Gardener News September 2017

TAKE ONE

Gardener News Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities

September, 2017

GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 173

“Good-Guy” Fungus to Take on Killer of Oaks and Ornamental Crops

Discoloration on an oak tree trunk caused by Phytophthora ramorum.

By Jan Suszkiw ARS Office of Communications

A beneficial soil fungus could offer a biobased approach to battling Phytophthora ramorum, a pathogen that kills oaks, other tree species and woody

ornamentals.

Viewed through a microscope, the fungus Trichoderma asperellum resembles little more than delicate branched filaments.

But make no mistake; it is a formidable hunter—of other microorganisms, that is.

Since 2006, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Tim Widmer and colleagues have conducted laboratory and field tests to gauge T. asperellum’s potential to biologically control Phytophthora ramorum. A

Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service/Photo

plant pathogen, P. ramorum is the culprit behind sudden oak death, a disease of oak and other hardwood trees in coastal forests of California and Oregon.

Nursery growers are familiar with a different manifestation of P. ramorum,

known as “ramorum blight.” The disease afflicts rhododendron, viburnum, camellia, and other woody ornamental plants.

Chemical fumigation and soil sterilization are two common methods of keeping (Cont. on page 20)

2 September, 2017 G A R D E N C E N T E R D I R E C T O R Y GardenerNews.com

This Fall Restore Your Lawn The All Natural Way Learn About Organic Fertilizers Eco-friendly grass seed mixtures Questions specific to your lawn

Saturday, September 30th 10AM to 1PM

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September, 2017 3

4 September, 2017 Can you feel it?

That desire to take a hayride. Or go apple-picking.

The craving for anything and everything pumpkinflavored. Or maybe some butternut squash soup. Or a cranberry compote.

The irresistible urge to visit your local garden center and find just the right plants, shrubs and trees to improve your landscape this fall.

No doubt about it, we are moving through another change of seasons, and the autumn vibes are building.

This is one of those times, on the cusp from one season to another, when New Jersey agriculture is like a fine-tuned auto engine – hitting on all cylinders, all on high-octane.

That’s the beauty of being in a “temperate zone,” as opposed to those places where there is summertime heat almost year-round, or where the first snowfall comes in September and the last could be in late-May. We get these great “overlap” times when our senses get to revel in the remnants of one season and the burgeoning of another.

Don’t get me wrong.

There is still a great amount of New Jersey’s agricultural bounty left to go before our hard-working farmers bring in

GardenerNews.com NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

Moving from one awesome agricultural season to the next the final harvests of the year.

And what a year this has been! Our New Jersey farmers have experienced some of the best growing conditions in recent memory. It was a great year for our blueberry, peach, tomato, corn and just about every other kind of farmers.

And those great conditions coincided with some weather troubles elsewhere in the nation that reduced yields of some crops by upwards of 75 percent. That meant local farm products were in high demand throughout our region.

I am sure you found some great Jersey Fresh flavor favorites at your supermarket, community farmers market, local restaurant, or even directly on a farm. The kind of support our farmers enjoy from the state’s residents is matched only by how much care and effort they put into providing what consumers

want most.

Because of our location and our distinct seasons, we get to experience so many facets of agriculture, with each season bringing a different feel, a different aroma, a different taste and a different experience.

As gardeners, I’m sure you also enjoy the changes that our revolving seasons bring. They give all of us a chance to reinvent our landscapes several times over the course of a year. With New Jersey being a national leader in horticulture (more than $355 million produced annually, ranking the state consistently in the Top-10 nationwide), and that sector being this state’s leader among the agricultural categories, we have no shortage of amazing plant life to choose from.

Among them are chrysanthemums.

Many

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

New Jersey Senator Linda R. Greenstein looks over the August Gardener News on a recent trip the Jersey shore. Greenstein is the Assistant Senate Majority Leader. She is currently the Chair of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee, Vice Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and sits on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. She is also co-chair of a Joint Legislative Task Force on Drinking Water Infrastructure. Greenstein has been serving as a senator in the great state of New Jersey since 2010.

gardeners in New Jersey and other northern states like to plant mums in spring, taking advantage of their late-summer-into-autumn flowering. But with our summers seeing more extreme high temperatures, and our warmer temps lasting longer into the fall, some are opting for fall planting to avoid the damage of extreme summer heat. Planting them later also gives the plant extra energy to put into its structure once the blooming period is over.

Peonies are another great selection for our landscapes in the fall planting season.

Late-September to October is optimal time for planting them, as long as you get them settled into place before the first hard frost. Peonies even enjoy winter, as the chilling helps in bud formation.

Autumn is also the perfect time to plant many

trees and shrubs. The cooler temperatures and rainier days reduce the need for watering, and stable air temperatures make for better root growth.

Again, establishing trees and shrubs before the first hard frost is key. In New Jersey, depending upon which part of the state you’re in, first frosts can come anywhere from early-October to midNovember.

So you see, there really is no “wrong time” of year to experience all that New Jersey’s agriculture and horticulture have to offer.

As The Byrds told us years ago, to everything there is a season. And we can turn, turn, turn to New Jersey agriculture in any of them.

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

He can be reached at 609.292.3976.

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

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September, 2017 5

6 September, 2017

RUTGERS NJAES/RCE

Packinghouse Layout, Cleaning and Sanitation

By Wes Kline Many packinghouses in New Jersey have not been updated in many years. If you haven’t, now is the time to be thinking about what changes will be needed to comply with a third-party audit or the Food Safety Modernization Act. Analyzing your packinghouse may also save money.

Any time saved during packing will save money. If your produce moves quickly through the packing process it will maintain higher quality and be fresher.

Start by making a drawing of your packinghouse showing how the product comes from the field to the point it is loaded on the truck. Make sure to include how the produce is received, where the produce is dumped on the line or grading table, whether it goes through a washer, holding area after packing, the cold room, if applicable, and the loading area. Once you have the drawing, ask someone to watch the packing process to make sure everything is included. There may be more than one flow diagram depending on whether the produce is washed under spray bars; placed in a dump tank, not washed, etc.

What is a good layout? The produce should come in one end of the building and go out the other to reduce the chance for cross contamination. The other option is to use a U-shape design, but again making sure the field and packed product does not come in contact with each other.

The material for walls, ceilings and floors should be washable. A smooth concrete floor that is sloped (1/4 inch/foot) toward a drain is the best. Water that collects on the floor is a prime source for human pathogens such as Listeria, E. coli and Salmonella. Make sure the drains are sloped to prevent standing water where pathogens can collect and grow.

No matter how the packinghouse is laid out, consider how it will be cleaned and sanitized. Make sure all parts of the building are acceptable. Remove or physically separate anything that is not used during the grading and packing process. This does not mean that the building cannot be used for storage during the off season if the structure is cleaned and sanitized prior to the harvest season. During packing, establish a schedule for cleaning and sanitizing different parts of the packing area.

There are four areas to consider when cleaning and sanitizing. Zone 1 is any surface that comes in direct contact with the produce. This could be the dumping table, brushes or sponges, grading line or packing table.

Zone 1 is the most critical area and should be cleaned and sanitized after each use (at least once a day when packing). Zone 2 is the area immediately adjacent to zone 1. It is the spray nozzles, surfaces outside the washer, packing line, grading tables, etc. Zone 2 can be a major concern if there is no access to the interior of the washing equipment. Most older and even new equipment do not have access panels to clean and sanitize the interior walls. There can be buildup of microorganisms over time that contaminate produce as it is being washed. If the equipment does not have access panels construct them.

Zone 2 should be cleaned and sanitized at least weekly.

Zone 3 are the areas in the packinghouse such as floors, walls, ceilings, restrooms, garbage cans, etc. Restrooms should be inspected and cleaned on a regular basis.

Walls and ceilings should be cleaned and sanitized at the beginning of the packing season to remove any dirt and dusk that has accumulated over the winter. Pay attention to pipes, air ducks, etc. Zone 4 are areas outside, but close to the packinghouse. This could include animal pens, compost piles, loading docks, etc. Make sure these areas do not lead to contamination in the packinghouse. In the next post, I will discuss how to clean and sanitize the packing equipment. Remember clean before you sanitize!

They cannot be done in the same step.

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From the Director’s Desk

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

Time to Bring in the Thyme

If you’re like me, you grow a lot of herbs. If you don’t, you should!

Most herbs don’t mind harsh conditions (so if you have poor quality soil or don’t water them, they’ll survive). Best of all, herbs bring a lot of flavor to your meals. In terms of health, most herbs contain a lot of antioxidants that help reduce risk for heart disease and cancer. Moreover, adding them to your food is a great way to keep it tasty while using less sugar and salt.

Growing herbs is a fairly low-cost endeavor; in fact, it can actually save you money!

Many of the most common ones are either perennials or they self-seed, which means they’ll add beauty to your garden without having to buy or plant them again. Better yet, if you compare the cost of growing them to the price of those little dried herb containers or fresh herb bundles at the store, you’ll be very pleasantly surprised.

Almost any herb can be grown indoors in the winter. I usually recommend this for rosemary and sweet bay leaf trees, allowing them to become quite large and beautiful. For other herbs, you can still avoid buying those that can be grown in New Jersey all year long by using a few simple preservation techniques.

Dried herbs and seeds last for one to three years, but when you grow your own, you always have a fresh, annual supply. A fun and decorative way to preserve many herbs is to hang them upside down, in the house or outdoors, for a nice fall display. This method works best for herbs that have a low water content, like dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, summer savory, and thyme. It also works well for lavender, which should be picked before it’s in full bloom.

If possible, harvest the herbs on your day off so you can cut them just after the dew dries, which will catch them at their best before the sun dries out their oils. Wrap a rubber band around their stems to hold them together tightly, and use string, twine or even yarn (whatever you think looks best) to hang them upside down to dry. Hang them in a spot where they will get sun. Once they are dry, you can pull off the leaves and re-use old storebought herb containers to keep them. Just make sure your old containers are clean and dry.

You can also preserve seeds like coriander (which comes from cilantro plants after they flower), dill, and fennel by drying them. Either let them dry on the plants, or pick them before they dry, and place them on paper in a single layer, outside in the sun, where they are protected from the wind. Dried seeds should also be put into air-tight containers.

For herbs with a higher water content, it is better to freeze them in ice cube trays. This method works really well for basil, chives, mint, parsley, and sage. Harvest the herbs as before, rinse, and dry them. Then pick the good leaves, chop them up, and fill each space in the ice cube tray approximately halfway (one to two teaspoons of herbs). Fill the ice cube tray the rest of the way with water, freeze them, and then pop them out and save them in an air-tight freezer bag. You can replace the water with olive oil when preserving basil if you like. These cubes will be perfect for tossing into pasta sauce or making pesto. It’s like bringing a little summer back into the herb gardener’s winter days.

Of course, the healthier (and larger) your plants, the more you’ll have to preserve. Here are a few tips for producing beautiful and abundant plants. Prune woody herbs, like oregano and sage, biannually to prevent them from becoming leggy and to improve production. Cut them back about halfway in the early-spring as soon as you see new growth, and again by one-third just after they flower.

Let chives show their beautiful (and edible) purple blossoms, then cut them to the ground for a second harvest and a second beautiful show! With basil, pinch it back again and again. Just make certain to leave one or two pairs of leaves on each branch. This will make it so bushy that by late season you’ll get enough leaves from just one plant to make an entire batch of pesto!

By following these few simple tips, you’ll have a beautiful herb garden and enough herbs next year to make a generous gardener the most popular person at the office!

For more on growing herbs and vegetables in New Jersey, visit the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at: njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs.

Editor’s Note: This month’s column is written by Dr. Debra Palmer-Keenan, Associate Extension Specialist and NJ SNAP-Ed & EFNEP Director.

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September, 2017 7

A Princess in Search of a Gardening Prince To the gardener, tropicals are a revered group of plants that, in their native near-equatorial homelands, are classified as perennials or woody shrubs.

However, in gardens with marked seasonality, they serve as exotic appearing annuals, providing bold textured foliage or dramatic floral displays that outshine the traditional annual.

Come September, after several months of summer’s heat, tropicals have truly hit their stride, and the genus Tibouchina, commonly called Glory Bush or Princess Flower, is no exception.

Tibouchina is a member of the Melastomataceae or Meadow Beauty Family and contains nearly 240 species native to Mexico, the Caribbean and northern portions of South America. A distinguishing characteristic of this family is the foliage, which has three to seven deeply incised veins that run from the base of the leaf to the tip, as well as square stems.

The genus name of

Tibouchina was first published in 1775 by the French botanist Jean Baptiste Christophore Fusée Aublet (1720-1778). In 1762, he travelled to the town of Cayenne in French Guiana and amassed a large herbarium of regional plants. A local species of this plant is known as Tibouch in Guyanese, which provided the inspiration for the botanical name.

Above all else, Tibouchina species are best known for their iridescent blue and blueviolet, daisy-like flowers. I was spellbound by the flower color when I first saw a plant of Tibouchina urvilleana some 30 years ago and I remain starryeyed to this day. This is a species native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil and was originally named Lasiandra urvilleana in 1828 by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle (1778-1841).

The genus name is derived from the Greek Lásios for “hairy” and Andrós for “male,” and refers to the pubescence found on the stamens or male part of the flower. The plant was properly categorized by the Belgian botanist Alfred Célestin

Cogniaux (1841-1916) in 1885.

The species name honors the French admiral, botanist and explorer Jules Sebastien Cesar Dumont D’Urville (17901842), with whom de Candolle collaborated on numerous occasions over the naming of new plant species.

The plants grow quickly, reaching four feet tall by two feet wide by September, and ultimately 15 feet tall by 10 feet wide if overwintered indoors.

From June until frost, the fivepetalled, two- to three-inch-wide flowers open continuously for all to enjoy. They also feature prominently protruding purple anthers, which in combination with the blue-violet petals, are simply dazzling!

The lance-shaped foliage is two to four inches long by one inch wide and is lightly pubescent. The mature growth is light green, while the unfurling new growth is attractively blushed with red. Plants thrive best in full sun in soil that remains moist, but drains readily following a rainstorm, much as would be found in a rainforest.

If a plant with bolder foliage

is of need, consider Tibouchina heteromalla, otherwise known as Silverleaved Princess Flower.

Unfortunately, it is often sold as Tibouchina grandifolia, which creates much confusion in the trade. Unlike the previous two species, the foliage is larger, growing to three to four inches wide and long and is covered with silvery hairs that provide the inspiration for the common and botanical name. The leaves have three very prominently defined veins, with the area in-between the outermost veins distinctly raised or elevated.

The species is also native to Brazil and was again named

by Cogniaux. The species name comes from the Greek Heteros, meaning “another” and Mallos, meaning “wool,” referring to the different types of hairs present on the leaf. Aside from the larger foliage, the blue oneto one-and-a-half-inch-diameter flowers are also presented in panicles with over 60 flowers per panicle.

As with it cousins, full sun and ample moisture provide the best growth and flowering.

All the species can be

overwintered in a brightly lit room that is maintained between 50 and 60 degrees and watered sparingly. The plants will drop most of their leaves and need to be pruned and shaped come spring, when normal watering and fertilization should resume.

Tibouchina is a tropical that most gardeners and non-gardeners alike have yet to try, certainly making it a Princess of a Flower in search of more gardening Princes!

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth; is the managing director of the Rutgers Gardens, a 180-acre outdoor teaching classroom, horticultural research facility and arboretum; an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; regularly participates in the Rutgers – Continuing Education Program; and the immediate pastpresident of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

NJAES On-Farm Food Safety Program Receives National Recognition Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension county agricultural agents Wes Kline (Cumberland) and Meredith Melendez (Mercer) have been recognized for their work helping growers understand FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and other fresh produce food safety issues.

Their grant-funded work through the USDA Risk Management Education program was selected as a featured success story for 2017.

Also, Melendez, Kline and the on-farm food safety team was awarded the National Association County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) Search for Excellence National Award for Farm Health and Safety. The team has trained over 6,000 individuals in the produce industry since 1999. This represents most New Jersey produce operations, including farms that grow for wholesale distribution, on-farm sales, direct market sales, as well as new and beginning farmers. The program raises awareness of food safety as one of the most important considerations in a produce operation. Training on farm food safety for growers is offered annually with additional presentations offered at meetings throughout the state.

Workshop participants are provided training materials, sample record keeping forms and templates to write their own food safety plans. Additionally the team offers walk-through visits with farms to give guidance on current and proposed foods safety practices.

Delegation from Yunnan Agricultural University Visits SEBS A delegation from Yunnan Agricultural University visited the Cook campus on July 10, hosted by Rutgers Centers for Global Advancement and International Affairs and SEBS International Programs. Associate professor Xenia Morin, program director of SEBS Agriculture and Food Systems major, led the delegation on a tour of the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health building and the campus farm. The purpose of the visit was to explore opportunities for collaboration, student exchanges, and academic cooperation.

Yunnan Province, in Southwestern China, is 10% arable land and approximately 90% mountains, with many micro-climates, ranging from tropical to temperate. The province produces rice, corn, tobacco, wheat, soybean, herbs, vegetables, with a specialty in mushrooms.

Morin reports that, although the geography is quite different, the Yunnan Agricultural University’s research interests are similar to Rutgers, and research projects in that region have been conducted by some SEBS students through the Rutgers International Program.

5ඎඍ඀ൾඋඌ &ඈඈඉൾඋൺඍංඏൾ (එඍൾඇඌංඈඇ 3ඁඈඇൾ 'ංඋൾർඍඈඋඒ Atlantic County Phone: 609-625-0056 Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780 Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050 Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130 Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115 Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800 Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210 Gloucester County Phone: 856-307-6450 Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399 Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339 Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830

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

8 September, 2017

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New Jersey Legislative Update Allen, Bateman Bills to Reduce Food Waste Now Law Two bills sponsored by Senator Diane Allen (R-Burlington) and Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman (R-Mercer, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon) aimed at reducing waste are now law after they were signed by Governor Chris Christie.

“Cutting back on waste at our schools and other institutions is a crucial part of getting more food to people who need it,” Senator Allen said. “Every day, so much food is just tossed out. That can’t be acceptable in a state where so many still struggle with food insecurity.”

The first measure, S-2360, provides for the establishment of voluntary guidelines to encourage school districts and institutions to donate excess food to local food assistance programs. The guidelines will provide information about what kind of food schools can donate and how to incorporate lessens about the need for food assistance programs into their curriculum.

The second bill, S-3030, is similar but focuses on providing information about how to reduce, recover and recycle food waste in schools.

In addition to feeding hungry families, the bills also look to tackle some of the environmental issues related to food waste. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), unwanted and discarded food squanders resources, including water, land, energy, labor, and capital. When food waste is dumped in a landfill, it rots and creates methane, which is a powerful greenhouse gas.

“We have an opportunity to teach kids from a young age about ways to cut back on food waste so they can help feed the hungry and protect the environment,” Senator Bateman said. “If they can learn that early on it will just be second nature to them. Once they understand where food comes from and how badly some people need it, they’ll know better than to just let good food go to waste.”

Governor signs package of Oroho-Space farm bills A package of comprehensive farm bills sponsored by Sen. Steve Oroho and Assemblyman Parker Space benefiting the state’s farming industry, schools and food banks was signed on Monday, August 7 by Gov. Chris Christie.

“New Jersey has a long history of farming and farm culture, especially in the district I represent,” said Oroho (R-Sussex). “Not only will these new laws help us keep the farmer on the farm, they will help educate students about New Jersey’s important agricultural heritage.”

“Agriculture is the third largest industry in the state, providing thousands of jobs and billions in revenue,” said Space (R-Sussex). “These new laws continue our support of this vital industry. They protect farmers, help students understand why New Jersey is known as the Garden State, and provide fresh, nutritious food to food banks and soup kitchens.”

The first bill (A3056) encourages schools and colleges to donate excess food to feed the poor through nonprofit organizations. The second bill (A3058) creates a coordinating council to improve the Farm to School program. The third (A4580) and fourth (A4581) measures provide more than $24.3 million in funding for farmland preservation. The fifth (S2457) allows residents to donate to the New Jersey Fresh program through their income tax returns.

Houghtaling, Andrzejczak & Mazzeo Bill to Allow Contributions to Jersey Fresh Program through Gross Income Tax Returns Now Law Legislation sponsored by Assemblymen Eric Houghtaling, Bob Andrzejczak and Vince Mazzeo to help support the Jersey Fresh Program by allowing taxpayers to contribute to the program through their gross income tax returns was signed into law on Monday, August 7.

The new law (A-3999) enables the collection of voluntary contributions for the Jersey Fresh Program through gross income tax returns by establishing the Jersey Fresh Program Fund in the Department of Treasury. Taxpayers can indicate on their New Jersey gross income tax return that a portion of their tax refund or an enclosed contribution should be deposited in the special fund.

“The state’s agriculture and food industry is an essential part of New Jersey’s local economy and merits our support,” said Houghtaling (D-Monmouth).

“This creates an additional funding source to help support the program’s advertising, promotional, and quality grading program activities.”

“This is a simple way for taxpayers to support the state’s agricultural industry, which is helping to put New Jersey on the map,” said Andrzejczak (D-Atlantic/Cape May/Cumberland). “Anything we can do to further promote the Jersey Fresh brand and the state is a good thing.”

“This provides a great opportunity for New Jerseyans who take pride in the Jersey Fresh brand and want to support it, to do so directly through their gross income tax returns,” said Mazzeo (D-Atlantic). “This not only helps the program, but the farmers who really are the heart of it.”

In 1984, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture created the first in the nation state-sponsored agricultural branding program, Jersey Fresh, in order to distinguish the high quality of New Jersey produced fruits and vegetables from others in the marketplace.

This state-sponsored branding program was later expanded to include Jersey Grown for nursery crops, Jersey Seafood for aquacultured and wildcaught fish and shellfish, Jersey Equine for equine livestock, and Made with Jersey Fresh for processed food made with New Jersey sourced agricultural products. These additional programs related to Jersey Fresh could also receive funds under the new law.

The new law directs that fund deposits are to be annually appropriated to the Department of Agriculture for the purposes of providing support to the Jersey Fresh Program, which would include, but need not be limited to, funding advertising, promotional, and quality grading program activities. The quality grading program guarantees that each Jersey Fresh commodity meets a certain quality standard for size, shape, and coloring.

The new law takes effect immediately and will apply to taxable years beginning on or after Jan. 1, following the date of enactment.

New Jersey Agriculture Officials Celebrate First Jersey Fresh Ice Cream New Jersey Department of Agriculture Secretary Douglas H. Fisher recently cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the Red Barn Milk Company in Hunterdon County. The business, started by Hun-Val owners Jared and Treacy Weeks, is selling the first Jersey Fresh ice cream and custard, along with other farm products.

“The Red Barn Milk Company has a great vision for what can be accomplished using Jersey Fresh products,” Secretary Fisher said. “Hun-Val Dairy Farm has produced Jersey Fresh milk for the past two years and it’s great to see them take this next step by opening the Red Barn Milk Company and serving the first Jersey Fresh ice cream as well as other menu items.”

Jared Weeks started milking cows on farms while a teenager and eventually started his own dairy farm after graduating from North Hunterdon High School. He first rented a barn that had 12 milk cows and now has built his total to about 160 cows, including new born calves as the herd is split between Holsteins and Brown Swiss. Weeks has the capacity to milk 50 cows at a time at Hun-Val. The ice cream is not the Weeks’ first venture into Jersey Fresh dairy products. They also introduced Jersey Fresh milk in 2015.

“To have the first ice cream with the Jersey Fresh label on it means a lot to us,” Jared Weeks said. “We are proud of what we have been able to do with our dairy farm and our products. This is a big day for us and we hope the Red Barn Milk Company will become a trusted fixture in our community.”

Along with Jersey Fresh ice cream, which will be available in hard pack and soft serve, the Red Barn Milk Company will also feature a traditional menu that will include meat products such as hamburger and hot dogs from Double Brook Farms in Hopewell, owned by Robin and Jon McConaughy.

The Red Barn Milk Company is located on Route 31 in West Amwell and is open Wednesday-Sunday.

GardenerNews.com

September, 2017 9 Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

Visiting farms in two states

Edgewood Pharmacy

Last month, I had the pleasure of touring two farms, one in the Garden State, and one in upstate New York.

The New Jersey farm is all about Jersey Fresh. The New York farm is all about New York Grown and Certified. Both of these marketing programs whole-heartedly represent their states’ bounty.

Jersey Fresh is an advertising, promotional and quality grading program launched in 1984 to help farmers inform consumers about the availability and variety of fruits and vegetables grown in New Jersey.

Farmers in the Garden State produce more than 100 different kinds of fruits and vegetables for consumers to enjoy either fresh or processed here in New Jersey and elsewhere in the Northeast, in Canada and in many countries around the world. In addition, growers also produced hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of specialty crops that added a unique flavor to the Garden State’s bounty.

New York State Grown & Certified is the first statewide, multi-faceted food certification program designed to strengthen consumer confidence in New York products, address food product labeling, and assist New York farmers so they can take advantage of the growing market demand for foods locally grown and produced to a higher standard.

Buying New York State Grown & Certified products not only helps support local farms, but it also helps you put food on your table that you can feel good about. Knowing your fruit and vegetables were grown right and your dairy products were produced to a higher standard means knowing your family is getting the best.

In the Garden State, I visited Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick, Hunterdon County. Pete Melick, a featured columnist for the Gardener News, is co-owner of the farm along with his brother John and sister Rebecca. Pete is also a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture.

Melick’s Town Farm is the largest apple grower in New Jersey, with over 650 acres of land including 120 acres of fruit trees, 5,000 peach, nectarine and plum trees and 20,000 apple trees.

They also have great sweet corn.

I try to visit with the Melick family as often as possible, since the farm is close to me. Pete always drives me around the farm in his pick-up truck as he inspects his crops. Once in a while, we take out one of the farm’s tractors. The final stop is always at the family’s hard cidery. Lemon Shanty is my favorite. This fall, the family brews up some of the best apple cider in the state. I can’t wait to have some with some of best cider donuts around. I usually top it off with a slice of apple pie. I always ask him for a scoop of vanilla ice cream…I love the Melick family. In the corner of their retail store, Jersey Fresh t-shirts are available for purchase. This farm is as fresh as fresh gets!

I’ve also grown to love New York recently.

In the past three months, I have had the privilege to visit my friend Richard Ball’s farm twice, in Schoharie, Schoharie County, New York. Richard happens to be the New York Commissioner of Agriculture. He and his family own The Carrot Barn at Schoharie Valley Farms on State Route 30.

As I entered the driveway, I was impressed with the cleanliness and attentional to detail on the property before I even got out of my SUV. Commissioner Ball met me at the front door of The Carrot Barn, the retail farm store on his property.

The tour commenced inside a giant, historic, meticulously refurbished barn. Everything inside had its place, just like the outside. The wide variety of produce was displayed in a manner that was so nice, it almost looked fake. It was absolutely beautiful. The texture and color was outstanding. Without even asking, I knew that everything was grown and harvested daily from his 200-plus-acre farm, which by the way, was carved by a glacier back in the day.

In the back of the Carrot Barn was the largest walk-in refrigerator I’ve ever been in on a farm.

There was also the cleanest packing room I’ve ever seen. The wood floors throughout the barn were polished with a glow. I was very impressed with his deli and bakery products. I was even treated to one of the best lunches one could imagine.

My desert was waiting for me in the corn field as we drove through it in his pick-up truck.

Half way in, he stopped and told me to roll down the window. After I did, he said to grab an ear of corn and eat it. What a treat, it didn’t get any fresher than that. We then drove past a solar field on his farm. He told me that his farm electric bills almost didn’t exist because of the solar field.

I thought to myself that living off the grid must really be nice.

The tour ended in his horticulture greenhouse. His potted plants and nursey stock were some of the healthiest I’ve ever seen. In my opinion, Richard’s farm is what New York Grown and Certified is all about.

I can’t wait to see what these farms have to offer during the fall agri-tourism season.

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

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

-Tom

62 B Mountain Blvd. Warren, NJ (Next to Kings Food Markets) 908-754-4400 www.EdgewoodPharmacy.com

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

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10 September, 2017 One of the greatest challenges facing the urban forester is growing trees to maturity…or even half that.

I have touched on this before, and thought it was time for a review, since new issues seem to arise almost yearly.

Growing trees in the urban environment is tough enough, but attempting to “build a forest” with street trees is seemingly impossible. Planting space is very confined, rarely large enough for big shade trees. The presence of underground and overhead utilities dictates species selection, to avoid future conflicts. Vehicular traffic and residential landscapes must be taken into consideration. Then there is the overuse of de-icing salt. Tons of salt is applied with every snowstorm – big or small – and that salt all ends up plowed up with the snow and placed on the very site where we want to or have planted trees. It is a wonder any tree can survive.

Tough as that may be, then there are the residents.

GardenerNews.com Tree Notes

By Steve Schuckman NJ Certified Tree Expert

Trying to grow a forest Let’s face it, some people like trees and some do not.

Even though the planting site is in the municipal rightof-way, in the towns where I work we send out a letter in advance, so residents have the right of refusal.

No sense in getting into a “shovel war” with folks. In the past, I have had residents pull trees out, poison them, burn them, or just cut them down. Of course, no one sees anything.

Trees are also one of the first items reduced or removed from the governing body’s budget.

Why this is, I have no idea, as the amount is typically trivial compared to the remainder of the budget, and if you are taking down a hundred trees a year and only planting 50, well, the

math is simple. You will never be caught up.

Yet, the above factors are controllable to some extent, and we can work around them. What we cannot control is the climate, and pests and disease.

Trees are living things, and since rooted in the ground cannot move to a better site. Too hot, you and I head into the air conditioning. Thirsty, we get a drink. Trees are not so lucky, and the stress of drought and heat are amplified in the built environment. Asphalt and concrete hold heat, and curbside soils dry out quickly. Stressed trees, like you and I, are more prone to pests and disease, and street trees are not likely to

get proper care if infected.

Unusually warm falls and winters are also problematic. Trees need to be fully dormant before freezing weather, and this past winter, we had mild temperatures until midMarch, when several nights in the teens damaged tender young buds already waking up. There is no switch on nature’s thermostat.

If all this were not enough, introduce some serious pests and diseases and BAM! What’s a forester supposed to do? We all recall Dutch Elm Disease and the loss of glorious urban canopies. Now we are dealing with Bacterial Leaf Scorch of oak, especially in south and central Jersey.

Emerald Ash Borer is spreading like wildfire in

our state. This pest is likely more widespread than so far reported, and there is little we can do. In Montclair, where I found it last summer, we have already removed almost 100 trees and are just getting started.

Who knows what’s next.

Despite these challenges, we press on. We have to start to think differently, and develop new strategies if we are going to have an urban forest. Tree species selection will be one of the driving forces, and next time I will discuss this and review some species that are working now and may in the future.

Until then…plant a tree!

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

He can be reached at smschuckman@verizon.net

GardenerNews.com “What are young women made of? Sugar and spice and all things nice, And such are young women made of.”

The first time I heard the name of the plant Calycanthus floridus “Burgundy Spice,” I was immediately reminded of the words of English poet and historian Robert Southey (1774-1843).

Carolina Allspice, common Sweetshrub or Strawberryshrub, all common names for Calycanthus floridus, has long been one of those plants that has never been thrust to superstardom, and it should be.

Spicebush and Sweet Bubby, other common names Calycanthus goes by, is a gorgeous native plant affording many positive attributes. Introduced in 1726 and easily found from Virginia to Florida, the listed cultivars in Michael Dirr’s biblical masterpiece “Manual of Woody Landscape Plants” currently lists nine cultivars.

However, “Burgundy Spice” will no doubt soon be listed among the likes of other stellar performers, Calycanthus x raulstonii “Hartlage Wine” and my “used to be-favorite,” “Michael Lindsey.”

A deciduous beauty, Spicebush grows six to 10 feet tall and equally as wide. The stems of common Sweetshrub are aromatic when bruised and it is “hardy” to zone 4. A dense, woody, somewhat rounded form may appear unkempt in its natural surroundings.

However, great breeding has afforded us more consistent candidates.

Typical dark-green foliage in the summer, with yellow tones in the fall, may not be enough to warrant one in your collection, however

September, 2017 11 Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

Exciting New Plant Introduction from Jersey ‘Burgundy Spice’ Has Everything Nice dark, reddish-brown, almost maroon flowers with a fruity fragrance, may be just enough to bring you to the “dark side,” where plant enthusiasts play.

Two-inch-wide flowers appear in May and June and flower on the current season’s growth and wood of the previous season. Complete with urn-shaped, leathery fruit in September and October, this is a plant I.D. characteristic in the winter months as well. Perhaps one of the most “trouble-free” plants you will ever come across, Sweet Bubby can be a welcome shrub border with virtually no serious pest or disease problems.

Sometimes reluctant to disclose my plant sources, Pleasant Run Nursery in Allentown, N.J., has long been a source for us, and I am proud to say they are all close friends as well. A nursery whose passion is focused on growing “the hard-to-find” and “cutting edge woody plants,” they can also grow the pedestrian lines as well as anyone.

Calycanthus floridus “Burgundy Spice” has been years in the making and is a direct result of the determination and prowess of Richard Hesselein and Daryl Kobesky. Richard, co-owner with his wife, Heidi, and Daryl, the

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Bob LaHoff hugging Calycanthus floridus “Burgundy Spice.”

production manager for their facility, are all horticultural giants in the industry.

My belief is that two prerequisites required to work for Pleasant Run Nursery are that their employees must be affable and possess a brilliant horticultural mind. During our hour-long talk for this article, Richard Hesselein was proud to point out that his nursery is recognized as a New Jersey Sustainable Business, the first nursery enterprise to be recognized as such. Notable thresholds include waste reduction, waste reuse, energy efficiency and renewable energy, to name a few.

“Burgundy Spice” is 15 years of hard work, pollination and collecting and selecting seed carefully over those years. Others have come before this effort, but none with “leaves that are a solid purple on top and a chalky purple underside,” Richard says. Additionally, smaller leaves and weaker attributes have been selectively removed to get to where “Burgundy Spice” is today.

It is these color markings that have me and others in the industry so excited.

Quite simply, burgundy markings translate to dollars spent at the register in retail sales. Couple this with an outstanding flower and you can begin to understand the impact this cultivar should have on our industry.

Star Roses and Plants has partnered with Pleasant Run Nursery to introduce this plant to the trade.

The flower color has been described as simply “RED.” However, the day I saw the flower it was more picotee, with its color combination reminding me of Coreopsis x “Cosmic Eye” (Big Bang Tickseed). That is to say, my eyes saw a more orangeyellow on the tips with a red interior.

Hesselein was also quick to note that his Calycanthus would appreciate more sun to ensure the bright purple leaf markings. Typically, Carolina Allspice tolerates shade and is deer-resistant, too. My fellow colleague, friend and native plant extraordinaire, Eileen Ferrer, vouches for both of these attributes. The fall color is also remarkable, touted as having vibrant shades of yellow and amber dancing through its leaves. And “the hardiness has been tested successfully into Vermont, zone 4 or 5,” Richard says.

As with any any sensory perception, opinions vary.

When I asked Richard what smell he gets from his soon-to-be-famed plant, he described tropical fruit, both mango and papaya.

Immediately stating that the scent of most flowers is stronger in the early morning and late afternoon, typically.

“Our individual chemistry of flavor and smell interpret these differently,” Richard says. Referencing Pawpaw, Asimina triloba, and the taste of its fruit, Hesselein also said, “some taste banana with a custard consistency; others don’t.”

“Burgundy Spice” is being offered in a #3 container size and rice hulls are used as “a container topdress to prevent airborne weed seeds from reaching the growing mix” (riceland.com).

Another part of Pleasant Run Nursery’s commitment to environmental stewardship, they are effectively reducing their amounts of herbicides and pesticides. With a dozen beehives on their property, Pleasant Run’s team is always cognizant of their natural surroundings and the impact chemicals can have.

Rice hulls are being used around their Hellebores and Epimediums because of their sensitivity to chemicals and around Hosta and Nepeta, as

their foliage has an ability to cover the tops of pots quickly. Rice hulls are a way to reduce drought stress and watering, control moss species such as liverwort and reduce hand-weeding, all while delivering an economical, Earth-friendly weed management.

“Burgundy Spice” was aptly named by Richard’s wife Heidi. Combining the purple/burgundy foliage with the sweet/spicy fragrance often associated with Spicebush, Heidi’s name is “spot on.” For those of you who don’t know, Heidi descends from horticultural royalty, the Flemer family and Princeton Nurseries. Mavericks in the industry, the Flemer family patented many improved shade tree selections, most notably the Princeton Elm, and numerous labor saving machines for the “green industry.”

The success rate for propagating “Burgundy Spice” is nearly perfect at Pleasant Run. Furthermore, Hesselein states that Calycanthus in general are “tough as nails once they are rooted.”

I interjected and said, “I have often thought that if you kill Calycanthus, perhaps you should consider another hobby,” a comment that made Richard laugh.

Clearly, being a fourthgeneration nurseryman with a degree in botany from Humboldt State University has given him the tools to selectively give us a great new plant. Together with Daryl Kobesky’s efforts, they are bringing the world an exciting new plant that should put Calycanthus where it belongs, a problem solver for almost any landscape.

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.

12 September, 2017

GardenerNews.com

FLORIST 700 Springfield Avenue Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 Phone: (908) 665-0331 Fax: (908) 665-9804 email: hallsgarden@earthlink.net www.hallsgarden.com

GardenerNews.com We hear time and again at the NJLCA how fall is the best time for planting. It’s not a new concept, but one that bears repeating each year.

Because of the cooler temperatures, fall plantings are given the opportunity to establish throughout the winter, while energy is transferred to the roots. This way, come spring, your plant material has a strong root system and is ready to handle new growth.

In addition, planting in the autumn is an excellent way to spruce up a property with fall color, be it a commercial site or residential yard.

When planting, always remember to dig the hole two to three times wider than the root ball to allow room for the roots to grow out and away from your plant material. However, do not plant the material too deep, as water may have a tough time reaching the roots.

With trees and shrubs, you want to keep the top of the root ball about an inch or two above grade, then cover it with mulch.

Adding well-composted organic matter (such as backyard compost, sphagnum peat moss, or commercial “humus”) to the hole before

September, 2017 13 The NJLCA Today

By Gail Woolcott Director of Operations

Fall is for Planting (and Growing) filling it with soil again will help the plant retain nutrients and water. Most importantly, do not forget to remove at least the top third of the burlap on the root ball before planting larger plant material, or score the roots on smaller plants. Finally, do not over-mulch. Most plantings are happy with one to two inches of mulch, three inches at the most, depending on how well the drainage is.

So, let’s get to the fun part. There are some gorgeous and hardy plants available that are recent additions to the industry (or hybrids of some old favorites). Colorful, some deer-resistant, and versatile, these ornamental plants will look beautiful on any property this fall and please throughout the year.

Monrovia recently introduced their Golden

Jackpot Weigela (Weigela florida “MonRigney”). This deciduous shrub has bright, golden leaves throughout the year, and has deep red buds, which bloom fuchsia flowers in mid-spring. The shrub can grow four to six feet and is great for foundation plantings.

From Proven Winners, see their Primo “Black Pearl” (Heuchera “Primo Black Pearl”). This black-leaved (purple undersides), mounding perennial is great for border plantings. It is deer-resistant and has white and pink blooms mid-summer. It does, however, require good drainage, but does well in both sun and shade.

Also from PW is the Oso Easy Urban Legend (Rosa x “Chew Patout”). You’ll be blown away by the intense red and yellow blooms in the midsummer through the late-fall.

It is disease-resistant and great for mass plantings or borders.

If you’re looking for a unique plant that has texture and interesting blooms, consider the Spiny Bear’sbreeches (Acanthus spinosus).

It has deep green, spiky foliage and alien-like mauve blooms throughout the summer. It works great as an accent plant or in borders. This perennial is deer- and drought-resistant.

Finally, if you’re seeking an ornamental grass, try “Ginger Love” Dwarf Fountain Grass (Pennisetum alopecuroides “Ginger Love”). This grass grows only two to three feet and has a reddish hue to its blooms in the late-summer, then a coppery color in the fall.

It provides excellent texture, color and contrast to borders and foundations and is also deer/drought-resistant.

There are dozens of other great ornamentals and shrubs that can provide seasonal interest throughout the year. Don’t be afraid to try new plant material in your landscapes.

Just like plant material, NJLCA also provides excellent opportunities to grow in the fall. Upcoming is our annual Golf Challenge with the Irrigation Association of New Jersey in September, where you have the opportunity to have fun while networking with some of the industry’s best, and our Landscape Industry Certified Technician exam in October, where you can prove your skills in softscape and hardscape installation or turf and ornamental maintenance.

In addition, we offer year-round meetings with the greatest educators available.

Join this fall and let us help you continue “Growing Every Day.” Editor’s Note: Gail Woolcott is Director of Operations for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association.

She can be reached at (201) 703-3600 or by emailing gwoolcott@NJLCA.org

Hymenoptera: Fall Increases In Population – Males Demise In Nature!

By William A. Kolbe B.C.E. Friday, September 22, is the first day of fall for 2017. Boy, did this summer go quickly?!

Wait, what summer? We really didn’t have many people in New Jersey complaining about the unrelenting heat this year. It seemed like rain and cooler-than-usual temperatures dominated our so-called summer.

What effect these temperature ranges will have on populations of the hymenoptera (sawflies, bees, wasps, ants and yellowjackets) remain to be seen. It’s that time of year when wasps and yellowjackets seem to increase in numbers, especially in the early-fall months of September and October. They will besiege our homes and gardens.

The reason for the increase in numbers is because the colony begins to produce males for mating purposes. The males of this species are produced to mate with females and then the males die. Females overwinter

as fertilized females. Many of you will experience them this fall when you attend outdoor sporting events such as soccer and other fall sports. The good news is that while irritating, they are welcome visitors in the garden.

Late in the season, workers build large reproductive cells in which males and queens are produced. When new queens and males emerge, they leave the nest and mate. Males die after mating, and fertilized queens enter a period of reproductive diapause, and in cold climates they overwinter.

They hibernate in protected locations, such as under loose bark of trees, under boards and debris around buildings, and in other peri-domestic locations. Nest construction materials include plant fibers from decayed or weathered wood, the cortex of dead plants, and domestic debris, such as newspaper, cardboard, and paper bags.

Paper wasps. These are those wasps that build those exposed paper nests under eaves, behind shutters and

around our homes. We don’t encounter them all that often in gardens. In early-fall, worker paper wasps begin to die off, which is what most people assume happens to wasps in the winter.

Males are produced and mate with certain females – those who are destined to become the future queens of a new colony. These queens seek a protected place to overwinter.

In advance of the first hard frost, their internal clock tells them it’s time to investigate various harborage sites, which might be under logs, in between deck floor joists, inside chimneys, behind siding or around the tops of window and door frames.

Female paper wasps are also notorious for ending up inside homes. They enter through small crevices near the roofline when searching for potential overwintering spots.

Once inside, paper wasps often hide in wall voids or inside warm attics. There, they enter a state of diapause, suspending their development throughout the coldest months. This means

that homeowners most likely won’t see them until spring – unless there’s an unusual period of warmer weather, during which time the wasps become active again and look for an escape route leading back outside to start a new nest. At that point, the wasps may make their way into the main living areas of the home, where they are seen by the people who are living inside.

Hornets, especially the common baldfaced hornet, will produce males in the fall.

Once the males breed, they too die. The fertilized queens will overwinter in protected places such as in hollow trees, rock piles, under bark and in the walls and attics of buildings.

A larger species, the European hornet, exhibits the same biology.

Each fall, the hornet colony produces males and females that mate, and the females become next year’s queens.

Only the overwintering queens survive in protected sites such as under loose bark, in tree cavities, and in wall voids of buildings. All other colony

members produced in the current year will perish. Most male hymenoptera (except bees) are produce to just “mate and die.”

Keep in mind that most hymenoptera are considered pollinators and are protected under the EPA Pollinator Protection act. So before you grab that wasp and hornet spray, ask yourself: Do I really need to kill these beneficial predators?

Find out more at: https:// w w w. e p a . g o v / p o l l i n a t o rprotection Editor’s Note: William A. Kolbe, BCE is Director of Technical and Training for Viking® Pest Control based out of Warren, NJ . He is a Board Certified Entomologist and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Entomology with a minor in Ecology from the University of Delaware. Bill is a member of The Denville NJ Community Gardens.

His career in Professional Pest Control started in June 1974. He can be reached at 732-356-3100 or visit www.vikingpest.com

14 September, 2017

GardenerNews.com

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September, 2017 15

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16 September, 2017 Remember when you were young and the summer seemed to last so long?

Now, many of you may be thinking, “back to school,” but you cannot forget to address your lawn this month, especially if you ignored it all summer long.

America, your lawn is part of your outdoor living space.

This fine carpet needs to be taken care of. If your lawn is not a fine carpet… read on.

As usual, the spring weather patterns were very sporadic, being cold and then wet for many weeks.

Maybe you missed some opportunities to fertilize, sow grass seed, or apply weed controls. Perhaps you took the summer off to enjoy the beach or a vacation.

While June provided some pretty nice weather, July and August where very hot and dry; tough months on your lawn.

Did you have some construction going on, a new pool, trees removed, some drainage areas repaired, or an irrigation system installed? Grab your second chance to make your lawn fabulous this fall.

GardenerNews.com Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Time to seed and feed your lawn Fall is absolutely the best time of the year to apply grass seed to your lawn. The weather patterns improve in favor of grass growth. Cooler days and nights and rainfall patterns tend to be more consistent.

What about soil temperatures? Remember when spring seeding sometime takes forever to germinate? That’s because the soil is too cold, but by early-fall, the soil temperatures are great, like swimming in the ocean. I’d rather swim in September, not April, because the water is warmer. Warm soils allow for better germination and newly planted grass seed can flourish for months if seeded in early fall.

Why wait until October to apply grass seed? If you

are seeding, please buy quality grass seed; forget the cheap sale-price offers. Use a “new-seeding” type fertilizer after proper soil preparation for best results. Your lawn can thicken and develop with newly planted grass seed late into the fall, based on how soon temperatures drop. The first frost in October does not mean you cannot have success seeding, but going back to my prior suggestion, if seeding, apply your grass seed in September.

Lawns can sometimes grow vigorously up until Christmas if fertilized twice in the fall before they shut down for their long, winter nap.

If you are not applying grass seed to your lawn this fall, your lawn will still benefit greatly with some

lawn fertilizer. Have you ever fertilized your lawn twice during fall months? Apply in September a regular feeding formula and again around Halloween with a “fall” fertilizer formula.

These two feedings will thicken your lawn and help roots to develop to survive the harsh winter.

Broadleaf weeds can also be controlled effectively in early-fall. Weeds are still actively growing in the fall and the lawn is not under so much heat and drought stress like in the summer months.

Even though the dreaded dandelion flowers are not so prevalent, the familiar dandelion spiked leaves are often visible and weed controls can be used on them.

Remember to follow label directions for best

weed control. Do not mow for two days before or after application, apply product to a damp lawn and do not water or expect rainfall for two days after application.

If you are planning on applying any grass seed this fall, you should sow the seed first, let it get mowed for two to three times, and then apply weed controls. If you apply weed controls in earlyfall, you can apply grass seed three to four weeks after your controls.

If rainfall is less than expected, the lawn likes to have about one inch of water per week. Do not hesitate to irrigate if necessary, but do not overwater your lawn.

A deeply rooted, healthy growing lawn can better survive winter weather and hold up better if we experience a hot, dry summer next year. Now is the time to grow a great lawn.

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

What are Balmony and Checkerspots?

By Hubert Ling Balmony is the name of a native New Jersey plant used first by North American natives and later by the Shakers. The more common name for this plant is white turtlehead or bitterweed, and the scientific name is Chelone glabra.

“Chelone” means tortoise in Greek and refers to the turtlehead shape of the flowers. The species name “glabra” means without hairs.

The plant contains gallic acid and was used to expel worms, and an ointment was used for superficial sores.

It is generally avoided by deer and its use in modern medicine has been replaced by safer and more effective drugs.

This plant produces clusters of tubular, white, two-lipped, one-inch flowers in September through October. The flowers may have a tinge of purple and resemble snapdragons.

Turtleheads were considered to be related to snapdragons because of the shape of the flowers, but recent DNA work has placed this plant and many others in the plantain family.

The plant grows naturally in full sun or semi-shade, in damp or wet areas, often along streams, and is listed as an obligate wetland’s plant.

Turtleheads grow two to three feet high, and if happy spread slowly by rhizomes.

They will grow vigorously in slightly acidic soil and will do well in most gardens if given extra water during dry periods.

Propagation is by seed or root divisions. The seeds require light for germination, so don’t cover them with too much soil. It is probably best to sow them in fall so that they get the normal cold period before germinating in spring. Propagation by cuttings is also possible.

Turtleheads are native to Eastern North America, from Canada to Georgia, and west to Arkansas. They are

widespread in New Jersey and found in almost all the counties. They are generally considered easy to grow and basically trouble-free.

Turtleheads are an important part of the ecosystem and are visited by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The plants are a required host for the beautiful Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, which is declining in much of its range and is endangered in Maryland.

Apparently in Maryland, the deer have become accustomed to the bitter taste of turtlehead and have decimated most populations of the plant. Deer browsing, in addition to draining swamps to provide land for housing developments, has endangered this rare butterfly.

In New Jersey, the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly is found only in four northern counties of the state and is in danger of state extinction (extirpation).

Currently, however, no special state designation or protection has been given.

Maryland and other states are involved in large projects to plant substantial tracts of white turtlehead to support the Baltimore Checkerspot larvae. Past projects have met with mixed results and increases in butterfly populations have not been sustained.

However, researchers say that population restoration of this butterfly is complex and that they are learning a lot as they proceed with the project, and temporary setbacks are to be expected. I have never seen a Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly, and it would be a tragedy if they die off in New Jersey before most of us ever get a chance to see one.

This spring, we were introduced to prickly ash in northern New Jersey, which is host to the giant swallowtail, another rare New Jersey animal and one of North America’s largest butterflies. Right on cue, we found a newly emerged giant swallowtail butterfly.

It’s exciting to experience the

variety of organisms in New Jersey and to realize that robust populations of native plants make it all possible.

For anyone who likes a challenge, saving Checkerspots would be an interesting project. To actually provide the proper habitat for the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly reproduction, you may need a population of 50 or more turtlehead plants, since the larvae form communal nests and consume a lot of foliage.

Plant white turtlehead beside ponds, in moist lowlying areas in your yard, or just give it extra waterings during dry spells. Turtleheads grow well with giant blue lobelia, cardinal flower, cinnamon fern, blue flag iris, and you might try yellow star grass as companions to produce a beautiful ecological preserve.

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

GardenerNews.com

September, 2017 17

18 September, 2017 We grow quite a few different crops on our farm, and they all have varying degrees of popularity.

Certain crops, like strawberries in the late-spring, peaches and tomatoes in the summer, and apples and pumpkins in the fall, really dominate sales and tend to be displayed front and center in farm stands and supermarkets all across New Jersey.

But, as everyone knows, there are many other items that are grown in abundance that are not quite as popular, but still have a significant following. Examples of these types of items might be lettuce in the spring, peppers in the summer, and perhaps butternut squash in the fall.

A typical reaction to these would not be, “Hey, great, its pepper season!” as it might be with peaches or tomatoes, but rather a reaction more along the lines of, “Some of those bell peppers might be a nice complement to our tomato salad.”

Then there are scores of other produce items that are much more complementary in nature. These would be your lemons and limes, fresh herbs

GardenerNews.com The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder such as parsley and basil, or even some more obscure items such as leeks and beets. But there is another fun category of produce out there that is kind of off by its own as far as demand goes. And for the lack of a better term, I will call this the “Love it or Hate it” category.

I am sure that by now, everyone can think of an example of a fruit or vegetable that they would put into this classification. It might be something that your mother or father loved to eat, yet you could not stand the sight of it. Or perhaps it might be an item that you really enjoyed as a child, but now it is hard to find, and even harder to find someone to enjoy it with!

Maybe it was a regional delicacy where you grew up and is just not found here

in this area. If you are from the South, okra and black eyed peas might have been staples there, but only show up sporadically here in the Northeast.

Brussels sprouts have to be considered the liver of the produce section. If 20 customers came into our farm market and passed by a display of Brussels sprouts, 19 would keep right on going, but the 20th would be overjoyed by their appearance. They are just one of those items which could be the cause of either a very positive or very negative response from people. This probably has to do with their strong taste and rather pungent aroma.

But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and these qualities that many people might dislike may be the exact

reason that some other people are drawn to them.

During the early-summer months of June and July, we seem to get quite a few requests for sour cherries.

Sour cherries, or tart cherries, as they are sometimes called, are primarily used in cooking or baking. Sweet cherries on the other hand, are much more commonplace in farm stands and supermarkets, as they are generally eaten fresh.

Sour cherries however, are so sour that they really cannot be eaten without cooking them first and adding a good amount of sugar to them. Because sour cherries are much smaller than their sweet cousins, due to labor constraints, they are normally harvested mechanically by shaking the trees, and then collecting the cherries and

then immediately diverting them into processing of some sort. While they are somewhat commonplace in pie filling and other cherry products, they are not often available to purchase in their fresh and unprocessed form.

So who cares if you can’t buy sour cherries? There is no shortage of canned cherry pie filling, so why would anyone want to be bothered with pitting their own cherries? Let me just say that in my opinion, there is nothing quite as good as a homemade cherry pie made with fresh-picked sour cherries.

Now, all I need is some vanilla ice cream!

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

Executing a Landscape Project

By Brian Bosenberg After deciding to take on a landscape project, many struggle with the question of where to begin.

There are many paths you can take to achieve similar results, and depending on the scope of the project, there are different professionals in the landscape industry that can help.

Landscape architects, design build companies, landscape contractors and landscape designers all provide different services and advantages.

The first step is to decide on the scope and size of a project, the budget and your personal preferences. This will help you make an informed decision on the landscape professional you choose to hire.

Landscape architects can provide their services in different ways. Some provide only professional design services, i.e. preparing plans, specifications and the observation of ongoing site work. Their area of expertise is site design, soils, vegetation

analysis, reviewing zoning regulations and conducting site analysis.

Landscape architects prepare detailed site plans, drainage plans, planting plans, lighting plans, construction details and written specifications. They develop construction bid packages, allowing property owners to obtain competitive cost estimates.

Design/build landscape architects also provide similar professional services; but additionally execute the site work as the landscape contractor to complete their plans and specifications. Typically, the plans may require less detail and are not competitively bid to other contractors, as their work is executed with their own construction crews.

Both models have unique advantages. Selecting how you work with a landscape architect depends on the size and complexity of a project.

Some clients feel they want the landscape architect to be independent and separate from the construction process and represent their own interests.

Others prefer the one-stop-

shopping aspect of a professional that offers the total package from design to installation. With good communication, both scenarios can result in a successful project.

If your project is small and straightforward, you could hire a landscape contractor. These professionals can easily plant trees and shrubs, install a patio and even maintain your garden.

If your project is slightly more complex, a landscape designer might be a good choice.

These individuals have significant horticultural experience, professional certifications and training in the principles of landscape design.

They can help you avoid costly mistakes like planting the wrong plants in the wrong places.

According to the Association of Professional Landscape Designers, these professionals are skilled practitioners of fundamental design concepts — proportion, unity, balance, perspective, color and texture — that can bring about a fully integrated design.

For more complex projects, or projects that involve other professionals (architect, engineer,

planner) using a landscape architect is a favorable choice. In New Jersey, landscape architects are licensed by the New Jersey State Board of Architects. They have advanced education, are required to serve an internship under a licensed landscape architect, and pass a series of national exams. Only those with a license may call themselves landscape architects.

As landscape architects, our most successful projects are ones that bring the landscape contractor into the design process early so they can be part of the design development, provide preliminary cost data and material samples, and offer suggestions for cost-effective construction methods.

An experienced landscape contractor brings a unique perspective to the project. They have the hands-on construction experience from executing projects every day, allowing them to look at a preliminary design sketch and contribute more than just a cost estimate.

A landscape project can be quite challenging. The property owner is faced with a

multitude of design questions and is confronted with a host of municipal regulations.

For example, will the proposed design exceed the allowable lot coverage, disturb steep slopes or require a permit to remove exiting vegetation?

Are there wetlands or wetland buffers, areas of poor drainage or deep shade with intense deer pressure? Will a variance be required to add a new swimming pool, pool house or deer fence?

This is where a competent landscape professional can help guide through the regulatory maze and help you plan a beautiful garden or a complete new landscape with success.

Editor’s Note: Brian W. Bosenberg is a practicing landscape architect licensed in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maine and Vermont, and a principal in the firm of Bosenberg & Company Landscape Architects, Far Hills, N.J. He can be reached at 908-234-0557, info@bwbosenberg.com or www.bwbosenberg.com

GardenerNews.com What pleasure my garden’s newest addition has given this summer. Rose “Souvenir de la Malmaison’s” bourbon form, its pale pink blooms, and fine scent all prove its merit, but the attribute that earns it a permanent place in my garden is its history.

Bred in France in 1843, 30 years after Empress Josephine Bonapartes’s death, “Souvenir de la Malmaison” was named in her honor by a Russian Grand Duke planting one of the first specimens in the Imperial Garden in St. Petersburg.

Divorced by her husband, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, because she could not bear him an heir, this powerful style-maker and lifelong fashionista focused her energies on her newly acquired estate, Malmaison, a half-day’s carriage ride from Paris. There, she could relax with family, enjoy music and conversation, enrich her collection of art treasures, enlarge her zoo (which contained zebra, black swans, flying squirrels and a female orangutan that could eat with a knife and fork and curtsey) and plan Malmaison’s gardens.

The events that brought her there included slavery, a fortune teller, revolution, and a close call with the guillotine. History conspired in an unimaginable tale whose end crowned Josephine not only “Empress,” but Queen and Patroness of Roses.

No, not dollars and cents, but the sense of touch, taste, sight, sound and smell.

How does that relate to the garden? A walk through our gardens will reveal that all plants entice our senses in many unique ways. The sensory garden, as such, is planted to enhance and encourage its visitors to participate in expanding our senses.

Stimulating our sense of hearing includes installing plants that make noise when the wind passes through them. Whether it is Nandina Bamboo, which will need some maintenance, Eucalyptus, which spins in the wind, or plants with seed pods, which catch the wind, these all can create interesting sounds.

Water features such as fountains, which now come in many shapes and sizes, give us the sound of moving water.

Wind chimes and spinners all add to the sounds in the garden.

Visually, the design ideas are limitless. Plants with varying color palettes, interesting blooms, as well as differences in bark, when planted to complement each

September, 2017 19 The Garden Historian

By Lesley Parness Garden Educator

Josephine: The Empress Gardened Marie Josèphe Rose Tascher de La Pagerie was born in 1763 on the island of Martinique, then a French colony, into a family of sugar plantation owners. Being reared in a luxuriant tropical environment surely informed her garden aesthetic, and Josephine had a passion for flowers. She spared neither expense nor labor to procure plants for Malmaison, whose collection began with seeds sent by her West Indian family and culminated with plants of every zone, and the world’s greatest collection of roses - over 250 kinds.

Powerful people currying favor with the Emperor and knowing Josephine’s taste for botany, sent her the choicest, newest plants. Her desire for “Slater’s Crimson China,” a remondant, or re-blooming rose, growing at Kew Gardens required that England end a naval blockade. Josephine’s instincts as a collector were peerless, and

she was not a placid collector.

The Empress bankrolled many plant expeditions, encouraged botanical literature, and hosted the first rose exhibition in 1810.

Nor did her lack of a formal education curtail her interests.

Cleverly taking into her service distinguished figures in the world of botany, Josephine studied and corresponded with such horticultural luminaries as: the great naturalist, Aimee Bonpland; the President of the RHS, Sir Joseph Banks; and distinguished botanists Mirbel, Ventenat, and Delahaye. She quickly proved herself to be a zealous and tractable pupil, learning plant names, origins and virtues.

Josephine elevated the rose’s stature by having her flowers immortalized. She commissioned Pierre-Joseph Redouté, former court painter of Marie Antoinette, to paint a series of flower portraits.

These were published after her death, in “Les Roses,” which was

dedicated to her memory. The three-volume collection of 170 stipple-engraved colored plates is universally acknowledged as one of the most beautiful and important rose books ever produced, and many of the roses in it are still grown today.

Hybridization of roses through controlled pollination began with Josephine’s horticulturalist, Andre Dupont.

Previously, new cultivars were spontaneous mutations or beeinduced hybrids. With controlled pollination, the appearance of new cultivars grew exponentially.

Dupont created 25 while in her employ. French hybridizers created over 1,000 new rose cultivars in the 30 years following Josephine’s death and by 1900, more than 4,000 new hybrid roses were introduced.

Empress Josephine’s quest to amass the largest and most diverse collection of roses evolved into the cultivation of the modern

The Landscaper

By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional

It Makes Sense To Me other keep us constantly looking at the garden.

Keeping in mind the seasonal changes that occur in plants will enhance the garden sights.

How often have you walked through a garden and been enticed by what that wonderful fragrance is? It may have been the roses, jasmine, violets, lilies, lavender, or the gardenia, honeysuckle and herbs all are possibilities. The sense of smell may be the strongest sense for evoking memories. Even geraniums have a unique effect on the sense of smell, and this applies to numerous others as well.

Plants which are enjoyable to touch can be lambs ear, geranium, Pampas grass or even garden cactus. Of course, you cannot forget the Touch Me Not plant, which closes

its leaves to the touch. Many of these plants emit their fragrances when touched, which shows the cooperation of the senses. Put these plants where they can be easily accessed along garden paths or at the front of the border, but of course keep the thorns further back and all will be happy.

Now that we have seen, heard, touched and smelled our gardens, it is time to taste as well. Adding veggies and spices in the garden can be fun to entice you to nibble in the garden. Planting berries can be an enjoyable addition.

Personally, I love picking raspberries while playing golf.

So why not add a plant or two to the garden. A little investigation is necessary to be sure we are not eating poisonous plants, but there are

many which are acceptable.

Another aspect which can be beneficial to the sensory garden are plants which deter animals and insects.

Marigolds, zinnia, delphinium and Iris tend to deter insects and some animals. Citronella plant is a great deterrent, as well as a nice texture and look. Planting susceptible plants behind or within other plants can camouflage them as well.

Keeping more resistant plants at about a two- or threeto-one ratio will help. Using viburnum, many conifers, some holly and junipers within susceptible shrubs will deter damage. Lambs ear, catmint, beebalm, thyme, astilbe, artemsia, bleeding hearts and foxglove are good choices to camouflage our perennials.

Tricking the animals can be

rose. Her patronage gave roses an imperial allure and heightened their popularity in gardens and as an inspiration for decor and clothing. Economically, the rose became the most important flower in France and the continued popularity of roses is her legacy.

Josephine died in 1814 at Malmaison after walking with Russian Czar Alexander in her rose garden. This evening, sipping a Vouvray in my garden, I toast her and my roses.

Author’s Note: This article is extracted from a one-hour long illustrated presentation entitled “Josephine: The Empress Gardened.”

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

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

a challenge, but when done in mass it is usually successful.

Changing their paths to destruction by rerouting them often makes them seek other areas, since most are creatures of habit and don’t like change.

When you consider that your garden is really a sensory garden, the synergy between plants enhances the enjoyment of all of the senses, as well as providing therapeutic support.

Having a viable sensory garden becomes a form of mental health support, both for the gardener as well as the guests who visit.

Those who suffer from sensory processing issues can benefit from these gardens, as they can help them manage their sensory stimulation.

These gardens are a perfect example of how horticulture can influence our physical and mental health.

Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield. He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490

20 September, 2017

GardenerNews.com

OSHA’s Final Rule to Protect Workers from Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica Rule requires engineering controls to keep workers from breathing silica dust

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued a final rule to curb lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and kidney disease in America’s workers by limiting their exposure to respirable crystalline silica. The rule is comprised of two standards, one for Construction and one for General Industry and Maritime.

OSHA estimates that the rule will save over 600 lives and prevent more than 900 new cases of silicosis each year, once its effects are fully realized.

The Final Rule is projected to provide net benefits of about $7.7 billion, annually.

About 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and 300,000 workers in general industry operations such as brick manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. Responsible employers have been protecting workers from harmful exposure to respirable crystalline silica for years, using widely-available equipment that controls dust with water or a vacuum system.

Key Provisions ‡ 5HGXFHV WKH SHUPLVVLEOH H[SRVXUH OLPLW 3(/ IRU UHVSLUDEOH FU\VWDOOLQH VLOLFD WR PLFURJUDPV SHU FXELF PHWHU RI DLU DYHUDJHG RYHU DQ KRXU VKLIW ‡ 5HTXLUHV HPSOR\HUV WR XVH HQJLQHHULQJ FRQWUROV VXFK DV ZDWHU RU YHQWLODWLRQ WR OLPLW ZRUNHU H[SRVXUH WR WKH 3(/ SURYLGH UHVSLUDWRUV ZKHQ engineering controls cannot adequately limit exposure; limit worker access to high exposure areas; develop a written exposure control plan, offer medical exams to highly exposed workers, and train workers on silica risks and how to limit exposures. ‡ 3URYLGHV PHGLFDO H[DPV WR PRQLWRU KLJKO\ H[SRVHG ZRUNHUV DQG JLYHV WKHP LQIRUPDWLRQ DERXW WKHLU OXQJ KHDOWK ‡ 3URYLGHV IOH[LELOLW\ WR KHOS HPSOR\HUV ² HVSHFLDOO\ VPDOO EXVLQHVVHV ² SURWHFW ZRUNHUV IURP VLOLFD H[SRVXUH Compliance Schedule Both standards contained in the final rule take effect on June 23, 2016., after which industries have one to five years to comply with most requirements, based on the following schedule: Construction - September 23, 2017. OSHA delayed enforcement in order to conduct additional outreach and provide educational materials and guidance for employer. See the memorandum.

General Industry and Maritime - June 23, 2018, two years after the effective date.

Hydraulic Fracturing - June 23, 2018, two years after the effective date for all provisions except Engineering Controls, which have a compliance date of June 23, 2021.

Background The U.S. Department of Labor first highlighted the hazards of respirable crystalline silica in the 1930s, after a wave of worker deaths. The department set standards to limit worker exposure in 1971, when OSHA was created. However, the standards are outdated and do not adequately protect workers from silica-related diseases. Furthermore, workers are being exposed to silica in new industries such as stone or artificial stone countertop fabrication and hydraulic fracturing.

A full review of scientific evidence, industry consensus standards, and extensive stakeholder input provide the basis for the final rule, which was proposed in September 2013. The rule-making process allowed OSHA to solicit input in various forms for nearly a full year. The agency held 14 days of public hearings, during which more than 200 stakeholders presented testimony, and accepted over 2,000 comments, amounting to about 34,000 pages of material. In response to this extensive public engagement, OSHA made substantial changes, including enhanced employer flexibility in choosing how to reduce levels of respirable crystalline silica, while maintaining or improving worker protection.

“Good-Guy� Fungus to Take on Killer of Oaks and Ornamental Crops

Tim Widmer, USDA/Photo

Microscopic image of the Trichoderma asperellum fungus attacking a Phytophthora ramorum spore.

(Continued from page 1) nursery stock blight freeand compliant with federal and state quarantine regulations meant to prevent the pathogen’s spread.

Now, in collaboration with BioWorks, Inc., of Victor, New York, Widmer is evaluating ways to commercially formulate the T. asperellum fungus as a biobased alternative to such soil treatments, which can be costly (upwards of $3,900 an acre for some fungicides), dangerous to use, and harmful to beneficial soil organisms.

The effort includes trials funded by the U.S. Farm Bill. “This fungus, T. asperellum, is a mycoparasite, meaning it will actually attack and kill P. ramorum. It does this by penetrating different spore forms that (Cont. on pg 23)

Tim Widmer, USDA/Photo

Microscopic image of a Phytophthora ramorum spore.

GardenerNews.com

September, 2017 21

Summertime Daydreams

By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey Another summer is coming to an end, but bits and pieces will remain in our memories as we continue the forward march into fall and winter, and the cycle of life continues.

This summer had its share of memorable moments, some real and some in daydreams of what was and could be again. The most persistent daydream I have is “of being swept into a sunkissed meadow lit by butterflies dining on the nectar of wildflowers.”

If only that was a reality, still as it was when I actually was in that meadow and was utterly entranced by the beauty of it all. Alas, I keep waiting for the year when our butterflies will return in waves of fluttering delight.

This spring led me to believe that this could be that year, as a black swallowtail caterpillar appeared in mid-May on fennel in a container on my patio. I immediately made an arch of pussy willow sticks and covered it over with a mesh laundry bag to protect him from lurking predators including nesting birds that were everywhere in my yard.

Getting “out and about” at my local garden centers, I added six additional black swallowtail caterpillars that I found on parsley, fennel and dill. Two small ones joined my original caterpillar, and the other larger caterpillars I placed into the two butterfly habitats that had the overwintering 21 black swallowtail chrysalises.

The crazy thing about overwintering chrysalises is that you never know when they’re going to hatch out. They all make their chrysalises within days of each other in October, but they will hatch out anytime over a six week period from the last week in April through the first week in June. It

never gets old to see that a butterfly has hatched out of a dried up looking chrysalis no bigger than an inch and totally unseen in the wild, as it blends so readily into the reed, stick, branch or hardscape that it searched diligently to attach itself to.

Hence, the admonition to please, please, please take care in any fall and early-spring cleanup as you may be destroying butterfly, moth and beneficial insect chrysalises, cocoons and nests. Leave some leaf litter in your garden and make a little wild area where you place plant material, twigs and branches.

It will also provide cover for other wildlife including birds.

Yes, spring’s caterpillars, showing up six to eight weeks earlier than I’ve seen them in the past few years, led me to believe we’d have lots of butterflies in our yards and gardens. So far, we’ve all been disappointed, as they seem sporadic indeed.

June Rostami in my garden club emailed me a video of two monarchs that she feared were near death’s door when actually, they were mating. And we did see a pair flitting about in our community garden. There have been swallowtails coming into our yard and garden and it’s a challenge to be able to tell if it’s a black swallowtail, a spicebush swallowtail, the female dark version of the tiger swallowtail, or the pipevine swallowtail, because they are fast fliers and they don’t linger on a nectar plant like the monarchs or great spangled fritillaries. The only way of truly identifying a dark swallowtail is if it’s a female laying eggs on their host plant, as their host plants differ according to species.

I just got in from watering and happy to report seeing a monarch supping on coneflowers, swallowtails utilizing their dizzying evasive

flight patterns, but I really would love to see multiples of butterflies instead of the occasional solitary beauty.

Please check out the New Jersey DEP’s new 27 page Monarch Conservation guide at: www.nj.gov/dep/docs/ monarch-guide.pdf.

Together we can grow our butterfly population. We can provide the necessary nectar, pollen, host plants and habitat combined with a conscious decision not to use pesticides and herbicides in our landscape as we are ultimately negatively impacting our own health.

A follow-up to my July article “Hollyhocks, a Love Affair” is the lovely email I received from Jane Mercer, a gardener in Basking Ridge, who shares my love of hollyhocks and sent photos of her gorgeous yellow and red hollyhocks.

I also had a daydream come unexpectedly true when I stopped at Nester’s Greenhouses in Hopatcong while on a visit to my daughter’s.

It was like Christmas in July when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a huge display of four-, five- and sixfoot-tall single flowered hollyhocks in all colors.

In all my decades of gardening (I was a baby gardener) I have never seen such a spectacular display. Naturally, some made their way home to my garden for next year’s garden extravaganza.

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

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

22 September, 2017

GardenerNews.com

Gardener News Congratulates Featured Columnist Craig Korb Immediately following a joint hearing of the New Jersey Senate Environment and Energy and the Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committees on Thursday August 10, 2017, in Lavallette, Ocean County, Craig Korb, a featured columnist for the Gardener News and executive chef at The Crab’s Claw Inn in Lavallette, received a Joint Resolution from the Senate and Assembly that was sponsored by Senator Bob Smith and Assemblyman John F. McKeon.

Assemblyman John F. McKeon, left, Chef Craig Korb, center, and Senator Bob Smith

Tom Castronovo/Photo

THE SENATE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY STATE HOUSE, TRENTON, N.J.

JOINT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

By Senator SMITH and Assemblyman MCKEON

WHEREAS , The Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey are pleased to salute and commend Craig Korb, a highly esteemed member of his community, in recognition of his peerless dedication to the culinary arts and support of the local food industry; and, WHEREAS , Craig Korb has served with distinction as the Executive Chef at Crab’s Claw Inn, a renowned staple of the Jersey Shore’s dining scene, and the depth of his knowledge and the breadth of his experience have contributed immeasurably to the success and acclaim of this restaurant; and, WHEREAS , A tireless champion of his community, Craig Korb, recipient of Gardener News’ 2013 Person of the Year Award, has demonstrated an uncommon degree of devotion to upholding the Garden State’s namesake, particularly through his serving a dinner every fall that features fresh produce, seafood, and wine harvested and procured in New Jersey; and, WHEREAS , In addition, Craig Korb has further earned for himself a measure of acclaim and respect by partnering with the Senate Environment and Energy Committee Chairman Bob Smith, Assemblyman John McKeon, and representatives from the oyster industry on June 14, 2017, to highlight the importance of the ecological health of Barnegat Bay; and, WHEREAS , The strength and success of the State of New Jersey, the vitality of our communities, and the effectiveness of our American society depend, in great measure, upon concerned and committed citizens, exemplified by Craig Korb; and, WHEREAS , Within all the spheres of his life and work, Craig Korb has established a model to emulate and set a standard of excellence toward which others might strive; and, WHEREAS , It is altogether proper and fitting for this Legislature to pause in its deliberations to recognize the outstanding efforts of Craig Korb, and to praise him as an individual of outstanding character and exceptional determination; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey: That this Legislature hereby honors Craig Korb, pays tribute to his meritorious record of service, leadership, and commitment, and extends sincere best wishes for his continued success in all future endeavors; and, Be It Further Resolved, That a duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Senate President and the Assembly Speaker and attested by the Senate Secretary and the Assembly Clerk, be transmitted to Craig Korb at the Annual Joint Meeting of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and Assembly Environment and Solid Waste Committee.

GardenerNews.com September is once again upon us here in the great Garden State. Summer is coming to an end, but there are still plenty of chances to get to the shore a few more times before fall sets in.

I have always loved September, I know I say this every year, so bear with me once more, just as a reminder. The beaches are still awesome, they are less crowded, the water still warm and there is less traffic and smaller crowds.

This time of year, my garden starts to taper off a bit, but I still can get some great stuff throughout the month. This month I will be discussing one of my favorite things to make from my garden. SALSA! This versatile, amazing concoction, which simply translates to “sauce” can be used as a condiment or just a dip. There are as many recipes as there are pasta sauces. It

September, 2017 23 From the Deep

By Craig Korb Executive Chef

Savor September Salsa! can be made from a variety of ingredients including tomatoes, tomatillos, pineapples, mangoes, beans, peaches and corn, to name but a few.

They can be cooked, grilled or raw. Many different countries make their own versions of this delicious condiment, with Mexico being the most popular.

Over the years, people have come up with new ideas for salsa, such as grilling the fruit to enhance the flavor.

This is especially good with pineapple, mango or peach salsa.

I’m going to be writing about a new twist on the classic tomato salsa. I got this recipe from one of the guys in the kitchen, who got it from his mother, who recently visited from Mexico.

It is so simple and super delicious. It can be used just as a dip or for topping tacos, eggs, or any grilled meat, fish or poultry.

The simplicity of it is what makes it so good. The most important thing is to find the best produce you can for it, and being that Jersey tomatoes are still around, that shouldn’t be a problem. The

other key things here are to chop the tomatoes and onions larger than usual, and to use plenty of fresh lime juice and extra virgin olive oil.

Good luck and welcome to flavor country! Enjoy this with good quality tortilla chips or in a grilled taco.

Señora Ramirez’s fresh salsa ( serves 4) 2 lg. JERSEY tomatoes, cut into large cubes, about 3/4 of an inch 1 sweet onion, such as Vidalia, sliced comparable to the tomato 1 bunch of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

1/2 lb. of FRESH mozzarella cheese, diced into small cubes Juice of 1-2 limes, depending on juiciness Salt and fresh black pepper 1 seeded, diced jalapeño pepper, *OPTIONAL* 1 TBSP. good quality olive oil Method - gently toss all ingredients together and check seasoning, allow to sit for at least 15 minutes before serving.

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

“Good-Guy” Fungus to Take on Killer of Oaks and Ornamental Crops (Continued from page 20)

the pathogen uses to survive and reproduce,” says Widmer, who is with the ARS Foreign Disease-Weed Science Research Unit in Fort Detrick, Maryland.

In petri dish experiments at this ARS laboratory, and later in trials with potting mix at the National Ornamentals Research Site at Dominican University of California in San Rafael, the biocontrol fungus reduced P. ramorum levels by 60 to 100 percent, depending on which of the 12 strains of T. asperellum were tried. A chemical fungicide achieved similar results, but its effects proved temporary: 8 weeks later, the pathogen reemerged in the potting mix. Widmer suspects the fungicide temporarily halted the growth of the pathogen, but didn’t kill it.

Under unfavorable soil conditions, P. ramorum can survive within thick-walled survival pods called “chlamydospores.” But T. asperellum specializes in breaching such defenses. In its branched form, called “mycelia,” the fungus coils around the chlamydospores and degrades their cell walls with powerful enzymes. The biocontrol fungus then enters the chlamydospores to feed, germinate, and start the cycle over again until little or no pathogen remains in the soil.

Indeed, in small-scale nursery trials conducted with the California Department of Food and Agriculture, drench treatments of the fungus reduced the pathogen to undetectable levels during the study’s entire 3-month monitoring period.

Buoyed by those results, Widmer and his colleague Gary Samuels, a now-retired ARS mycologist, applied for and received a patent on the top-performing fungal strain, known as “04-22.”

BioWorks has since licensed the strain and is collaborating with Widmer on developing and registering formulations that can be applied to nursery soils and potting mixes. Developed commercially, it could give growers another tool for battling ramorum blight, helping to safeguard vulnerable ornamental crops and forests alike.

Joseph O’Brien, USDA Forest Service/Photo

Tanoak tree leaves killed by Phytophthora ramorum

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

24 September, 2017

GardenerNews.com

No Matter How You Slice It NEW YORK APPLE HARVEST TIME CREATES A

Sell A Bration

Our New York Apple Growers slogan is “millions of local branches near you.” And this fall, those millions of branches will likely deliver over 30 million bushels of fresh-picked apple goodness to you and your customers. More high-quality apples, and more varieties, too – Empire, Honeycrisp, McIntosh, Red Delicious and other favorites.

Crisp, flavorful, juicy, and healthy, it’s time to take your pick and order now to satisfy demand. So contact your shipper today, and if you’d like some great in-store POS materials and other promotional ideas, send an e-mail to molly@nyapplecountry.com and we’ll ship you out a sales-boosting kit.

Scan here to go to our Shipper Directory

GardenerNews.com

September, 2017 25

SPRAY TECHNICIAN NEEDED Small, growing company (NJ Deer Control) is looking for a backpack spray technician. Tech is needed to spray landscapes with a natural deer repellent. Must enjoy working outdoors. Landscape/spray tech experience is a plus, but not required. Valid driver’s license is a must. Paid training period then $14-$15 hourly pay with 30-40+ hr work week available!

Please send resume for possible interview.

International report confirms 2016 was warmest year on record for the globe The 27th annual State of the Climate report has confirmed that 2016 topped 2015 as the warmest year in 137 years of record keeping. The report found that most indicators of climate change continued to follow trends of a warming world, and several, including land and ocean temperatures, sea level and greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere broke records set just one year prior. Last year’s record heat resulted from the combined influence of long-term global warming and a strong El Nino early in the year.

This annual check-up for the planet, led by researchers from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, is based on contributions from more than 450 scientists from nearly 60 countries. It provides a detailed update on global climate indicators, notable weather events and other data collected from land, water and space. It’s published as a special supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

Source: NOAA

The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 173 Published Monthly Reserve Ad Space Phone: 908.604.4444 Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff

Executive Editor/ Publisher . . . .

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

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

Tom Castronovo Justin Kukuc Tom Castronovo

September Columnists Tom Castronovo Gail Woolcott Bob LaHoff Larry Katz Craig Korb Leslie Parness

Todd Pretz Douglas H. Fisher Steve Schuckman Peter Melick Evan Dickerson

Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Brian Bosenberg Hubert Ling Jan Suszkiw

Jeannie Geremia William A. Kolbe B.C.E. Dr. Debra Palmer-Keenan

Gardener News is published monthly by

Full Moon, September 6, 2017 Eastern Daylight

TIP OF THE MONTH

Any type of houseplant growing in a pot needs water. Remember, dry surface soil is not an indication plants need water. A quick and easy test is to stick your finger, or a pencil, into the soil right where the stem enters the soil. If the subsoil is moist at 1.5 to 2 inches deep, do not water. If dry, it’s time to water! Always water in the morning, and avoid watering the leaves. Never water in the evening or late at night. If your houseplants are still vacationing outside, keep an eye out for nighttime temperatures. Be sure to bring them indoors before temperatures dip below 45 degrees (F).

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

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

NOTE: All editorial, advertising layouts and designs and portions of the same that are produced and published by Gardener News, Inc., are the sole property of Gardener News, Inc. and may not be reproduced in any form unless written authorization is obtained from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to: Gardener News, 16 Mount Bethel Rd - #123, Warren, NJ 07059. (c) 2017 Gardener News, Inc.

26 September, 2017

GardenerNews.com

Conservation program to assist beginning and limited resource farmers available in six New Jersey counties Beginning and limited resource farmers, small farms, and producers who have had limited participation in USDA financial assistance programs operating within a six-county area in Central Jersey are eligible to apply for the FY2018 Agriculture Management Assistance (AMA) program. AMA provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations. AMA will be available in Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Burlington, Camden and Ocean Counties in FY2018.

State Conservationist Carrie Lindig will keep the application period for FY2018 AMA open through October 20, 2017, to afford farmers plenty of time to learn about the program and submit an application. Applications received by October 20 will be reviewed for the FY2018 program so that contracts can be awarded. In the past, AMA has helped farmers plan and install livestock waterers, water-efficient irrigation systems, and cover crops.

Applicants from Middlesex, Monmouth and Mercer Counties should contact NRCS in Freehold (732-462-0075 x 3). Applicants from Burlington, Camden and Ocean Counties should contact NRCS in Columbus (609-267-1639 x3).

Participation in NRCS conservation programs is voluntary. Learn more about NRCS conservation programs on the NJ NRCS website www.nj.nrcs.usda.gov.

Part of Ongoing Efforts to Promote New JerseyGrown and Marketed Organic Food Products The New Jersey Department of Agriculture announced it is accepting applications for a program in partnership with the federal government to reduce organic certification costs as part of the Christie Administration’s ongoing efforts to promote New Jersey-grown and marketed organic food products.

Through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Certification Cost Share Program, each qualified producer or handler of organic products is eligible for a reimbursement of up to 75 percent of its costs of certification not to exceed $750. Certification costs include fees and charges levied by the certifying agent for certification activities.

To qualify for reimbursement under this program, an organic producer or handler must have been certified or incurred expenses for the continuation of certification during the period of October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2017. Certification must be through a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

In the event that demand exceeds the amount of funds allocated to New Jersey, applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Operations may receive one reimbursement per certification or category of certification per year.

Applications must be received by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture no later than November 17, 2017. Applications and more information about the program are available online at www.nj.gov/agriculture/grants/organiccostshare.html.

Organic producers and handlers can also visit their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices to apply for federal reimbursement. Operations may apply through only one agency. Duplicate reimbursements will not be issued to an operation.

Please contact Nichole Steward at 609-292-5576 or nichole.steward@ag.state.nj.us.

Rutgers Master Gardeners Fall Gardening 3-Part Seminar September 23, 2017, 9 am to 1 pm.

It may be strange to think about spring planting already, but the things you do in your garden before winter hits will make spring gardening much easier.

Every garden should have its soil tested. Testing is the easy part, but interpreting the results can be confusing. Participants will learn how to read a soil test. How to incorporate compost into your garden as you prepare the soil in the spring will also be discussed. The workshop will end with a presentation on native plants.

This workshop will be located at 310 Milltown Rd., Bridgewater. $40 per person. Pre-registration is necessary. The deadline to register is September 21. Call 908-526-2510 to register.

GardenerNews.com

September, 2017 27

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28 September, 2017

GardenerNews.com