Gardener News July 2018

TAKE ONE

Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities

July 2018

GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 183

Finding Jersey Fresh Just Got Easier

NJDA/Image

By Tom Beaver NJDA Director of Marketing Find Jersey Fresh. Since the program’s inception 34 years ago, this is what it has been all about. Connecting discerning consumers to the more than 100 varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables grown on family farms across the state. The iconic Jersey Fresh emblem signals that they’ve reached their destination wherever they buy produce.

With this in mind, when it came time to decide on a web address for our new Jersey Fresh website, www.

FindJerseyFresh.com just made sense. The site, which went live on May 23, is truly the hub for all things Jersey Fresh, directing consumers

to farms and retailers that promote the brand, showcasing unique recipe videos and other creative content, and highlighting the diverse men and women that grow some of the best produce in the world.

Over the years, Jersey Fresh has evolved into a lifestyle brand of sorts for “foodies” throughout the state, whether they want to recreate a restaurant meal at home using the freshest local ingredients, share their experiences visiting a local farm or offer a shout-out to their favorite retailer for the fantastic Jersey Fresh display occupying prime real estate in the produce section.

What better way to pull this all together than with a

website that truly has it all?

Looking for a roadside farm market en route to your Jersey shore beach vacation? The mapping feature on the new site will get you there, whether you want to toggle by product or pick your own assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.

What about that spectacular glass of Jersey Fresh wine to complement the locally sourced scallops on the grill? You can find that, too. Racking your brain for a recipe that features the Jersey Fresh zucchini in your fridge? Check out the recipe page on the new website.

And it’s not just food.

Looking for the perfect assortment of cut flowers for that (Cont. on Page 26)

NJDA/Image

2 July 2018

G a r d e n C e n t e r D i r e c t o r y GardenerNews.com

Hall’s Garden Center & Florist

700 Springfield Avenue, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 908.665.0331 | www.hallsgarden.com

Magnificant Hanging Baskets in All Colors A better garden starts with a better plant.

Proven Winners

Container Gardens  Shrubs  Vegetable Plants  Annuals  Perennials We've Got It All! 

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July 2018 3

4 July 2018

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Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting Monmouth University, where the State FFA held its annual convention for high school students enrolled in that program across more than 50 school districts in the Garden State.

If you have always thought that FFA stood for “Future Farmers of America,” in the strictly literal sense, you’d be right. However, in 1988, “Future Farmers of America” became “The National FFA Organization.”

This was a reflection of the changing nature of agricultural education in recent decades.

Today’s agricultural students are pursuing areas in the industry that, while still including farming, also go far beyond it to hundreds of other vocations rooted in the sciences. These adjacent and related fields show how agriculture blossoms both on and beyond the farm into areas that touch all of humanity.

New Jersey’s Department of Agriculture is one of just a handful of agencies throughout the United States that house FFA within the Department. This is a source of great pride for us at the NJDA, and we are even prouder of the people who serve our students, both in this department

NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

FFA – More than you know

and through our partners at the New Jersey Department of Education and the agricultural teachers in the school districts.

Many of our state’s prominent graduates have found fascinating and rewarding careers through their involvement in FFA. New Jersey FFA graduates include teachers, federal regulators, agronomists, veterinarians, business owners and managers, a hydroponic farm coordinator, and a host of other ag-related fields that truly demonstrate the broad spectrum of agricultural jobs. Their desire to seek out these new frontiers in the industry was sparked and ignited by their exposure to FFA in school.

When I addressed the FFA members gathered at Monmouth University, I mentioned that this generation of agricultural careers might provide for them perhaps a physically less-demanding, yet

ever-more challenging way to be involved in this incredibly diverse industry.

Their challenge will be to work harder at the changing dynamic of the field, to keep up with the technological advances that make sense for the agriculture of the near and far future, to be more aware of the skills they want in the employees and contractors who work for them (especially those who will keep their high-tech machinery functioning) and to understand more deeply the market forces that will bring them the greatest return on their labors.

Each year, the FFA state organization picks a theme. If you look back over the ones from the past 20 years or so, a common thread runs through them. Themes like “Focused on the Future,” “Break Through Limits” and “Daring to Dream”

morris county park commission

The FrelinghuysenArboretum 3rd ANNUAL Morris County Community Garden Open Gates Weekend The goal is to showcase the beauty and diversity of Morris County’s Community Gardens by highlighting the people, plants and planting techniques that make our gardens thrive, as well as to foster civic engagement, support local food pantries and enhance the quality of life in Morris County, New Jersey.

Check arboretumfriends.org for maps and directions

Saturday, July 14 + Sunday, July 15 • Free Butterfly Gardening

Jane Hurwitz’s new book on Butterfly Gardening is the most gardener-friendly source on the subject, covering the practical details needed to create a vibrant garden habitat that fosters butterflies. A book signing and garden walk with Sharon Wander of the North American Butterfly Assoc. follow the lecture.

Saturday, July 28 • $20.

This program eligible for 1.5 Rutgers Master Gardener CEU’s

Mushroom Paper-Making Workshop

Use bracket fungi to create beautiful earth-toned sheets of paper under the expert guidance of mycologist Dorothy Smullen. This hands-on class will walk you through the paper-making process and introduce you to the many different mushrooms you can use for a variety of hues.

Thursday, August 9 • $35.

353 East Hanover Avenue • Morris Township, New Jersey • 07960 Pre-registration is required for all programs

are indicative of how these students really have their eyes far beyond their high school years and into their futures as members of the agricultural industries of the next 20, 30, 40 years or more.

Already, we see them aligning agriculture and the sciences in much the same ways that notable people like Jefferson, Washington, Carver and Burbank did in their days.

They fully grasp that they will be responsible for figuring out how to sustainably feed a world population that now is expected to exceed 10 billion by 2050 on less arable land.

This generation has the advantage of being one of the first to grow up, almost from the cradle, surrounded by technological advances that come faster and which enable more learning in less time than ever in human existence.

They will be the applicators of all this technology, and the unfathomable advances yet to come, to the world of agriculture. FFA leads the way into this changing industry with a very successful program.

Some of you involved in various aspects of the industry may want to involve local FFA members in your vocations and community projects. I wholeheartedly urge you to follow that impulse. Reach out to local schools and find out what areas their FFA students are focused upon.

You will not find a brighter, more eager-to-learn group of young people to involve in your endeavors. And you might just be surprised at what you learn from them, as well.

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

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July 2018 5 New Jersey Department of Agriculture Kicks Off #FindJerseyFresh Contest

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher kicked off the 2018 #FindJerseyFresh Challenge at Soulberri Coffee and Smoothies in Brigantine. Soulberri owner, Coley Gaffney was the winner of last year’s Jersey Fresh social media contest. The 2018 #FindJerseyFresh photo contest will last through Nov. 6. People are encouraged to post photos of favorite fruits and vegetables found at markets and pick-your-own farms using the #FindJerseyFresh hashtag on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

This year’s grand prize will be a $500 gift to where the winner likes finding Jersey Fresh produce the most. There will also be weekly winners who will receive a New Jersey-shaped bamboo cutting board.

“We are looking forward to the many creative photos that will be posted during the #FindJerseyFresh Challenge this year,” Secretary Fisher said. “The farmers here in the Garden State consistently produce high quality fruits and vegetables and the fact that we had more than 2,500 entries in last year’s contest proves that consumers here love the challenge of Finding Jersey Fresh.”

This year’s contest will feature a weekly challenge to find a specific fruit or vegetable to photograph and post on social media using the #FindJerseyFresh hashtag. The new challenge will be posted on the Jersey Fresh Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages each Wednesday and contestants will have a full week to post their #FindJerseyFresh photos.

Gaffney’s winning photo from last year, captioned, “It’s the most wonderful time of the year #tomatoes #harvest,” featured a colorful display of Jersey Fresh heirloom tomatoes.

“As someone who enjoys making different recipes and sharing them with others, the contest last year allowed me to gain a wider audience for myself and appreciate what others did as well,” Gaffney said. “With Soulberri, we are committed to sourcing as much Jersey Fresh produce as possible. It’s not only convenient to purchase ingredients locally, we also know from experience how good they taste.”

Soulberri Coffee and Smoothies sources Jersey Fresh produce from several local farms including strawberries, kale, and blueberries from B&B Farms; kale from Potato Homestead and Nino Levari; and locally produced honey from Busy Bee’s Honey.

“Soulberri’s efforts to source local, Jersey Fresh produce during the New Jersey growing season are exceptional,” Secretary Fisher said. “We know the value and quality that our farmers bring to the table, and appreciate chefs and restaurant owners that understand the importance of supporting these farmers and the state’s economy, as well as priding themselves on serving the best quality food to their customers.”

New FFA Officers Take Seats After Elections At Convention Five NJ Counties Represented on 2018-2019 Officer Team Five counties from around the state are represented in the 2018-2019 State FFA officer team that was elected as part the 89th Annual State FFA Convention during the last week of May. The state officers represent New Jersey FFA at several state and national functions throughout the year, including visiting FFA chapters all around the state.

The new officers with the chapters they represent are Josh Loew (Cumberland Regional), State President; Jamie Specca (Northern Burlington), State Vice-President; Kaitlyn Tallamy, (Phillipsburg); State Treasurer; Jacob Newkirk, (Cumberland Regional), State Parliamentarian; Brittany Smith, (Warren Hills), State Secretary; Susan Schmidt, (Allentown), State Reporter; Christine Albrecht, (Cape May Tech), State Sentinel.

“Being a state officer is a tremendous honor, but it also brings a lot of responsibility,” said New Jersey State FFA Advisor and Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Education Program Leader Nancy Trivette.

“As we are each year, we are confident these officers will be excellent ambassadors for FFA throughout New Jersey and nationally as well.”

Some of the state officer duties include assisting chapters in the execution of their program of activities; encouraging FFA members to participate in food, agriculture and natural resources education and FFA programs; maintaining positive relations with members, the agribusiness sector, the public and others interested in agricultural education; traveling to FFA chapters around the state 2-3 times per month; assisting at career development events, including fall, spring, and summer; and representing the New Jersey FFA Association at events of other state agricultural organizations.

FFA is a component of a food, agriculture and natural resources program of instruction that prepares students to pursue fulfilling careers in the business, science, education and technology of agriculture. There are more than 2,500 FFA members in 36 chapters in New Jersey and 653,359 members in 8,568 chapters across the nation.

6 July 2018

R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County Has New Office Location County Agricultural Agents, Michelle Infante-Casella and Hemant Gohil have a new office location in Gloucester County. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Office in Gloucester County relocated last week. The new location is now at the Shady Lane County Complex, 254 County House Road, Clarksboro, NJ 08020. The entrance is on the right side of the main 3-story brick building, under the numbers 254; follow the sidewalk with gray brick pavers.

The office also has a new phone number and Agricultural Agents and other staff can be reached at 856-224-8040 (Agriculture and Natural Resources is extension 1). This new complex provided by Gloucester County offers more office space and multiple options for educational programs. To the left side of the complex is a 4-classroom building, formerly the Gloucester County Fire Academy, that is now operated by Rowan College of Gloucester County, that can be utilized for extension education and other county-related events. The main office building has 3 conference rooms for small group meetings.

RCE will still have access to the main auditorium at the former facility in Clayton. For more information about Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Gloucester County see http://gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu.

Great Tomato Tasting and Snyder Farm Open House Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Snyder Research and Extension Farm 140 Locust Grove Road Pittstown, Hunterdon County, NJ 08867 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 (rain or shine) 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

The event includes the very popular tasting of more than 100 heirloom and hybrid varieties of beefsteak, plum, cherry, and grape tomatoes!

Open House features include demonstration gardens of deer tolerant ornamentals; blueberries, hazelnuts, and hollies from the Rutgers breeding programs. Other highlights include tastings of basil, honey, freshly made gazpacho and more.

Wagon tours of the farm’s research plots will be held throughout the event. Also, chef preparations of several recipes, a turf labyrinth and educational displays from various organizations..

Rutgers NJAES staff and Master Gardener volunteers will be available to provide information and answer your gardening questions.

To help us plan for the event please RSVP at: snyderfarm.rutgers.edu/tomato-tasting or call 908-7309419 X-3501 Visit our website at snyderfarm.rutgers.edu for more information.

Admission: $10.00 per person, payable at the event (cash or check only).

Free for children 12 & under.

Please, only service dogs allowed on the farm grounds.

100th Annual Mercer County 4-H Fair Howell Living History Farm (also known as the Joseph Phillips Farm), 70 Woodens Lane, Hopewell Township, NJ Saturday, July 28 – 10 am to 8 pm.

Sunday, July 29 – 10 am to 4 pm.

Free Admission, Free Parking (Suggested donation of a canned good in support of Rutgers Against Hunger) The fair includes animal shows and exhibits, homemade ice cream, hay rides, pony rides, music, magic shows, and farm tours. Check out displays by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Mercer County, Mercer County Wildlife Center, Mid-State Beekeepers Association, and many more!

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From the Director’s Desk

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

Director’s end-of-term reflections on Rutgers Cooperative Extension

For the past 10 years, it has been my honor and distinct pleasure to serve Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) as Director, and to serve the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) as Senior Associate Director.

Effective July 1, 2018, I will be stepping away from this position, returning to the faculty of Animal Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, my home department.

At that time, RCE will be most ably served by Dr. Brian Schilling, whom many of you may know from his distinguished efforts in food and land use policy and economics. Dr. Schilling will also assume editorial responsibility for this monthly column, so stay tuned for his contributions.

During this decade of extension leadership, I have learned so much. The breadth and depth of activities in research and extension practice/outreach developed and implemented by Extension Specialists and County Agents and Educators has been staggering. Faculty and program staff, with outstanding support from state and county office professionals have continued to earn the trust and respect of the residents of our verdant Garden State.

The strategic planning of our extension departments has focused on New Jersey communities, families, farmers, businesses, and the natural environment through careful assessment of needs.

One of the trademarks of Cooperative Extension that makes it the envy of agricultural extension endeavors worldwide is the comprehensive and carefully constructed program development model. This requires specific actions that help one determine needs; set priorities and measureable objectives; establish intended short-, medium- and long-term outcomes; and plan for necessary inputs to conduct activities with clientele. Along this continuum, evaluation and related assessment activities are planned and take place.

None of these community-engaged scholarly activities would be possible if it were not for the generous support we receive from public resources. The federal government supports research and outreach activity with funds made available to the NJAES through the Smith-Lever Act (Cooperative Extension), the Hatch Act (Cooperative Research), the Renewable Resources Extension Act and McIntire-Stennis funds (forestry and natural resources), as well as competitive grant opportunities from the USDA and other agencies.

The State of New Jersey supports the NJAES with an annual appropriation to deliver our research and extension programs for the benefit of all the residents of this great state. And, finally, the generous support of monies, human resources, and facilities from each of our counties contributes immeasurably to our efforts and success. I am so grateful to each of these public bodies for recognizing and supporting the NJAES each year.

In the past few years, our extension departments have developed strategic plans that guide their respective outreach programming. In each of the areas below, our extension professionals have been recognized regionally and nationally as leaders and innovators.

The programmatic foci of faculty in Agriculture and Natural Resources includes outreach in integrated pest management; organic agriculture; beginning and new farmer training; and risk management. Many county agents address emerging needs in home horticulture, master gardener programs, horticultural therapy, community and urban gardening, rain gardens, water quality and quantity, storm water management, and the environmental stewards program, as well as home pest control, home and school integrated pest management, and control of invasive species.

The Department of 4-H Youth Development is a valuable partner in developing and delivering programs and initiatives that prepare youth across New Jersey to reach their full potential. One critical goal is to prepare youth to enter the workforce with 21st century knowledge and skills in fields that are critical to a competitive global economy. Faculty and staff develop new ways for youth and adults to volunteer their time, talent and service to accomplish these. They attract and retain talented professionals with skills and attributes that contribute to a high quality, sustainable youth development program.

Family and Community Health Sciences promotes health and wellness through education, research and outreach in food, nutrition and healthy lifestyles. The programs help families make informed decisions about their food, nutrition, physical activity and overall well-being. They reach New Jersey teachers, students, preschoolers, parents, and school foodservice personnel with programs to help them understand more about food systems, nutrition, health, physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, and the components of a healthy school and early care center environment. An ultimate goal is a food system in which all New Jersey residents can obtain a safe, culturally appropriate, nutritionally adequate diet through a sustainable and just food system.

In closing, I wish to extend my deepest appreciation to all the people who work cooperatively to keep the garden in the Garden State and who contribute to a safe and productive environment for youth and adults. I wish you all “fair winds and a following sea.”

Editor’s Note: Larry S. Katz, Ph.D., is Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Senior Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and a Professor of Animal Science.

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R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E

Smokey Marvels

I often wonder how many gardeners remember their first attempts at pruning plants that ended up going awry.

For me, it was a Smoke Bush, botanically named Cotinus coggygria. A large shrub of 12 to 15 feet, it rarely grows uniformly and tends to sporadically throw long branches. I remember making some judicious cuts to correct the shape of that plant. It initially looked great, but within four weeks, the plant had not only sent out new growth, but was far more misshapen than before I began. Fortunately, 45 years of gardening have imparted some insights on how to work with this plant.

Cotinus is a member of the anacardiaceae, otherwise known as the Cashew or Sumac family. Cotinus coggygria is native to Southern Europe, through Asia and into Northern China, growing in poor, rocky soils in full sun.

The genus name of Cotinus

was first penned by Michel Adanson (1727-1806), a French botanist and naturalist of Scottish descent. Cotinus may come from the Greek Kótivoc or Kotinus, a reference to wild Olive Trees or from a shrub in the Apennine Mountains that was used to make a red dye that Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) named Cotanus.

The species epithet of coggygria was authored by Giovanni Antonio Scopoli (1723-1788), an Italian physician and naturalist. In his 1772 edition of the book Flora Carniolica that describes plants of present day Slovenia, he properly named this plant, which in 1753 Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) had named Rhus cotinus. The root of the epithet is from the Greek Kokkuyea or the Latin Coccygéa, perhaps a reference to the brilliant red fall color.

Although the roots of the plant’s name may be a bit challenging, Smoke Bush provides numerous interests for the garden and is not a challenging plant to grow.

Hardy to zone 5, one of its

most notable points of interest are the flowers that resemble puffs of smoke from a distance and are the inspiration for the common name.

The globe-shaped inflorescences are six to 12 inches long and half as wide, containing only a few fivepetalled flowers that are yellowgreen in color and a mere third of an inch in diameter.

Fortunately, it is not the actual flowers that provide the floral drama, but the hairs or pubescence that appear on the pedicels and peduncles throughout the inflorescence.

A pedicel is a short stalk that supports a flower, while a peduncle is a stalk that supports a cluster of flowers or fruits.

On the green foliage forms, the hairs range from green to deep pink, while on the purpleleaved forms, the hairs are deep pink to purple, with the colors changing from June through July as the flowers age. Come autumn, the foliage assumes stunning bright red, yellow or orange fall colors before dropping for winter.

As alluded to above, several

cultivars exist that have deep velvety red or purple foliage during the growing season.

“Black Velvet,” “Velvet Cloak,” and “Royal Purple” are three of the more readily available forms and they actually do not need flowers to add impact to the garden.

In fact, when they flower, the foliage assumes a less dramatic greenish-purple coloration. Since the late1990s, Rutgers Gardens has cut “Royal Purple” back to a height of 12 inches each March.

Since it sets flower buds on the previous year’s stems, the floral impact is lost, but the foliage retains its deep purple coloration.

With the stems shooting eight to 10 feet tall over the course of the season, it provides a great backdrop for flowering plants. For smaller locations, consider “Young Lady,” as this green foliaged form grows to a more restrained five to six feet tall and is covered each year with attractive pink inflorescences. After 10 or so years, it will benefit from a good pruning, as it too can

July 2018 7 become irregularly shaped.

It is clear that a gardener’s opinion of a plant cannot be firmly established on how well or poorly a plant responds to an initial pruning. Fortunately, watching how others have designed and manipulated the plant has taught me that these smoky marvels make fantastic plants for the garden, something I hope many gardeners will discover as well.

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth; is the managing director of the Rutgers Gardens, a 180-acre 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 past-president of the Garden State Gardens Consortium.

He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Phone Directory

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Larry S. Katz, right, outgoing Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Senior Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and a featured columnist for the Gardener News, and Brian J. Schilling, incoming Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Senior Associate Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and a new featured columnist for the Gardener News.

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: 856-224-8040 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

8 July 2018

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July 2018 9

Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

Service Animals or Just Pets?

First and foremost, I love animals. I grew up with two golden retrievers, three cats, a guinea pig, and a parakeet.

Now, what bothers me the most, are people that take total advantage of where they take their pets.

Are fake service animals among us? I think there are definitely people slapping vests or harnesses on their animals and bringing them shopping.

You might be asking yourself why I am writing about this topic.

Since I am all over this great Garden State of ours, and several other Northeastern states, covering the agricultural, gardening and landscaping news, one thing really bothers me – the total disrespect that people have by bringing their pets into and onto farms, garden centers, greenhouses and nurseries and passing them off as service animals.

I’ve watched dogs knocking over plant material, urinating on plant material, and defecating in public spaces. I’ve even seen a pet dog chasing around a cat in a garden center.

A true service animal must be under the control of the handler at all times, according to the American Disabilities Act (ADA).

In my opinion, pets at large do not belong roaming around in the agricultural and horticultural worlds.

Why in the world would anybody think it’s OK to bring their pets into someone’s business?

It puts the business owner in a very difficult situation. What happens if the pet bites someone? How does a business owner handle toilet issues?

Again, I love animals. I grew up with two golden retrievers, three cats, a guinea pig, and a parakeet.

According to the ADA, many people with disabilities use a service animal in order to fully participate in everyday life. Dogs can be trained to perform many important tasks to assist people with disabilities, such as providing stability for a person who has difficulty walking, picking up items for a person who uses a wheelchair, preventing a child with autism from wandering away, or alerting a person who has hearing loss when someone is approaching from behind.

The Department of

Justice continues to receive many questions about how the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) applies to service animals. The ADA requires state and local government agencies, businesses, and non-profit organizations (covered entities) that provide goods or services to the public to make “reasonable modifications” in their policies, practices, or procedures when necessary to accommodate people with disabilities. The serviceanimal rules fall under this general principle. Accordingly, entities that have a “no pets” policy generally must modify the policy to allow service animals into their facilities.

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability. For example, a person with diabetes may have a dog that is trained to alert him when his blood sugar reaches high or low levels. A person with depression may have a dog that is trained to remind her to take her medication.

Or, a person who has epilepsy may have a dog that is trained to detect the onset of a seizure and then help the person remain safe during the seizure.

Also, according to the ADA, “emotional support,” “therapy,” “comfort,” or “companion animals” are not considered service animals. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, some state or local governments have laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places. You may check with your state and local government agencies to find out about these laws.

Here in New Jersey, The New Jersey Law Against Discrimination requires public accommodations to allow people with disabilities who use service dogs, subject only to these conditions: You must keep the dog in your custody at all times; you can be required to pay for any

damage your dog causes; and you can’t be charged an additional fee for having a service dog.

Under the ADA, your service animal can be excluded from a public accommodation if it poses a direct threat to health and safety.

For example, if your dog is aggressively barking and snapping at other customers, the facility can kick the dog out.

Also under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, service animals are described as: A “service dog” means any dog individually trained to the requirements of a person with a disability. For example, such dogs may be trained to perform minimal protection work or tasks such as pulling a wheelchair, retrieving dropped items, or alerting or assisting a person with epilepsy or another seizure disorder; a “guide dog” means a dog used to assist deaf or hard-of-hearing people, or people with visual impairments.

Guide dogs must be trained by an organization generally recognized by agencies involved in the rehabilitation of the deaf or blind as reputable and competent in providing this type of training to dogs.

Trained service or guide dogs are not pets. So, if you are one of these people who think it’s OK to improperly pass your pet off as a service animal, please stop. Also, for you dog-lovers out there, if you see a person with a service dog, please do not go up and try to pet or play with that dog. You will be distracting it from providing the service for which it was trained.

And, please, pets do not belong roaming around freely on farms, in garden centers, greenhouses or in nurseries.

By the way, nobody wants to sit next to a peacock on an airplane!

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 2018 I really do love my work, despite the often-difficult reality of dealing with a demanding public.

Actually, they are my customers, and my Board of Directors is the Mayor and Council. If they are happy, I am good.

Now, in this day and age of social media and email, the workload for a consultant is above and beyond what one is truly capable of. I can get up to 75 emails a week, requiring inspection and follow-up. Some folks just cannot wait. It is really easy to beat up a one-day-a-week consulting arborist while you sit at your computer sipping your latte. But hey, I have developed alligator skin. If no one is likely to be injured or killed, your pruning request or new tree request is first come-first served. It is all about the manpower and the budget.

The best part of my job is getting to educate the public when they have questions. Even in the day and age of Google and other search engines, I get similar questions from folks quite

GardenerNews.com Tree Notes

By Steve Schuckman NJ Certified Tree Expert

Questions about trees from the public

frequently, and most of the time…unless the resident is persistent…I can solve it over the phone. Here are some of my favorites.

Last fall a resident contacted me, very disturbed and upset. They had moved from the city into a heavily wooded area at end of summer, and had just had a fall weekend party to celebrate their new home.

She was freaking out! “There are all these things falling from the trees, so much so we had to move inside! We are scared the trees are sick!”.

A couple of questions by me, and the answer: acorns, and some walnut and hickory.

Totally normal, but not if you have never experienced it, especially if you have lived in a city all your life. But her

next question was classic: Will this happen every year?

Really? Yes, I said, and some years more than others.

She asked what she could do, and I explained that, short of a complete clear-cut, not much. She seemed so upset, and in closing she simply said she needed to study nature. I agreed.

I get lots of calls about “that green and gray stuff on the trunk of my tree. I think it has a fungus and is sick.”

Well, it does, in a way.

The culprit is lichen, a symbiotic association with algae and fungus. These unique organisms are “best friends,” the algae, being photosynthetic, producing carbohydrates that the fungus can use, and the fungus provides a protective

New Trap Better at Snaring Stable Flies organic materials such as hay,

By Sandra Avant Public Affairs Specialist/ manure, compost heaps and grass clippings. Both males USDA/ARS and females feed on bloodA new stable fly trap, delivering painful bites to now on the market, catches livestock, pets and people. more flies than the standard For livestock producers, trap, according to a recent these attacks can be costly. A Agricultural Research Service 2012 ARS economic impact (ARS) study. assessment found that stable The Knight Stick trap is flies cost the U.S. cattle industry highly attractive to stable flies, more than $2.4 billion each fits in tight places and is very year-reducing milk production portable, said entomologist in dairy cows, decreasing Jerry Hogsette, with the weight gain in beef cattle and MosquitoandFlyResearchUnit lowering feed efficiency. at the ARS Center for Medical, Insecticide treatments are Agricultural and Veterinary used to help keep stable flies Entomology in Gainesville, off animals, but treatments Florida. Experiments showed wash off as cattle walk through that the Knight Stick was a wet grass or wade through major improvement over the water. Traps can augment or standard Olson Sticky Fly trap replace insecticides, surveying when it came to trapping stable and helping reduce stable fly flies. This trap is intended for populations, which benefit outdoor use. animal health and welfare.

Stable flies can travel In the study, published for miles and are tough to in the Journal of Economic control in rural and urban Entomology, Knight Stick traps areas. Females lay eggs in wet, with sticky wraps were placed

at several horse facilities and at an exotic animal rescue facility for 24 or 48 hours, depending on the existing stable fly population levels. The Knight Stick captured three times more flies than the Olson trap.

A second study, published in Zoo Biology, found that traps placed inside zoological park exhibits captured five times more stable flies than traps along exhibit perimeters.

Knight Stick traps have also been evaluated around beef and dairy cattle and other domestic animals with similar results.

Although Knight Stick traps cost slightly more, customers like the dramatic increase in the numbers of flies captured, the ease of servicing the trap, its small size and in particular its portability, according to Hogsette. The trap itself also is a one-time purchase: only the sticky wraps need to be repurchased as needed.

Editor’s Note: The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

“home,” keeping the algae from drying out.

These lichens are harmless, just using the tree for a home. They become very apparent in wet weather when the algae really color up. They tend to like the north side of the tree, out of the strong southern sun.

Most rock formations get their “color” from a thin layer of lichen. They are very cool. Study them.

Birds are rarely a pest of trees. But one can cause damage when feeding extensively. This bird is a woodpecker, the yellowbellied sapsucker. As the name implies, these cute little avians feed on tree sap, and the insects attracted to the flowing sap. Like other woodpeckers, they drill

holes into the bark, but not in search of insect larvae, but to “tap” the tree’s sugarrich sap. They tend to drill shallow, horizontal rows of holes, come back later and suck up the sap.

Most residents see these beautiful rows of small holes and assume insect attack.

I have even had arborists call me and say it’s a borer problem, and request analysis. Not even close.

Normally not a big problem, the host species is extensive and they like birch. As a street tree pest, I find they like elms. Should you see such activity, contact your arborist, although there is not much you can do.

It’s just nature.

Editor’s Note: Steve Schuckman is owner of First Mountain Aboriculture, which provides horticultural consulting and community forestry services. He is currently the consulting forester for Bloomfield, Hawthorne, Maplewood, and Montclair, in New Jersey. He is also a New Jersey Certified Tree Expert. He can be reached at smschuckman@verizon.net

GardenerNews.com Reeves-Reed Arboretum is a nonprofit arboretum and garden located in Summit, N.J. I have personally been involved with this arboretum, in one capacity or another, for over 20 years.

Having been on their Board of Trustees for many years, I now serve on their Buildings and Grounds Committee. Our April monthly meeting had our Director of Horticulture, Marc Montefusco, give a presentation he had previously done at the APGA (American Public Garden Association).

At this conference held in Hamilton, Ontario, in 2017, Marc participated as part of a panel discussion with the likes of Eileen Boyle of the Mt. Cuba Center, Betsy Collins from Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, Mark Richardson of the New England Wildflower Society, and Craig Regelbrugge of American Hort.

The audience was conference attendees and the topic was Horticultural Forms of Native American Plants: Convergence or Controversy?

The session was “based on the premise that selected forms of native plants offer gardeners an opportunity to enjoy many – although perhaps not all – of the advantages offered by using native plants, without sacrificing visual excitement.

There is an element of controversy in this thesis, since many native species advocates are adamantly opposed to the use of selected forms in “native plantings, gardens, or ecosystems” (2017.publicgardens.org).

Marc went into his lecture with the notion that the idea of “native plants” is open to widely varying interpretations.

Does native mean originally native in this particular site? Or does it mean, native to this general area, or native to this type of habitat?

Especially significant is the question, if a horticultural form of a native plant – be it derived from selective breeding, straight genetic mutation, or chimeric mutation – deviates from the standard species, is it still native in some sense?

And a corollary: Can we use selected forms of native plants to restore ecosystems and encourage healthy biodiversity? All of Marc’s words here raise

July 2018 11 Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

If this tree could talk great questions, sure to drive spirited debates.

Marc’s reference to “chimeric mutation” was particularly intriguing to me.

“In mythology, the Chimera was a monster, an impossible combination of goat, lion and serpent. But in biology, there are real chimeras – organisms with more than one distinct genome. In plants, examples range from the famous graft chimera Adam’s (Broom) Laburnum, Laburnocytisus adamii, to certain types of naturallyoccurring variegation. Far from being monstrous, some of the real life chimeras are highly ornamental.” (Marc Montefusco) Halfway through Marc’s talk, he referenced the tree Sweetgum, Liquidambar styraciflua. A native tree, with typical five-lobed leaves, sometimes mistaken for maples, although I don’t see how. Sweetgum’s leaves are more star-shaped and generally smaller.

A curious, diminutive cultivar that could fit in almost any garden is “Gumball.”

Marc’s enthusiastic reference to this tree was met with his dispirited attempts to secure one, seemingly as elusive as Brigadoon.

Touted as having a “gumball machine” type of growth habit, “Gumball” is a multi-stemmed tree, rounded at the top, with a wide tapered base. Fall color on this tree varies and I dare say is less predictable than the species.

My very dear friend, Douglas Webber, former Vice President and General Manager of Blue Sterling Nursery LLC (2006-2017) told me that “like most dwarf trees, the fruit is not as prolific as the species. In fact, I can’t recall seeing ANY.” He does recall seeing consistent, brilliant autumn colors of yellow, red and burgundy, though.

“Gumball” is often seen in a lollipop shape, produced by grafting. Introduced by Hiram

Stubblefield of McMinnville, Tenn., I had remembered seeing this in a catalogue and on tour, years ago, from Blue Sterling Nursery in South Jersey.

Always up for a challenge, that night after leaving the Arboretum, I began the exercise of trying to remember where and when I last saw “Gumball.” Blue Sterling Nursery and their obscure availability of such a tree did not come to mind at first.

After several failed attempts of trying to locate one, the next morning I remembered a friend’s garden that I had visited just a few months earlier. Ed Shinn’s residential garden in Wall Township had one! I reached out to my salesperson John Mohr, of Iseli Nursery, and asked if he would reach out to Ed, whom he is better friends with, to see if he knew anyone who still grew “Gumball.”

Less than an hour later, I had an answer! Somewhat typical in our industry, having a strong network of friends who care passionately about plants, Ed offered his very mature “Gumball” to the Arboretum. In fact, Ed said, “I am so happy to find a home for this tree. It has outgrown the space I had for it and I was going to take a chainsaw to it the other day. My chainsaw blade simply wasn’t sharp enough and I put it down.”

Call it a premonition or kismet if you like, the tree was saved! Ed graciously dug the tree and I sent our company van to retrieve this most awesome gift. Standing nearly 10 feet tall and six feet wide, an original from Blue Sterling Nursery all those years ago. Within a matter of days, this elusive tree was now in another prominent garden where it will continue to impress those who appreciate such rarities.

The discussion about what is and is not native can sometimes become heated.

Eileen Ferrer, my friend

and colleague, whom I have worked with for two decades, is certainly more of a purist when it comes to all things “native.” Her contention is that it should be limited to just genus and species, withstanding cultivars.

“Flowers that are sometimes developed on showier cultivars can impede insects from pollinating,” Eileen says. I am certainly not just a “native guy,” but I do see her point here and appreciate her passion.

Sometimes, when I see certain plants, I wonder about the history of them and how they came to stand where they are. If not for Marc’s talk, John Mohr’s connection to Ed Shinn and myself being in the audience that night, this “Gumball” may have been lost forever. Not to mention, a

little help from a dull chainsaw blade.

That said, If This Tree Could Talk, I’m sure it’s appreciative of its new surroundings. “Gumball” now resides in Summit, N.J., where it hopefully will continue to live a long and “fruitless” life.

“Reeves-Reed Arboretum engages, educates and enriches its visitors so that they become better stewards of nature and the environment. This mission is achieved through the care and utilization of an historic estate and gardens” (ReevesReed Arboretum) of which I have always been proud to be a part of.

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.

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12 July 2018

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GardenerNews.com As my car turned into Monmouth University’s parking lot, I could already sense the raw energy emanating throughout the campus. I was there to participate in the 89th New Jersey State FFA Convention.

This three-day conference was jam-packed with educational activities, competitions, presentations, and social activities. I was joined by over 450 students and advisors.

Perhaps you remember them in your high school. Clad in the familiar blue, corduroy jacket with gold lettering, they were usually from farm families.

Up until 1969, they were all boys. In addition to their regular high school coursework, they also took special vo-tech classes that pertained to the farming industry.

Organized in 1928, the FFA (which originally stood for Future Farmers of America) emerged as a national educational organization and taught generations of farmers about agriculture. Open to students between the ages of 12 and 21, today the FFA has over 600,000 members and chapters in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In FFA chapters throughout New Jersey, more than

July 2018 13 NJ Agricultural Society

By Al Murray Executive Director

A glimpse into agriculture’s future

2,400 members engage in personal, career and leadership development activities that challenge them to excel as they develop agricultural skills and competencies for the future.

As the agricultural industry has progressed and has become so much more technical and science based, the FFA also has evolved. While originally designed to train the next generation of farmers, FFA is not just for students who want to be production farmers; FFA also welcomes members who aspire to careers as teachers, doctors, scientists, business owners and more. While FFA is still referred to as Future Farmers of America, it should be noted that its members are also the Future Biologists, Future Chemists, Future Veterinarians, Future Engineers and Future Entrepreneurs of America, too.

The New JerseyAgricultural Society has always enjoyed a

wonderful relationship with the FFA. In fact, our board of trustees includes an FFA representative, and the Society helps sponsor many of their activities. As in past years, I was invited to help judge the “Star in Agricultural Placement & Star Farmer Interviews.”

This contest involves students who currently work in the agricultural industry and have assumed some sort of entrepreneurial responsibilities whereby they are basically running their own business.

As we conducted interviews, reviewed profit and loss statements, and other financials, I had to keep reminding myself that these are HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS! Their poise, business acumen, and experience belied their youth.

Just to give the reader the depth of experience, and overall talent these young men and women possess, the following

represent a couple examples of the projects we reviewed. (The names have been changed to protect privacy.)

“Doug F.,” a high school senior, works afterschool at a local farmer’s supply company.

He uses the money he earns to purchase old jeeps. He then rebuilds the jeeps and resells them. After graduation, Doug plans to enroll in a technical school and hopes to someday open a diesel and farm equipment repair shop.

“Lynn C.” has owned a horse for most of her young life.

Currently a sophomore, Lynn works at the stable where she boards her horse, and has a parttime job assisting a horse trainer.

She is already making a name for herself in training circles and has assumed some clients.

Lynn’s passion for horses is so strong, that after high school she plans to study to become an equine veterinarian.

“Paul H.” lives on a farm and is a third-generation farmer.

His grandfather gave this high school junior nine acres of weed-infested, overgrown land that has been out of production for years. Paul’s challenge was to clear the land and make it productive. Paul experimented with hay and orchard grass production and began his own side business. Today, in addition to helping with the family farm, Paul is now directly responsible for 39 of his own acres.

Some in society have labeled this generation as “slackers,” “snowflakes,” and other derisive terms. After spending three days with this amazing group of future leaders, I left with renewed optimism and full of great expectations for them and our agricultural industry.

Editor’s Note: Al Murray is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society.

Established in 1781, the Society is New Jersey's oldest organization whose purpose is to advocate, educate and promote on behalf of New Jersey's agricultural industry. Mr. Murray previously spent his entire career at the NJ Department of Agriculture, serving as the Assistant Secretary. He can be reached at njagriculturalsociety@gmail.com

Will the Real Purple Coneflower Please Stand Up?

By Hubert Ling Purple coneflower is so common in garden centers that few people realize it is a relatively uncommon native prairie plant in most of the Eastern United States.

However, it is relatively common in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois and Ohio.

Although the USDA lists it as native to Morris, Middlesex, and Bergen counties, Bonap (the Biota of North America Program) lists it as an escape from cultivation in Bergen County and nowhere else in the state.

As of 1980, the Rutgers’ herbarium did not contain a wild collection of the plant from New Jersey. Thus, it appears that it is probably not native to New Jersey, but since it is such an important U.S. native, we will write about it anyway.

Many coneflowers and related plants such as threeleaf coneflower or black-eyed

Susan are annuals or biennials; however, purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is an easy-to-grow true perennial.

The plants commonly grow two to four feet high and after several years tend to form clumps.

Flowers burst out in July and produce numerous attractive three- to four-inch pink-purple flowers. Coneflowers are in the aster-daisy family and have the common arrangement of a flowerhead with 10 to 20 sterile purple ray florets which surround a central disc of small yellowish-brown disk florets which produce the seeds.

Purple coneflowers are easy to propagate. New colonies can be started by dividing large clumps and seeds started in fall germinate the following spring. Watch out for the seed heads! They are protected by sharp bristles.

I generally extract the seeds by wearing heavy leather gloves and using two pliers to break up the seed heads. True you crush a few seeds but this small loss makes no difference and

this really saves your fingers from painful punctures; it would also be prudent to wear eye protection.

The genus name Echinacea is from the Greek for the spiny one and is used for the hedgehog, sea urchin, and purple coneflower, all of which really live up to the name.

The coneflowers grow best with full sun, moderate water, and deep, neutral loam.

However, the plants are not fussy and they still grow well in a range of pH’s, in different soil types, and with light to moderate shade.

Since purple cone flowers are an attractive, easy-togrow native, many cultivated color forms of the plant have been developed such as pink, orange, yellow, red, white, and double varieties; these showy flowers are borne on stout stems and are useful as cut or dried flowers.

Coneflower pollen and nectar are very popular with butterflies, skippers, flies, and bees. In addition, a variety of butterfly and moth larvae feed

on the foliage and flowerheads.

Also, the durable mature flowerheads provide winter seed for the Eastern Goldfinch.

The plants are moderately tolerant of deer browsing, drought, and not subject to severe insect predation or disease.

The coneflowers, especially Echinacea angustifolia (narrow-leaved purple coneflower) and Echinacea purpurea have been extensively used in medicinal preparations for many years.

The indigenous people of the North American Plains used Echinacea for more medicinal purposes than any other plant.

Extracts were used externally for insect bites and as an antimicrobial preparation for burns and wounds. The roots were chewed for toothache and sore throats. Other ingested preparations were used for pain, headache, cough, cramps and snakebites, but apparently not for colds.

In modern times, coneflower preparations have become very popular since

claims have been made that all parts of the plant stimulate the human immune system.

A tea made from the flowers is popular as a cold remedy.

Written reports suggest that coneflower extracts can stimulate white blood cells to increased phagocytosis (engulfing bacteria) by 30 percent and stimulate the body to attack cancer tumors.

Careful clinical trials, however have had mixed results and self-medication may be dangerous since reported side effects include gastrointestinal upset and allergic responses from rash to life-threatening anaphylaxis. In addition, since herbal products are not regulated by the FDA, there is no guarantee that the preparation you buy contains coneflower.

Plant purple coneflower just for itself and let it brighten a spot in your garden.

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

14 July 2018

GardenerNews.com

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July 2018 15

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16 July 2018 I am not sure what the weather will be like when you read this article, but it sure has been a spring to remember. Cold, hot, wet, weeds… where do we go from here?

This spring flooding has been a major problem.

There has been so much rain that pools are overflowing, soil has been eroding and landscape mulch was being pushed onto the lawn and sidewalks.

Now is the time to fix the damage. Re-seed bare spots and eroded areas in your lawn. Otherwise, weeds will be glad to fill in these bare spots if you do not establish a lawn with some grass seed.

Weeds are thriving in both the lawn and landscape bed areas. The wet weather and warmer temperatures have given weeds a great start to the season. As long as the temperatures are not above 85 degrees, lawn weed controls can still be effective during summer months. Be sure to follow all label directions.

So many homeowners have only applied lawn fertilizer once so far this

GardenerNews.com Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Where do we go from here? year. The lawn is hungry and needs to be fed regularly during the growing seasons.

With all of the spring rain, the nutrients the lawn needs to grow properly have been severely depleted. Summer feeding is fine, again, provided the temperatures are not above 85 degrees. Be sure to water in the product after application. This will help to promote healthy grass growth and strengthen the lawn to survive summer stress. Consider using an organic lawn fertilizer for a gentle, summer feeding.

Signs of fungus in the lawn started this spring with Red Thread. Red Thread is frequently associated with the lack of nitrogen for the grass plants to grow healthy.

Some reports of patch disease are coming in, too.

The use of a lawn fungus control is fine, provided you have been able to identify the disease and the product is labeled for that particular disease. Lawn fungicides tend to have a 14- to 30-day residual and may need to be re-applied through the summer months.

After a cold, wet spring season, will Mother Nature deliver a hot, dry summer?

It is possible we could see little rain and once again your lawn will be under stress. Under these weather conditions, your lawn may slow down its normal green growth and turn brown.

This is the lawn’s way of preserving energy to survive the heat and drought. This shutting-down effect is called “dormancy.” It’s kind of like a bear sleeping

through the winter months.

Many times when cooler temperatures and rainfall return, a healthy lawn will be the result.

Crabgrass may thrive since spring applications of crabgrass preventer have been compromised by the excessive amounts of rain. If you have the starting signs of crabgrass and wish to control it, only do so if the lawn is not under heat and drought stress.

Controlling crabgrass plants before they develop their seeds is best to prevent more problems next year. Once crabgrass plants become too large to effectively spray out, you can pull the plants out by hand or with a tool to be sure you get the whole root system. Crabgrass mostly

grows horizontally below the height of normal mowing blades. This helps the plant survive and produce thousands of seeds to bring the problem back again next year. Try your best to spray crabgrass plants in their early stage of growth or pull larger plants out before they reach this seedling stage.

It is time to celebrate summer, time to get in the pool or go to the beach. You deserve a break! Have you had your first barbecue? Did a lot of bugs appear and ruin your picnic? During warm summer months fleas, ticks and ants can flourish in your yard. Please check children and pets for ticks after they have been outside playing.

There are a number of insect controls available on the market including “organic” brands to help curb insect activity.

Don’t get bugged by bugs! Happy summer!

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

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Visit www.GardenerNews.com

USDA to Measure Quarterly Colony Loss

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be collecting information about colony loss in the honey industry. The Quarterly Colony Loss survey will be conducted over the period of June 2018 through July 2018. This survey collects information about colony inventory and loss from more than 400 producers with bee colonies in the Northeastern Region of the United States.

“The information from these surveys directly impacts our region’s beekeepers and honey producers,” said King Whetstone, Director of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, Northeastern Regional Field Office. “Keepers and producers can use the survey results when making business plans and marketing decisions.

Cooperative Extension uses the data to provide needed outreach and education and State Departments and Agencies of Agriculture use the information to set insurance values.”

In these surveys, NASS asks participants to answer a variety of questions about their colonies, including reasons for colony losses. For their convenience, survey participants have the option to respond online. As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS safeguards the confidentiality of all responses and publishes only State and National level data, ensuring that no individual producer or operation can be identified.

The Honey Bee Colonies publication will be available online on August 1, 2018.

Previous Honey Bee Colonies publications are also available for review.

These reports can be found online at http://www.nass.usda.gov. For more information on NASS surveys and reports, call the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at 1-800-498-1518.

PA Department of Agriculture Spotted Lanternfly Update Attention business owners: if your business requires moving a product (or have company conveyances such as trucks, trailers, delivery vehicles, etc.) and operates within the current #spottedlanternfly quarantine zone (find out here: https://buff. ly/2JExVgr), you’re required to have a permit. Owners, managers and/or supervisors are required to complete training and pass an exam; they are then responsible for training employees working for the company.

Training can be found online, under business resources: https://buff.ly/2MbB4D9 The quarantine restricts the movement of certain articles.

Industries and regulated articles under the quarantine that are not to be removed/moved to a new area are: Any living stage of the Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula. This includes egg masses, nymphs, and adults; Brush, debris, bark, or yard waste; Landscaping, remodeling or construction waste; Logs, stumps, or any tree parts; Firewood of any species; Grapevines for decorative purposes or as nursery stock; Nursery stock; and Crated materials.

Outdoor household articles including recreational vehicles, lawn tractors and mowers, mower decks, grills, grill and furniture covers, tarps, mobile homes, tile, stone, deck boards, mobile fire pits, any associated equipment and trucks or vehicles not stored indoors.

GardenerNews.com

July 2018 17

True Value Names its Lawn and Garden Suppliers of the Year

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Pictured from left to right are: Randal S. Cole III, Divisional Vice President of Outdoor & Private Label Brands, True Value; Barry Green, Sr., Chairman, Jonathan Green; Barry Green, II, President, Jonathan Green; Antoine Hinton, Sr., Global Product Merchant; Laura Green; and Courtney Clay, Product Management, Lawn and Garden Department, True Value.

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True Value Company, one of the world’s largest retailer-owned hardware cooperatives, named Jonathan Green its 2017 Lawn and Garden Supplier of the Year.

The ceremony took place on June 13 at Jonathan Green’s corporate headquarters in Farmingdale, Monmouth County, N.J. Today, True Value Company, under the leadership of President and CEO John Hartmann, is one of the world’s leading hardlines wholesalers with a globally recognized brand providing its customers in over 60 countries an expansive product set with market-customized assortments at highly competitive prices, superior product availability, innovative marketing programs, and a la carte value-added services like e-commerce ship-to-store, store remodel support and True Value University, all within a flexible model which requires no membership.

Committed to long-term sustained growth and success, True Value serves over 4,400 stores worldwide with retail sales in their communities, totaling about $5.5 billion, with 13 regional distribution centers and approximately 2,500 True Value Associates.

Jonathan Green is a sixth-generation family business deeply committed to the health and well-being of your family. The company is committed to helping you to grow, and maintain, the most beautiful lawn through the timely applications of traditional and organic products.

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18 July 2018

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Garden Center Partner Recognized Three Times This Year

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Many houseplants benefit from spending a few months outdoors during New Jersey summers. Just like your family vacation, with proper planning, this can be an enjoyable experience for everyone.

To decide which plants are the best candidates, consider where they are grown now.

For example, hanging plants will need to be hung outside.

Determine each plant’s cultural needs and make your decisions accordingly.

Many of our houseplants are, in fact, tropicals, so they will blend right into natural settings and can be great design additions to your balcony, deck or patio. This is especially true if you incorporate other plants with a similar feel, such as Elephant Ears, Canna, and Banana.

What kind of pot is the plant in now? If the pot does not have drainage holes, heavy rain can lead to root rot and death.

Be prepared to tip out the extra water after every rainstorm or place your no-hole container in a spot out of rain’s reach.

Hairy leafed plants like Begonia and African Violets don’t like getting water on their leaves outdoors any more than

David Williams, a partner at William’s Nursery in Westfield, Union County, N.J., proudly displays a bounty of awards recently bestowed on him. The first one was awarded to him by the Greater Westfield Area Chamber of Commerce for his family’s nursery being a member of the Chamber for over 40 years. The second one was awarded to him by the Union County Board of Chosen Freeholders for understanding the value of teaching others how to care for the environment and for teaching children how sustainable food is grown, and for helping them begin to think about the health of our planet. And the third award is a Joint Resolution from the New Jersey Senate and the New Jersey Assembly for maintaining a positive spirit, an entrepreneurial outlook, and remaining faithful to the traditions of excellence, service and progress, and for being an effective and dedicated citizen in our American society.

The Garden Historian

By Lesley Parness Garden Educator

Houseplants take a holiday they did indoors.

Once you decide “who” is going on vacation, timing is everything. Houseplants can be moved outside once evening temperatures are reliably in the high-50s. Reliably is the key word here. Tip: if you are moving a large plant, consider holding back water for a few days before moving it to lighten the pot somewhat.

Light is a critical factor.

Do not expose any plant to full outdoor sun, even if it is accustomed to high light indoors. The intensity of outdoor sunlight is far greater than that found in the home, even in the sunniest of rooms. Plant shock and sun scald can be lethal, and acclimation is the best way to lessen light-related plant stress.

Choose a shaded area that is out of the wind for the plant’s first week outdoors. Then,

move them to their permanent “vacation homes.” A dolly with wheels, wagon or plant caddy can help accomplish this.

Wind is another factor to consider. It can stress houseplants as they are not accustomed to strong or sustained motion. Wind will dry plants, can toss their leaves about or knock them over, so place houseplants in wellprotected areas. Depending on the size and location of your houseplant, you might need to provide extra support by tying it up to a railing or hook.

Houseplants on vacation will need more water. Check them every day or two to see if they need watering because potting soil dries out more quickly outdoors, and adjust watering intervals as needed.

Indoors, there are fewer opportunities for insects

to bother your plants, so be familiar with and prepared to respond to common insects.

Inspect your vacationing plants frequently and if you find a problem, get an accurate diagnosis from your County Cooperative Extension office and the Master Gardeners.

Houseplants on holiday often have tremendous growth spurts. This is a perfect time to re-pot or top dress them. If you are re-planting, the general recommendation is to add two to four inches in diameter to the pot size. Scrubbing out big pots is easier outside as well.

Prune your houseplants once they are established in their summer residence. Now’s the time to remove straggly branches and leggy limbs. And, it’s the time to fertilize, too. Take advantage of the natural light’s complete spectrum and the

high summer outdoor humidity to encourage maximum lush, healthy growth.

Give your houseplants a much-deserved summer vacation. They’ll reward you with surprising new growth and the added dimension and texture they bring to your outdoor living space. Plus, they’ll never ask you, “Are we there yet?”

Note: Come late-summer/ early-fall, it will be time to think about moving these plants back indoors. I’ll have a column on that topic in the September Gardener News.

Editor’s Note: Lesley Parness offers a variety of presentations and workshops for garden clubs, plant societies, and horticultural gatherings.

Recently retired from her position as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission, and with four decades of teaching environmental science and garden education, her focus now is garden history. A complete listing of her talks can be seen at lesleyparness. com and she can be reached at parness@verizon.net. This column will appear in the paper every other month.

GardenerNews.com Happy summer, July 4th and all other happy things!

Hope you have all been getting down to the Jersey shore to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells and everything else about our beautiful coastline.

After such a harsh winter, it is a most welcomed change.

By now, all of you gardeners probably are beginning to see some of the literal fruits of your labor. Tomatoes and corn are in full swing, I know that much.

I’ve been eating corn since the end of May, and even though back then it was from Florida, it was really good. Just not as good as Jersey corn, without a doubt!

I always feel compelled this time of year to use corn and tomatoes, since they are so good, so I will be doing a take on the classic Italian style caprese salad. This salad basically combines tomatoes and fresh mozzarella cheese with some fresh basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and good quality olive oil. It’s easy to make, looks great and eats very well.

The only difference here is that we will be converting it to an entrée by adding grilled, marinated chicken, thinly sliced prosciutto (optional),

July 2018 19 From the Deep

By Craig Korb Executive Chef

and roasting our tomatoes. We recently ran this at the restaurant and it did surprisingly well.

It was a recommendation from the former head chef at the restaurant that now is the purchaser. So, thank you my friend Franny!

Anyhow, that being said, I will definitely be running it again in the future. This dish, like the salad, is also quite easy to make. The key is quality ingredients, fresh local tomatoes and basil, some nice Jersey-made mozzarella and of course high-quality olive oil and balsamic. We use a balsamic crème, which is basically a reduction that we get pre-made.

If you need to make it at home, you can combine equal amounts of balsamic vinegar and sugar and simmer it until it is reduced by half. As it cools it will thicken even more.

Hot Salad Caprese You can use this reduction on many other things as well, such as drizzled over summer strawberries.

Another key to this dish is how it is presented, I like to place the grilled prosciutto and mozzarella-topped chicken in the center of the plate and surround it with the roasted tomatoes, then finish it off with the oil and balsamic drizzled across it all and finally add a nice chiffonade of basil sprinkled liberally over the top. A chiffonade is when you stack basil leaves on top of one another, fold them in half gently and, using a sharp knife, cut it into very thin strips.

So, good luck with this. It’s a great summer dish and enjoy your summer, folks. It goes way too fast!

Grilled Caprese Chicken (serves 2) Ingredients-

1 bunch fresh basil, chiffonade cut.

1 container or 2 cups of grape or cherry tomatoes, tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted in a 450 degree oven until slightly charred.

Two 6-8 ounce chicken breasts, marinated in a combination of 1/3 cup balsamic, 2/3 cup olive oil a pinch of dried Italian herbs, salt and pepper, a 1/2 teaspoon or more fresh minced garlic, and a teaspoon of sugar whisked together. Marinate for at least one hour and up to three in advance.

Good quality olive oil.

Good quality balsamic vinegar.

1 large ball of fresh mozzarella in water, sliced into ½-inch-thick pieces.

1/4 pound thinly sliced prosciutto (optional) provides a nice saltiness.

Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste.

Method-heat grill to medium, wipe off excess marinade from chicken and grill until just cooked through.

-top with a few slices of the prosciutto followed by a generous amount of the fresh mozzarella -close grill and allow cheese to melt over top of chicken for about a minute or so.

-place each breast in the center of a plate, surround with the roasted tomatoes and finish garnishing the top with the basil and the drizzle of olive oil, balsamic, salt and pepper to taste.

ENJOY and MANGIA! 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.

USDA and FDA Announce Key Step to Advance Collaborative Efforts to Streamline Produce Safety Requirements for Farmers

As part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing effort to make the oversight of food safety stronger and more efficient, USDA and FDA announced the alignment of the USDA Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices Audit Program (USDA H-GAP) with the requirements of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA’s) Produce Safety Rule.

The new step is part of an ongoing effort to streamline produce safety requirements for farmers. The joint announcement was made by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., during a visit by the Secretary to the FDA’s White Oak campus in Silver Spring, Md. “Government should make things easier for our customers whenever possible and these important improvements help accomplish that goal,” said Secretary Perdue. “Specialty crop farmers who take advantage of a USDA Harmonized GAP audit now will have a much greater likelihood of passing a FSMA inspection as well. This means one stop at USDA helps producers meet federal regulatory requirements, deliver the safest food in the world and grow the market for American-grown food. This is an important first step.

We look forward to continuing to work with FDA, other government agencies and especially our state partners to ensure proper training of auditors and inspectors, and to help producers understand changes in the audit.”

While the requirements of both programs are not identical, the relevant technical components in the FDA Produce Safety Rule are covered in the USDA H-GAP Audit Program. The aligned components include

areas such as biological soil amendments; sprouts; domesticated and wild animals; worker training; health and hygiene; and equipment, tools and buildings. The alignment will help farmers by enabling them to assess their food safety practices as they prepare to comply with the Produce Safety Rule. However, the USDA audits are not a substitute for FDA or state regulatory inspections.

“We’re committed to working with USDA to pursue our shared goal of advancing food safety in a way that is efficient and helps farmers meet our regulatory standards. By working together, our two programs can advance these efforts more effectively,” said Commissioner Gottlieb. “Today’s announcement will help FDA and states better prioritize our inspectional activities by using USDA H-GAP audit information to prioritize inspectional resources and ultimately enhance our overall ability to protect public health.

Inspections are key to helping to ensure that produce safety standards are being met, but they only provide a snapshot in time. Leveraging the data and work being done by USDA will provide us with more information so that we can develop a clearer understanding of the safety and vulnerabilities on produce farms as well as concentrate our oversight and resources where they are most needed.”

The Produce Safety Rule, which went into effect on Jan. 26, 2016, establishes science-based minimum standards for the safe growing, harvesting, packing and holding of fruits and vegetables grown for human consumption The rule is part of the FDA’s ongoing efforts to implement FSMA. Large farming operations

were required to comply with the rule in January 2018.

However, the FDA had previously announced that inspections to assess compliance with the Produce Safety Rule for produce other than sprouts would not begin until Spring 2019. Small and very small farms have additional time to comply.

The USDA Harmonized GAP Audit Program is an audit developed as part of the Produce GAP Harmonization Initiative, an industry-driven effort to develop food safety GAP standards and audit checklists for pre-harvest and post-harvest operations.

The Initiative is a collaborative effort on the part of growers, shippers, produce buyers, audit organizations and government agencies, including USDA. The USDA Harmonized GAP audit, in keeping with the Initiative’s goals, is applicable to all fresh produce commodities, all sizes of on-farm operations and all regions in the United States. For more information visit: www.ams.usda.gov.

Today’s announcement builds on a formal agreement signed earlier this year outlining plans to increase interagency coordination regarding produce safety, inspections of dual-jurisdiction facilities and biotechnology activities. The FDA and USDA are committed to continuing to work collaboratively to ensure that the requirements and expectations of the USDA H-GAP Audit Program remain aligned with the FDA’s Produce Safety Rule.

Farmers who are interested in learning more about this alignment and what they can do to prepare for compliance with the Produce Safety Rule can contact their regional representative of the Produce Safety Network or find more information at FDA.gov.

20 July 2018 I bet most of our readers don’t know that July is Smart Irrigation Month, as dubbed by the national Irrigation Association.

Smart Irrigation Month is an industry initiative to promote the social, economic and environmental benefits of efficient irrigation technologies, products and services in landscape, turf and agriculture. By working with your landscape and irrigation professionals, you can save yourself time and money (think utility costs), but also allow you to help conserve one of our most valuable resources…water.

There are many things you can do to save on water in your home, including shorter showers, turning off the water while you brush your teeth, etc. But one of the places that water is most wasted can be on your property.

Those oscillating sprinklers that go back and forth are one of the worst culprits!

We all used to run through them on a hot summer day when there was no pool around, but those generic sprinklers, along with the whirligig’s that spin around, not only water your lawn, but wash your car, your neighbor’s car and water the hardscaping and street surrounding your yard.

So, your first matter of business is to recycle those

I am sure that everyone is aware of and well versed in the term “Fake News.”

Made popular by President Trump, this phrase is used to describe some type of story that, on the surface, appears to be factual, but is actually so slanted in its coverage that it tends to lead the unsuspecting viewer or reader to reach a conclusion based on a mixture of half truths, innuendo, and staged photo ops. And it seems that as our society becomes more and more polarized, many of our “news” stories become more and more biased as well.

I recently watched a video on a purported news site which was trying to make the claim that Roundup herbicide (glyphosate) was ruining both our health and our environment.

Although I would probably tend to disagree with these conclusions, I have always welcomed the opportunity to read and review other differing points of view on all types of subject matter.

As I started to watch the video, there were the usual doom-and-gloom statements

GardenerNews.com The NJLCA Today

By Gail Woolcott Director of Operations

July is Smart Irrigation Month

outdated sprinklers and hire a professional to install your new smart irrigation system.

If you are installing a new landscape, talk to your landscape professional about installing low-water landscapes, including succulents, ornamental grasses and perennials. Have your contractor put plants of similar watering needs together and ask him or her to mulch around them to retain moisture. Keep up with maintenance, as that will keep your landscaping healthy and require less water.

The Irrigation Association also suggests that you “Plant grass in play zones and other areas where it will be used and enjoyed. Instead of planting turf on sleep slopes or other hardto-water spaces, consider ground cover, perimeter plants or mulch.”

If your landscape professional is not already a licensed (required in New Jersey) irrigation

contractor, go ahead and ask him or her for a recommendation, as most contractors work with irrigation companies in the area.

A professional irrigation contractor is knowledgeable of how to design an irrigation system that will use water most efficiently, while keeping your landscape satisfied. They will base their designs on the properties of your landscape and are aware of the proper materials that will help your system last long with minimal repairs.

In New Jersey, and locally in townships, there are many rules and regulations pertaining to irrigation systems, including having a backflow prevention device installed, zero-percent runoff and rain sensors. A licensed irrigation contractor will be aware of these laws and properly install your system to maximize its potential.

There are some things you

want to make sure of to ensure your system is the best it can be.

If you have a current irrigation system, make sure it is retrofitted with a rain sensor. Also make sure that you have no broken irrigation heads. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, one broken sprinkler head over a six-month period can waste 25,000 gallons of water.

Newer systems should have soil moisture sensors and/ or automatically adjust watering schedules based on the weather.

In beds, around trees and in gardens, you may want to ask that your contractor use drip irrigation or bubblers. Have your landscape contractor make sure to keep plants pruned so the heads and water reach over them, instead of being blocked by a shrub or flower.

Your property should be watered in the early morning (between 4 and 8 a.m.) to avoid

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Fake, Faker, Fakest…

about how bad this particular chemical was for the environment, the human race, etc… Then it cut to a video of a tractor pulling a sprayer through an apple orchard that was spraying the trees from top to bottom. This is where I had to stop watching.

First of all, as most of you are aware, Roundup (glyphosate) is an herbicide, which means that its purpose is to kill weeds or plants.

Obviously, no grower in their right mind would spray their fruit trees with Roundup.

Unless they wanted to kill the trees, of course, because that is what it would absolutely do.

Did the producers of this video actually think that the viewing public was so uninformed on this subject matter that they would not

even notice this glaring error? Were they deliberately trying to mislead people with this footage? Or, were they just so lazy that when they looked for some footage of a farmer spraying his crops, they just chose the first video that popped up?

No matter the reason, this was a sorry example of what attempts to pass for journalism in 2018. Never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

Unfortunately, it seems as if there are very few news outlets who report on something using an open mind. Far too often, it seems as if they start with the conclusion first and then work backwards and fill in the quotes, pictures and videos that make their case the way they want it to be

made.

As far as reporting “both” sides of a story, the most you might get is something along the lines of “…while some might point to evidence to the contrary,” or “…some detractors argue otherwise,” and then it is right back to the script.

This type of reporting seems to rear its ugly head all the time when it comes to most reporting that concerns fruits and vegetables. There is always the dramatic headline to grab everyone’s attention, followed by a few facts, more than likely taken way out of context. This is then followed by the obligatory self-serving video footage.

Of course, usually buried somewhere in there is something to the effect of a very broad and general

evaporation from the sun. If you see that the water is pooling, you may want to ask your contractor to adjust the watering times for a shorter time period several times a day.

Using some of these tips will not only save you money in your wallet, but time when you don’t have to hand water your landscape. But most importantly, they will save water and keep your landscape healthy and pristine looking.

For more info about Smart Irrigation Month, visit the Irrigation Association’s website (Google “Smart Irrigation Month”), which offers great articles on saving water.

Editor’s note: Gail Woolcott is the Director of Operations for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association.

She was presented with a community service award from the Borough of Fairview for her assistance in leading the 9-11 Memorial Park project and the Legislative Champion of the Year award from the Federation of Employers and Workers of America. She is currently the State Licensee Chair on the National Association of Landscape Professionals International Certification Council.

disclaimer to potentially get them off the hook if someone starts to question their facts and/or motives. All that is missing is the cute little bow to tie it all up.

How is the public being served by these types of stories? How much is too much? How fake can a story be and still be believable?

I guess it depends on the audience. I get the feeling that many people only read what they want to see and listen to what they want to hear. Maybe it is all just being used for entertainment anyway.

Good luck throughout the rest of the growing season!

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 N.J. On-Farm Readiness Review (OFRR) The Rutgers On-Farm Food Safety Team and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture are now carrying out OFRR’s to help grower determine if they are ready for a Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Rule Inspection. The inspections will start in 2019 for operations with over $500,000 in fresh produce sales. The reviews, for these growers, which will take place during the 2018 growing season are free and confidential. A grower can sign up by calling 856-8393377 or email Charlotte.Muetter@ag.nj.gov.

USDA’s Annual Floriculture Report Has Been Reinstated Language requested by United States Senator for California Dianne Feinstein and United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski directed $500,000 to USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) budget to reinstate the Annual Floriculture Report.

Working together in 2017, Senators Feinstein and Murkowski co-sponsored and passed a senate resolution declaring July American Grown Flowers Month.

The reinstatement of this important report by NASS, specifically accounting for the domestic production of cut flowers and greens, was a top priority for both Senators this year.

The Annual Floriculture survey includes cut flowers, flowering potted plants, foliage plants, bedding/garden plants, herbaceous perennials, cut cultivated greens and special Hawaiian crops.

The last Floriculture Survey was conducted in 2015.

July 2018 21

Who’s There???

By Jeannie Geremia Contributing Writer

The following article has been percolating in my mind for some time and the moment has come, spurred on by Jim Devitt’s unexpected, close encounter with three curious nighttime visitors to his property.

Jim is the best friend of my son, Joe, and they grew up together in our neighborhood. Jim’s mother, my best friend, couldn’t wait to tell me about a recent evening at his home near Milford, N.J. Jim was the chef for the evening’s meal and was cooking a London broil on the grill out on their deck.

Their home is on a hill surrounded by open fields and woodland, so it is the perfect setting for all sorts of critters. The Devitt triplets, home from college and employed at various jobs, kept their Dad busy as chef as they trooped in at various times through the evening.

Finally, Jim, having fed his crew, sought a moment of solitude on the deck about 11 p.m., whereupon he realized he was not alone.

Sure enough, as he peered through the darkness, he was astonished to see that three sets of eyes were curiously gazing at the grill and he was equally surprised to see that the critters were two cows and a goat. Jim, no slouch where technology is needed, immediately captured the images of his visitors on his smart phone, checked local messages and found that, indeed, a party was looking for their missing cows and goat.

A phone call, relief, and request to keep the visitors corralled until the owners were able to retrieve them, ensued. Jim sought help from his family who were initially unwilling to be tricked, thinking it a prank. Fortunately, Logan came out to see if there

was something to his Dad’s entreaties, whereupon Logan rousted the rest of the family, Dawson, Skylar and mom Alison, to aid in keeping the cows and goat contained.

Jim related to me that they were fortunate to have kept an old, sturdy corral in their garage and enlisted it in the round-up. It seems the goat was the ringleader, and led the cows on a two mile odyssey much to their owners’ surprise. The fun was just beginning after the owners arrived as the goat succumbed first to capture after a 20-minute chase, ending with his being safely ensconced in the back of the pick-up truck.

The cows were skittish and elusive, taking on and a half hours to finally corral.

The pair spent the night in the Devitt’s old corral and bid adieu in the morning light, when a more substantial vehicle was brought to transport them home.

A view of the Devitt’s trail camera confirmed that it also captured the trio wandering in the wooded area prior to their appearance at the deck. Jim told me that the trail camera with night vision keeps them enthralled as to the range of visitors after dark, including coyotes, opossums, turkeys, foxes and raccoons, besides the inevitable deer.

A night vision trail camera is definitely on my “wish list,” as there is a whole other world that appears as night falls and it’s fascinating to contemplate the various critters that inhabit our yards and gardens. Pollinators, too, are included in this category, as not only do we have daytime flying bees, butterflies and birds, but our nighttime pollinators include moths, bats and beetles.

Unfortunately, their numbers seem vastly diminished as I used to view bats flying erratically at dusk, launching their flight

from our oak trees. Also missing in these past few years are June bugs (beetles) and numerous moth species, plus the “fairy lights” of fireflies, or lightning bugs as we always called them.

Is it a combination of too much artificial light, pesticides, climate change, and loss of habitat that is causing this insidious destruction of species that we grew up with and who form a necessary part of the food chain and health of our environment? I hope we can figure it out and take corrective measures so that future generations can thrive with an environment that sustains us all.

Happily, I can relate the appearance of a female black swallowtail butterfly in the butterfly garden that Seaweeders Garden Club of Bay Head and Mantoloking are maintaining at the Bay Head Municipal complex.

Claudia Larsen related to me that the club had purchased the GCNJ’s Pollinator Center signage and were planting host and nectar plants of monarchs and black swallowtails this past May, when a black swallowtail flew in, nectaring initially on cosmos yet to be planted. The female black swallowtail then proceeded to lay numerous eggs on bronze fennel that members had planted in the garden.

They were beyond delighted to witness this wonder of nature.

Editor’s note: Jeannie Geremia is The Garden Club of New Jersey First Vice President, GCNJ Wildlife Habitat Chair, and a National Garden Clubs, Inc. Accredited Life Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is a member of Neshanic Garden Club, The Raritan Township Historic Committee and the Raritan Township Board of Health.

Jeannie’s email address is: jgeremia42@gmail.com.

Recycle the Gardener News show it to a friend!

22 July 2018

GardenerNews.com

Rutgers University Receives Major Youth Employment, Agriculture, and American Farm School and The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) has gifted a landmark grant of $27,477,000 to support a major initiative that aims to help revitalize one of Greece’s most critical sectors—agriculture—by training and developing a new generation of farmers and inspiring agriculture and food entrepreneurs.

The three-year project is spearheaded by Rutgers University–New Brunswick in partnership with the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) and American Farm School (AFS). The interdisciplinary team from Rutgers, AUA, and AFS will strive to create job opportunities for youth in agriculture, which is Greece’s second-largest employer; help to prepare young workers for jobs at food-related businesses and family farms; and help them start their own businesses.

The grant is part of SNF’s Recharging the Youth €100 million euros initiative that unfolded at the height of Greece’s socioeconomic crisis to help create meaningful employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed young people. “The starting point of this landmark initiative was our desire to help as many young people as possible with employment opportunities within Greece’s agricultural and food sectors, that have unlimited growth potential.” said Andreas C. Dracopoulos, SNF Co-President. “But the grant is so much more than just an employment vehicle. It has the potential, we hope, to jump-start one of the country’s most important and strategic assets with unlimited growth potential, agriculture. We are not seeking to reinvent the wheel through this major grant. We are just trying to help boost its chances to become the growth and development engine that it should be.”

“This is a strong collaboration to tackle this complex and critically important project,” said Rutgers–New Brunswick chancellor Debasish Dutta. “It illustrates how our research benefits society, as well as the range of our problem-solving and interdisciplinary skills at home and abroad.”

In 2015, SNF awarded Rutgers and its partners a $2.1 million grant to begin planning a multiyear `project. In this first phase, faculty and leadership from AUA and AFS with support from Rutgers conducted 20 studies on a range of sectors, such as alternative fruit crops, incubators, agro-tourism, Greek wine and spirits, technology, and aquaculture. The goal of this first phase was to determine the current state of the sectors, their growth potential, and their overall viability for employing Greek youth.

SNF then asked Rutgers and its Greek partners to prepare a proposal to implement the next phase of the project, called “Recharging the Youth: New Agriculture for a New Generation.” This new $27,477,000 grant is the largest philanthropic foundation gift in Rutgers’ history.

“This historic and benevolent grant brings to light the work that Rutgers researchers do to change lives and improve conditions across the globe,” Rutgers President Robert Barchi said.

“Agriculture has always been an integral part of Greece’s economy,” said Eva Polyzogopoulou, SNF Assistant Director of Programs and Operations. “Nowadays it has also become a gateway for many young Greeks looking to return to the countryside and revive the work and the land of their ancestors. SNF’s grant aims at providing existing and new farmers with the training and tools required in order to assist them in improving their cultivating methods and developing quality products. The talent is already there. What we need to do is to simply connect the dots and offer them the guidance needed in order to excel. It is undoubtedly a complex endeavor that requires the support of all actors in the specific field. Our collaboration with Rutgers University and two of the most renowned academic institutions in the country, the Agricultural University of Athens and the American Farm School, will bring in best practices and guarantee that agriculture in Greece is offered a bright future.”

“As one of the founding partners in this initiative, our collective expertise in cutting edge agricultural research, business-oriented innovative solutions, economics and advisory services will help support the future needs of the agro-food system in Greece,” said Deputy Rector and Professor Maria Kapsokefalou at AUA. Panos Kanellis, President of AFS/Perrotis College, shared, “Through this collaboration we are committed to creating those new actionlearning arenas that will bring Greece to the forefront of European innovation in the agro-food sector and create a fertile, sustainable environment for youth entrepreneurial engagement in the sector - we will make this project a game-changer for Greek youth and a significant development opportunity for rural communities.”

Among other projects, the team plans to lay the groundwork for a Greek advisory and business development extension service in Greece that incorporates elements of the U.S. cooperative extension system of which Rutgers is a part.

“Researchers from the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station bring expertise in a host of fields that are essential to this effort,” said Robert M. Goodman, Executive Dean of agriculture and natural resources at Rutgers. “Our work in Greece draws upon our strengths in many areas.”

This next phase of the project will focus on agricultural and food system sectors that are considered most promising

GardenerNews.com

July 2018 23

Grant to Promote and Stimulate Greece’s Food Systems in Collaboration with The Agricultural University of Athens and attractive for developing jobs for youth and that will set the stage for further growth and success—including an emphasis on entrepreneurship and new business development.

“By promoting agriculture as a dynamic and profitable industry, prioritizing workforce development training, and supporting innovative entrepreneurial initiatives in the agro-food industry, the proposed project will target sectors with great growth potential and successfully reduce youth unemployment,” said Kenneth M. Karamichael, youth development expert and project leader at Rutgers.

About one-third of the grant will help develop a network of farm incubators and regional food innovation centers similar to the model followed at Rutgers. The incubators, which are key facilities for training programs, will be supplemented by other training locations, such as existing farms and businesses that could host internships, including those operated by the Greek university partners and the private sector.

“The overall conclusion that emerged from this process is that youth employment in the agro-food sectors is a critical component to the revitalization of the Greek economy, as well as a timely response to the nation’s youth unemployment crisis,” said Effie Lazaridou, Rutgers’ Greece-based managing director of the project.

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) is one of the world’s leading private international philanthropic organizations, making grants in the areas of arts and culture, education, health and sports, and social welfare. The SNF funds organizations and projects that are expected to achieve a broad, lasting, and positive impact for society at large; that focus on vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly; and that exhibit strong leadership and sound management. The SNF also seeks to actively support projects that facilitate the formation of public-private partnerships as an effective means for serving public welfare.

Rutgers University–New Brunswick is the flagship location of Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, founded more than 250 years ago.

Ranked among the world’s top 60 universities, Rutgers–New Brunswick is a leading public research institution and a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. It is home to internationally acclaimed faculty and has 12 degree-granting schools and a Division I Athletics program. It is the Big Ten Conference’s most diverse university. Through its community of teachers, scholars, artists, scientists, and healers, Rutgers is equipped as never before to transform lives. The Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences pursues excellence in research, teaching, and outreach in areas of study that address the biological spectrum from organisms to ecosystems. Students also have access to a robust program of applied research and outreach hosted by the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station’s laboratories, farms, business incubators, and marine stations throughout the state.

The Agricultural University of Athens is the third oldest University in Greece. It was established in 1920, with the vision to co-create and support the development of the agro-food sector in Greece. Today, AUA’s vision is to achieve educational and research excellence in order to occupy a dynamic position in the international academic environment and to respond to the productive and development needs of the Greek economy and society. AUA offers high-level undergraduate and graduate education and pursues research in the agricultural sciences, addressing a wide range of basic and emerging issues in crop and animal sciences, aquaculture, biotechnology, agricultural engineering, resource management, food science and nutrition, environmental ecology, and agricultural economics. In continuous contact with stakeholders, the AUA academic community provides solutions to problems that arise within the agro-food sector.

The American Farm School, of Thessaloniki, Greece, is an independent, nonprofit, educational institution founded in 1904 to serve the needs of Greece and the surrounding Balkan areas. Today, AFS and the Perrotis College of Agriculture, Environment and Life Sciences cover the whole agro-food value chain with programs that range from secondary education to postgraduate studies. The school has a strong tradition in Adult Education and Extension Services. Large projects that require cross-departmental mobilization of resources are designed and implement by the Strategic Project Management Office. The school’s vertically integrated Educational Farm and its Center for Agricultural Innovation & Entrepreneurship, as well as its positioning membership in a national network of collaborating institutions, make AFS an “Innovation Facilitator” that specializes in bringing cutting-edge scientific knowhow to real economy stakeholders.

24 July 2018

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July 2018 25

Low-Interest Loans Available for Agricultural Producers in New Jersey Impacted by Natural Disasters

Agricultural producers in New Jersey who lost property in recent natural disasters are eligible for physical loss loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers these loans for physical damage and losses caused by excessive snow, excessive rain, flooding and high winds that occurred March 2, 2018, through March 7, 2018.

FSA is offering these low-interest emergency loans to producers with a qualifying loss in the counties named below. Approval is limited to applicants who suffered severe physical losses only, including the loss of buildings and livestock. The deadline for producers in designated primary and contiguous counties to apply for loans for physical losses is Feb. 1, 2019.

An Administrator’s Physical Loss Notification was issued for the primary damaged area of Burlington, Hunterdon, Somerset and Union counties in New Jersey.

Additionally, producers in 10 contiguous New Jersey counties may be eligible for programs based on this designation. The contiguous counties are: Atlantic, Camden, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean and Warren.

Producers in the contiguous county of Richmond in New York as well as Bucks and Philadelphia counties in Pennsylvania may be eligible for emergency loans.

About Physical Loss Loans Physical loss loans can help producers repair or replace damaged or destroyed physical property essential to the success of the agricultural operation, including livestock losses. Examples of property commonly affected include essential farm buildings, fixtures to real estate, equipment, livestock, perennial crops, fruit and nut bearing trees, and harvested or stored crops and hay.

Please contact FSA for more information on loan eligibility and the application process. FSA office information is available at http://offices.usda.gov. Additional FSA disaster assistance program information is available at http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.

United States Maple Syrup Production

The 2018 United States maple syrup production totaled 4.16 million gallons, down 3 percent from the previous year. The number of taps is estimated at 13.7 million, up 3 percent from the 2017 total. Yield per tap is estimated to be 0.304 gallon, down 5 percent from the previous season.

The earliest sap flow reported was January 7 in Pennsylvania. The latest sap flow reported to open the season was March 1 in Minnesota. On average, the season lasted 42 days, compared with 37 days in 2017. The 2017 United States average price per gallon was $33.00, down $2.00 from 2016. Value of production, at $141 million for 2017, was down 4 percent from the previous season.

Source: USDA/NASS

The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 183 Published Monthly Reserve Ad Space Phone: 908.604.4444 Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff Executive Editor/Publisher . . . .

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

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

Tom Castronovo Clarissa J. Roper Tom Castronovo

July Columnists

Tom Castronovo Gail Woolcott Bob LaHoff Larry Katz Craig Korb Lesley Parness

Todd Pretz

Douglas H. Fisher Steve Schuckman Peter Melick Al Murray

Contributing Writers

Bruce Crawford Jeannie Geremia Hubert Ling Sandra Avant Gardener News is published monthly by

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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.

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APHIS Establishes a European Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cerasi) Quarantine in the Niagara Area of Niagara County, New York

Effective June 7, 2018 the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) established a European cherry fruit fly (ECFF) quarantine in Niagara County, New York. The area contains 52.7 acres of commercial cherry production; therefore, APHIS is applying safeguarding measures and restrictions on the interstate movement or entry into foreign trade of regulated articles from this area. This measure parallels the intrastate quarantine that NYSDAM initiated on June 4, 2018.

During September and October 2017, APHIS confirmed ECFF in traps placed in wild honeysuckle and sweet cherry on state and public lands along the Niagara River, Niagara County, New York. In cooperation with New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), APHIS is responding to these confirmed detections with the establishment of a new quarantine area, which encompasses approximately 92 square miles of Niagara County. APHIS is working with NYSDAM to respond to these detections following program survey and treatment protocols. This action is necessary to prevent the spread of ECFF to non-infested areas of the United States.

The establishment of this quarantine area is reflected on the following designated website, which contains a description of all the current federal fruit fly quarantine areas: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/ff-quarantine For additional information on the European cherry fruit fly quarantine area, please contact National Fruit Fly Policy Manager John Stewart at 919-855-7426.

Full Moon, July 27, 2018 Eastern Daylight

TIP OF THE MONTH

Most lawn diseases thrive in hot, humid temperatures and under or over fertilized lawns. Thatch build-up also contributes to the problem. Water your lawn in the early morning, never in the late evening. It is best to have a soil test conducted to determine nutrient deficiencies before applying anything to your lawn. De-thatch whenever more than 1/2inch of thatch exists. Mow often at a height recommended for your grass type and the season. For more information what you can do to control lawn diseases, contact your local Land Grant University County Extension Service.

26 July 2018

GardenerNews.com

Finding Jersey Fresh Just Got Easier (Continued from page 1)

centerpiece you’re working on? What about trees, shrubs and other horticultural products for the ambitious landscaping project you’re finally ready to tackle? Use the new Jersey Fresh website to find a nursery or garden center near you.

Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it by visiting www.FindJerseyFresh.com.

Throughout the growing season, we’ll be making the site the focal point of our promotional efforts, including through the launch of our #FindJerseyFresh photo contest on social media. Each week from now through October, we’ll be featuring a product that’s in season and asking our followers on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to share photos of themselves finding the selected produce items at their favorite farm market, roadside stand or grocery store using the hashtag #FindJerseyFresh. Weekly winners, selected every Tuesday, will receive a New Jersey-shaped Jersey Fresh bamboo cutting board, and the Grand Prize winner, selected in November, will win a $500 gift card to their favorite farm market, grocery store, roadside stand or ag-tourism destination. So, if you’re active on social media and shopping for Jersey Fresh this summer, we’d encourage you to share your best photos!

This is just a sampling of some of the new features of the website and other creative promotions we have planned for this year. We’d encourage you to check out the new site for yourself by visiting www.

FindJerseyFresh.com and follow us on social media to be the first to know when a new recipe video goes live or a new contest is launched.

You don’t want to miss out!

NJDA/Image

If You See This Invasive Planthopping Insect, PLEASE REPORT IT!

Delaware Department of Agriculture 1-302-698-4577 Maryland Department of Agriculture 1-410-841-5870 New Jersey Department of Agriculture 1-833-223-2840 New York Department of Agriculture 1-518-457-2087 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture 1-866-253-7189 Virginia Department of Agriculture 1-804-786-3515

Editor’s Note: Tom Beaver is Director of Marketing for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. He can be reached at 609-292-5536.

Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula)

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July 2018 27

28 July 2018

GardenerNews.com