TAKE ONE
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October 2020
TAKE ONE No. 210
Study Finds Decline of Bees, Other Pollinators Threatens U.S. Crop Yields Crop yields for apples, cherries and blueberries across the United States are being reduced by a lack of pollinators, according to Rutgers-led research, the most comprehensive study of its kind to date. Most of the world’s crops depend on honeybees and wild bees for pollination, so declines in both managed and wild bee populations raise concerns about food security, notes the study in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. “We found that many crops are pollinationlimited, meaning crop production would be higher if crop flowers received more pollination. We also found that honey bees and wild bees provided similar amounts of pollination overall,” said senior author Rachael Winfree, a professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. “Managing habitat for native bee species and/or stocking more honey bees would boost pollination levels and could increase crop production.” Pollination by wild and managed (Cont. on Page 15)
A bumble bee pollinating a blueberry bush.
Winfree Lab/Photo
2 October 2020
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October 2020 3
Around The Garden By Tom Castronovo Gardener News
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Hot Industry News and Important Updates Oh my! With autumn in full swing, there is so much to share with you. Let’s start off with some landscape industry news. Gardener News columnist Gail Woolcott, executive director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA), shared some sad news recently. The NJLCA and the association’s Trade Show Committee have made the difficult decision to postpone the 2021 Landscape New Jersey Trade Show and Conference, originally scheduled for February 24, 2021. The association plans to offer several online and smaller-sized events throughout the year to keep the industry informed, educated and in touch with the vendors you need and the peers you have come to depend on. They have reviewed updates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), national and local government, and health agencies and have made the decision to reschedule the trade show for February 23, 2022. She whispered to me that the NJLCA is planning for an exciting outdoor event in early spring 2021. I can’t wait. Moving now into agriculture. Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Ag and Natural Resources Department Chair Nick Polanin announced the good news that RCE has been able to hire Kate Brown as Program Associate II to work on commercial crop production in the RCEBurlington County office. Here is another tidbit for the farmers. Toro announced the Flex Connect Layflat Connection System, a differentiated line of fittings and tools to connect drip tape to layflat hose. This exciting new fitting line from Toro’s agricultural business makes installing layflat fittings easier and more flexible. Be on the alert if you like roses. Inspectors at the New Jersey Department of Agriculture recently flagged an unusually high number of tea roses expressing rose mosaic disease. These roses were shipped in from out of state. If you plan to purchase this type of rose for the upcoming season, it is highly advised that you have conversations about this with your garden center or nursery and more importantly, make sure that they have the required virus-free certifications. Rose mosaic disease is a complex of viruses that most commonly includes Apple mosaic virus (ApMV) and Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), and to a lesser extent Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV) and Strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV). Singularly or in combination, these viruses can all trigger mosaic symptoms. All shipments of rose plants entering the State of New Jersey must be accompanied by an official
certificate or statement issued by the proper state official in the state of origin, certifying that the plants were inspected during the growing season at a time when symptoms would be apparent and found visibly free of plant viruses. As they say… an apple a day… In early August, the first estimate for the Washington apple crop predicted a crop volume of 134 million boxes (40 lb.), on par with the previous season of 133 million boxes. Since the time of the initial estimate, extreme windstorms, wildfires on the West Coast, and more accurate reporting of crop load on the trees as harvest progressed, suggest a lighter total crop volume for the 2020-21 apple harvest. AccordingtotheWashingtonAppleCommission, a non-profit, promotional organization dedicated to marketing and advertising fresh Washington apples internationally, over Labor Day weekend, a strong windstorm resulted in apples being knocked off the tree and some growers sustaining damage to their trellis systems. Fueled by the wind event, wildfires burning in Washington and other West Coast states producing intense smoky conditions, delaying harvest a few days as some areas have had to halt operations. Expectations are for a 5- to 10-percent reduction in crop volume as a result of the adverse weather events. Locally harvested apples always taste better, in my mind. I like to go apple picking at Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, N.J. And I did in mid-September. It was great to spend a day on an old-fashioned, real working farm with another Gardener News columnist and 10th generation farmer Pete Melick. I love Melick’s Apple Cider. How about a little Turf’s Up? This Gardener News columnist constantly reminds me that fall is the best time to seed the lawn. Todd Pretz says when you seed in fall, expect to see outstanding results once spring finally rolls around. Thanks to an enhanced growing and development cycle, your grass will be much better positioned to thrive and survive tough conditions. The availability of nutrients and lack of competition while developing help promote grass and root systems that are generally stronger and more resilient than those planted in springtime. In the long term, this can also reduce your lawn care costs and give you a picture-perfect lawn. I have taken his advice for years and my lawn is picture perfect. And I’ve taken quite a few pictures of it. Jonathan Green lawn seed has made my lawn a showplace. Thank you! I can’t wait to watch the Halloween special, It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. Maybe I’ll find the “Great Pumpkin” this year!
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, landscaping and nursery communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.
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Every season is special, particularly where there is so much change from each. Living in a temperate climate, we get to see everything in the change of seasons – from sweltering heat and humidity in the summer to blizzards and ice storms in winter, and everything in between in spring and autumn. That familiarity with wild swings from season to season has served us well as we have seen the dramatic changes in everything from sports to commerce that has come our way thanks to COVID-19. What a year, where one day the country was operating normally, so differently than it is now. Everything was wide open and operating on all eight cylinders. Restaurants were having some of the biggest years. Travel and entertainment were soaring to new heights and commerce was generally good across a wide array of industries. Then COVID came ashore in the United States and around the world. Suddenly, so much changed and we have been acting differently and trying to adjust to the new conditions. On good days, we get to see the relaxation of some restrictions on businesses and the light at the end of the tunnel seems attainable. In the world of agriculture,
While we all have missed our favorite restaurants during the pandemic, many of us have rediscovered the simply, real pleasure of preparing our own meals at home and having them around a table with those closest to us. This renaissance of the cookedat-home meal and the traditional family dinner around the table, where the day’s events can be discussed and connections can be reinforced, is something we should strive to keep around, even after post-COVID life returns to “normal.”
NJ Dept. of Agriculture By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture
Some of what COVID has brought us should stay adjustments had to be made and our farmers did not hesitate. Faced with monumental decisions in March, they forged ahead and planted their crops, tended their livestock and hoped they would be able to continue what they know so well – farming – so that we all can be provided for, no matter how severe things get. Farming in any year can be a risky proposition, what with weather, pests, diseases, and any other number of risks making each season a gamble. The uncertainty of what, if any, traditional customers farmers would have once they brought their crops to harvest and livestock to market, was an added risk this year. Its noble work and fortunately the public responded by patronizing the farm community in New Jersey with overwhelming support. So, on
that note, I sincerely want to thank you on behalf of our farmers for understanding the risks they take each and every day they go out in the pastures and fields and face the elements with optimism. So, it’s October and now you can do something for yourself that can give further encouragement that involves more than only buying a product. This is the time of year in New Jersey when those farmers who engage in agri-tourism really kick that aspect of their businesses into high gear. Harvest gatherings, hayrides, corn mazes and a long list of other on-farm activities provide our farmers with additional sales that help keep their businesses vital and agriculture’s contributions to the state’s economy rolling. If you are thinking of enjoying some agri-tourism activities this
fall, please keep in mind that some of the social-distancing, personal protective equipment and crowd-size requirements that COVID generated may still be in place. I urge you to follow the rules posted by the farm owners, as well as those regulations that have been put in place by state and local governments. The farms have these rules in place for the benefit of you and your family. Please appreciate all the farms are doing to keep you safe and, just as importantly, please avoid causing conflicts between them and their communities by following the rules. One of the other great lessons (or perhaps it’s a reinforcement of a longstanding lesson) that has come from the COVID-19 pandemic is how we all benefit when we develop a deeper appreciation for the real things in life.
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
New Members Take Seats on N.J. State Board of Agriculture Sussex County farmer Holly Systema and Cumberland County farmer Barney Hollinger today were sworn in to their terms on the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture during a special virtual meeting of the Board. The session also included the annual officer reorganization where Hunterdon County’s Erick Doyle was elected President and Cape May County’s Alfred Natali Vice President. “Holly Systema and Barney Hollinger have a vast amount of knowledge and experience in agriculture in general and in their particular sectors, and will bring valuable perspectives to the State Board,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher said. “They will serve New Jersey farmers with great purpose, continuing the mission of advancing agriculture in our state.” Systema and her husband Will
Systema, who was New Jersey’s Outstanding Young Farmer Award winner in 2009, own and operate Windy Flats Dairy in Wantage. It is a third and fourth generation farm that has a combined 250 dairy and beef cattle. The farm is approximately 800 acres and grows corn, soybeans, oats, rye, alfalfa and grassy hay. Windy Flats is located adjacent to the Sunrise Mountain Valley, just minutes from the Appalachian Trail and is a stop on the Tour de Farm Sussex County cycling race, one of two events in the New Jersey Tour de Farm cycling series. Holly Systema has served on the Sussex County Board of Agriculture and is a member of the Sussex County Milk Producers, Sussex County Ag Society, New Jersey Holstein Association, and the New Jersey Farm Bureau. She also served three terms on
the Farm Service Agency, County Committee. Hollinger is the Special Projects Manager at Cape May Salt Oyster Farms in Port Norris, which is an oyster producing aquaculture company that harvested 2.5 million oysters while producing 18 million seed oysters in 2019. The company has the goal of selling five million oysters in 2020. Cape May Salt features an intertidal farm as well as a deepwater farm. The company runs boats five days a week during its prime season, and sorts, cleans, and sizes each oyster during its 18-24 month grow out. The oysters are packed at Cape May Salt and then shipped across the continental United States. Hollinger has served on the Cumberland County Board of Agriculture for four years, including two as vice-president. He
also has been the Chairman for the Delaware Bay Shellfish Council for the last 10 years and is a member of the Marine Fishery Council and the Aquaculture Advisory Council representing Commercial Fishing. He also has been a board member of the Cumberland County Empowerment Zone, is a member of the Port Norris Historical Society, and the Bay Shore Center. Doyle has served on the board since 2016 and Natali has served on the board since 2017. Doyle is a livestock farmer in Stanton and Natali is a vineyard and winery owner in Cape May Courthouse. The State Board of Agriculture comprises eight members who serve for four years. By law, at least four of its members must represent the top commodity groups in the state. For more information, visit www.nj.gov/agriculture/about/sba.
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6 October 2020
R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E Office of Continuing Professional Education
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Rutgers Cooperative Extension Phone Directory 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
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From the Director’s Desk
Rutgers Outreach Provided by Brian Schilling Director
What’s Special (Not Spooky) About Bats Bats are some of the most misunderstood creatures on Earth. When observed flying at night, bats typically conjure up thoughts of vampires, ghosts, and goblins. They are synonymous with Halloween, portrayed as components of haunted houses, graveyards, and other dark, spooky places. But, in fact, it can be argued that bats are some of the most important animals to human wellbeing and quality of life. In the deserts of North America, as well as most tropical locations, bats pollinate a plethora of economically important plants. You like tequila? (Of course, you do!) Bats are the primary pollinators of blue agave – without them, tequila companies must genetically clone agave plants to meet tequila production demands. Bats are also critical seed dispersers for many fruits like mangoes, bananas, and papaya. Moving away from agriculture for a moment, bats also contribute to advances in human medicine. As an example, the saliva of vampire bats contains a salivary plasminogen activator to prevent its hosts from closing wounds. This material is an important component of anti-clotting drugs in humans. And if that hasn’t sold you on the importance of bats, there’s one other thing. The military uses bat echolocation systems as a model to develop their own sonar defense systems and ultrasonic aircraft (BATMAVs – bat-like motorized aerial vehicles)! In New Jersey and other temperate areas, bats provide us with a tremendous service from the moment they emerge from hibernation in the spring: insect pest consumption. Bats are incredibly efficient generalist predators of countless important agricultural and forest pests. Economic valuations over the past decade have concluded that bats are worth roughly $23 billion annually to the U.S. agricultural industry in avoided crop losses. These estimates don’t consider the additional cost savings of reduced annual pesticide applications. These studies were largely based on the prolific Mexican freetailed bat and its consumption of corn earworm moths in Texas. However, since those studies were completed, and with advances in molecular methods of analyzing insect DNA in bat guano, we are learning more about just how much we should value bat insectivory. My research group’s recent study of the diets of little and big brown bats across six summer bat colonies in New Jersey identified approximately 500 unique prey species. Of those, 151 species are considered pests. Species included pests of major crops, like tufted apple bud moths and spotted-winged drosophila,
as well as several minor pests like bark beetles and leaf miners. These results characterizing the diversity of insect prey consumed are consistent with studies done elsewhere and point to the previously undervalued role of bats in providing ecosystem services. In addition to pest suppression services, insectivorous bats may serve as agents of insect pest monitoring and surveillance. Because of their expansive foraging radius and high roostsite fidelity, bats may increase the spatial and temporal resolution of insect pest surveys relative to conventional methods (i.e. traps, sweep nets). In a study of bat consumption of brown marmorated stink bugs, we found that this insect could be detected in bat guano up to a month earlier than in conventional blacklight monitoring traps. Early detection can make a major difference in controlling an outbreak. And, of course, what goes into a bat’s mouth also comes out its other end – as a nutrient-rich, highly composted, pelletized fertilizer. Bat guano has been mined from natural caves for centuries. Although its use declined with the industrialization of chemical fertilizers, bat guano has resurfaced recently as a prime component of organic and environmentally friendly agriculture. Consisting of about 10-percent nitrogen, 3-percent phosphorus, and 1-percent potassium, guano promotes hardy growth and establishment of plants. Its robust structure lasts longer in the soil than chemical fertilizers as well, slowly releasing nutrients and building up soil texture. Despite their tremendous popularity as iconic Halloween wildlife, most bats in our area are close to settling down for the winter by the end of October. Nights are chilly, insect activity drops tremendously, and bats return to their hibernation sites in preparation of the long winter ahead. Some roost in abandoned caves and mines, others migrate south, and some find refuge in the rafters of attics or between the exterior walls of manmade structures. If you do notice bats roosting in or on your home at any time, rest assured these little creatures mean no harm. Consider returning the favor by allowing them to remain undisturbed. If you must exclude the bats from a structure, give the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Wildlife Conservation and Management Program a call (wildlife.rutgers.edu). We can help! For more information about bats, check out the RU Wildlife Wise: Demystifying Iconic Halloween Animals virtual seminar as part of the RCE Earth Day Every Day webinar series (https:// envirostewards.rutgers.edu/earth-day.html).
Editor’s note: this month’s contribution was written by Brooke Maslo, Ph.D., Extension Specialist in Wildlife Ecology
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October 2020 7
Yellowroot – a Curious and Great Groundcover Many years back, I recall enjoying dinner and a conversation with a number of far more experienced horticulturists. One of the individuals at the table turned to my neighbor and inquired what plant, in their opinion, was the best groundcover for the garden. Without hesitation, he answered Yellowroot. At the time, I had never heard of the plant, although I have used Yellowroot on numerous occasions since and agree wholeheartedly with the unhesitating response. Why, I wonder is it still not a mainstream groundcover? Yellowroot is botanically named Xanthorhiza simplicissima and is a member of the Ranunculaceae or Buttercup Family. Native from Maine to Florida and west to Texas and Ohio, it grows along shaded streambanks and in moist woodlands. It was first found in 1773 by the American botanist William As the Director of the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education (OCPE), I have the privilege of leading one of the most innovative and diverse educational program portfolios in the world. OCPE provides educational opportunities for adults and adolescents through short courses, workplace training, webinars, and youth services. This Lifelong Learning column is dedicated to amplifying educational programs and courses available throughout the year. Please visit the website at the bottom to obtain the full list of classes available. We R Here When You Need Us. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the lovestruck teenager says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Actually, there is a ton of information within the name of a plant classified by the Linnaeus System. Each plant’s kingdom, class, order, genus, species and all the way down to its specific variety offers details about it. By just the name, a scientist could know if a particular plant is vascular, if it produces seeds, what shape and color its leaves are, and/or where it was discovered. October Trivia Question: How many species of roses exist? Spotlight Program: This month’s spotlight program is the Rutgers Introduction to Plant
Bartram (1739-1823) along a steep bank bordering a creek in Buffalo Lick, Georgia. He was just beginning a fouryear journey throughout Southeastern North America when he discovered what he called “a very curious Little Shrub.” Although Bartram first discovered the shrub, it was his cousin Humphry Marshall (1722-1801), who eventually described and named the plant in 1785. The plants have an “adventurous” root system that is yellow in color, providing the impetus for both the common name as well as the botanical. Xantho is Greek for yellow and Rhiza for root. The species epithet means simple, describing how the stems are very simple in structure and grow straight upright without branching. When I first saw Yellowroot years after that dinner, the overall texture of the leaf and form of the plant reminded me of celery. The leaf is pinnately compound, with typically five leaflets, and stretches to four to 10 inches in length. The leaves
are alternate and are clustered at the tip of the stems. The foliage often emerges with a bronze tint in early April, quickly turning to deep green for summer and finally golden yellow for the fall. If the plant is sited in full sun, you can expect attractive red to purple fall colors. In mid- to late-March, and prior to the appearance of foliage, the curious and rather attractive deep purple to chocolate brown flowers appear. The individual flowers are roughly a quarter inch in diameter and star shaped, with five pointed flower petals. The flowers are loosely arranged in a radial pattern on pendant stems called panicles, reaching two to six inches in length at maturity. They will certainly never compete with the showier bloomers of spring, but for those who are detail oriented and like the curious, the flowers are a hit. It is the “adventurous” root system that allows Yellowroot to be a successful groundcover, well suited for the Mid-Atlantic region. Hardy from zones 3-9, it will thrive in sunny gardens
as well as woodland locations. In sun, the plant is both denser and shorter, reaching heights of around 18 inches tall. In shade, the plant is more open in habit and grows to 24 to 30 inches tall. In both instances, it provides effective competition for weeds. It is also a great plant for garden locations that transition from shade to sun. Since it is native to banks near streams, it is ideal for soil stabilization and can endure extended periods of flooding. It is also drought tolerant and can persist in compacted soils, conditions that are typical in flood plains. Potentially, the plant could spread indefinitely, since it is very long lived with plantings at the Arnold Arboretum thriving for over 100 years! The spread is slower in dry, sandy or gritty soils. I have observed a planting in a New Jersey woodland garden with well-drained soils for over 20 years and the plants have politely remained within their boundaries. It is strikingly unusual how this “curious Little Shrub” has
Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education By Kenneth M. Karamichael Director
Lifelong Learning
Identification Course. In this two-day professional development course, Licensed Tree Expert Ted Szczawinski shares a wealth of information about how to positively identify plants, trees, and shrubs. In this interactive online program, students will learn how to unlock clues found in the bark, fruit, leaves, flowers, and more. Taxonomy, a branch of botany, is defined as the systematic classification, naming, and identification of plants. This orderly system arranges related plants with similar characteristics into groups. Our Introduction to Plant Identification course will begin with an explanation of the Linnaeus and Binomial Systems: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species, Cultivars, and Varieties. The Introduction to Plant Identification course will utilize
this knowledge and practice applying it with a dichotomous key. The course includes the following critical components: Plant Parts (buds, stems, foliage, flowers, fruit); Deciduous Plants (silhouette, growth form/habit); Environmental Clues (location, native, invasive, planted); Collecting Field Samples Properly (cuttings, leaf presses, digital photographs). Whether you are a professional landscaper or an enthusiastic gardener, our Introduction to Plant Identification course is a fascinating way to grow your plant prowess. If you work with plants, you need to be sharp doing it - and the best way to be sharp is to know what they are, where to find them, and how to use them. This class will immediately enhance your plant-ID skills, and you’ll love every minute of it! Meet the Instructor: Ted
Szczawinski is a Licensed Tree Expert and professor of plant science and biology. Over the past three decades, Ted has educated thousands of landscape professionals, master gardeners, homeowners, and aspiring young horticulturists across the state. He teaches students plant identification skills in a manner that’s fun, interactive, and easy-tounderstand. Upcoming Online Horticulture Courses you may be interested in include: Best Management Practices for Tree Care (October 13, 2020); Home Gardeners School@ Home Edition: Bountiful Bulbs for Year-Round Beauty (October 14, 2020); Lake Management (October 21-23, 2020); The Woody Plants of Summer: Native Plants (November 10-11, 2020); Soil and Plant Relationships (December 7, 8, 14, and 15, 2020); Caring for Ornamental Plants (December
received positive praise from the very moment Bartram made the initial discovery and yet after over 300 years, it remains a rarity in nurseries and in gardens. I am hopeful that during your next gathering with gardeners, should someone ask about a great groundcover, without hesitation you will suggest Yellowroot. It truly is a curious and great groundcover!
Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Rutgers State Program Leader for Home and Public Horticulture, a part time lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, regularly participates in the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education Program, and Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at crawford@njaes. rutgers.edu. 10-11, 2020); and Basics of Turfgrass Management (December 21, 2020). Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming courses and be on the lookout because we have a lot of great programs added each month. Trivia Answer: Roses are native to the Northern Hemisphere with over 150 species and thousands of hybrids. Red climbing rose (Rosa “Santana”), Yellow Banks’ Rose (Rosa banksiae “Lutea”), English Rose (Rosa cultv.), and Angel Face Rose (Rosa Floribunda) to name a few. Roses are the most popular of all garden flowers. In 1986, President Ronald Reagan signed legislation to make the rose the floral emblem of the United States. Visit CPE.RUTGERS.EDU to learn more about the hundreds of programs available at OCPE, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station all year long! Learning Never Ends for the New Jersey Gardener!
Editor’s Note: Kenneth M. Karamichael, Ed.M., is the Director of the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education within Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Ken can be reached at kenneth@ rutgers.edu.
8 October 2020
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Just because the days are growing shorter doesn’t mean you have to give up on gardening, and it certainly doesn’t mean you wouldn’t still find plenty of great tasting Jersey Fresh produce to enjoy at your local farm market and supermarket. Leeks, broccoli rabe, arugula and spinach are just a few greens that farmers will be continuing to harvest in October and into November. Radishes and scallions are abundant. Turnips, fresh beets, carrots and beans can gain a little extra sweetness from the cool temperatures. Yellow squash, zucchini, peppers, eggplants and parsnips are still Jersey Fresh in the fall. With the Garden State’s diverse farming community growing more than 100 different crops, you’ll find plenty of good produce to eat this time of year. Cooler weather makes working in the garden a joy and there’s plenty to do. Replace those dying summer annuals with pansies and mums, fall blooms that add new color and hold up well in cooler temperatures. Mid-October is a great time to begin planting bulbs that will flower in the spring. My local garden center recommends
You can find plenty of pick-your-own farms to visit on the Jersey Fresh website, findjerseyfresh.com/explore, which also shows the locations of farmers markets and wineries on an interactive map along with information about each of them and directions from your home. To plan a day trip to wineries, you can visit the Garden State Wine Growers Association and see their list of wine trails that cover specific areas or the whole state. The GSWA site, newjerseywines.com/winetrails, offers an interactive map of wineries, and the state’s rich winemaking history that dates back to 1864. Until next time, enjoy fall gardening and agritourism and most of all, enjoy eating Jersey Fresh fall produce.
October has arrived! With its crisp fall mornings and beautiful foliage, it is definitely one of my favorite months (it helps that it’s also my birth month!) Last year, over 172 million people celebrated Halloween, with nearly $2.7 billion spent on decorations (National Retail Federation). Instead of the usual inflatables and graveyards, let’s use our yards to create great fall and Halloween displays. One of the quickest ways to give your home a spooky feel is to change out some of the bulbs in your landscape lighting to either a blacklight (purple), orange or red bulbs. This will give you an eerie atmosphere instantly when your lighting pro uplights your home and trees in these traditional Halloween colors. Pumpkins and mums are a staple of Halloween décor and should continue to be used throughout the landscape. Get a few haybales, add pumpkins and mums and you have a quick and easy display. But let’s step it up a notch. Grab your wheelbarrow, fill it to the brim with a plethora of sizes and shapes of pumpkins and gourds and display it on your porch. Swap out your regular containers and use
Agriculture and Natural Resources By Eric Houghtaling New Jersey Assemblyman
Making the Most of Fall on the Farm and in Your Garden
using bulb fertilizer instead of bone meal in the planting holes and protecting the bulbs from pests by surrounding them with wire poultry cages. You can plant shrubs and trees during this time of year. Their roots will grow until the ground begins to freeze. They will have a head start on next season and be better established when hot summer weather returns. Don’t let raking leaves take you away from your garden. Run your lawnmower over the piles and use chopped up leaves as mulch to cover perennials for the winter or in your compost pile to fortify garden soil in the spring. And don’t stop mowing the lawn, just cut it high as long as your grass keeps growing. October also is a good time to reseed areas where the grass has
gotten thin. Autumn is a good time to discover agritourism in New Jersey. The Garden State ranks ninth in the nation in agritourism revenue, with direct-toconsumer sales of $123 million. Nine New Jersey counties rank in the top 10 percent nationally in agritourism sales. Plan a family day trip to a pick-your-own pumpkin farm or an apple orchard – always being careful to observe social distancing, mask-wearing and other protective protocols as necessary. What could be better than a fresh apple or pumpkin pie baked from fruit you just picked yourself? It’s a great way to teach your kids about baking and about Jersey Fresh products. Or plan a trip to one of New Jersey’s more than 50 wineries, some of which still use old-
school winemaking techniques and pick grapes by hand. The Assembly Agriculture Committee is always looking for ways to promote agritourism and recently approved a bill to make a pilot program permanent, allowing farmers with wineries on preserved farmland to hold special occasion events. The pilot program expired at the end of May. Agritourism is a great way to bring the public and our farmers together so people can learn a little about how farms work and enjoy the farming experience – and you don’t have to travel far. You can visit the NJ Kids on the Go website for a list of farms and orchards that welcome the public or go to their website at njkidsonline.com and search “pumpkin and apple picking” for articles on the topic.
The NJLCA Today By Gail Woolcott Executive Director
Hallow-Scaping
large pumpkins as planters. Don’t want to change your planters? Pick up skull and bones (easily removable) decals and apply them to your existing planters. Have your landscape contractor update your beds with autumn plants for seasonal color. Common plants include mums and cabbage, but there are other beautiful, fallblooming plants that can add to the autumn feel. Rudbeckia (in the Daisy family) has yellow to orange to red petals, with a brown or black center. Autumn Joy Sedum has clusters of flowers that turn a deep rust color in the fall. Helenium also has daisylike flowers that come in shades of orange, yellow, red and brown. Other décor can be placed around the yard, including lanterns on the porch with battery powered candles. Strategically place large
eyeballs in a tree facing the road (you might want to purchase volleyballs and paint on the eyes). Another really neat idea is to place ghosts (created with chicken wire and sheets) holding hands around a tree. Instead of just carving pumpkins, why not also carve or paint on gourds? Their unique shapes can be turned into a variety of spooky faces or animals (my husband once created a goose out of a gourd). Fun and Halloween-themed plants in your windows can also add to the décor. There are three carnivorous plants native to New Jersey, and they are all very “Little Shop of Horrors”-esque. Pitcher Plants have tube-like blooms that have digestive liquid at the bottom. They have purple leaves and require a good amount of water.
Bladderworts are generally found in fresh water, but can be grown in soil. Finally, Sundew look most like Venus Flytraps (which are also available, but not native to New Jersey) and trap prey in sticky hairs on their leaves. They also move (albeit slowly). Finally, some tips for your fall décor. Try to avoid putting anything heavy or that cannot be moved around on your grass. First, even something light that sits in the same spot on your lawn is bound to damage the turf. Second, it will make it much more difficult for the people who maintain your property to mow, weedwack and cleanup the leaves to work efficiently. Don’t hang anything too heavy or permanently attach anything to trees that may damage them. To keep mums alive and looking fresh, keep them out of the rain
Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling is Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in the New Jersey State Assembly. He can be reached at 732-6953371 or AsmHoughtaling@ njleg.org, or by mail at 802 W Park Ave, Ste 302, Ocean Township 07712. and water them at the roots. Try not to get any water on the blooms themselves. To keep carved pumpkins longer, dunk them in a mix of three gallons of water to three teaspoons of bleach for two minutes. Of course, the pumpkin should not be eaten if you use this method (but did you plan to eat your jack-o-lantern?) Wishing you an excellent Halloween and during the fall season, when we are all visiting farms and garden centers, be sure to thank a farmer and celebrate them on October 12, National Farmers Day!
Editor’s note: Gail Woolcott is the Executive Director 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.
10 October 2020 Let’s look at common mistakes I have heard this year from too many folks about lawn care. It involves the basics that we have covered a few times. The “Big 5” are as follows: mowing, watering, fertilizing, seeding, and weed control. How will you score on this test? Well, did you raise your mowing height as high as possible once you started mowing in June? If so, you would have more leaf tissue (which is mostly water!) to help your lawn survive and also cut back on watering bills. Did you mow often enough to mulch your clippings? If so, you are returning organic matter back into the soil and also moisture to reduce watering and fertilizer needs. You could have reduced your fertilizer bill if you mulched your clippings every time you mow and reduce wasteful disposal costs, adding a benefit to the environment too. Oh, and did you keep your mower blade sharp to avoid shredding cuts which sometimes can lead to stressed turf and disease problems? Did you cut off more than one-third of the blade height at one time? If so, you also stressed the grass, leading into Since October is National Apple Month, it seems only fitting that we focus this month’s article on one of agriculture’s most endearing characters. To many, the legend of “Johnny Appleseed” conjures up an image of a gentle, eccentric man, barefoot and in ragged clothes, adorned with a tin pot as a hat. With sacks of apple seeds tied to his waist, he wanders the countryside benignly scattering apple seeds in his wake. Spoiler Alert! I hate to ruin this Disney-fied impression, but Johnny Appleseed was combination frontiersman, businessman and real estate agent. The apple gig was how he acquired land. That said, he was also universally beloved wherever he went. John Chapman was born on a farm in Massachusetts in 1774 and became an accomplished orchardist and nurseryman. Like many young men of his generation, Chapman believed there was promise and opportunity in the West. While legend portrays him as an itinerant wanderer, Chapman was following a plan. In the early 1800s, apples were an important and valuable staple for pioneers. At the time, most apples were not grown to be eaten, but to make hard cider and apple jack. Apple cider
GardenerNews.com Turf ‘s Up By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant
What were you thinking? It’s back to school for you… the summer’s hot, dry season. Did you get an “A” or a “C-“on the mowing part of the test? Water, water everywhere; we do not live in the rainforest! Why do I hear “I water every day for 10-15 minutes?” This is bad for turfgrass; this schedule of watering produces shallow roots which do not hold up well when heat, drought, weeds, fungus and insects come along. It is best to start a proper watering schedule before heat and drought stress appear. The lawn needs about one inch of water weekly during the growing season to be healthy. This is an approximate combined amount between natural rainfall and supplementary watering. Usually it’s too late and stressful on your lawn if you start watering once you see it start to go brown.
It’s best to water, if needed, in the morning so the blades have time to dry out before lunch time. Water deeply and infrequently, you want the water to drive the grass roots down deep. How deep are your grass roots and how far down does the soil seem moist? Can you push your finger into the soil to the first knuckle? So, did you get an “A” on the watering part of the test? How many times did you fertilize your lawn since the spring – once, twice, or more? I’d like to see at least two feedings prior to July 4th and preferably three feedings. Proper lawn food applications will help strengthen your lawn to help survive summer stress. If you do not feed the lawn during the growing season, it will get weak and spindly, like if you were on a bread and water diet.
Now that fall is here, and you may be re-seeding to fix summer damage or just applying fall fertilizer to your lawn, use the proper fertilizer formula for best results. When seeding, choose a “starter-type” formula with a high middle number, that’s the Phosphorus, which helps build strong root systems. If you are feeding for regular growth, pick a “fall-winter-type” formula to promote thick, healthy, grass growth. You still have a chance to get an “A” on the fall fertilizing part of the test! Lawn weeds like hot, dry weather. Why? Because when the grass stops growing, the weeds start thriving. This is Mother Nature at her best (or worst?). Fall is a good time to control lawn weeds. The weeds absorb chemical treatments better in the
NJ Agricultural Society By Al Murray Executive Director
John Chapman, Frontier Real Estate Agent provided pioneers on the frontier with a safe, stable source of drink, especially where water could be full of dangerous bacteria. The apples Chapman favored for planting were small and tart – which made them ideal for cider. Being an astute businessman, Chapman took advantage of a frontier law that allowed people to claim land if they established a permanent homestead. One provision specified a claim could be made by planting a minimum of 50 apple trees. Armed with seeds procured from cider mills, Chapman spent 50 years traveling through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and even into Iowa. He was renowned for his physical endurance, strength, and wilderness skills and it is estimated that he traversed at least 100,000 square miles. Chapman would plant thousands of trees, and once they
took root, he would sell them to settlers also seeking claims. He possessed a real estate agent’s ability to predict the next big location. He would travel there ahead of settlers, develop an orchard, and sell them trees when they arrived – only to head to more undeveloped land. By the end of his life, Chapman owned substantial land tracts throughout the Midwest, yet he never owned a home, and spent his entire life living off the land. Very rarely would he seek shelter from the elements. So, why is Johnny Appleseed always depicted barefoot and dressed in rags? In short: religion. Chapman did wear a sack for a shirt, and was usually clad in threadbare clothes, barefoot, and utilized a tin hat/helmet for a pot. Historians believe this was in deference to his faith, the Church of Swedenborg. Swedenborg doctrine
is based in nature. Church doctrine forbade its members from harming God’s creations. Consequently, Chapman became a vocal animal rights activist and vegetarian. He literally would not harm a fly, and accounts report he once put out his campfire when he saw a mosquito fly into it. When growing apples, Chapman refused to use grafting, since he believed the technique caused physical harm to the tree. Hence, the ever-present sack of apple seeds. In 1845, Chapman died in Indiana at the age of 70 when he contracted pneumonia. Because he was already famous among the many grateful pioneer families he helped, plus his unusual views, and his strange appearance, it is not surprising that in death he became a legend. In time, his legacy morphed from being a savvy businessman to
fall than the spring and it also is less stressful on your lawn. Identify the weeds and then read all label instructions to ensure you use the proper herbicide for the job. Did you identify all of your weeds? If so you get an “A.” If you are thinking of applying grass seed, please do so this fall, do not wait for spring. Why would you wait until spring? Grass seed establishes very well in fall months, much better than the cold of spring, and it’s not too late to apply seed, even into November to get results. Be sure to follow proper preparation steps to realize the best seeding results. What were you thinking? I hope you received a good test score from Todd, the Gardener News Turf’s up guy! 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 one of the endearing folk heroes we know today. Mr. Chapman never knew of his nickname. He officially received it when Harper’s Magazine ran an article in 1871 titled, “Johnny Appleseed, a Pioneer Hero.” As for Chapman’s orchards, they became a victim of Prohibition. The government chopped down thousands of cider-producing trees in the attempt to erase alcohol from America. In Nova, Ohio, there is one remaining tree that is the last known to be planted by Johnny Appleseed. It grows tart green apples, which are now used for cider making.
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
GardenerNews.com
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GardenerNews.com
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14 October 2020 Bill Supporting Pollinators with Special License Plate Clears New Jersey Senate Senator Kip Bateman’s legislation that would create “Protect Pollinator” license plates to express support for New Jersey’s native pollinators has passed the State Senate. “New Jersey would not be the Garden State without the help it gets from its native pollinators,” said Bateman (R-16). “From the gardens we grow to the produce we purchase at a local farmer’s market, many of our fruits, vegetables, and flowers rely on pollinators like bees and butterflies. The license plates will ensure our ‘Jersey Fresh’ plants and crops grow strong for generations.” Bateman’s legislation, S-92, would require the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to create “Protect Pollinator” license plates, featuring a design and slogan that expresses support for New Jersey’s native pollinator animals. Applicants for the license plate would be required to pay an initial fee of $50 and a subsequent $10 fee to renew the license plates. The bill would also establish a special fund called the “Protect Pollinators License Plate Fund” in the Department of the Treasury. Any monies from application fees that are not used to administer the license plate program would be deposited in this fund and annually appropriated to the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and to the “Integrated Roadside Vegetation Management Program.” Pollinators, including bees, bats, butterflies, moths, beetles, and others, are responsible for reproduction in 90 percent of the world’s flowering plants, including food crops, by spreading pollen from flower to flower. “The idea for this legislation was brought to my attention by a constituent who is a dedicated gardener,” added Bateman. “With a third of crops grown in New Jersey dependent on pollinators for reproduction, the creation of these plates will help the Garden State flourish.” S-92 has been referred to referred to the New Jersey Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.
Preparations are underway for 2021 Philadelphia Flower Show The show will be blooming outdoors in summer 2021. “The big news is that we are moving the Flower Show to a new location at a new time of year in 2021,” says Sam Lemheney, PHS Chief of Shows and Events. Planning for the mammoth event is normally a years’ long effort. Given the monumental challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, PHS’s staff and board made an early decision to change the 2021 Flower Show’s look and the locale to offer a safe, breathtaking experience for all. PHS is in discussions with volunteers, new and existing partners, sponsors, vendors and exhibitors to finalize plans for the 2021 Flower Show with an eye on an outdoor venue and an early summer date. Moving the Flower Show outdoors will allow new creative potential as well as social distancing and the health benefits of being outside. “Philadelphia is our home and offers a number of locations where the Show will benefit from the “borrowed scenery” of grand outdoor spaces along with access to mass transit, parking and major highways,” says Lemheney. Details will be announced in the early fall and everyone can keep up to date on plans throughout the year by visiting PHSonline. org. “The Flower Show will always provide the inspiration and encouragement to people at all skill levels to enjoy the benefits of gardening and join PHS in gardening for the greater good,” says Matt Rader, PHS President. “We are very excited at the possibilities for the 2021 Show and promise a welcoming, safe and truly extraordinary experience.” The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers.
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Help Pass the Liberty State Park Protection Act! By Jeannie Geremia Contributing Writer
Liberty State Park has long been in the public’s mind and heart, and especially here in New Jersey, where we see LSP license plates with the Statue of Liberty in the foreground, LSP’s U.S. Flag Plaza in the background and Ellis Island to the side, as a common sight on our roadways. Liberty State Park always conjures up a feeling of patriotism and pride as a beacon to the world and a welcoming embrace and reminder of all America stands for. It is New Jersey’s gift to the Nation and the World, gifted on July 4, 1976, to celebrate our country’s bicentennial. Almost everyone I’ve spoken to remembers traveling to this famous state park, enjoying the unparalleled views of Lady Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline. Few of us know the whole history and the decades of battles fought to protect this public park from constant incursions by millionaires looking to turn it into their private playground. In the illuminating Star Ledger article in the Sunday, August 30 edition, written by Margaret Schmidt with contributions by Jersey Journal’s Joshua Rosario and Teri West, Assemblyman Raj Mukherji is quoted as saying: “There’s always going to be somebody who thinks they have a better private use, a better commercial use for the People’s Park, when are we going to say enough is enough?” The time has come when enough is enough! More than ever, our Garden State, our nation and the world needs to know there’s sacred places in the world that can’t be co-opted by the rich and powerful, when heroes are made out to be the villains. Truth and justice aren’t some obscure ideals that no longer resonate in this world turned upside down by pandemic, distrust, hate and obfuscations. America is the home of immigrants, slaves, indentured servants, joining the indigenous peoples, with wave after wave arriving on our shores over the past 400-plus years, seeking a better life as they made the ultimate sacrifice for their children, becoming a melting pot of newly minted Americans thirsting for liberty and freedom. The more I read about the history of Liberty State Park and its role, the more in awe I am of the heroes who have been front and center in the continual fight to preserve this 1,200 acres, 600 of land and 600 of water, urban oasis from major privatization efforts including golf courses, hotels, and amusement parks. My gardening friends, I’m proud to tell
you that The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc’s Board has unanimously voted to join the Coalition to Pass the Liberty State Park Protection Act and Save the Park’s Caven Point Natural Area. We are asking our 4,200 members in over 100 garden clubs throughout the state of New Jersey to join the other 87 non-profits and other organizations in advocating for this vital legislation. Please join us in these efforts by reaching out to your local legislators in both the New Jersey State Senate and State Assembly and asking them to sponsor and/or vote Yes for Senate Bill S1449 and Assembly Bill A2189. Please also reach out to Governor Phil Murphy, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, as without their support, these bills will never be passed. These legislators will go down in New Jersey history as heroes that put the public good above monied interests that seek only to enrich themselves and their cronies at the expense of our citizens and the environment. I had the opportunity to visit Liberty State Park recently on a weekday and was delighted to see how welcoming and diverse the park is. It was thrilling to see countless families, people of all ages, “races” and “ethnicities” enjoying strolling, biking, hiking and picnicking on the grounds of Liberty State Park with the fabulous Lady Liberty, Ellis Island and the Manhattan skyline awarding each one with a priceless, uplifting view open to all. I was struck by the sweeps of wildflowers just beyond LSP’s Liberty Walkway, with monarch butterflies starting their yearly migration south, plus eastern wood peewee birds, skipper butterflies, and bees dining on nectar in the varied flower species. Heroes past and present include: Morris Pesin, the “Father” of Liberty State Park; Audrey Zapp, LSP’s “Godmother”; Ted Conrad, Historic Preservationist; Richard Sullivan, NJDEP’s First Commissioner advocating passage of Green Acres Bond Act; Frank Gallagher, devoted decades to LSP; Governor Christie Whitman nixed a golf course; NJ DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell & Governor James McGreevey abolished park’s DevCorp; Sam Pesin, President of Friends of Liberty State Park: www.folsp.org; Greg Remaud, CEO of NY/ NJ Baykeeper; Senator Loretta Weinberg; Senator Brian Stack; Senator Bob Smith; Assemblyman Raj Mukherji; Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling; Assemblywoman Angela McKnight; Assemblywoman Annette Chapparro; and counting. Onward and Upward!
Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is The Garden Club of New Jersey President, and a National Garden Clubs, Inc. Master Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is a member of Neshanic Garden Club, and The Raritan Township Historic Committee. Jeannie’s email address is: jgeremia42@gmail.com. The Garden Club of New Jersey’s website is: www.gardenclubofnewjersey.org
GardenerNews.com Last December, I received a most curious and exciting gift from a good friend. A book titled, The Gardener’s Botanical, An Encyclopedia of Latin Plant Names, this horticultural gem has more than 5,000 entries and 350 botanical illustrations. Serious gardeners know the names of their plants, usually the Latin ones, as it is crucial for understanding the plants’ care and “unlocking” other useful information. The decision to use Latin nomenclature “stems from its historical use by scholars.” And while these somewhat impossible “antediluvian epithets” have many asking “why,” consider this; knowing your botanical names bridges the gap for those who have different “native tongues.” That is to say, people from different countries can communicate effectively simply by knowing their Latin names. After all, not everyone may be familiar with the common names highland Dog-hobble, Fetterbush, or switch ivy, but Leucothoe fontanesiana is a name most plant professionals have heard of. Common names may vary region to region, whereas Latin is absolute. Additionally, Latin names can reveal fascinating stories behind a plant’s given name. And it is here that I became mesmerized by my gift as many names and stories behind some of my favorite plants came
October 2020 15 Unique Plants By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist
A Most Curious and Exciting Gift
alive. Noblemen, Prime Ministers, botanists, naturalists, surgeons, anthropologists, chemists, even the daughter of a Czar, have all been credited in naming some of the world’s great plants. Carl Linnaeus, also known as Carl von Linné or Carolus Linnaeus, has often been called the Father of Taxonomy. Credited for naming, ranking and classifying organisms, his arrangements, albeit modified somewhat, are still in use today. Attending the University of Uppsala in Sweden, Linnaeus’ training in botany and medicine went “hand in hand.” In fact, doctors in their day had to “prepare and prescribe drugs derived from medicinal plants.” Linnaeus, the Swedish botanist, zoologist and physician, has his favorite flower named after him. Linnaea borealisis is a species of flowering plant in the honeysuckle
family. Commonly known as twinflower, this evergreen groundcover has small, dainty, bell-like flowers that are fragrant. Previously named by the Dutch botanist Jan Frederik Gronovius, the genus name was later given to Linnaeus as this was his favorite plant. The next plant I researched, in my encyclopedic read, was Monkey Puzzle, Araucaria araucana. Named for the Mapuche, an indigenous people of Chile, and the Araucanía region of Chile, this razor-sharp, coniferous evergreen is most certainly deer resistant. Araucaria’s common name is surmised because monkeys are unable to harvest the fruit it bears, as its rope-like branchlets and triangular foliage is just too treacherous. Native to woodland volcanic slopes, this Chilean conifer has been said to only “belong in a horror
morris county park commission
The FrelinghuysenArboretum 3rd annual tree symposium
Sponsored by the Friends of The Frelinghuysen Arboretum New format—Zoom presentations on Tuesday evenings. Each program eligible for 1 Master Gardener CEU or ISA credit
The Evolving Urban Forest in the “Fitness landscape”*
Dr. Jason Grabosky, Rutgers ecologist, on the evolution of design, function, and management of urban forests., as a canopy asset and plant community.
Tuesday November 10, 7 pm • $15
Native Ornamental and Edible Plants*
Allyson Levy, founder of Hortus Arboretum in the Hudson Valley, on the importance of using native ornamental and edible trees in the landscape. Tuesday November 17, 7 pm • $15
Grafting Techniques for Tree Propagation*
Dr. Tom Molnar, Rutgers Plant Biologist, presents the principles and practices of grafting and budding, demonstrating 5 methods. Tuesday November 24, 7 pm • $15
More Than the Metasequoia: A Story of Trees at the Willowwood Arboretum*
Zinnia Cheetham, Plant Records Curator highlights 100 years of record-keeping and significant trees at Willowwood Arboretum. Tuesday December 1, 7 pm • $15
Sharing Our Landscapes with Additional Friends*
Dr. Beth Brantley, Bartlett Tree Expert, on relationships between trees and birds, bats, insects, and fungi in oaks, birches, maples, and conifers. Tuesday December 8, 7 pm • $15
353 East Hanover Avenue • Morris Township, New Jersey • 07960 *Pre-registration is required
movie.” Well, maybe not horror movies, but it was referenced in Emily Brontë’s classic novel, Wuthering Heights. Princess/Empress tree, Paulownia tomentosa, is a gorgeous shade tree with showy, fragrant, foxglove-like flowers. The genus name honors Anna Pavlovna, the daughter of Czar Paul I of Russia. Funnel-shaped, pinkish-lavender flowers are said to be edible and their fragrance likened to that of vanilla. Plant lovers have much to thank Carl Linnaeus for. Founder of the modern system of binomial nomenclature, his efforts were quantum. Linnaeus may have misread the name Gink(y)o for Gink(g)o, however, this 200-millionyear old living fossil, a deciduous conifer, remains my favorite tree. I truly believe in the importance of knowing your plant material
and their respective names. My Christmas gift continues to hold my attention and the stories seem endless. Finally, I leave you with this… years ago a gentleman, speaking only Russian, came into our garden center. While I don’t speak Russian and he didn’t speak English, I was able to decipher his question simply by two words…Torreya nucifera. I have Dr. John Torrey, American botanist, chemist and physician to thank for that retail sale. The Japanese Nutmeg-yew the gentleman asked for had both of us very excited. One, that we could offer the plant requested, and two, that we were able to communicate succinctly, despite our different Mother tongues.
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.
Study Finds Decline of Bees, Other Pollinators Threatens U.S. Crop Yields (Continued from page 1)
insects is critical for most crops, including those providing essential micronutrients, and is essential for food security, the study notes. In the U.S., the production of crops that depend on pollinators generates more than $50 billion a year. According to recent evidence, European honey bees (Apis mellifera) and some native wild bee species are in decline. At 131 farms across the United States and in British Columbia, Canada, scientists collected data on insect pollination of crop flowers and yield for apples, highbush blueberries, sweet cherries, tart cherries, almond, watermelon and pumpkin. Of those, apples, sweet cherries, tart cherries and blueberries showed evidence of being limited by pollination, indicating that yields are currently lower than they would be with full pollination. Wild bees and honey bees provided similar amounts of pollination for most crops. The annual production value of wild pollinators for all seven crops was an estimated $1.5 billion-plus in the U.S. The value of wild bee pollination for all pollinator-dependent crops would be much greater. “Our findings show that pollinator declines could translate directly into decreased yields for most of the crops studied,” the study says. The findings suggest that adopting practices that conserve or augment wild bees, such as enhancing wildflowers and using managed pollinators other than honey bees, is likely to boost yields. Increasing investment in honey bee colonies is another alternative. James Reilly, a research associate in Winfree’s lab, led the study, which used data collected by researchers at many universities and was part of The Integrated Crop Pollination Project funded by the USDANIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative. Source: Rutgers-The State University of New Jersey
16 October 2020 The most ornamental of all the annuals and perennials are part of the genus, Salvia. This includes the culinary sage, Salvia officinalis. There are several that I also use for their ornamental foliage, like Salvia officinalis “Purpurea,” with smoky purple leaves. “Berggarten” has broad oval leaves. “Icterina” is dark green with a soft, yellow edge and “Tricolor” combines green, pink and white. Like many members of the salvias or sages, they are fairly deer resistant due to the aromatic leaves. If the culinary sages are given good drainage, they will be perennials. Another great group of perennial salvias are Salvia x sylvestris “May Night,” “Caradonna,” and “Blue Hill.” They are all clumpforming salvias and bloom in midMay to mid-June. All are covered with spikes of flowers and are a great attraction to a myriad of pollinators, including the Rubythroated Hummingbird. “May Night” has rich, deeppurple flowers. “Caradonna” has purple-blue flowers and “Blue Hill” has sky-blue flowers. I grow them in my front yard, which has considerable deer pressure, and I have minimal browsing. After flowering, the seed heads have an attractive purple color. Ultimately, as they turn brown, they can be pruned away, which
GardenerNews.com Pennsylvania Horticultural Society By Andrew Bunting Vice President of Public Horticulture
will encourage some sporadic flowering throughout the summer. My favorite group of the salvias and sages are those that would be considered “tender perennials” or ostensibly “annuals.” The Wish Series™ has several great selections that bloom all summer long and right up until frost. Love and Wishes™ reaches three- to four-feet-tall, with an equal spread. The plant is covered in tubular, purple-black flowers. Embers Wish™ has vivid, coral-orange flowers. A stunning combination is pairing Embers Wish™ with one of the blackleaved elephant ears such as Colocasia “Black Magic” or “Black Beauty.” Love and Wishes™ can be planted with the chartreuse and green striated bold leaves of Canna “Pretoria,” which makes for a stunning display, too. In my garden now, I have “Wendy’s Wish,” which has an abundance of magenta-pink flower,s which is contrasting
Sage Advice nicely with the black-leaved cotton, Gyossypium herbaceum “Nigrum,” which is easily grown from seed. Another prolific flowering salvia is the fuzzy Bolivian sage, Salvia oxyphora. It, too, like the Wish Series™ reaches about four feet tall and is covered with fuzzy lipstick-pink flowers from midsummer to fall. All salvias will benefit from getting regular feedings of a soluble fertilizer, like 20-20-20, and being planted in full sun. They will also want to have good drainage. To keep my salvias from starting to splay open later in the season as they get taller, I will “pinch” the new shoots whereby randomly removing two to three inches of stems. By “pinching,” this will create a dense habit and prevent against them splitting apart in a wind and rain storm. One of my favorite salvias that I have grown almost every year is the Mexican bush sage,
Salvia leucantha. It has narrow grey-green leaves that from into a large bush by the end of the summer. They can reach five feet tall and are covered with lilac purple flowers with a white lip. Many salvias are day-length sensitive, meaning their flowering is triggered by shorter days. In the case of Salvia leucantha, it starts blooming more profusely as the days get shorter. The Mexican bush sage is tolerant of heat and drought and makes a great annual for urban conditions. For the smaller garden, the Mirage Series Salvia greggii Mirage™ Cherry Red, Hot Pink, Violet and White are all selections that only reach about 18 inches tall and are covered with tiny flowers all summer long. There are dozens of great salvias ranging in colors that include white, pink, purple, blue, orange, red and even yellow. Salvia mexicana “Limelight” has a bi-color flower of blue with calyces
(bracts that subtend flower) that are chartreuse yellow. It makes for a stunning combination. And, now due to recent DNA analysis and a taxonomic revision, we can add rosemary to our list of favorite salvias, which is now, technically, Salvia rosmarinus! Editor’s Note: Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Public Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He is one of the most recognized horticulturists in the Philadelphia, Pa., region and a highly regarded colleague in the world of professional horticulture. Bunting has amassed a plethora of awards, including the American Public Gardens Association Professional Citation, Chanticleer Scholarship in Professional Development, Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Marion Marsh Award, and the Certificate of Merit from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. In addition, Bunting has lectured extensively throughout North America and Europe, and participated in plant expeditions throughout Asia and Africa. Learn more at https://phsonline.org/team/ andrew-bunting
Doosan Bobcat Delivers $81,000 Donation to Wounded Warrior Project to Benefit U.S. Veterans Doosan Bobcat North America announced the donation of $81,000 to Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), a national, nonprofit organization dedicated to serving injured veterans and their families. Proceeds raised by the campaign will help wounded veterans transition to civilian life through WWP programs and services ranging from economic empowerment to mental health care. “We are proud to be giving back to an organization that has given so much to U.S. veterans, who are our employees, dealers and customers,” said Mike Ballweber, president of Doosan Bobcat North America. “We want to have a strong impact in our communities, so this donation is one way we can raise awareness for this great cause and support the men and women who have bravely served our country.” Doosan Bobcat formally launched its partnership with WWP at CONEXPO-CON/ AGG 2020, a Las Vegas-based construction
industry trade show, as part of the company’s commitment to empower people and support communities. Show attendees were able to purchase a limited-edition, scale model of a T76 camouflage-wrapped loader with the Wounded Warrior Project logo that was on display at the Doosan Bobcat booth and on Bobcat.com. The $81,000 donation is the result of all gross sales of the 2,000 scale model units sold plus proceeds from other WWP-branded apparel and gifts. “We’re proud to partner with Doosan Bobcat to empower warriors and raise awareness of life-changing programs and services available to them,” said Gary Corless, WWP chief development officer. “Doosan Bobcat’s support helps provide these much-needed resources to warriors and their families as they begin their next mission in life.” Michael Newport, a territory support manager for Doosan Bobcat, emphasized the importance of WWP programs for injured veterans and their
families, as he personally benefitted from these programs when he returned from military life. “When I medically retired from military service I entered some dark days. The support of Wounded Warrior Project was my lifeline to a healthy, successful civilian life,” said Newport, a third-generation soldier and WWP warrior. “This is why Doosan Bobcat’s partnership with Wounded Warrior Project means so much to me. I am proud to be a part of this company and grateful for their commitment to address the needs of veterans and communities.” Doosan Bobcat will continue its support of U.S. military veterans later this fall when a new T76 R-Series compact track loader and attachments — valued at more than $75,000 — will be presented to a deserving veteran. Details around the T76 giveaway will be shared in November, which is National Veterans and Military Family Month, Warrior Care Month, as well as Veterans Day and other military observances.
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October 2020 17
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18 October 2020
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NORTHEAST DEPARTMENT PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Reminds Pennsylvanians Importance of Saving Pet Food Lot Numbers The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture today reminded pet owners across the commonwealth of the importance of saving their pet food lot numbers. The lot number is a crucial piece of information when trying to identify if a product has been recalled or for reporting a potential problem with a pet food or treat to the FDA or the producer. The Department of Agriculture licenses and inspects businesses that make and sell animal feed and pet food. “It’s no secret that we love our pets as family members. We care for them in a variety of ways with perhaps the most important being that we feed them daily. It only takes an extra minute to save the lot code found on the food packaging when you first bring it home,” said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. “Reading labels correctly and feeding your pet only foods appropriate for his or her age, species and health condition can save you the heartache of special diets, high vet bills, and an unhealthy pet. Love your pet, feed with care and ensure safe and proper feeding for all of Pennsylvania’s pets.” A lot number, also known as a “lot code,” can be a long or short string of printed numbers and letters found on pet food packaging. Pet food producers include the lot number as a way to track batches of pet food. The lot number can be found
in different areas on different pet food products, but most often it is near the “Best by” or expiration date. A lot number tells a company when a product was made and in which manufacturing plant. It also allows a pet food company to quickly pull or recall a specific batch, without having to recall all batches from store shelves. Animal feed, pet food, and specialty pet food are all considered Commercial Feed under the Pennsylvania Commercial Feed Act and are regulated through the inspection of Pennsylvania manufacturing and distribution (retail and wholesale) establishments for compliance with labeling, licensing, and Federal Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs). Pet treats and pet foods must be properly labeled. All ingredients must be listed by their recognized common names and must be appropriate for use in pet food. Major ingredients are generally recognizable animal or plant names. Minor ingredients are mostly those that supply minerals, vitamins and other nutrients. Minor ingredients may also include preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and coloring or flavoring. More information on animal feed and pet food can be found at agriculture.pa.gov/ feedwithcare.
NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Organic Producers May Be Eligible for Reimbursement of Some Certification Costs New Jersey organic producers and handlers may be eligible for reimbursement of a portion of their organic certification costs under a federal program. Please note that there have been changes to the Cost Share Reimbursement program this year. Each qualified operation is now eligible for a reimbursement of up to 50 percent of its costs of certification, not to exceed $500 per scope. Operations may receive one reimbursement per category of certification per year. Applications must be received by close of business on Monday, November 2, 2020 and are available on the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s website at www.nj.gov/agriculture/ grants/organiccostshare.html. “New Jersey’s organic growers work tirelessly to produce crops that meet the standards for certification,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher said. “This program will help to offset the additional expenses incurred and I encourage farmers to apply.” To qualify for reimbursement under this program, an organic handler or producer must have received their first certification or have incurred expenses related to the renewal of certification between October 1, 2019 and September 30, 2020. Operations must possess a current organic certification in good standing through a USDA-Accredited certifying agent. If demand exceeds the amount of funds allocated to New Jersey, applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. In the case of multiple certifications, excluding renewal of certification, only one payment shall be made to the operation. If you have questions regarding this program please contact Nichole Steward by calling 609-292-5576 or via e-mail at organiccostshare@ag.nj.gov.
VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Farmer Reports Theft of Entire Hemp Crop in Moretown: 50 hemp plants cut and removed during overnight hours Sunday or early Monday morning The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets (VAAFM) was notified of a hemp crop theft that occurred on Pony Farm Road in Moretown, Vermont. In the early morning hours of Monday September 7th, the hemp field of Fancy Plants adjacent to Austin Heights Road was accessed by unknown individuals who cut down and removed 50 hemp plants. Signage was visible at the field indicating that the crop was Hemp/CBD. The theft appears to have been premeditated and involve more than one individual, utilizing shearing tools and large vehicles to remove the 500 pounds of hemp. The 50 plants comprised the entire hemp crop of the Fancy Plants business. The cultivation of hemp has been legal in the state of Vermont for several years. Hemp farmers have experienced theft in previous seasons at harvest time, and this year now appears to be similar. In Vermont, only registrants of the Hemp Program are legally able to possess hemp crops in registered locations or to sell hemp crops in the marketplace accompanied by appropriate documentation including test results that show compliance with the Vermont Hemp Rules. VAAFM is recommending that hemp farmers take care to protect their
crops and report thefts when they occur to the Hemp Program and to law enforcement. Some options to protect hemp crops in the field include installing appropriate fencing, motion activated lights and cameras like trail cameras, and no-trespassing signs that include a statement that the crop is industrial hemp. The sign can also include that the property is under video surveillance. It may also be useful to enlist the watchful eye of helpful neighbors. VAAFM does not generally disclose “the location of parcels where hemp will be grown, including coordinates, maps, and parcel identifiers” as that information is confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Public Records Act. However, registrants whose crop land is adjacent to public rights-of-way may find it difficult to protect their crops privacy due to high public visibility, so the aforementioned protective measures are highly recommended. The owner contacted the Vermont State Police to report the theft. If anyone witnessed anything unusual during the late evening hours of Sunday or early morning of Monday in the area of Pony Farm Road in Moretown, please contact investigators at the VSP Middlesex Barracks at 808-229-9191.
GardenerNews.com
October 2020 19
OF AGRICULTURE NEWS MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE $7.75 Million to Support Upgrades, Research at UMass Cranberry Station The Baker Polito Administration announced $7.75 million in funding to support infrastructure upgrades, including the design, construction, retrofitting and outfitting of enhanced laboratory space, at the UMass Cranberry Station located in Wareham. The research supported by this funding will help Massachusetts’ cranberry industry continue to thrive as an important sector of the agricultural economy in the Commonwealth. “Cranberries are one of Massachusetts’ signature agricultural products, and this funding will support vital research that ensures the cranberry industry will remain a thriving and sustainable sector in the Commonwealth for generations to come,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “The infrastructure improvements made possible through this funding will enhance the research capacity of the Cranberry Station and provide an essential base of knowledge that will help the cranberry industry adjust to the impacts of climate change and remain an economic driver for Southeastern Massachusetts.” “Massachusetts’ cranberry industry has been harvesting this landmark crop in the Commonwealth for over 200 years, and this enhanced research capacity will help it increase its sustainability and position it for long-term success,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides. “Water resource management is critical to sustainable production, and the research supported through this funding will help to improve water quality and reduce the amount of water needed for cranberry production.”
DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Delaware Aglands Foundation Votes to Extend District Enrollment for Next Round The Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation voted to extend district enrollment until December 31, 2020 to any agricultural landowners who want to preserve their farms. These landowners will have the opportunity to apply for Round 25 in 2021. Before the landowner can submit a bid to sell an easement, the farm must be enrolled in a preservation district. According to the Delaware AgLands Preservation Program, 201 landowners have submitted bids to sell development rights in the last two years. Of the bids submitted, the Foundation accepted 85 percent for easement purchase. The Foundation uses an impartial discount ranking system that maximizes benefits for the taxpayer. Bids are ranked and selected using the funding available for each year. If a landowner’s bid is selected for easement, the Foundation does not own the land, but rather purchases the landowner’s development rights. Then a permanent agricultural conservation easement is placed on the property. “Landowners who sell their development rights benefit by pulling value out of their land and receiving a payment now. This money can be reinvested in the farm operation or used to
purchase more cropland,” said Jimmy Kroon, Aglands Preservation Program Administrator. “On the other hand, some farmers preserve their farmland before passing it onto the next generation to ensure it will be farmed for the long run.” Delaware’s statewide program made its first round of easement purchases in 1996 and has since preserved 22 percent of New Castle County farmland, 39 percent of Kent County farmland and 19 percent of Sussex County farmland. For more information or to obtain applications related to the Delaware AgLands Preservation Program, interested landowners can visit https://agriculture.delaware.gov or call (302) 698-4530. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees includes representatives from agriculture and state agencies. Trustees are: Mark Collins, chairman; Bill Vanderwende, vice-chairman; L. Allen Messick Jr., treasurer; William H. “Chip” Narvel Jr., secretary; Secretary of Agriculture Michael T. Scuse; State Treasurer Colleen C. Davis; Secretary of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Shawn Garvin; Peter Martin; Theodore P. Bobola Jr.; Robert Emerson; and Janice Truitt.
NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Governor Cuomo Announces New State Guidance for Agritourism Businesses as Fall Approaches Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced new state guidance on September 1, 2020 for agritourism businesses as New York State enters the Fall season. The businesses, which include corn mazes, pick-your-own fruit and vegetable operations, hayrides and haunted houses, are considered low-risk outdoor arts and entertainment and are permitted to operate under New York’s NY Forward guidance. New Yorkers can also visit the State’s farmers’ markets and craft beverage trails, which have remained open under State guidance, supporting agriculture and tourism in the state. “New York State’s amazing outdoor attractions and recreational opportunities are a boon for families and communities during the fall season each year, and we want New Yorkers to be able to enjoy this time with their family responsibly and safely,” Governor Cuomo said.
“The new guidance announced today will ensure that these businesses can open to the public, allowing families to enjoy their favorite fall activities while providing a boost for our farming communities and local economies.” State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “As one of the nation’s top agricultural states, New York traditionally comes together in the fall to celebrate the harvest—from apples to grapes to pumpkins. This year, while things may not look exactly the same on your favorite farm, I am happy to say we can still celebrate agriculture’s bounty and the many family-friendly activities that go with it. With this new guidance, we hope New Yorkers will be able to enjoy some of the best of New York agriculture in a safe and socially distanced manner.” The businesses that can reopen are subject to Low Risk Outdoor Arts and
Entertainment and Public Transportation guidance. Guidance includes, but is not limited to: Corn Mazes - permitted consistent with Low Risk Outdoor Arts and Entertainment guidance and the following conditions: • Reduced capacity • Face coverings required • Social distance maintained between individuals/parties Hayrides - permitted consistent with Public Transportation guidance and the following conditions: • Mandatory face coverings • Social distance required between individuals/parties • Frequently touched surfaces, such as handrails, cleaned and sanitized between rides Pick-Your-Own Fruit/Vegetables Operations - permitted consistent with Low Risk Outdoor Arts and
Entertainment guidance and the following conditions: • Reduced capacity • Face coverings required • Social distance maintained between individuals/parties. Haunted Houses - permitted consistent with Low Risk Indoor Arts and Entertainment guidance and the following conditions: • Reduced capacity • Face coverings required • Social distance maintained between individuals/parties Petting zoos are not permitted. The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets has issued a full slate of guidelines for the agricultural industry, including guidance for farmers’ markets and for its food and beverage producers. All guidance can be found at https://agriculture.ny.gov/ coronavirus.
20 October 2020
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GardenerNews.com What is it about certain foods that makes them more appealing during certain seasons? Or perhaps I should ask, what is it about certain seasons that make people crave certain foods? Or maybe it’s a combination of the two. In today’s modern society, where almost every produce item is available all year around, does the seasonality of food even matter anymore? Historically, foods were consumed in areas where they were grown. That meant that a great many items were only available for short periods of time throughout the year. Here in the Northeast, for example, foods such as strawberries and asparagus were only available for a few weeks in the spring. And although these items are available now 365 days a year in supermarket produce sections, locally grown strawberries and asparagus are by and large limited to the spring season. Sure, there have been some inroads into extending those seasons through the use of everbearing strawberry varieties and plastic row covers, which can both speed up and delay the seasons, but most local growers
October 2020 21 The Town Farmer By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer
Seasonal Foods
are still harvesting these crops at the same time of year that their forefathers did. But what about the consumption of these crops? Do customers consume more of these crops when they are available locally, or is it a similar rate of consumption throughout the year? Do customers even care where the crops were grown? If I had to answer these questions, I would bet that the results would be mixed. First of all, I would think that many people, when given the choice, would seek out locally grown strawberries and asparagus when they are in season here in New Jersey. With these two crops in particular; when they are grown, harvested and marketed well, it is hard to beat the quality you get with
these home-grown items. But people are not always given a choice. In grocery stores, produce is generally marked as to what state or country it was grown in. But if someone purchases these items in a prepared food or at a restaurant, it is often very hard to determine where it originated. And while many chefs are very open and forthcoming about where their ingredients come from, that is not always the case. So, a chef serving your $12 strawberry shortcake at a highend restaurant might trumpet their use of New Jersey berries, but the food service manager at your office cafeteria with a tight budget might be looking at things from a slightly different perspective. There are many instances where price is of great
importance and there is nothing wrong with that. One hundred years ago, fresh asparagus was only available in the spring. Now it is available all year long. Because it is now so widely available, I would bet that there is not nearly the pentup demand for asparagus early in the spring that there once was. And although asparagus can be frozen or canned to preserve it for use later in the year, those two items do not even hold a candle to the quality of fresh picked asparagus. As a grower and a consumer of fresh asparagus, I always feel a sense of urgency as asparagus season draws to a close, knowing full well that I had better eat it now, because it will be 10 more months before I can enjoy it again. But somehow, I do not
The Other Holly
By Hubert Ling Actually, there are three native hollies in New Jersey. These are American holly, inkberry (holly), and winterberry (holly). Our native hollies are all in the genus Ilex. However, inkberry and winterberry are so different from American holly that many gardeners don’t realize that these plants are related to “The Holly.” This is especially true since inkberry and winterberry do not have the glossy, spinetipped leaves you would expect in a holly. All three hollies are very popular cultivated plants and are widely available in almost any garden center. However, finding the straight species is much more difficult since there are so many “improved” cultivars. Why select the old-fashioned straight species over a prettier cultivar? Well, the straight species from New Jersey has
been naturally selected for overall fitness over thousands of years to thrive in New Jersey. The cultivars have been selected by horticulturalists for compact shape, high berry production, and overall eye appeal. If you want a plant guaranteed to enhance the environment with minimum upkeep, select a straight species native plant. Winterberry holly, Ilex verticillata, is a woody perennial plant which generally grows to six to 10 feet or occasionally higher. However, you can keep it to the lower height with a little bit of careful pruning. Every fall, the mature female plants stand out in your garden with a brilliant display of bright red berries which persist until spring, hence the name winterberry. Even the straight species is spectacular, since this deciduous plant loses its leaves just when the quarterinch-diameter berries start to take on their vivid color in October. Winterberry is found
in every state east of the Mississippi and Eastern Canada. In New Jersey, it is found in every county and is a relatively common plant. Winterberry holly grows best in moist, acidic, rich soil in a semi-shady area. However, it tolerates clay, sand, dry soil, full sun, heat, drought, soil compaction, and air pollution. This holly does not do well in neutral or basic soil. Dense thickets of winterberry holly can be found in wetlands, but individual specimens are also naturally found in dry sandy areas or in grasslands. Male and female flowers are found on different plants. If you want the red berries, you will have to plant several immature bushes and hope for a female or buy a more expensive adult shrub with the bright red berries already present. Only one male plant is needed to pollinate up to12 female plants. Propagation of winterberry may be done by seed, but the seeds must be planted as soon
as they are ripe or they go into dormancy and may stay there for several years. Propagation is better ensured if rooted suckers are removed from the parent plant. However, remember plants produced vegetatively from suckers are genetically identical to their parent and thus you have done nothing to increase genetic diversity in your plants and genetic diversity is desirable when disease strikes. Winterberry holly is an animal magnet. Although the yellow-green flowers are very small, about one-eighth of an inch, this plant makes up for that fact by bearing a multitude of flowers and on warm sunny days in early spring your plant is very literally buzzing with activity. The plant is a larval host for Henry’s Elfin butterfly and 48 species of birds, including robins and cedar waxwings, utilize the fruit. The foliage is also sometimes utilized by deer and rabbit. Winterberry is low-maintenance and has
think that everyone else shares my enthusiasm for fresh-picked asparagus. I would also bet that with certain crops, there is no drop-off or rise in sales during the times of year when they were traditionally harvested. Take table grapes, for instance. They are available all year long and there seems to be a seamless transition between production areas in North and South America. And because so few table grapes are actually grown here in New Jersey, I would bet that most people would not even know when their season actually was. What’s your favorite 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 Mayor of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, NJ. 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.
no particular insect or disease problems. Our Native Americans, especially the Potawatomi, used winterberry holly medicinally and it was known to natives as the “fever bush.” The Iroquois also used the bark as an antiseptic. However, you should not experiment with this plant since safe, effective alternatives are available and winterberry is considered mildly toxic and can cause nausea and low blood pressure. Your winter garden need not be devoid of interest. All three hollies can add sparkle to an otherwise drab yard. Bright red and green can be supplied by American holly, black and green by inkberry holly, and bright red standing alone by winterberry holly. These hollies deserve a spot to shine. Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is President of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@verizon.net.
22 October 2020
GardenerNews.com
USDA Designates Primary Natural Disaster Areas in Northeast U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated five New Jersey counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Gloucester, Morris, Salem, Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey, who suffered losses due freeze and frost that occurred from April 6 through May 15, 2020, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. Emergency support to producers in surrounding counties and border states also available. These natural disaster designations allow FSA to extend muchneeded emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of certain debts. Producers in the contiguous counties listed below are also eligible to apply for emergency loans: • New Jersey: Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Essex, Hunterdon, Passaic, Somerset and Union • Delaware: Kent and New Castle • New York: Orange • Pennsylvania: Bucks, Delaware, Monroe, Northampton, Philadelphia and Pike The deadline to apply for these emergency loans is April 28, 2021. FSA will review the loans based on the extent of losses, security available and repayment ability. FSA has a variety of additional programs to help farmers recover from the impacts of this disaster. FSA programs that do not require a disaster declaration include: Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program; Emergency Conservation Program; Livestock Forage Disaster Program; Livestock Indemnity Program; Operating and Farm Ownership Loans; and the Tree Assistance Program. Farmers may contact their local USDA service center for further information on eligibility requirements and application procedures for these and other programs. Additional information is also available online at farmers.gov/recover.
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Executive Editor/Publisher . . . . Tom Castronovo Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan F. Kessel Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Castronovo Tom Castronovo Todd Pretz Gail Woolcott Andrew Bunting
October 2020 Columnists
Brian Schilling Bob LaHoff Al Murray Douglas H. Fisher Peter Melick Eric J. Houghtaling Kenneth M. Karamichael
October 2020 Contributing Writers
Bruce Crawford
Jeannie Geremia
Hubert Ling
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If you want to save your pumpkins from the deer and squirrels, you’ll need to fight back. Covering pumpkins with a scent they hate is one of the best ways to ward them off. For squirrels, combine 1 gallon of water, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap and 1 small bottle of hot pepper sauce. Fill a spray bottle with the mixture, then coat your pumpkins with it. The mixture will repel squirrels when they try to bite into your pumpkins. You can also sprinkle red pepper flakes on the ground around the pumpkins. The potent smell of vinegar can be over-powering to squirrels as well. If you have deer problems, spray deer repellent like Deer Out on and around your pumpkins. You can also call New Jersey Deer Control to deter browsing. You can also cover your pumpkin in a heavy coat of petroleum jelly or a vapor rub. And a thick coat can last for weeks. Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after the applications.
GardenerNews.com
October 2020 23
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GardenerNews.com
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