Whisperer did not need to

share that with his friends, now did he?

I asked my neighborhood Fish &Wildlife guy if there were a lot of urban waterfowl families and he told me there are tons of them! Ducks and geese! It was a very common and somewhat harrowing sight to see them leading a string of babies across a busy road. Many of the calls they receive during the spring and early-summer are from people who want to know “Why are they here?” and “How can I help them?”

The following are some answers to the most common early-summer waterfowl questions: Why are they so far from water? Mallards, geese, etc. look for nesting locations away from predator attacks.

In urban environments, this may include raccoons, foxes, dogs and cats. Urban park ponds can be overpopulated with ducks. It is not uncommon for ducks to set up their nest as far as a mile from water, ergo why we see them on their hikes to the ponds.

What should I do if I see a mom with ducklings?

Once the young hatch, mallards will lead their young to water. Sometimes this requires traversing a hazardous route. It may require crossing roads. I stop and put my flashers on.

And, it is tempting to try and “rescue” the ducklings, but it is important to let the mother handle the situation, because she knows what she is doing. Attempts to capture the young and

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Cut Flowers best ones) and we just kept growing from there.

The next year, we planted some sunflowers to go with the zinnias. After that, we tried to find some other flowers that were also suitable for cutting but that would be a nice accompaniment to the zinnias and sunflowers. This led to us growing ageratum, amaranthus, gomphrena and some different types of celosia. I should also add that at this time, our main intent was to produce mixed bouquets of flowers that were ready to sell to our regular customers who were purchasing fruits and vegetables.

After we settled on the right mixes of flowers for our bouquets, our next challenge was to try and come up with a consistent supply of flowers

that would carry us through the season, from June until frost. This led us to make multiple plantings of flowers.

We now start planting sixweek-old transplants outside in the middle of May and continue plantings (both transplants and direct seedings) right up until the last week of August. The idea is to keep a constant supply of flowers coming throughout the season.

These flowers all react differently. Some flowers, such as certain types of sunflowers, only produce one flower. Other flowers, like zinnias for example, will produce flowers for the bulk of the growing season if they are cared for properly. Most of the other varieties that we grow fall somewhere in between these two examples,

although this will vary from one year to the next, depending upon the growing conditions. If ageratum is cut uniformly, leaving about two inches of growth above the ground, it will re-grow nicely if it is fertilized and watered properly. The amaranthus that we grow sends up a large plume early in the season.

After that is cut, it forces much smaller blooms out through its side shoots. These smaller blooms are actually much nicer and easier to work with than its initial flower.

Another characteristic that we look for is what attributes certain flowers bring to the bouquet. Flowers such as zinnias, gladiolus and sunflowers have their bright and showy blooms. But these types of flowers need to be accented by something a

transport them to “safer” locations will frequently cause the mother to “spook” and fly away. Ducklings will often scatter and are very difficult to catch.

Although well-meaning, attempts to interfere usually make a bad situation even worse.

What should I do if I find a lost or abandoned duckling?

Ducklings frequently become separated from their mothers. If the mother is believed to be nearby, it is best to leave the duckling alone. It will “peep” and alert the mother to its whereabouts. She will usually circle back shortly to her duckling. If there are ducklings known to be orphaned, they may be brought to Portland Audubon’s Wildlife Care Center or other Re-hab Centers. Your Fish & Wildlife people will have phone numbers for you to call.

Thanks for reading and see ya next month.

Editors Note: Check out Richard’s photography at; rwperkinsphotography.com little more understated, like celosia or gomphrena. These flowers are also able to add some physical bulk to the bouquet. We have also, from time to time, added some colorful types of basil to our arrangements. Not only is it nice to look at, but it adds an extra dimension by having a great aroma as well. The only problem with basil is that it does not hold up quite as long as most of the other flowers that we use.

And there is no reason that home gardeners cannot arrange flower bouquets themselves. With a little planning and creativity, a full vase is only a few snips away!

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is currently the Mayor of Tewksbury Township. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.

GardenerNews.com That’s an interesting question when most folks seem to believe that new growth on shrubs is a blight on our landscapes.

At this time each year, we have this discussion, which will hopefully mold our thinking. To understand this properly, we should research what type of plant we are talking about and what the mature version of that plant is supposed to look like.

Yes, many formal hedges and topiaries should be sheared regularly, but most of our ornamental plants need to be systematically pruned with hand cutters and loppers. These are the tools of the trade when we talk about proper pruning or horticultural pruning, as we like to refer to the process. Pruning needs to be considered a horticultural practice, meaning you should only make cuts which will improve the health and look of the plant. Too often, the hedge shears are used to sculpt plants to fit the location.

Let us then take a step back and determine whether the plants in question should have

July, 2016 19 The Landscaper

By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional

It’s July, So We Have to Prune, Don’t We? been used in these locations.

Many times, transplanting to a better location or simply removing the plants from the landscape will offer a chance to install a plant which will better suit that location.

Be careful of the time of year, as many transplants will now need to wait until the cooler temperatures of early-fall. Some plants may even have to wait until very early next spring. The use of plants with dwarf or lower growth habit may offer an opportunity for the plant to mature in a specific location and minimize the amount of pruning necessary.

When making a careful inspection of your property, take time to identify what problems are visible and what practices are needed to correct them. This should

be done well in advance of bringing out the pruning tools. A professional’s help may be needed to diagnose problems which are not obvious.

After you eliminate any problems inherent in the landscape, the pruning can begin. Look for dead wood, crossing or branches touching others, branching which is circling back to the trunk and, in some plants, old, woody branches which detract from the plant’s beauty. Get a mental picture of the plant before you attack with the pruners.

Again, using handheld bypass pruners and either a lopper or through the use of a saw, just about all of your woody, as well as green, branches can be pruned.

When doing any pruning,

Presidential Recognition

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Garden State Gardens Consortium (GSGC) President Diane Allen, left, presented a plaque to outgoing consortium president Lesley Parness at the June 14 GSGC meeting at Laurelwood Arboretum in Wayne, Bergen County, N.J. Parness received the plaque in recognition of her efforts on behalf of the GSGC as President from 2013 through 2015.

care must be taken to work properly and safely.

Dead wood should be the first consideration. This year specifically, there may be an abundance of small, annoying dead branches left behind by our cicada friends. Much of this will fall off naturally, but you may want to prune it out of your ornamentals.

By removing these parts of the plant which are not viable, you can then prune for size and shape. Cuts need to be made in a way which will promote a healthy appearance. These need to be just above a bud which is facing in the direction you want the new growth to follow. This is true on almost all of your ornamental plants.

Many times, plants produce an overabundance of interior branching. Cleaning out and

thinning by pruning some of this material back to the trunk will allow new growth to prosper. This type of renewal pruning is especially helpful with multi-stemmed plants such as forsythia, which produce flowers on new growth quickly.

Timing of pruning is important with most plants.

Spring flowering material should be pruned when the current year’s flowers have faded. Deciduous plants grown primarily for their foliage, can be pruned almost any time, with care taken to avoid their growth spurts in the spring.

Evergreen plants, while not needing much pruning if properly planted, can be pruned almost anytime as well. Knowing the growth habit of your plants will help reduce the amount of pruning which is needed.

Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield.

He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490

Open gates weekend highlights positive effects of community gardens throughout Morris County 0255,672:1 1- ĘŠ 7KH ODWHVW EX]] DURXQG WKH KRW WRSLFV RI IRRG and health centers on the growing number of community gardens across the country. Community gardens foster civic engagement, offer support to local food pantries, enhance quality of life for their participants, and greatly reduce their carbon footprint.

On the weekend of July 30-31, Community Gardens throughout Morris County will be open to the public for Open Gates Weekend. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, you can take a tour of these gardens, explore what’s growing, and learn their histories.

Discover the joys of growing your own food and eating local.

This event showcases the beauty and diversity of Morris County’s Community Gardens, and highlights the people, plants and planting techniques that make these gardens thrive. The connection to local food pantries is another important feature at Morris County Community Gardens.

According to Lesley Parness, Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission: “Each garden has found a unique way to help address the issues of food security here in Morris County.

Garden tours, food tastings, and garden related demonstrations will all be offered at the various Community Gardens.�

According to Milena T. Caraballo, Marketing Team Leader, Whole Foods Market of Morristown, “Whole Foods Market is proud to partner with the Friends of the Frelinghuysen Arboretum’s Open Gate Weekend to make community gardens accessible to the public. We’re always excited to contribute to the education process and help consumers make informed decisions to lead better, healthier lives through eating and makes supporting our communities really special and fun.�

Admission is FREE, and no registration is required for this rainor-shine program. This event is sponsored by The Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum, with additional support from Whole Foods Market of Morristown.

For more information about Open Gates Weekend, and a map of Open Gates Community Gardens, visit arboretumfriends.org.

20 July, 2016

GardenerNews.com

Industry meeting hosts two excellent speakers Bob LaHoff, a featured columnist for the Gardener News, co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center in Berkeley Heights, Union County, N.J., and a member of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) hosted an NJNLA membership chapter meeting on June 2. The meeting was open to members or non-members. At 6 p.m., an incredible Italian buffet dinner was served to all of the attendees. At 6:30 p.m., Bob Heitzman, president of the NJNLA, welcomed his members and the guests. LaHoff followed with a greeting from his family’s business.

Next up were two excellent industry speakers who spoke about a variety of plant topics.

First up was Stephen Schuckman, an ISA Certified Arborist and a New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert. Steve has worked for both public entities and well-respected horticultural institutions. Steve has seen all the good, the bad, and the ugly pruning cuts and mistakes you could imagine. He shared some of the most (unfortunate) common mistakes made by landscapers and homeowners alike. He emphasized correct pruning practices and the importance of knowing your plants. Schuckman is the owner of First Mountain Arboriculture, a horticultural consulting and urban forestry company.

Following Schuckman was John Mohr. Mohr has been working in the nursery industry for 50 years. Twenty-two of those years were spent at Split Rock Nursery under the tutelage of Larry Frank. Split Rock was an eight-acre nursery in Paramus, N.J., known for growing dwarf conifers and rhododendrons. From there, John spent 13 years at Shemin Tom Castronovo/Photo Nurseries. In 2000, he attained his career goal of working for the premier Bob LaHoff, left, a featured columnist for the Gardener News, grower of dwarf and unusual conifers in the world, Iseli Nursery. He has co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center, and a member of the NJNLA, been with Iseli for the past 16 years. Mohr spoke about some of the best discusses the Certified Nursery Landscape Professional program with and most unique dwarf conifers available in the trade today, as well as the Bob Heitzman, president of the NJNLA. future direction of Iseli Nursery.

The meeting concluded at 8 p.m. with coffee, Italian pastries and networking.

NJNLA was first organized in 1915 as the New Jersey Association of Nurserymen (NJAN). In 1935, the group incorporated under the same name.

Around the same time, a group of North Jersey plantsmen founded the Metropolitan Nurseryman’s Association. In the 1950s, the two groups merged into one organization under NJAN, but maintaining the Metro Chapter, thus beginning the current chapter structure of the organization. Later on, the NJAN added a third chapter, a central chapter, to go with the south and north, or metro, chapters. In 1988, the association saw a continued increase in membership from the landscape industry, and the board voted to rename the organization. The name became the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association and it remains that today. In 2008, the NJNLA merged with the Professional Landscape Alliance of New Jersey and added a fourth chapter.

The NJNLA regularly hosts a variety of local meetings and conferences to advance their goals of educating their members, increasing professionalism, and developing a robust community of peers. Today, the statewide organization exists with four chapters, each of which includes members from a variety of green industry segments.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Featured speakers Steve Schuckman, left, and John Mohr catch up on industry happenings before the NJNLA meeting begins.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Tony Maiello, left, manager of Metroploitan Plant Exchange in West Orange, Essex County, N.J., and Tom Hall, co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center, chat about the state of the green industry.

GardenerNews.com

July, 2016 21 Consumer Use of Neonicotinoids Banned

0$5</$1' Ę&#x160; $ VWDWH EDQ RQ FRQVXPHU XVH RI QHRQLFRWLQRLG SHVWLFLGHV LV VODWHG WR WDNH HIIHFW -DQ DIWHU 0DU\ODQG *RY /DUU\ +RJDQ announced that he will allow S.B. 198/H.B. 211 to become law without his signature.

The legislation, which includes exceptions for certified applicators, farmers and veterinarians, makes Maryland the first state to adopt such a ban on consumer use, according to a coalition of environmental organizations operating as Smart on Pesticides Maryland. The measure was prompted by concerns that neonicotinoid pesticides contribute to mortality of pollinators such as bees, birds and butterflies. Under the legislation, a person who violates the ban will be subject to a $250 civil penalty, although language added just before passage specifies that such violation isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t considered a misdemeanor under existing penalty provisions of the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s agriculture statute.

The ban will apply to the sale and use of imidacloprid, nithiazine, acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam and any other chemical designated by the Maryland Department of Agriculture as a neonicotinoid. Exceptions are provided for pet care products used to mitigate fleas, mites, ticks and heartworms; personal care products used to mitigate lice and bedbugs; and indoor pest control products, such as ant bait.

News from APHIS APHIS Removes the Requirement for Trapping for the Light Brown Apple Moth (Epiphyas postvittana) at Plant Nurseries in the Regulated Areas in California Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) removes the requirement for trapping for the light brown apple moth (LBAM) on farms and premises that are eligible to moveâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;under certificateâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;any nursery stock, cut flowers, garlands, wreaths or greenery of any plants, trees and shrubs, and green waste in any of the regulated counties.

The attached Federal Order describes the changes in the trapping requirement and the requirements for the interstate movement of LBAM-regulated articles. This action is necessary to relieve restrictions that have been determined to have no risk-based reason for continuance. APHIS, in cooperation with the California Department of Food and Agriculture and local county agricultural commissioners, maintains its survey and regulatory framework to prevent the artificial spread of LBAM to other states or trading partners.

LBAM is native to Australia and has established populations in New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and Hawaii. The host range for LBAM includes more than 250 plant species. Maps and a list of the federal quarantine area are provided at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/planthealth/lbam For further information about the LBAM program, you may call National Policy Manager Richard Johnson at 301-851-2109. ### APHIS Changes Requirements for Movement of Soil from Phytophthora ramorum Quarantined Areas for Analysis Effective immediately, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is revising the conditions for the interstate movement of regulated soil from Phytophthora ramorum quarantined areas when the soil is moving to an APHIS-approved soil laboratory for physical or chemical analysis. This action removes the certification requirement and authorizes movement under a compliance agreement. The movement of bulk soil for other purposes (e.g., disposal, landscaping, use in potting media) is not included in this action and will continue to require certificates per the Code of Federal Regulations (7 CFR 301.92). This action does not include soil to be moved for the isolation of plant pests, which is regulated in accordance with 7 CFR, Part 330.

The movement of soil from a P. ramorum quarantined area is regulated in 7 CFR 301.92. Currently, soil from a quarantined area must either have certification of heat treatment or freedom from all duff and freedom from prior direct physical contact with any article infected with P. ramorum. The attached federal order authorizes the movement of soil from P. ramorum quarantined areas for physical or chemical analysis, provided the soil is a sample moving under a compliance agreement to a laboratory that is approved by the APHIS Administrator. APHIS has determined that a compliance agreement provides improved safeguarding and oversight to allow for this type of movement. The compliance agreement will also mandate the conditions for disposal of the soil: specifically, that it be made nonviable by means of an APHIS-approved treatment at the completion of the analysis.

Details on APHIS-designated P. ramorum regulatory requirements, areas, and conditions to move regulated articles are in 7 CFR 301.92 and are also available at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/sod For more information about the P. ramorum program and federal regulations, please call National Policy Manager Karen Maguylo at 301-851-3128 or National Operations Manager Stacy Scott at 970-494-7577.

The Eastern Show for IGCS Pulls Out all the Stops with Big Promotion for Retailers 9$//(< )25*( 3$ Ę&#x160; ,*& 6KRZ RUJDQL]HUV DUH SXOOLQJ RXW DOO WKH VWRSV IRU (DVWHUQ JDUGHQ FHQWHU UHWDLOHUV DW (,*& 7KH (DVWHUQ 6KRZ IRU IGCs, August 2-4, at the Valley Forge Casino Resort, just outside Philadelphia, in King of Prussia, PA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We recognize that this has been a challenging spring season, and we understand that retailers donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a lot of extra bucks to spend on frills this year. But the EIGC Show is far from a frill. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the most important things you can do to improve your businesses,â&#x20AC;? says IGC Show Founder and CEO Jeff Morey. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More than 200 booths will showcase the latest products from hand-selected Eastern-specific IGC vendors; three free keynotes, including Jonathan Bardzikâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sell Garden Fresh Flavor Year-Roundâ&#x20AC;? and Bruce Crawfordâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incredible containers that will make your customers smile (and purchase!); allnew, interactive EIGC Retailer Conference educational courses, featuring the best minds in the industry â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Matt Britton, Judy Sharpton, Steve Bailey and others â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and let us not forget to mention, the fun and networking party of the year with Disco Diva Gloria Gaynor in a free concert with dinner!â&#x20AC;?

Special promotions just announced by EIGC include: Register today and enter to win TWO FREE NIGHTS at an EIGC Show hotel! Register at www.

EIGCshow.com and enter code: GARDENERNEWS; Dinner & Party, Tuesday, Aug. 2, 6:45 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8 p.m.: EIGC has added a free buffet dinner to the fun and networking party of year â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Retro-Disco Night with Gloria Gaynor. Enjoy a full evening of dinner and concert fun, and then hit the casino in the same venue afterward!

The Party on the EIGC Show Floor, Wednesday, Aug. 3, 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6 p.m.: Buyers will enjoy free beer and snacks as they write orders into the afternoon, all to the live music of EIGCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Jimmy Buffett tribute band.

Master Nursery Garden Centers, whose Eastern members are planning a special gathering at the EIGC Show, is sponsoring the Party on the Show Floor; and are you a member of Master Nursery Garden Centers? We have special things in store for you! First, you are entitled to one incredible discount on the EIGC Retailer Education Conference. We are not at liberty to reveal the details of the discount here, but we assure you, you will be amazed, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll want to take advantage of this incredible offer. Full details will be sent to you via your Master Member e-mail communications â&#x20AC;&#x201C; along with the special registration code you will need to you to take advantage of this incredible deal.

In addition for Master Members: Master Members are invited to a special free dinner on Wednesday night, complements of the EIGC Show and our EIGC exhibitors. Enjoy this delicious multi-course dinner, followed by a delicious dessert, with entertainment by our very own EIGC Jimmy Buffett tribute band.

Valley Forge Casino Resort combines the amenities of a top-notch gaming resort with exhibit space, plus slots and table games for gaming enthusiasts.

Guests enjoy seven diverse on-site dining options, including celebrity chef Luke Palladinoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LP Steak, a newly renovated spa and fitness center, easy access from all major roads and free valet parking daily - all in an area that draws visitors with a range of options in evening dining and entertainment.

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22 July, 2016

GardenerNews.com

Experimental Trap Disrupts Citrus Pest’s Love Life

By Jan Suszkiw Public Affairs Specialist An acoustic trap developed by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists may offer an environmentally friendly way to control Asian citrus psyllids, gnat-sized insect pests that transmit Huanglongbing, a devastating citrus disease also known as “citrus greening.”

Infected citrus trees cannot be cured and often die within several years. Until such time, they may bear green, misshapen fruit with acidic-tasting juice, making the fruit unmarketable.

Concern over the cost and longterm environmental impact of using insecticides to control psyllid populations in citrus-growing states like Florida has prompted an intensive search for alternative measures, notes Richard Mankin, an entomologist with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Gainesville, Florida.

To that end, Mankin designed an acoustic trap based on his experience investigating how insect pests use their sense of smell, sight or hearing to locate food and mates. Together with University of Florida graduate First of all, happy Independence Day! The anniversary of our nation’s birth is a great celebration, not only of our country’s founding, but of the continued evolution of our society and culture that continue to make America great. Whether you are grilling burgers in your back yard or tanning your body on the beach, chances are you are spending some time outside on or around the Fourth of July.

Now on to the plants! As mentioned in my previous column, we are going to dive deep into some of the tangible and intangible benefits that make the landscape plants you love more than just pretty, but also truly valuable additions to your home, business or community.

In this column, I am going to talk about the many economic benefits plants provide.

The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service tracks a lot of numbers, and many of them are related to money. If you dive into the weeds of the Census of Agriculture, you can learn a lot about how many plants of many different types are sold each year. The nursery industry in New Jersey is big and strong, but the financial and economic benefits

students, Mankin decoded the psyllid’s signaling patterns and recreated them with electronics including a buzzer and a microphone.

Many of the traps now used to control crop-damaging insects use chemical attractants, or “pheromones.”

Low doses of pheromones can lure pests into traps; high doses can saturate the air so thickly that pests fail to meet and mate. The acoustic trap is different: It mimics the wing-buzzing vibrations male and female psyllids use instead of pheromones to locate and court one another in citrus trees.

In citrus trees, a male psyllid normally crawls to the female after the female responds to the male’s wing-buzzing vibrations. In laboratory studies, however, the trap is also listening to this vibration, and it responds a tenth of a second or two before the female with a fake signal, luring the males into a nearby sticky trap.

Mankin’s team is refining the trap for outdoor testing this summer.

Editor’s Note: Jan Suszkiw works for the USDA Agricultural Research Service. She can be reached at 301-504-1630 or by emailing Jan.Suszkiw@ars.usda.gov

Growing New Jersey

By Dominick Mondi NJNLA Executive Director Growing Green: Plants Really Do Save Money and Improve the Economy of trees, shrubs, and flowers don’t end at the farm gate or the garden center. Homeowners, communities and businesses all derive significant benefits from the purchase and care of plants.

In the residential environment, landscape improvements can contribute significantly to the value of your home, which for many folks is their most significant investment. According to a report from the Journal of Environmental Horticulture, “perceived home value increased 5%-11% for homes with a good landscape.” A 2012 study in the same publication states: “With improved curb appeal, residential property value can improve up to 17%”.

Home Improvement guru Bob Villa suggests that landscaping can increase the value of your property by as much as 20

percent! Of course, he is quick to add the caveat that it must be good landscaping. While the numbers span a wide range, they all consistently agree that high quality, well designed landscapes grow and maintain the value of your home.

How your community manages its trees and landscapes is also important to the overall economy. Street trees, often maligned because of storm damage and sidewalk heaving, have a lot to offer the average homeowner. In a study of over 2,600 home sales in one community, it was found that “homes with street trees, those planted between the sidewalk and the street, sold for $7,130 more, on average, than homes without street trees.” Even being located within 100 feet of the nearest street tree can improve sales price, and also reduce

time on the market. The same study suggested that homes with street trees sold sooner than those without. And if the cost of sidewalk repairs still bothers you, know that these trees provide an offsetting infrastructure benefit.

Paved roadway surfaces that are shaded in the summer months by street trees last longer in better condition, reducing the cost of road repair and replacement over time.

Of course, landscaping is good for businesses as well.

According to Dr. Charlie Hall, Ellison Chair in Floriculture at Texas A&M University, and a nationally recognized and leading economic researcher in this area, “beautification draws customers, reduces shopper stress, and enhances store appeal.” It turns out that just as curb appeal is essential to improving home value, landscaping, including

the addition of annual flowers, baskets, and bedding plants, can improve your customers’ experience. It’s a logical jump that more customers who are less stressed will yield returns for any small business. Building and property owners who invest in their landscapes will not only be helping their tenant businesses improve the customer experience, but buildings with quality landscaping boast higher occupancy rates with lower turnover.

Any way you slice it, quality landscaping makes good economic sense for homeowners, businesses and communities. Not convinced yet? Keep reading future columns here in the Gardener News to learn about the other amazing benefits of investing in your landscape.

Editor’s Note: Dominick Mondi is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, a trade association representing the nursery, greenhouse, garden center and landscape industry in New Jersey. He can be reached at njnla.director@gmail.com, one twitter @NJNLAdirector, or online at www.NJNLA.org.

GardenerNews.com After a cool-wet spring, it seems the summer heat has arrived. What effect might this have on your lawn? Let’s explore.

Heat and drought stress that comes on quickly can be quite shocking to your lawn. Even though there seems to be a lot of moisture in the ground, after a week of no rain and temperatures above 85 degrees, your lawn can start to show signs of stress. Does your lawn need a drink?

Lawns need about one inch of water weekly to thrive; during periods of drought, the lawn requires more water. It is best to irrigate in the early morning to avoid too much water evaporating.

Watering infrequently two to three times a week usually will be sufficient. Nothing is worse for a drought-stressed lawn than to water it for 10 minutes a day. Do not wait until your lawn starts to show signs of heat and drought stress to cure the problem. You cannot do anything about excessive heat stress on your lawn except to irrigate properly.

July, 2016 23 Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Is your lawn hot, hot, hot?

Be sure you do not have a build-up of thatch on your lawn. Some thatch is OK, but a thatch layer of no more than half an inch is best. Proper lawn care techniques and feeding and occasional de-thatching with a rake or machine helps to reduce thatch. Thatch tends to thrive when your lawn is over-fertilized. Using organic lawn products can be helpful to reduce thatch possibilities.

Organics promote soil microbial activity and can help to create a balance in the soil which is not favorable for thatch growth.

If you have not raised your mowing height, do so now. This will help relieve heat and drought stress on the lawn. Be sure to mow off no more than one-third

of the grass blades at a time.

A mowing height of three to four inches is best during summer months. This helps retain water in the grass blades, giving them a better chance of survival, and can help to reduce watering costs. If you have a mulching mower, use it and leave the clippings on the lawn. This also will help to recycle nutrients back into the lawn and keep them out of the landfill.

If your lawn starts to show signs of browning or perhaps death, what may be causing it? It could be heat and/or drought stress, or it could be insect damage. Insects tend to prey on weak grass plants and tend to avoid healthy growing lawns. Since we had mild winter weather,

bug populations could be far greater this year.

Chinch bugs tend to be active during summer months; they suck juices out of grass plants. Grubs may also be causing the damage by chowing down on grass roots. It is important to identify what kind of insects you have if you want to treat them with an insecticide.

Brown spots on your lawn could be heat and drought stress and you do not want to use any insect controls if you do not have insects.

Save the money and save the environment. Be sure to use a product labeled for use on your particular bugs and follow all label directions.

Lawn diseases also are more prevalent during summer months.

High temperatures and some

moisture favor disease development. Fungicide treatments can be used to both prevent and cure lawn diseases. Be sure you have a lawn disease before you try to control it with a fungicide.

The best way to avoid summer damage on your lawn is to follow a sound lawn care program. This goes all the way back to what you do to your lawn from early-fall through your spring applications.

Did you seed your lawn last fall with new, improved varieties of grass that are more heat and drought tolerant and insect resistant?

Did you feed your lawn properly to create healthy growing conditions? Did you water and mow properly this spring?

I hope your lawn survives this summer. Enjoy a glass of lemonade.

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

Whiteflies… Maybe Whyflies would be a better name?

By William A. Kolbe B.C.E. “God in his wisdom made the fly.. and then forgot to tell us why.” Odgen Nash’s short poem on the fly aptly describes the relationship of whiteflies to gardeners.

While the short part is correct, the fly part is not. You see, whiteflies are not flies at all, but are actually plant-parasitic Hemipterans. The classification is Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals) Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods) Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods) Class Insecta (Insects) Order Hemiptera (True Bugs, Cicadas, Hoppers, Aphids and Allies) Suborder Sternorrhyncha (Plant-parasitic Hemipterans) Superfamily Aleyrodoidea Family Aleyrodidae (Whiteflies).

OK, why whiteflies this month? My annual trip into my crawlspace to get our pool equipment took me past a mature and very healthy Rhododendron plant. As I was opening the door to the crawlspace, I found

myself covered in whiteflies.

I had a dark shirt on and they must like that color. I stopped and shook the branches and went, “WOW! That’s a lot of whiteflies. Time to get out the sprayer.” More on that later.

Whiteflies are small, sap-sucking insects that feed on plant juices. They excrete sticky honeydew and due to their constant feeding cause yellowing and death of leaves.

Large outbreaks are difficult to manage, especially when populations are high. In addition, this insect can develop resistance to pesticides due to its quick life cycle.

Plant feeders like whiteflies do need proteins in order to lay viable eggs. Since plant juices are high in carbohydrates (fructose sugars) and very little protein, they feed constantly to get enough protein in their diet.

This is why the sweet substance called “honeydew” is produced.

They ingest more plant juices than they can digest and excrete a sweet substance. Ants love this honeydew and it is their primary diet in the summer months. If you have ever parked your car

under a tree and have come back and there is “sap” all over it…it is probably honeydew from the hemitperans (aphids, scale insects, mealybugs and whiteflies) living in the trees you parked under.

Whiteflies normally lay their tiny oblong eggs on the undersides of leaves. The eggs hatch, and the young whiteflies gradually increase in size through four nymphal stages called instars. The first nymphal stage (crawler) is barely visible even with a hand lens. The crawlers move around for several hours before settling to begin feeding. Later nymphal stages are immobile, oval, and flattened, with greatly reduced legs and antennae, like small scale insects. The winged adult emerges from the last nymphal stage (sometimes called a pupa, although whiteflies don’t have a true complete metamorphosis).

All stages feed by sucking plant juices from leaves and excreting excess liquid as drops of honeydew as they feed.

Whiteflies use their piercing, needlelike mouthparts to suck sap from phloem, the

food-conducting tissues in plant stems and leaves. Large populations can cause leaves to turn yellow, appear dry, or fall off plants.

Feeding by the immature sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci, can cause plant distortion, discoloration, or silvering of leaves, and may cause serious losses in some vegetable crops.

Some whiteflies transmit viruses to certain vegetable crops.

Whiteflies are not normally a problem in fruit trees, although their populations can build up in citrus, pomegranate and avocado.

Several whitefly species occur on ornamental trees and shrubs, but most are uncommon because of natural controls such as parasites and predators. Most whiteflies on trees have limited host ranges.

Low levels of whiteflies are not usually damaging. Adults by themselves will not cause significant damage unless they are transmitting a plant pathogen. Generally, plant losses do not occur unless there is a significant population of whitefly nymphs.

Control measures would be directed toward the immature and adult stages. If you choose to use insecticides, insecticidal soaps or oils such as neem oil may reduce but not eliminate populations.

Systemic insecticides may be more effective but can have negative impacts on beneficial insects and pollinators. There are biological controls, as well as organic measures.

Since whiteflies can develop resistance quickly, consult your Rutgers Extension Agent for current cultural, biological, organic, least toxic and chemical control. There are some new chemistries for resistant whitefly populations.

Editor’s Note: William A. Kolbe, BCE is a Board Certified Entomologist for Viking® Pest Control based out of Warren, NJ. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Entomology with a minor in Ecology from the University of Delaware. Bill is a member of The Denville NJ Community Gardens. He can be reached at 800-618-2847 or visit www.vikingpest.com

24 July, 2016

GardenerNews.com Northeast Maple Syrup Production Northeastern Region (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont) +$55,6%8* 3$ Ę&#x160; 7KH 1RUWKHDVWHUQ 5HJLRQÂśV PDSOH V\UXS production in 2016 totaled 3.78 million gallons, up 27 percent from 2015â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s production of 2.98 million gallons.

Vermont remained the top Maple State in the Northeastern Region and the Nation, producing 47.3 percent of the United Statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; maple syrup, a record-high production. Massachusetts also reported a record-high production for 2016. Taps in Northeastern Region totaled 10.8 million, up 5 percent from last year and accounted for 86 percent of the Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s maple taps, with Pennsylvania reporting a record high number of taps in 2016.

The 2016 maple syrup season in the Northeastern Region was considered mostly favorable. Producers were encouraged to tap earlier this season by the warmer-than-normal temperatures. The earliest sap flow reported was January 1 in Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia. The number of taps was up in each of the states in the region, except for New Hampshire which was down from last year. The season in the Northeast Region averaged 35 days, ten days longer than in 2015. On average, the U.S. season lasted 33 days, compared with 26 days in 2015.

Northeastern Region 2015 PRICES AND SALES: The average equivalent price per gallon for maple syrup varies widely across the Region depending on the percentage sold retail, wholesale, or bulk.

The 2015 all sales equivalent price per gallon in Connecticut averaged $87.20, up $16.30; Maine averaged $28.00, down $3.50; Massachusetts averaged $50.50, down $5.80; New Hampshire averaged $59.40, up $1.60; New York averaged $42.00, up $2.30; Pennsylvania averaged $31.90, down $3.20, and Vermont averaged $33.00, unchanged from last year. The high percentage of bulk sales in Pennsylvania, Vermont and Maine kept average prices below the other states.

Source: USDA/NASS

Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association To Conduct A Feasibility Study On Facility Upgrades 1(: <25. Ę&#x160; (PSLUH 6WDWH 'HYHORSPHQW (6' DQQRXQFHG WKDW +XQWV 3RLQW 7HUPLQDO 3URGXFH &RRSHUDWLYH $VVRFLDWLRQ ZLOO FRQGXFW D IHDVLELOLW\ VWXG\ to determine the best way to upgrade the facilities at the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market, in the Bronx, to remain competitive in the region and comply with federal food-safety standards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market has been putting food on our tables and creating jobs in the New York City region for decades,â&#x20AC;? said ESD President, CEO & Commissioner Howard Zemsky. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With upgraded facilities, it will continue to provide a marketplace for local farmers for years to come. Under Governor Cuomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership, New York State is working to upgrade vital infrastructure from Buffalo to Long Island.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;For the past fifty years, the Hunts Point Produce Market has been a vital engine of commerce in the South Bronx â&#x20AC;&#x201C; generating nearly $500 million in annual impact,â&#x20AC;? said Hunts Point Produce Market Cooperative Association Co-Presidents Joel Fierman and Joseph Palumbo. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thanks to ESD, we will have a realistic look at how best to ensure we remain competitive, retain and expand our employment footprint, and evolve to meet the needs of New Yorkers for the next fifty years. It is our intention to keep the Market here in the Bronx. Much like the Yankees, this is our home â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and with the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help we can remain here.â&#x20AC;?

Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr. said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;My office welcomes this much needed study made possible by Empire State Development. The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market is one of our largest employers and an economic development engine that drives the entire region. It is important that we take a strong look at the market and plan for a stronger, safer and more fruitful future for the businesses and the thousands of workers employed within. I commend Governor Cuomo and ESD for committing considerable funding to take a serious look at the infrastructure and redevelopment needs of perhaps the largest food market in the world.â&#x20AC;?

The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Market will conduct the necessary engineering studies to determine the feasibility and cost estimates of renovating its existing buildings vs constructing new buildings and infrastructure at its Bronx location. The work will be necessary to keep the market competitive with others in Philadelphia and Boston and will ensure that the Market complies with current and future federal food regulations.

The Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market employs 10,000 people and generates $2.4 billion in sales annually. The market operates as a cooperative, with an elected board of directors. It receives 210 million packages of fruits and vegetables each year, from 55 countries and 49 states, catering to the most ethnically diverse region in the world, with an estimated population of 23 million people.

To encourage the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association to proceed with this feasibility study ESD is providing it with a $250,000 Regional Economic Development Council grant. The study is expected to be completed by September 2016.

About the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market Located in Hunts Point region of Bronx, NY, the Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market is the largest wholesale produce market in the world, sitting on 113 acres of property comprising of 1 million square feet of interior space. We offer an amazingly diverse selection of fruits and vegetables from around the globe. Our produce is delivered fresh daily via plane, boat, train and tractor trailer from 49 states and 55 countries. Through the years, we at Hunts Point Terminal Produce Market maintain the traditions of our predecessors. We uphold traditions of excellence, quality, hard work and family. Some of the Marketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business proprietors are second and third generation businesspeople whose roots trace back to Washington Market. The market operates as a cooperative with an elected board of directors.

About Empire State Development Empire State Development (ESD) is New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chief economic development agency (www.esd.ny.gov). The mission of ESD is to promote a vigorous and growing economy, encourage the creation of new job and economic opportunities, increase revenues to the State and its municipalities, and achieve stable and diversified local economies. Through the use of loans, grants, tax credits and other forms of financial assistance, ESD strives to enhance private business investment and growth to spur job creation and support prosperous communities across New York State. ESD is also the primary administrative agency overseeing Governor Cuomoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Regional Economic Development Councils and the marketing of â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Love NY,â&#x20AC;? the Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s iconic tourism brand. For more information on Regional Councils and Empire State Development, visit www.nyworks.ny.gov and www.esd.ny.gov.

Source: Empire State Development

GardenerNews.com

July, 2016 25

GE Food Labeling Rule Effective July 1, 2016 9(50217 Ę&#x160; $ QHZ ODZ LQ 9HUPRQW $FW DQG DQ DFFRPSDQ\LQJ UXOH Consumer Protection Rule 121, require that food produced with genetic engineering (GE) be labeled as such. The law applies to raw agricultural products like corn and squash, as well as processed foods such as crackers, soda, and cereals. It will affect several sectors of the food industry, including producers, processors, distributors and retailers. Foods produced with genetic engineering are also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

In passing Act 120, the Legislature tasked the Attorney General with developing rules to implement the law. These rules clarify the scope and reach of the law, providing the specific requirements for the labeling of food, including size and placement of the required disclosures. Consumer Protection Rule CP 121 was adopted by the Attorney Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office on April 17, 2015. The Attorney Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office has also published an annotated version of the rule as additional guidance.

The Attorney General has also provided further explanation and information for manufacturers and producers, for retailers, and for consumers.

Act 120 and CP 121 require all food produced with genetic engineering and offered for retail sale in Vermont to be properly labeled by July 1, 2016.

Because some packaged, processed food products have longer shelf-lives, for sixmonths after the lawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s effective date (until January 1, 2017) improperly labeled foods offered for retail sale in Vermont are presumed to have been packaged and distributed to the retailer prior to July 1, 2016. The manufacturer of such products shall not be liable for failure to comply with the lawâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requirements unless there is evidence that the food was distributed to the retailer on or after July 1, 2016. No manufacturer, producer, or retailer will be granted any extension of time to come into compliance.

The label on packaged processed food must be located on the package so as to be easily found by consumers when viewing the outside of the package.

Restaurants and other food establishments primarily engaged in the sale of food prepared and intended for immediate human consumption are exempt from the labeling requirement, except for the food they sell that is packaged for retail sale.

Learn more at http://ago.vermont.gov/

The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 159 Published Monthly Contact Information Phone: 908.604.4444 Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff Executive Editor/ Publisher . . . .

Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tom Castronovo Justin Kukuc Tom Castronovo

July Columnists Tom Castronovo Dominick Mondi Douglas H. Fisher Larry Katz Craig Korb Evan Dickerson

Todd Pretz Tom Canete Bob LaHoff Peter Melick Richard Perkins

Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Dr. Dina Fonseca Jan Suszkiw Sharon Durham

Jeannie Geremia William A. Kolbe B.C.E. Hubert Ling

Gardener News is published monthly by

Gardener News, Inc.

16 Mount Bethel Road #123 Warren, NJ 07059 The Gardener News invites correspondences on gardening subjects of interest. Gardener News, Inc, and its Publisher reserve the right to accept, refuse, or discontinue any editorial or copy, and shall not be liable to anyone for printing errors, misinformation or omissions in editorial or copy. The information contained in articles herein represents the opinions of the authors and, although believed to be accurate and complete, is not represented or warranted by Gardener News, Inc. to be accurate or complete.

All advertising is subject to the Gardener News advertisement rates, and must be PAID IN FULL at time of submission. Publisher reserves the right at its absolute discretion, and at any time, to cancel any advertising order or reject any advertising copy whether or not the same has already been acknowledged and/or previously published. In the event of errors or omissions of any advertisement(s), the newspapers liability shall not exceed a refund of amounts paid for the advertisement.

NOTE: All editorial, advertising layouts and designs and portions of the same that are produced and published by Gardener News, Inc., are the sole property of Gardener News, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any form unless written authorization is obtained from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to: Gardener News, 16 Mount Bethel Rd - #123, Warren, NJ 07059. (c) 2016 Gardener News, Inc.

5ŕś&#x17D;ŕś?ŕś&#x20AC;ŕľžŕś&#x2039;ŕś&#x152; &ŕś&#x2C6;ŕś&#x2C6;ŕś&#x2030;ŕľžŕś&#x2039;ŕľşŕś?ŕś&#x201A;ŕś?ŕľž (ŕś&#x2018;ŕś?ŕľžŕś&#x2021;ŕś&#x152;ŕś&#x201A;ŕś&#x2C6;ŕś&#x2021; 3ŕś ŕś&#x2C6;ŕś&#x2021;ŕľž 'ŕś&#x201A;ŕś&#x2039;ŕľžŕľźŕś?ŕś&#x2C6;ŕś&#x2039;ŕś&#x2019; Atlantic County Phone: 609-625-0056 Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780 Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050 Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130 Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115 Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800 Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210 Gloucester County Phone: 856-307-6450 Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399 Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339 Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830

Middlesex County Phone: 732-398-5260 Monmouth County Phone: 732-431-7260 Morris County Phone: 973-285-8300 Ocean County Phone:732-349-1246 Passaic County Phone: 973-305-5740 Salem County Phone: 856-769-0090 Somerset County Phone: 908-526-6293 Sussex County Phone: 973-948-3040 Union County Phone: 908-654-9854 Warren County Phone: 908-475-6505

TO RESERVE AD SPACE IN GARDENER NEWS CALL: 908.604.4444 IN MEMORANDUM George J. Wulster 1949-2016

George Wulster, professor and extension specialist in floriculture in the Department of Plant Biology and Pathology at Rutgers, died on June 14 at the age of 66. A resident of Lebanon, NJ, he retired after 36 years at Rutgers as a professor emeritus in January 2014.

Wulster received his Ph.D. in post-harvest physiology from Rutgers in 1981 and worked closely with the New Jersey commercial floriculture industry as a consultant, in addition to his research and teaching. He also oversaw the production of more than 100 varieties of poinsettias in the Rutgers Floriculture Greenhouse on the Cook Campus.

Wulster, who taught many graduate students over the years, deeply enjoyed mentoring young people and was considered a thoughtful, intelligent and remarkably decent person by his colleagues.

Wulster began his career as a grower manager at Wrightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Roses in Cranbury, where heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d previously worked in high school. After retirement, he and his wife formed Custom Floral Postharvest Solutions LLC, with a special focus on tulip preservation.

Full Moon, July 19, 2016 Eastern Daylight

TIP OF THE MONTH

In the garden, regular watering is as important to growing vegetables as sunlight. Vegetables need an inch of water per week delivered by either rainfall or irrigation. Regular watering means an inch per week - every week. On sandy soils, water twice per week, a half-inch each time. More if itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s extremely hot. Without regular watering, vegetables will not fill out and some, like tomatoes, will crack open if they are suddenly heavily watered after struggling without it for a while. You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always rely on rain.

26 July, 2016

GardenerNews.com

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