Gardener News April 2022 by Gardener News

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April 2022

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TAKE ONE No. 228

Pleasant-Smelling Wood Oil Not So Pleasant for Biting Ticks, Other Pests

Blacklegged tick

By Jan Suszkiw USDA/ARS Cedarwood oil can be found in many consumer products—perfumes, soaps and deodorants among them. In addition to its pleasing scent, cedarwood oil is also prized for its insect-repelling

Scott Bauer/USDA/ARS/Photo

Fred Eller/USDA/ARS/Photo

A bottle of cedarwood oil (left) and white cedarwood oil emulsion (right) to treat pine blocks for termite and fungal assays.

and anti-fungal properties. Ticks aren’t insects, but they too are repelled by cedarwood oil, according to recently published findings by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Illinois.

In laboratory studies, the scientists exposed the nymph stages of five, hard-bodied tick species to various doses of cedarwood oil and compared the results to DEET, a commonly used synthetic insecticide. Found in the heartwood of Eastern redcedar and

other juniper tree species, cedarwood oil is among a variety of natural products that the researchers are testing as potentially safer or more sustainable alternatives to traditional pesticides derived from petroleum. Ticks’ hunger for a blood meal is creepy enough, much

less finding one latched on after a walk in tall grass or through brush where these flat-bodied arachnids lay in wait for a passing host. Far more concerning, though, is their ability to transmit disease-causing pathogens as they feed. One notable culprit is (Cont. on Page 22)

2 April 2022

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April 2022 3

Around The Garden By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

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April Marks Several Monumental Milestones Here is a glimpse of the days in April that I think are of significance to everybody related, directly or indirectly, to arboriculture, farming, gardening, horticulture, landscape architecture, the environment, and other aspects of agriculture, even saving the planet. First and foremost, April marks the 19th anniversary of the Gardener News. Thank you, everybody! President Franklin D. Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) on April 5, 1933 to put thousands of people back to work during the Great Depression. CCC projects included planting 3.5 billion trees and creating state parks. The origin of National Gardening Month can be traced back to 1986 when President Reagan declared April 12-18 as National Gardening Week. The legislation that resulted in the proclamation was sponsored by the National Garden Bureau. In 2002, the National Gardening Association resolved to extend the celebration to encompass the entire month of April. National Garden Month was celebrated for the first time in 2003 and has been celebrated every year since. April 22 celebrates World Earth Day. This special day was organized by Earth Day Network (EDN) in 1970. EDN is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating, diversifying, and activating the worldwide environmental movement. Since then, the day is celebrated to remind us that we live on planet Earth and this is our only home. We need to respect it and care for it. Easter Sunday changes dates year-to-year. This year, Easter is on Sunday, April 17, 2022. My Greek friends celebrate Easter on April 24. April 26 marks the father of landscape architecture’s 200th birthday. Fredrick Law Olmstead was probably one the most well-known landscape architects of all time. Beginning in 1857 with the design for Central Park in New York City, Frederick Law Olmsted (1822–1903),

along with his sons and a successor firm, created designs for more than 6,000 landscapes across North America, including many of the world’s most important parks. Olmsted’s remarkable design legacy includes Prospect Park in Brooklyn, Boston’s Emerald Necklace, Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, Mount Royal in Montreal, the grounds of the United States Capitol and the White House, and Washington Park, Jackson Park and the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893 in Chicago. Olmsted’s sons were founding members of the American Society of Landscape Architects and played an influential role in the creation of the National Park Service. April is also considered National Pecan Month. Pecans are certified heart healthy as a part of the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check program. Studies have shown a handful a day of pecans can help lower cholesterol and contains more than 19 vitamins and minerals. Research from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirms that pecans are still the most antioxidant-rich tree nut. National Arbor Day is April 29, 2022. This year marks the 150th anniversary of the tree planter’s holiday. National Arbor Day is always celebrated on the last Friday in April, but many states observe Arbor Day on different dates throughout the year based on best tree planting times in their USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. The Arbor Day Foundation has been inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees since 1972, and that simple mission has had a global impact. The Foundation has grown over the last five decades to become the largest member nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees, planting and distributing nearly 500 million trees worldwide. I hope you enjoyed learning about these April dates as much as I enjoyed researching them.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening, landscaping and nursery communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com. The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 228 Published Monthly Reserve Ad Space Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff

Executive Editor/Publisher . . . . Tom Castronovo Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan F. Kessel Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Castronovo Tom Castronovo Todd Pretz Gail Woolcott Andrew Bunting

April 2022 Columnists Brian Schilling Peter Melick Diana Dove Bob LaHoff

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April 2022 Contributing Writer Hubert Ling

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) 2022 Gardener News, Inc.

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4 April 2022 Something has changed recently in the Garden State. I think you should be made aware of this, as we begin in spring seeing the arrival of homegrown fruits and vegetables and so many other agricultural products that we are fortunate to have harvested here on our state’s lands. As the world continues to hyper-connect, we are confronted with countless farm products being picked, packaged, and shipped to us from hundreds or even thousands of miles away. Savvy marketers artfully and skillfully have, over the years, crafted messages on what was being offered from these distant places as “Local.” You might consider this all well and good, if one does not understand what this kind of marketing means. Something happened along the way that began to muddy the waters, which ultimately created confusion in the marketplace. Think of all the descriptions you wade through as you make your decisions on what to buy for your family. Most claims made in food labeling give you a general idea of conformity to a standard. For instance, if you see the term “organic,” or “no salt,” or “does not

GardenerNews.com NJ Dept. of Agriculture By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

The Lowdown on Local

contain tree nuts,” you have a reasonable understanding of what is being stated. Not so with “Local” or “Locally Grown.” Can you define what it means? Up until 2022, you could not have real clarity about “Local” in New Jersey because the term was bandied about with abandon. “Why?” you might ask. Imagine cheaper goods from somewhere other than here being sold as local and commanding a premium for a pseudo status. There can be solid business reasons that favor the bottom line of the purveyor in these cases, but ultimately earning your trust is so much more profitable in the longer term. So, what has happened concerning this higher level of truth in labeling? The New Jersey Legislature has weighed in, and the

Governor has signed the law they passed, with the following provision: If any fruit or vegetable is labeled as “local,” it must be grown, harvested, and packed in New Jersey. Clearly, as in the case of the state branding program “Jersey Fresh” or its related brands (such as “Jersey Grown”), you are assured totally and unmistakably what you are buying was in a New Jersey field not that many hours ago and shipped directly to you or made available from your favorite retail outlet, local farm, or farmstand. Out-ofstate agricultural products? Just tell the consumer where it originated, but do not label it “local.” The reason for all this attention is to help the consumer have the knowledge about where their food is coming from

AND to allow them to show their support for our farmers here in the Garden State. New Jerseyans have professed their real appreciation of agriculture and continue to support efforts to make sure we have farms here. They are rightfully proud of so many of the garden-fresh products we are known for. However, without proper revenue coming back to the farmer, on-farm agriculture will not be able to survive in our great state. The absolutely best way to keep farms in our midst is to ask your retailers when you are seeking whatever fresh farm products are in season, “Is it really and truly local?” Ask, even more specifically, “Is it ‘Jersey Fresh?’” Ask questions about what farm the product came from. The stores will gladly provide the truly

locally grown items if it’s what their customers are clamoring for. April is a great time to start asking these questions, as items like “Jersey Fresh” asparagus will begin making their way to market later this month. Shortly after that, strawberries, escarole and endive, cauliflower and more will begin to arrive. When you do this for our farmers, your neighbors, you can be assured you are expressing gratitude to some of the most amazing farmers to be found anywhere. Show honest to goodness real support at the register, where your buying power makes a difference for the farming families of New Jersey. Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture. He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet. Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http:// www.state.nj.us/agriculture

New Hemp Survey Releases Key Findings for Northeast States The U.S Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) conducted the first-ever Hemp Survey. The survey was sent to producers to gather information on the acreage, yield, production, price, and value of hemp. The data will be used to assist producers, regulatory agencies, state governments, processors, and other key industry entities. Key findings for the northeast states released in the report include industrial hemp in the open: • Connecticut – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 40 acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 24 acres. • Delaware – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 13 acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 12 acres.

• Maine – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 50 acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 35 acres. • Massachusetts – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 890 acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 100 acres. • New Hampshire – Planted area for all utilizations totaled (D) acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled (D) acres. • New Jersey – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 75 acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 41 acres. • New York – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 900 acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 310 acres. • Pennsylvania – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 350 acres. Area

harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 310 acres. • Rhode Island – Planted area for all utilizations totaled (D) acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled D acres. • Vermont – Planted area for all utilizations totaled 1,100 acres. Area harvested for all purposes in the open totaled 1,080 acres. (D) Withheld to avoid disclosing data for individual operations. As defined in the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill), the term “hemp” means the plant species Cannabis sativa L. and any part of the plant such as the seeds, all derivatives, and extracts, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis.

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April 2022 5

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6 April 2022

R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E Office of Continuing Professional Education

Online Beekeeping Workshops Sustainable Beekeeping April 6 or June 8 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm Learn methods to maintain your beehives & minimize losses in a more sustainable way.

Take Note of Your Hive: Recordkeeping for Beekeepers April 20 or June 22 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm Good hive notes promote a better understanding of hive dynamics and help improve your beekeeping success. Learn the why, what, and how of recordkeeping.

The Ins & Outs of Treating Your Colony April 24 or June 15 | 6:30pm - 8:00pm Learn to identify and effectively manage pests and diseases to ensure the health of you colony.

Rutgers Cooperative Extension Phone Directory Atlantic County Phone: 609-625-0056 Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780 Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050 Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130 Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115 Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800 Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210 Gloucester County Phone: 856-224-8040 Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399 Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339 Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830

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

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From the Director’s Desk

Rutgers Outreach Provided by Brian Schilling Director

Sowing the Seeds of Sustainability One Yard at a Time

As Earth Day approaches, we are reminded of steps we can take to protect our environment. At home, work, or school, our daily choices can help keep pollution out of our air, water, and soil. A good place to start becoming more environmentally friendly is in our own yards and gardens. Whether you’re a novice gardener or have a seasoned green thumb, here are some gardening tips and resources for building a sustainable landscape. Right Plant in the Right Place One should start their journey to an environmentally friendly yard and garden by picking the proper plants. The wrong vegetation can lead to plant loss, invasive species taking over the region, or extra time, money, and effort being spent to condition your soils to support an inappropriate plant. An attractive yard and productive garden start with getting to know your soil. Healthy lawns and gardens start with healthy soil, but many homeowners don’t know what their soils need. Get the dirt on your soil through a soil test from the Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory (njaes.rutgers.edu/ soil-testing-lab). The results from the Soil Testing Laboratory include recommendations on the amount and type of nutrients needed for your soil and a plan of action for your plants. Contact your local Cooperative Extension office (njaes.rutgers.edu/county) to help with your home horticulture needs through either its experienced staff or certified Rutgers Master Gardeners. Go native with your plant selections. Native species of plants are acclimated to local weather and soil conditions, requiring less water and soil amendments than non-native vegetation. Use Water Wisely Daily water use in New Jersey jumps from around 70 gallons per person per day to over 150 gallons from April through October. This increase is due to watering of lawns, gardens, and landscape plants during the growing season. Most vegetables and landscape plants need only about 1 to 1.5 inches of water per week. This total includes any rain that has fallen. Overwatering your plants or watering too frequently is not only wasteful but can be harmful to your plants. Overwatering can promote fungal diseases that affect plant roots as they sit in saturated soils. Look for yellow or wilted leaves on your plants, muddy soils, and mosses, molds, or mushrooms as signs of possible excess water being applied to your garden or yard. The best way to measure water use is with a rain gauge installed in an area clear to receive rainfall. There are many smartphone apps that are available to gardeners to track recent precipitation.

A quick online search can find the best one for your needs. You can also visit the Rutgers NJ Weather Network webpage (www.njweather.org) to find local precipitation amounts. Excess water may also produce runoff which can wash healthy topsoil off your property and carry anything that may be added to your soil or plants— like pesticides or fertilizers—to adjacent properties or local waterways. Contaminated runoff causes water quality problems in many streams, rivers, lakes, and bays throughout New Jersey. Adding a layer of mulch can protect topsoil by preventing erosion while also retaining moisture in the soil for nearby plants. Natural mulches, like weed-free straw, grass clippings, leaves, and wood chips, prevent evaporation and reduce drying from wind. Mulch also helps to reduce the force of rain splashes and slows down runoff, which can help to prevent erosion. Water can be conserved with mulches, and they will also suppress weed growth and make weeds that do grow easier to remove. Any gardener knows that time saved weeding is time that can be spent enjoying your garden or landscaped areas. There are many varieties of mulch to choose from so choose one that’s appropriate for your garden or landscape beds. Resources Additional resources available for homeowners interested in maintaining sustainable landscapes include the Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) ‘Earth Day, Every Day’ (E2D2) webinar series (envirostewards.rutgers.edu/earth-day-every-day) and the Jersey-Friendly Yards program (www. jerseyyards.org). Launched in April 2020 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, the E2D2 webinar series focuses on steps everyone can take to become more sustainable. From environmentally friendly lawn care, to reducing plastic waste and energy usage, to creating wildlife habitat, all the webinars are available to view online. The Jersey-Friendly Yards program was started by the Barnegat Bay Partnership to protect the bay from overfertilization by outlining an eightstep plan to create a yard that looks attractive and protects the environment. A wealth of resources is on their website, including recorded webinars available at www.jerseyyards.org/events. More information can be found through various New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and RCE publications at njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs. With these tips and tricks, you can be on your way to having a landscape that protects your corner of the Garden State.

Editor’s Note: This month’s contribution was written by Steven Yergeau, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Ocean and Atlantic Counties.

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April 2022 7

LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY NEWS Maslo Lab Combines Expertise to Research Snake Fungal Disease Morgan Mark (SEBS’22), Tyler Christensen (Ph.D. Candidate), and Bobby Kwait (Ph.D. Candidate)—all members of assistant professor Brooke Maslo’s lab—were recently awarded funding from the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians (ARAV) for their project examining the seasonal dynamics of snake fungal disease in free-ranging eastern copperheads. Snake fungal disease (SFD) is a recently discovered fungal pathogen, Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola, that is impacting snake populations in eastern North America. Little is known about SFD pathology or ecology, primarily because repeated captures of wild snakes is difficult and SFD infection doesn’t always exhibit visible clinical signs. Mark, Christensen and Kwait leveraged their collective expertise in wildlife disease, snake biology and molecular ecology to radio-track eastern copperheads (a species of special concern in New Jersey) and repeatedly sample the same individuals throughout the active season for SFD. They are quantifying pathogen prevalence and loads using quantitative PCR methods to document seasonal patterns in SFD ecology to inform management efforts intended to mitigate population-level impacts. The work represents Mark’s George H. Cook Scholars thesis.

NJAES Launches Soil Health Initiative as Part of Vision 2025

Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) have a long history of research and education in the field of soil science including ground-breaking discoveries such as streptomycin which saved millions of lives. In the past 20-30 years, the concept of assessing overall soil quality has developed within the soil science community into the broader concept of “soil health.” With abundant research and practitioner experience to support this area, NJAES directors Peggy Brennan-Tonetta, Brian Schilling and Wendie Cohick announced the launch of the NJAES Soil Health Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to promote soil health research, education and outreach that will lead to the restoration of New Jersey’s soil resources and development of a sustainable system to protect them for future generations. The Soil Health Initiative is supported by the NJAES Vision 2025 initiative with supplemental funding from the state. Several activities are already underway: A survey is being conducted to assess available expertise at Rutgers SEBS/NJAES that can contribute to a wide range of soil health activities such as production gains with reduced inputs (fertilizer, pesticides), food/forage nutritional benefits, waste management, economics of practices and ecosystem services, and climate change mitigation. Several projects have been awarded seed funding to advance soil health projects: • Soil Health Symposia are being planned to assemble faculty and staff with interests in soil-related problems. The overall goals are

coordination of existing expertise/projects, supporting collaborations and identifying needs. (Project lead: Rutgers Soil Testing Lab director Stephanie Murphy) • Detailed mapping and soil instrumentation at the Rutgers NJAES P.E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension in Chatsworth, NJ will allow preparation of a land use plan and evaluation of relationships between soil conditions and plant health within blueberry and cranberry production systems. (Principal investigator: extension specialist in plant pathology and Marucci Center director, Peter Oudemans) • Researching the adaptation of a grassy “weed” and its potential use as a cover crop for blueberries to protect and enhance soil. (Principal investigator: extension specialist in weed science, Thierry Besançon) • Development of long-term soil observatories on selected NJAES farms will allow documentation and aid research of climate-induced effects on soil properties. (Principal investigator: professor of soil science, SEBS Department of Environmental Sciences, Daniel Gimenez) Stephanie Murphy is leading the development of the Soil Health Initiative, given her extensive knowledge of soil science and health, and involvement in many state-level efforts to address soil health issues. Murphy is coordinating a March 15 internal Soil Health Symposium, that will engage Rutgers faculty and staff conducting research, outreach, or demonstrations in soil health.

Scarlet Fire® Dogwood Created at Rutgers Takes Home Gold A world-renowned dogwood tree developed at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, has been named a Gold Medal Plant by the Pennsylvania Horticulture Society (PHS). Introduced in 2017 and created in part by Thomas Molnar, an associate professor of plant biology within the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, the Scarlet Fire® dogwood tree is available throughout the world. It is one of six plants included in the 2022 PHS Gold Medal Program – Outstanding Plants for the Mid-Atlantic Garden. “As a plant breeder, it means a tremendous amount to have one of our Rutgers cultivars – especially my first dogwood release – recognized with this prestigious award from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society,” said Molnar, who received his doctoral degree from

Rutgers. “One of the things that makes this very special is that the plant was chosen by a panel of nursery owners, horticulturists, expert gardeners, and professional growers for inclusion in the Gold Medal Program, which is exciting as it validates our efforts to release the best new dogwoods we can for homeowners and the nursery and landscape industries in the region.” Besides being strong and durable enough to withstand the diseases and insects that decimated the native flowering dogwoods in Central New Jersey, the Scarlet Fire® dogwood is also much more colorful than any other of its species; it is the first-ever dark-pink blooming kousa dogwood, and the blooms last 6-8 weeks. Molnar and his predecessor Elwin Orton, professor emeritus of plant biology and pathology with whom Molnar worked

as a graduate student, were striving to develop a kousa dogwood with deep pink coloring in time for Rutgers’ 250 anniversary in 2016. Through cross breeding, Molnar and his colleague John Capik, a field researcher in the department of plant biology, were able find the color they wanted and grow a dogwood that blooms after just two years; other young dogwood trees take up to five years to blossom. The tree was named Scarlet Fire® dogwood in honor of Rutgers and the bright color of its blooms. The PHS Gold Medal Program winners are selected by a group of nursery owners, horticulturists, expert gardeners and professional growers, who look for “the best performing and most beautiful.” The criteria for the judges include ease of cultivation, multiple seasons of interest, commercial availability, appropriateness

for the Mid-Atlantic region, and value to wildlife. The PHS describes the Scarlet Fire® on its website as: “A flowering dogwood with magnificent, fuchsia-colored flowers. Scarlet Fire® adapts very well in many different climates and soils. It is a medium-growing tree that blooms within two years of being planted. Scarlet Fire® is a relatively new addition to the ornamental landscape with its deer and disease resistant tolerance.” Through Innovation Ventures, the technology transfer within Rutgers Office for Research, Scarlet Fire® has been licensed to several growers in the USA, Europe, and Australia. For more information, visit https://go.rutgers.edu/ scarlet-fire-dogwood. This article first appeared on Rutgers Research news website

8 April 2022

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GardenerNews.com I was thrilled when Speaker Craig Coughlin asked me to serve as the Chairman of the Assembly Agriculture and Food Security Committee, not because I have been a farmer myself, but because I am an enormous champion of local business. And that’s what New Jersey farming is—a local business. Indeed, farming in many ways is the defining business of the Garden State. Our fertile farmland is what drew early Dutch settlers to leave comfortable homes in New York City for “a land of milk and honey,” as a Revolutionary War officer described “the Jerseys” upon his arrival from Suffern, NY in 1781. For centuries, New Jersey was a national breadbasket, feeding the nation and leading important innovations in agriculture and food sciences, agricultural education, and cooking. The state’s agricultural leadership was one reason major companies like Campbell’s, Mars, and Goya were founded here. New Jersey’s economy is no longer primarily agriculture-based, but agricultural businesses are growing again thanks to forwardlooking farmland preservation programs, investments in research,

April 2022 9 Agriculture and Food Security By Roy Freiman New Jersey Assemblyman

Putting the Garden Back in the Garden State and vital cooperative extension services and farmer education programs. Another key factor is rising demand for direct-to-consumer agriculture products. Our own residents have become the most profitable customers to many New Jersey farmers thanks to the growth of farmers’ markets, agritourism programs, interest in organic food, and demand for artisanal foods and beverages. One of the silver linings of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a new appreciation for the value of locally sourced food that can be purchased in open-air markets or delivered directly to doorsteps. The pandemic also fostered a brand new generation of home cooks who discovered the joy of healthy, great tasting meals made with fresh, local ingredients.

Before I ran for office in 2017, I spent three decades in the corporate world where I learned the importance of business strategy, planning, fiscal management, marketing, and sales. I also learned the key difference between spending and investing. I plan to bring those skills and experiences to help New Jersey’s agriculture industry prosper over the coming decades. It is also the reason that I sit on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, where I can also work diligently to support our food and agriculture industries. I’ve been deeply fortunate to live in an agricultural community, Hillsborough, NJ, where I have learned about the inner workings of the industry from mentors such as Rich and Debbie Norz, who sits on the New Jersey Board of

Agriculture. In my new role, I look forward to learning from farmers throughout our great state, and to visiting many farms. When you see me at agriculture meetings, please introduce yourself—I want to know you. I believe this is a time of great opportunity for New Jersey agriculture. Our residents are eager to buy local as never before, and we are seeing innovative new approaches to bring farm products to local tables. It is the job of the New Jersey Assembly to encourage innovation, reduce regulatory obstacles, and to promote the bounty of New Jersey to its fullest capacity. One specific area of opportunity is agritourism. Neighboring states such as New York and Pennsylvania have been more successful than New Jersey in attracting tourists

Flower For A Day

By Hubert Ling Why plant something which will bloom for only one day in April? Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla, commonly blooms for only one day, although mature flowers may open the second day if they were prevented from fully opening by heavy rainfall. Generally, all the flowers of a plant mature on the same day, but flowers on plants in different locations in your yard may be a day or two off with their synchronous blooming. In any event, if you miss the blooming day(s) you will have to wait until next year. However, on the positive side, the plant has many endearing attributes. Jeffersonia diphylla is named after Thomas Jefferson, our 3rd president, who was dedicated to growing and utilizing all types of interesting plants. Currently Thomas Jefferson’s estate, Monticello, has a colony of

twinleaf in a place of honor in the estate’s garden, and vigorously promotes this plant. The species epithet ‘diphylla’ means two leaves or twinleaf. Other organisms have also been named for US presidents; for example a lichen, Caloplaca obamae, was named for President Obama in 2009. Twinleaf grows naturally in Northeastern North America from Minnesota to Ontario, Canada and south to Alabama and Georgia. It is relatively rare in much of its range, and twinleaf is one of our rarest plants in NJ (rating S1); however, it is considered globally secure (G5). Twinleaf is also a threatened or endangered plant in Georgia, Iowa, and New York. Jeffersonia dubia, with blue flowers and found in Japan, is the only other species of twinleaf. Our North American twinleaf grows to about 12-18 inches tall and has unique leaves, each with two large lobes which are about equal in size and shape; hence the

common name twinleaf. Twinleaf grows naturally in neutral to basic, rich, moist limestone soil. However, twinleaf is sometimes found in areas with higher acidity. With its large twin leaves, the plant grows best in deciduous, mature forests where it receives strong sunlight in early spring and then shade and higher moisture in the summer. Twinleaf flowers are about 1 inch across and have 8 white petals often arranged to form a shallow cup. The petals may also open up completely and then twinleaf flowers appear very much like a bloodroot flowers, although twinleaf is in an entirely different plant family. The plants do not produce nectar but do produce large amounts of pollen which attracts numerous pollinators, especially bees. Twinleaf is considered by some people to be a spring ephemeral but is not a true ephemeral since the leaves persist through late summer. After flowering, twinleaf

forms a 1-1.5 inch tall green, thimble shaped fruit topped by what looks like a green chocolate kiss hat. The bright green fruit looks very much like Kermit the Frog; the bottom of the ‘chocolate kiss’ represents Kermit’s mouth. When the fruit ripens, Kermit’s mouth opens and 1-3 dozen light brown shiny seeds with white fleshy protrusions at one end are released. These white appendages are called eliasomes and are highly prized by ants. The ants carry twinleaf seeds back to their nests, then cut off the eliasomes and feed them to their larvae. The seeds are discarded on the rubbish pile where they readily germinate, thus both partners in this relationship come out ahead. Eliasomes are also found in several other spring native plants such as violets, trillium, and bloodroot. Given the correct conditions, raising twinleaf is relatively easy. Be sure to plant the seeds immediately after the seed capsules open

interested in visiting farms, wineries, breweries, and attending agricultural festivals. New Jersey’s location between New York and Philadelphia has been a key economic asset for centuries. Today, we need to capitalize on that asset again, by attracting New Yorkers and Philadelphians to visit our farms and farm-to-table restaurants, while also spending on hotels, retail, and the arts. With so many city and suburban people eager for outdoor getaways that don’t involve flying, New Jersey agriculture can again be a major driver of economic growth. Over the coming months, I’ll use this column to tell you about legislative progress, and to share some of the stories I have collected while visiting New Jersey farms. Working together, I am convinced we can put the garden back into the Garden State. Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Roy Freiman is Chair of the Agriculture and Food Security Committee in the New Jersey State Assembly. He can be reached at asmfreiman@njleg.org or by calling 908-829-4191

since the seeds rapidly go into dormancy, which is not easily reversed. Germination of fresh seeds is rapid and highly successful. The seedlings mature in 4-5 years. Twinleaf was used by North American natives internally for numerous ills and externally for inflammation, rheumatism, and sores. However, Peterson’s Medicinal Plants warns that it is probably toxic since the roots contain the alkaloid berberine. Also, because of its rarity, it should never be collected in the wild. Consider growing twinleaf: it is beautiful, supports bees, has an interesting history, is highly shade tolerant (requiring), and is part of wild America which is rapidly disappearing. Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is Horticultural Co-Chair of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@ verizon.net.

10 April 2022

GardenerNews.com

USDA gathering new data on certified organic agriculture production

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is currently conducting the 2021 Organic Survey to gather new data on certified organic crops and livestock commodities in the United States. This effort is critical to help determine the economic impact of certified organic agriculture production on the nation. NASS mailed the survey to over 5,000 known certified organic farms and ranches in the northeastern U.S. The questionnaire asks producers to provide information on acreage, production, and sales as well as production and marketing practices. Participants should respond by April 4. Producers can return their questionnaires by mail or complete them online at www.agcounts.usda.gov using the new Respondent Portal. On the portal, producers can complete their surveys, see previously reported data, access data visualizations and reports of interest, link to other USDA agencies, get a local weather update and more. “We continue to receive requests for updated data on organic farms, especially to measure growth in the production sector of the organic industry,” said King Whetstone, director of NASS’ northeastern regional office. “According to the 2019 survey, U.S. certified organic producers sold a total of $9.93 billion in products, up 31% over 2016. That is a significant increase, and this upcoming survey will help determine if that type of growth has been sustained.” Agriculture statistics are used by many, including business and policy decision makers, but in this case, farmers and ranchers stand to reap the most benefits. The 2021 Organic Survey will provide data for USDA’s Risk Management Agency to evaluate crop insurance coverage to help provide adequate pricing for organic producers. The report, to be released on the NASS website December 15, 2022, will also assist producers, suppliers, and others in the private sector in planning the production and marketing of new products to help sustain industry growth. “This survey continues a great partnership across USDA agencies in a commitment to support certified organic producers based on the best data possible,” added Whetstone. “This voluntary survey gives all organic farmers and ranchers who receive it an opportunity to impact the industry.” “I encourage producers to participate in this survey so we can continue to improve Federal crop insurance for organic producers,” said Marcia Bunger, Administrator for USDA’s Risk Management Agency. “We now offer an organic price for 84 crops, which is up from just four in 2011, due in part to the information received from this survey. Producers’ participation in this survey will aid USDA efforts to meet the needs of our nation’s ever-expanding organic market.” As is the case with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is kept confidential and will not be published in identifiable form, as required by federal law. For more information about the 2021 Certified Organic Survey, visit www.nass.usda.gov/organics.

Full Moon April 16, 2022 Eastern Daylight

In the Chef’s Corner By Aishling Stevens Executive Chef

A Passion for the Kitchen

Hello Gardener News readers. Allow me to introduce myself – I’m Aishling Stevens, Executive Chef at Crystal Springs Resort. I’m looking forward to sharing my culinary insights with you – especially as they relate to the Resort’s menus and ingredients. For this inaugural column, I would like to tell you about my background and how I developed a passion for the kitchen. My career path started here in New Jersey where I was born and raised. As the daughter of a nutritionist, I learned early in life to pay attention to the impact that high quality, seasonal ingredients have on the body. I first started working in restaurants at the age of 12, which was the beginning of my industry experience, including every back, and most front of house, positions. After graduating with a degree in Commercial Recreation & Hotel Management, I took a marketing role with The Atlantic Club, but found that the mostly office job was not a fit for my interests. Always seeking a good adventure, I then headed off on a backpacking trip to Australia, which turned into over a decade living and working down under. There, I found myself attracted to what was happening in the kitchen and committed to training to be a chef. I spent a lot of time on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast. It was a beautiful resort destination well known for its dining scene, and offered the opportunity to get to know the local farmers and anglers supplying the restaurants, which is a practice continued

to this day. After my stay in Australia, I moved to the United Kingdom for a year and worked as a Sous Chef at The Walpole Arms, a Michelin Bib Gourmand farm-to-table country pub. The restaurant was owned by a farmer and hunter who would bring their hunted game back to the restaurant each night. Working with such fresh products was exciting for me and gave me the love for promoting underutilized proteins and different cuts of animals. I reveled in the preparation possibilities. While planning my return to Australia, I stopped in the United States to visit with family. Although I was not actively looking to work here, the Americana Hospitality Group offered me a job. It was my first chef/management position, overseeing more than 20 employees, and I was able to introduce my culinary philosophies to the team while developing farm partnerships, catering and operational initiatives. This role provided the perfect opportunity for me to join the culinary team at Crystal Springs Resort in Sussex County, New Jersey, as the Resort Sous Chef, overseeing the popular Crystal Tavern and outdoor Chef’s Garden. I was then promoted to Executive Chef in February 2018, with the responsibility of running all Resort culinary operations. In upcoming issues, I will discuss topics including fresh local produce, wild foraged ingredients, neighboring purveyors, pairing wine with food, methods for minimizing kitchen waste, food preservation techniques, fermentation and sustainability practices. I

will also share some of my favorite recipes, including many from Restaurant Latour, the Resort’s flagship culinary outlet that features an ever-changing menu with a heavy focus on locally sourced ingredients. One of the most popular items on our current menu is our Bison Short Rib, Sassafras, and Sunchoke. The short rib is cured for 24 hours in a sassafras cure with fennel seed, juniper berries, salt and sugar. Then, it is slow cooked until tender. A sauce is also made with the sassafras, which is rich with flavors of birch beer. Served with roasted sunchokes, crispy shallots and Brussels sprouts, this dish is very popular with our guests during these colder months. I find that the sassafras flavoring makes this dish interesting. Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a slender tree indigenous to the eastern U.S. with a yellow flower that blooms in April and May, and edible leaves that turn a variety of colors in the fall ranging from bright yellow, to orange, pink, red and purple. The leaves are best harvested when young and green in the spring, and when dried and powdered, the ingredient is referred to as “filé” and most famously used in gumbo as a replacement for okra. Use of the tree’s bark and roots to make root beer was once popular but has fallen out of favor due to the high concentration of safrole, which is also found in nutmeg, black pepper, star anise, cinnamon and basil but can be toxic in high doses. Sassafras is in the laurel family, a cousin to laurel and spicebush.

Editor’s Note: Aishling Stevens is the Executive Chef at Crystal Springs Resort is in Hamburg, N.J. For more information on its culinary program, visit www.CSResort.com.

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April 2022 11

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out equipment. Live music – There will be a live band on Saturday (don’t worry, it will be far enough away from the booths for you to have normal conversations). Food trucks – Instead of the usual concession stand fare, this event will host several food options from multiple food truck vendors. Location – The Hunterdon County Fairgrounds are within minutes of a great nightlife in Lambertville, NJ and New Hope, PA. Plus, we expect attendees from throughout NJ, NY, PA and DE to come to this centrally located event.

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14 April 2022 The Gold Medal Plant Program was created by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) in 1979 to celebrate and showcase beautiful, easy to grow plant species ideal for home gardening. Each year, a committee of horticulture experts convene to assess trees, shrubs, and perennials on various criteria including their suitability for home gardens in the mid-Atlantic region, their ease of cultivation, ready commercial availability, wildlife value, weather tolerance, and pest resistance. Since the program’s inception, PHS has named over 150 Gold Medal Plants. Including this year’s winners, all plants are indicated for their hardiness in the 5-7 hardiness zones, which covers the Mid-Atlantic region, but are also valid in other regions.  We hope that the PHS Gold Medal Plants list will help gardeners find the right species of plants to suit their garden’s unique needs, while also inspiring them to include plants they may not have considered before. We take care to ensure a diverse selection of plant species by beginning the process with submissions from a wide spectrum of horticulturists, so each year’s Gold Medal Plant winners include a

GardenerNews.com Pennsylvania Horticultural Society By Andrew Bunting Vice President of Public Gardens and Landscapes

PHS Gold Medal Plant Program variety of plants for every garden condition, size, and need. Abelia x grandiflora ‘Little Richard’, glossy abelia is an ornamental shrub with alluring small, white flowers that bloom in late spring and early summer. The flowers are a great magnet for a host of pollinators. In the fall, the foliage of this evergreen shrub changes to an orangepink hue. ‘Little Richard’ is a fast-growing shrub that is deer resistant, and it is hardy from zones 6-9 and is very heat and drought tolerant. The Freeman maple is a hybrid between the red maple, Acer ruburm and the silver maple, Acer saccharinum. Acer x freemanii Autumn Blaze® is a large native shade tree with spectacular orange-red fall foliage. Autumn Blaze® is a great choice in the garden where poor drainage is an issue. Not only can it grow in damp soils, it literally can grow in standing water. This species

is hardy in zones 4-8. Cornus kousa Scarlet Fire®, the Kousa dogwood is a flowering dogwood with a magnificent abundance of fuchsia-colored bracts. Reaching 20-25 feet tall and a slightly lesser spread, it has a vase-shaped canopy at maturity. Scarlet Fire® like other selections of the Kousa dogwood will have the best flowering and the best burgundy fall color in full sun. It is hardy to zones 5-8. Heuchera ‘Caramel’ has been one of my favorite selections of the coralbells over the years. In the last 20 years, there probably have been hundreds of new cultivars introduced to the marketplace. Because Heuchera villosa is one of the parents, it exhibits the ability to perennialize in the garden while most other coral bells are short-lived. It is most effective when used in masses in the garden. The foliage has a yellow-orange or “caramel” color which

holds well into the winter. In fact, in mild winters it can be almost evergreen. It also is a great plant for late season containers. It is hardy in zones 4-9. Ilex opaca ‘Maryland Dwarf’ is a diminutive selection of the American holly. This sun-loving, lowgrowing native holly is shade tolerant and grows well in many different soil types. It has exhibited relative resistance to deer and tolerates dry shade. At maturity it reaches four to five feet tall and can spread up to twelve feet wide. It is effective as a single specimen or planted in masses. It is hardy in zones 6-9. There is no better plant for attracting pollinators than the mountain mint, Pycnanthemum muticum. When Pycnanthemum is flowering it is covered with many different pollinating bees, moths, butterflies, wasps, etc. This perennial will reach 2 ½ feet tall. All

parts of the plant have a mint-like fragrance, hence “mountain mint”. Because of the fragrance it is completely deer resistant. The foliage and flowers have a grayish-cast which is ornamental. This is a great ground covering and colonizing perennial that can be utilized for its massing ability in the garden. Editor’s Note: Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Public Gardens and Landscapes for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He is one of the most recognized horticulturists in the Philadelphia, Pa., region and a highly regarded colleague in the world of professional horticulture. Bunting has amassed a plethora of awards, including the American Public Gardens Association Professional Citation, Chanticleer Scholarship in Professional Development, Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Marion Marsh Award, and the Certificate of Merit from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. In addition, Bunting has lectured extensively throughout North America and Europe, and participated in plant expeditions throughout Asia and Africa. Learn more at https://phsonline.org/team/ andrew-bunting

New Jersey Senate Panel Advances Horseshoe Crab Resolution A bipartisan resolution sponsored by Senator Jean Stanfield and Senator Bob Smith protecting the horseshoe crab population in the Delaware Bay was endorsed on March 14, 2022, by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee. The resolution (SR-67) urges the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) to continue prohibit the harvest of female horseshoe crabs, except for scientific purposes. Currently, New Jersey has a moratorium on the harvesting of horseshoe crabs unless for the purpose of research or vaccine development. The ASMFC, which has managed the crab population in the Delaware Bay since 2013, approved a policy change in January that may allow for harvesting female horseshoe crabs. “Lifting the harvesting ban on female horseshoe crabs is a bad idea that could jeopardize the fragile Delaware Bay ecosystem,” said

Senator Stanfield (R-8). “Female crabs make up less than 25 percent of the bay’s horseshoe crab population, and the survival of the 350-millionyear-old species is in the balance. It is a risk not worth taking, and we’re asking the Commission to think twice about lifting the protections in the bay, the spawning ground for the largest population of horseshoe crabs in the world.” While several bird and many fish species feed on horseshoe crabs and their eggs, it is the crabs’ blood that is most beneficial to humans. The blood is an ingredient in a compound pharmaceutical companies use to test drugs for purity, ensuring that bacteria and other pathogens are not tainting the medicine. “Blood from horseshoe crabs played a key role in the development of COVID-19 vaccine,” Stanfield noted. “Every drug manufacture depends on the blood to ensure medications are

free of potentially deadly bacterial toxins. Health care in this country and across the globe relies on a robust horseshoe crab population.” Sometimes referenced as “living fossils,” the Wetlands Institute said the distinctive crab is a “keystone species of the Delaware Bay” and “an animal that is very much depended upon by many other species participating in the ecosystem.” Classified as a “near threatened” species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature,” horseshoe crabs are a crucial food source for red knots, a threatened shore bird species which passes through the bay region on their annual migration from the Arctic Circle to the tip of Argentina. The red knots consume crab eggs, a source of life sustaining fat for the long journey south, and the crabs and their eggs also support the bay’s fish populations.

GardenerNews.com

EPA Takes Steps to Protect Endangered and Threatened Species from Insecticide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will take action to protect endangered and threatened species in response to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) nationwide final biological opinion (BiOp) for the insecticide malathion. This insecticide is commonly used for wide-area mosquito control and to control insects that attack crops and ornamental plants. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), EPA ensures that certain actions, including many pesticide registration actions, do not jeopardize federally threatened and endangered (i.e., listed) species or adversely modify their designated critical habitats. In January 2017, EPA released the biological evaluation for malathion, which found the registration of this pesticide is likely to adversely affect listed species and their designated critical habitats. Because of these findings, EPA initiated formal consultation with FWS. FWS then developed a draft BiOp, which evaluates whether the use of malathion is likely to jeopardize listed species or adversely modify their critical habitats. In April 2021, EPA posted FWS’s draft BiOp for public comment and then summarized the comments for FWS to consider when finalizing its BiOp. The final BiOp is the product of a collaborative interagency effort. Working together, FWS, EPA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and pesticide registrants identified mitigation measures to protect listed species. Registrants involved in the consultation agreed to implement these measures by modifying their product labels. FWS’s draft BiOp identified species that could be jeopardized by how malathion was used before this consultation process. FWS determined that the new mitigation measures, once implemented, will adequately reduce the potential effects of malathion products on listed species. EPA and FWS believe these measures, which are specifically intended to minimize malathion exposure, protect listed species. Agreed-upon mitigation measures include no spray zones, reductions in application rates and number of applications, and other changes to the labels that, once approved, pesticide users must follow. Some of these measures will be implemented via Bulletins Live! Two, an online system that describes geographically specific pesticide use limitations to protect listed species and their designated critical habitats. These measures will not only protect listed species but also reduce exposure and ecological effects more broadly wherever malathion is used. In addition to label changes that will reduce exposure and prevent jeopardy to listed species, the BiOp provides several reasonable and prudent measures — actions intended to minimize unintentional harm (i.e., “take”) to individuals of these listed species and minimize damage to their critical habitats that could result from malathion use. This is the first nationwide final BiOp to result from EPA’s consultation with FWS for a pesticide under registration review. The BiOp thus reflects a major milestone in EPA’s work with FWS to protect listed species from pesticides and will advance the agencies’ broader efforts to improve the pesticide consultation process. The final BiOp is the last step in EPA’s formal ESA consultation process with FWS. EPA is responsible for implementing the BiOp. By April 29, 2022, EPA will request that registrants submit amended labels to EPA. Registrants will then have 60 days to submit these amended labels. EPA will approve the amended labels and develop Endangered Species Protection Bulletins per registrant commitment letters within 18 months of the final BiOp issuance. See the comments on FWS’s draft BiOp for malathion in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0231 at www.regulations.gov.

April 2022 15 Unique Plants By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

Clay Pigeons, Tree Scars & Cowboy Cauldrons

Back in early February I received an invitation from a dear friend to experience “golf with guns,” but was not sure what that meant. My friend Dr. John Corino has an uncanny ability to seek out extraordinary experiences and live life to its fullest. Always quick to invite me on his special pilgrimages, John is the kind of friend who you can count on one hand, at the end of your life, as one of the most kind, dependable and generous. This outing was to Millbrook, NY, and the destination was Sandanona. Orvis Sandanona is a venue open 362 days a year, and its main lodge was built during the presidency of Thomas Jefferson. “Using its richly textured past as a foundation, Orvis Sandanona has built a thriving, modern sporting class shooting ground that is consistently ranked among the very best,” (Orvis.com/ sandanona). This facility offers sporting clays, a school you can attend, private lessons with highly skilled instructors, and just about anything you can think of regarding field and stream. “A place where the traditions of the field and hunt are held in the highest regard.” Education, safety, and fun are ever-present at the oldest permitted shotgun shooting club in the country. After properly being fitted with my firearm, an Italian Caesar Guerini Summit Sporting 12 gauge, I was met by our “trapper” Kenny. A trapper is someone who accompanies you, concerned with educating, safety and ensuring your best possible shooting experience. Our game was set on the extensive Woodland Course, an 18-stand standard, listed in Esquire magazine’s top 10 list of courses in the United States.

Fortunately for us, John rented a souped-up golf cart to haul all our gear around on a sub-freezing day, a day showcasing towering deciduous beauties encased and glistening with ice. Kenny and I spoke keenly about his world, clay shooting, but quickly found we shared an affinity for trees. He pointed out that many of the larger trees in the forest close to the shooting stands had been labeled with placards by the Mary Flagler Cary Arboretum, a nonprofit arboretum operated by the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies. Their placards identified native species, complete with common names, botanical names, and certain attributes. Each stand or station had its own unique name. “Chukar Gulch” is a cantilevered stand where clay pigeons (targets) are thrust beneath you by your trapper using mechanical means. Two noteworthy trees at this station are Chestnut/Rock Oak, Quercus prinus, and Sugar maple, Acer saccharum. Rock oak leaves are similar to American chestnut, but with erratic acorn production. Chestnut Oak’s bark, the signboard noted, has three important uses; producing tannic acid used in the leather industry, and as a source for both furniture building and fuel. Sugar maple, the other tree identified close to “Chukar Gulch,” had our trapper correctly identifying its botanical name, much to my surprise. Kenny exclaimed, “Well I did have an environmental science class years ago… I guess some things just stick.” Sugar maple is the most abundant tree in the northern hardwood climax forest and its sap is the main source of maple syrup and maple sugar. And let’s not forget its remarkable fall color… a

combination of oranges and reds. Outside “Jumping Jack Snipe” are two good sized conifers, Eastern White Pine, Pinus strobus, and Eastern Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis. Close to “Pinewood Partridge” is another pair of trees, one a deciduous ornamental, the other a coniferous evergreen. Scarlet oak’s, Quercus coccinea, sign referenced the tree’s glossy, deeply lobed foliage that turns brilliant scarlet in autumn. The placard also astutely mentioned their acorns mature every two years and are a wonderful food source for wildlife. Red Pine, Pinus resinosa, is a TREE-mendous conifer nearby, showcasing scaly, orange-red bark, with large, irregular diamond-shaped plates. A standout for me, this strong vertical line erupted out of the snow almost saying, “Hey, look at me!” The forest is filled with all sorts of horticultural treasures one could appreciate, dimpled along the white runway through the timber. Identifying plants and concentrating on my aim, determined to score well against the formidable clay pigeons, tested my abilities. Important to me, aside from the Cowboy Cauldron warming stations, was avoiding the repetitious wounding of certain trees by many a shooter’s effort. Hopes of subjugating the propelled targets left a handful of mature trees imperfect; their bark scarred, but healing. “I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately… I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life,” Henry David Thoreau. John takes these words to heart every day, truly alive and awake! And anyone fortunate enough to share in his adventures is far better off.

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, past member of 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.

16 April 2022 Spring is here, hurray! I can’t wait for the warmer weather and sunshine pouring down upon our lives. Nothing is sweeter than the Irish green color of your lawn in springtime. Believe it or not, the current Russian situation will have an effect on fertilizer supplies and costs. Russia is a leading supplier of fertilizer materials worldwide and they have the largest supply of natural gas in the world. Natural gas is used heavily in the production of fertilizers. When the price of natural gas goes up so does the cost of fertilizer. Some fertilizer producers have been forced to shut down their plants until the price of natural gas comes back down. This is a very expensive proposition because it costs millions of dollars to shut down a fertilizer plant and millions to re-start it back up. It’s not like switching on a light, it takes time and planning. No producer chooses to close down until better economic times come around unless they absolutely have to. When the price of oil goes Spring is springing and it’s time for spring cleaning of course! However, we look to the outdoors to clean up so we can start entertaining and enjoying our yards again for the season. Your hardscaped surfaces will need as much attention as your lawn and plant material, so don’t overlook them after you have cleared any leaves, branches and debris from your yard. Hardscapes can be made from varied materials and depending on the type of cleaning you’ll need, there may be different methods to use to clean up a stain or mark. Always check with your landscape professional and/ or the hardscape manufacturer’s website before using a product on your hardscape. However, below are some general guidelines to get you started. For a basic cleaning of your hardscaped patios and walkways, start with cleaning out any weeds and/or moss that may have grown between the joints. To get rid of moss or weeds, use a stiff brush (no wire or metal brushes or scouring pads) made of nylon or similar to remove any of the visible moss or weeds. Then make a solution of bleach and water

GardenerNews.com Turf ‘s Up By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Spring into Spring! up to $105 a barrel or more, the cost of moving these huge barges of fertilizer from Europe, the Middle East, China and Russia goes up too. Of course, the cost of trucking and rail also goes up with increased fuel costs. On to more pleasant subjects, I hope when you read this article spring has sprung. The days are getting lighter earlier in the mornings and staying lighter later in the day. I can drive home from work in the light now, I love spring. I went to Florida for vacation in February and it was cooler than I had hoped. The cold fronts we experienced here in New Jersey came to Florida

and the cooler air kept me out of the water. I went to the Keys; I had never been there before. It was very nice, particularly the entertaining iguanas climbing down from the palm trees, walking casually across the patio to take a drink or swim in the resort pool. Don’t forget to do a good clean-up of any debris on your lawn, twigs, leaves or mulch that got pushed into lawn area from your landscape beds. Keep your fingers crossed that the lawn mower starts up on the first few pulls, or that your electric starter battery isn’t dead after hanging out in the shed or garage all winter. Well, it’s time to consider

your lawn care program for this year. If it stays cool and wet, delay your application of crabgrass preventers until later in the spring. If you have little history of crabgrass problems, or you have a lot of shade in your lawn, perhaps you do not need to apply crabgrass preventer. Feed your lawn with some lawn food in early spring to spur growth and to thicken up the grass. What about grass seed and bare spots on your lawn? Be sure to loosen the soil prior to seeding so the grass roots can grow deep. If you have had problems growing grass in certain soils, find out why. You don’t want these areas

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

the season, should any leaves or debris get onto the surface, sweep them away as soon as possible. Leaves and flowers in particular can result in tough By Gail Woolcott stains on your hardscapes, as do Executive Director lime and fertilizer if left on the surface too long. Now it’s time to enjoy your patio and yard for the season. these products should you want water; another suggests Enjoy the spring and get outside to do that before that time. I liquid laundry detergent for as much as possible. It is great would highly recommend you these types of stains. Again, have a professional apply and be sure to check the specific for your health, both physical clean them with these particular manufacturer’s website for the and mental! products to avoid damaging right product to use on your your hardscape. hardscape surfaces. Editor’s Note: Gail Woolcott So, let us move on to a basic An especially important is the Executive Director for spring cleaning of your pavers. note…Unless you are a the New Jersey Landscape As stated before, remove all professional, DO NOT pressure Contractors Association. debris from the hardscape, along wash or power wash your She was presented with a with any furniture or objects hardscapes. You cannot only community service award from sitting atop the paver surface. damage the joints but may hurt the Borough of Fairview for Use a mild dish detergent and the sealing and/or paver itself by her assistance in leading the gently scrub the pavers with a using the wrong nozzle, incorrect 9-11 Memorial Park project nylon brush (again, no metal). psi and wrong products. Please and the Legislative Champion Once complete, rinse the entire contact a professional to handle of the Year award from the area well with your hose. You a more difficult cleaning job on Federation of Employers and can spot treat if you have your pavers. Workers of America. She is particularly stubborn stains, Once everything has been currently the State Licensee such as food and beverage or cleaned and dried, move your Chair on the National oils. One paver manufacturer furniture and potted plants (we Association of Landscape recommends OxiCleanTM hope you have some) back onto Professionals International laundry powder mixed with the paver surfaces. Throughout Certification Council.

The NJLCA Today

Spring Cleaning for Your Hardscape

(very small amount of bleach to a gallon of water) and spray in the joints. Lightly scrub the areas, then rinse them well with a hose. If you notice there are white stains on your pavers, particularly if they are newer (0-18 months after install), this is likely a naturally occurring haze that happens to cementcontaining products. If it doesn’t bother you, it will eventually go away on its own as the calcium hydroxide moves out of the paver with rain, snow and use. But if the efflorescence does bother you, there are products from Gator and Flexlock that will clean the efflorescence away. Most paver manufacturers will not recommend cleaning them in this way until a year or so after installation but do recommend

bare again. Is your lawn in too much shade? Has the dog dug up the grass? Did you spread too much ice melt and part of the lawn died? These are questions worth asking as we enter the spring season. What about soil pH? What do you need to do if your soil pH is out of the desirable grass growing range? You need to go back to the Gardener News archives and read some of my articles on improving your soil. They are all available to read if you sign up to get the Gardener News online. Just think, Easter is next, then Mother’s Day, Memorial Day and Summer, yes! Enjoy the sweet smell of the spring air and I hope this is one of your best years. Enjoy friends and family and go to the beach a lot!

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April 2022 17

IT’S TIME TO SPRING INTO ACTION WITH YOUR LAWN! Discover the “Jonathan Green” Difference on your lawn today.

Available at garden centers and hardware stores in your area.

Ask for a free copy of our Lawn Care Guide. 4/22

Outdoor Dreams Come True at Landscape Industry Show

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Gail Woolcott, left, Executive Director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA), met up with Charles H. Gamarekian, Founder & CEO of Cambridge Pavers, Inc., at the NJLCA 2022 Landscape New Jersey Trade Show and Conference in the Meadowlands Exposition Center on February 23. Gamarekian, who is wellknown for his television commercials, was on hand to promote his Cambridge Pavingstones system with ArmorTec.® The Landscape New Jersey Trade Show and Conference celebrated its 44th year, providing the industry with a one-day indoor show, combining the best in education, with the newest and most innovative equipment, materials and outdoor living industry products and services. Proceeds of the show help to expand the NJLCA’s outreach, educational programs, legislative voice, and membership services throughout the year.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

18 April 2022

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NORTHEAST DEPARTMENT PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Secretary of Agriculture Highlights Pennsylvania’s $746 Million Mushroom Industry on Food Fuels PA Tour

Seven Recipients Honored for Distinguished Service

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding and Department of Community and Economic Development Acting Deputy Secretary Mandy Book stopped at Chester County’s To-Jo Mushrooms, Inc., on the Food Fuels Pennsylvania tourOpens In A New Window. The company’s West Grove processing facility demonstrates how Pennsylvania’s $746 million mushroom industry powers jobs and innovation and fuels our state economy. “The growers of this region are what make the ‘Mushroom Capital of the World’ the perfect place to highlight how Food Fuels Pennsylvania,” said Secretary Redding. “Food brings people together and fuels both our bodies and our livelihoods, thanks to innovative farmers and food manufacturers who feed the commonwealth and the world.” Pennsylvania’s mushroom industry leads the nation in production, with nearly 60% of all mushroom production occurring in southeast Pennsylvania and nearly two-thirds of all mushrooms harvested in the U.S. are harvested in Chester County. The industry supports more than 9,300 jobs and contributes $1.2 billion to the economy. “Agriculture continues to be an essential part of industry in Pennsylvania with food manufacturers like To-Jo Mushrooms helping to fuel our economy and create jobs,” said Mandy Book, DCED Acting Deputy Secretary. Pennsylvania agriculture is a $132.5 billion industry that supports nearly 53,000 farms and more than 593,000 jobs each year. Food manufacturing is one of the largest sectors of the commonwealth’s agriculture industry, supporting 140,000 jobs and contributing $22.4 billion to the state’s economy annually. Pennsylvania has faced an agricultural workforce shortage that at one point estimated a deficit of 75,000 workers as farmers retire and new technology-based positions become available. In recognition of workforce needs and agriculture’s importance to the economy, the Wolf Administration partnered with Team Pennsylvania to analyze economic trends and workforce needs. The 2021 Economic Impact of Agriculture in PennsylvaniaOpens In A New Window report defines the commonwealth’s unique agricultural landscape, quantified economics and workforce impacts. Since 2019, the PA Farm Bill has invested more than $7 million in the PA Preferred program to grow support of the overall program, bolster enrollment in the Homegrown by Heroes program, and create opportunities in organic agriculture. These investments help qualified businesses of all sizes compete in the marketplace and connect with consumers. Find more info online at papreferred.comOpens In A New Window. For more information on the Wolf Administration’s work to strengthen the resilience of Pennsylvania agriculture visit agriculture.pa.govOpens In A New Window.

Seven farmers and others actively involved in New Jersey agriculture received Distinguished Service to Agriculture Citations from the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture during the New Jersey State Agricultural Convention recently. Those honored at the Joint Agricultural Convention Dinner Banquet were Dave Bond, Sam Conard, Alan Danser, Dan

Farrand, Monique Purcell, David Van Vorst, each for 2022, along with 2021 winner Dr. Mel Henninger. “Each of these individuals is highly regarded for their experience, expertise and contributions that have benefitted agriculture in the Garden State,” NJDA Secretary Douglas Fisher said. “Their devotion to farming in New Jersey is legendary.”

RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Farm Fresh RI, DEM, Office of Healthy Aging Team Up to Make Nearly 13,000 Food Boxes Available to Eligible Seniors in 2022 The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Division of Agriculture has upgraded its Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) bulk purchase pilot program to provide an estimated 12,800 boxes of fresh Rhode Island food to eligible seniors. The purpose of this program is to keep food security funds in Rhode Island. DEM is working closely with the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging (OHA) to determine what communities are in most need of this assistance and to ensure the most helpful outcome. This effort will be done in partnership with Farm Fresh Rhode Island (FFRI), which will source, pack, and deliver the food boxes to 75 different senior sites across the state. In the first round of produce box deliveries of 2022, select senior locations including senior centers across the state will be signing up participants from March 1 to April 15 to be included in the opportunity to receive a free box of locally grown produce. When signing up, each participant will be asked to indicate whether they meet the listed eligibility criteria on a provided form. Upon submission of this form, details regarding delivery of the produce boxes to the senior location will be discussed with

each participant so they can plan to pick up their assigned produce box. If an eligible participant is not able to sign up or receive their produce box on the day of delivery, another individual can be selected as a “proxy” to do so on the eligible participants behalf. SFMNP provides low-income seniors with coupons that can be exchanged for eligible foods (fruits, vegetables, honey, and fresh-cut herbs) at farmers’ markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Fewer than one-third of senior citizens in the United States eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables, which are vital to preventing and treating health problems. The USDA Food and Nutrition Service has been running SFMNP since 2001 with the annual Farm Bill passed by Congress providing federal funding for the program. Each year the SFMNP program relies on the redemption of coupon vouchers. Eligible seniors will receive a free food box filled with local seasonal produce with a value of $20. Produce will be provided by farmers throughout Rhode Island. For more information about DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem. ri.gov

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April 2022 19

OF AGRICULTURE NEWS VERMONT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Vermont Celebrates 2022 Maple Season and 75th Anniversary of Proctor Maple Research Center Framed by the Green Mountains blanketed in winter snow and the maple wood of Underhill, Vermont Governor Phil Scott kicked off the 2022 Vermont Maple Season by tapping the unofficial “first” maple tree at the University of Vermont Proctor Maple Research Center (PMRC). While Vermont’s maple industry is celebrated for its world-renowned quality, taste and nationwide leading annual production, the event also celebrated the important contributions of the Underhill facility to Vermont’s maple producers over the past 75 years. From growing the ability to tap trees and boil maple sap utilizing leading-edge technology to studying the potential impacts of climate change on the state’s maple trees, the Research Center is widely recognized in the industry as playing an important role in the cultural growth and economic importance of the traditional agricultural crop. “Our maple industry leads the nation, supports our economy and strengthens the Vermont brand, while the Proctor Maple Research Center at UVM reinforces that,” said Governor Scott. “With the strong brand recognition of Vermont Maple comes a responsibility to keep our standards at the highest level, and our maple producers have been doing that for decades with the help of the Proctor Maple Research Center.” Established in 1947, PMRC is renowned as an international leader in basic and applied research on maple trees and maple production. Throughout its history, UVM maple scientists have worked in the lab, the sugarhouse and around the state to understand the issues facing maple producers and help advance the science to solve them. “We are proud of our long history in maple research, demonstration and outreach at the University of Vermont and pioneering contributions of UVM maple scientists,” said Leslie Parise, dean of the UVM College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, home to PMRC. “We look forward to continuing to better understand the most pressing issues facing Vermont maple producers and advancing the science to address them.” “Vermont continues to lead the nation in maple syrup production, with nearly half of the country’s maple syrup coming from our state’s family farms,” Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Secretary Anson Tebbetts said. “Vermont Maple has expanded its reach past pancakes and waffles. We are seeing it infused in barbeque sauces, hot sauces, spirits and beers, and is even considered a healthy alternative to cane sugar as a natural sweetener,” said Cory Ayotte, Communications Director of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association. “Vermont’s sugar makers continue to produce the most maple syrup in the United States and have more than doubled their tap count since 2008.”

DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

No Matter The Flock Size, Poultry Owners Need To Protect Bird Health The Delaware Department of Agriculture (DDA) has been warning poultry owners since January to take extra precautions to protect their birds in light of detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wild birds in the Atlantic Flyway. But after a case of HPAI was announced last week in a commercial poultry farm in New Castle County, DDA is reminding owners that biosecurity is the best way to protect bird health. Biosecurity refers to everything that people can do to protect their flock to stop anything that causes disease away from the birds, property, and people. Avian influenza is an airborne respiratory virus that spreads easily among chickens through nasal and eye secretions, as well as manure. The virus can be spread in various ways from flock to flock, including by wild birds, through contact with infected poultry, by equipment, and on the clothing and shoes of caretakers. Wild birds typically do not show signs of illness, but they can shed the virus at high levels in their manure or droppings if infected. In fact, one gram of contaminated manure, enough to cover a dime, can infect one million birds. Therefore, Delaware poultry is at risk from exposure if they have access to areas where free-flying waterfowl and wild birds are present in the environment. Additionally, if a person steps in contaminated manure while out and about, they can bring the virus back to their domesticated birds, where the birds can eat it, causing infection. So what can you do, especially when wild birds fly overhead, dropping fecal matter all over during their migration? • Keep your poultry away from wild ducks, geese, and their environment, including ponds, lakes, and swampy areas. • Restrict small flocks from sharing their habitat with wild waterfowl by maintaining outdoor enclosures with solid roofs and wire mesh or netted sides. Repair any holes or tears that would allow birds or rodents to enter. • Provide feed and water in an indoor or covered area. Change it daily and promptly clean up any spilled feed so as not to attract wildlife. • Wear designated farm shoes when working with your birds or use disposable shoe coverings each time you enter your flock area. If you have multiple chicken houses, have a dedicated set of footwear that you keep in each house. Use footbaths before entering a chicken house. • Wash your hands before and after working with your birds to reduce the chance of spreading infectious particles. • Clean and disinfect any equipment or bird housing/coops before bringing them onto your property. Avian influenza virus can survive

in manure for several months, especially with high moisture and low temperatures. • Starlings, songbirds, vultures, and other raptors can be carriers of avian influenza and not show signs of disease. Consider hanging a bird deterrent in the doorway of poultry houses while doors are open when working in the poultry house. • Wash your vehicles and trailers after visiting other poultry facilities and go through a car wash before you return home. • Keep visitors to a minimum. Only allow those people who have direct responsibility in taking care of your flock to come in contact with the birds. Keep track of everyone who comes onto your property at all times by using a logbook. If they had contact with other poultry, have pet birds, or had contact with wild birds (e.g., hunting), do not let them come in contact with your flock. When adding birds to your flock, make sure to purchase them from a reputable source. The baby chicks purchased at local farm stores come from NPIP certified flocks tested and shown to be free from avian influenza. When they are two weeks old, these chicks will typically leave the store with their new owner, so they are considered low-risk for having the disease. However, once they are about three weeks old, they are more susceptible to contracting the virus from their new environment. Make sure to keep new birds or returning show birds separated from established home flocks for 30 days. No matter the size, all poultry farms should be monitoring flocks for any signs of increased mortality. Pay particular attention to see if any birds show signs of respiratory illness or distress, such as sneezing, gasping for air, coughing, and/ or runny nose. Other signs of HPAI in poultry can include swelling around the eyes, neck, and head; purple discoloration of the wattles, combs, and legs; tremors, drooping wings, circling, twisting of the head and neck, or any combination; watery, green diarrhea; lack of energy, poor appetite; and a drop in egg production, or soft or thin-shelled, misshapen eggs. Backyard flock owners who notice any of the signs of HPAI in their flock should contact the Delaware Poultry Health Hotline at 302-698-4507 or send an email to poultry.health@delaware.gov with contact information, size of flock, location, and concerns. Backyard flock owners will be contacted if a sample needs to be taken. Do not take dead or sick birds to a lab to be tested or move them off-site. Commercial poultry producers should follow the procedures of contacting the company they grow for when they notice signs of disease.

20 April 2022 Every once in a while, a news story comes along that just takes on a life of its own and, for whatever reason, captures the attention of a very large audience in a short amount of time. Timing seems to have a lot to do with whether or not a story goes viral. If something happens during a rather dull period, then more people are apt to pay attention. But plenty of viral-worthy stories have been overshadowed by other events also. Viral stories are not just limited to the personal lives and criminal records of selfabsorbed celebrities, however. Every now and then, something agricultural will go viral as well. But while a normal viral news story has a 36-hour life cycle, a viral agricultural story may take years to unfold. Let’s take the Honeycrisp apple for example. Seemingly overnight, it came from relative obscurity and became one of the most popular apple varieties in the United States. It seemed as if every other person shopping at our farm market was looking for Honeycrisps. But this “overnight success” was actually many years in the making. According to Wikipedia, the Without doubt, there is no shortage of color throughout April and May. From the heights of flowering trees to the creeping lows of groundcovers, color abounds. This also implies that for a spring bloomer to be garden worthy, it must have abundant blossoms or colorful foliage. At least that was my viewpoint when I first began to garden. As time passed, I began to appreciate the small nuances that make for a great garden plant. It was during the spring of 2009 when I first encountered Uvularia grandiflora, commonly known as Merrybells or Bellwort. Its delicate yet eye-catching constitution began my slow but steady appreciation for the small nuances of spring beauty! Uvularia is a member of the Colchicaceae or Colchicum family with five species, all of which are native to Eastern North America. The genus was named by Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) in 1753 and its roots came from the Latin ūvula, meaning little grape. His inspiration came from either the dangling yellow flowers or perhaps the hanging fruits that follow. The species epithet, meaning ‘large flower,’ refers to the impressive 1½” long flowers.

GardenerNews.com The Town Farmer By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Going Viral

cultivar that would later be named Honeycrisp was first discovered in Minnesota way back in 1971! After several years of evaluation, it was deemed worthy enough to patent in 1988. It was then released to nurseries to propagate in 1991. And now, thirty years after that, it is one of the top five produced apple varieties in the United States. While fifty years might seem like a long time to most people, that is pretty fast for the apple industry. But that is not because apple breeders and growers are slow, that is just the way things have to work. After the Honeycrisp was first discovered, it had to be evaluated for a number of years. This has to happen to ensure that the variety will stay

“true.” That is, it has to be determined that if a variety is propagated, it will keep its same traits and characteristics from one generation to the next. New cultivars will sometimes revert to resemble one of their parent cultivars over time. (Maybe that would explain why your wife is looking and acting more and more like your mother-in law.) But back to Honeycrisps. Another area that must be looked at is how the variety will grow in different regions and climates. For example, the Honeycrisp variety originated in Minnesota. Would it be just as good in Washington State or in New York or in New England? Will it bloom at the same time as other varieties or could it be susceptible to spring frosts

and freezes? What rootstocks is it compatible with? Which rootstock combinations and tree spacing densities produce optimal yields? These are all questions that have to be asked and then answered over a multiyear period. I can remember a number of years ago we purchased some trees from a nursery of a variety we had grown successfully in the past. This variety had been grafted onto a new rootstock that had shown promise with other varieties. Unfortunately for us though, this variety/rootstock combination had not been thoroughly tested and proved to be incompatible. The trees grew rather irregularly and after ten years we had to remove the trees and start over. That was an

Morris County Park Commission By Bruce Crawford Horticultural Manager

Subtle Bells Peal the Beauty of Spring The species was named in 1804 by Sir James Edward Smith (1759-1828), an English botanist and founder of the Linnaean Society, which remains devoted to the study of natural history. The large flowers consist of six slightly twisted tepals. The tepals consist of an inner whirl of three petals and an outer whirl of identical looking sepals. Sepals are modified leaves that cover the floral bud and are normally insignificant to the floral display, but not for Uvularia! The ‘shoulders’ of the dangling flowers are dark green with a light green central blush and bright yellow margins highlighting the tepals. In addition, several light green lines run from base to tip on the tepals. Equally as ornamental is the foliage. It is bright green in spring, deepening to a dark green

in summer before turning bright yellow in October. Similar to the hanging flowers, the early spring foliage has a dramatic dangling appearance, becoming increasingly outstretched come May. Similar to the green lines in the tepals, the leaves have deeply incised veins or ‘nerves’ that run from base to tip, giving the leaf a beautiful texture. The leaves are also perfoliate, whereby it appears as if the stem has literally grown through the base of the leaf. Certainly, a very appealing plant with or without flowers! A related genus equally worthy of a woodland garden is Disporum. Very similar to Uvularia and at one time included within this genus, Disporum is a genus of around 20 species native to areas throughout Asia. Also, a member of the Colchicaceae, Disporum uniflorum or Yellow

Fairy Bells is a very worthy woodland species. Native to forests primarily in Korea, the species epithet refers to how the dark yellow flowers typically appear singularly. The plant was named in 1875 by the English botanist John Gilbert Baker (1834-1920). Yellow Fairy Bells blooms appear at the end of April into May. Once again, the plants have an arching habit, although the flowers and foliage of Disporum have a more lustrous and visually thicker texture. Similar to its American cousin, the yellow bell-shaped flowers consist of six tepals and appear from the downwardly arching tips of the stems. The overall effect appears like small yellow bells that mischievous woodland fairies would peal upon the appearance of visitors!

expensive lesson to learn. Of course, if you wait too long for a variety to be evaluated, you risk missing out on some very profitable seasons. Sometimes you just have to pull the trigger. Growers that waited too long to plant Honeycrisps missed out on some years where they brought three and four times what other varieties were worth on the wholesale market. And unlike vegetables that can be grown in one growing season, apples take a couple of years in the nursery and then a couple of more years to produce, and then a few more years to come into full production. That’s a lot of thirty-six hour news cycles! Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is Mayor of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, NJ. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network. Both Uvularia grandiflora and Disporum uniflorum expand by short rhizomes, yielding dense clumps. By no means aggressive, the plants are best grown in dappled shade in humus rich soils mulched with fallen leaves. Plants will readily grow to 2’ tall and after 20 years will expand to attractive clumps near 30” wide. Separated by the Pacific Ocean, Uvularia and Disporum are related woodland plants that share numerous physical similarities, yet each genus and species has its own distinctive and subtle beauty. Oddly, both genera are dramatically underused and in consideration of their well-behaved garden manners, gardeners need to reverse this trend. After all, these are the plants whose bell-like flowers peal the subtle beauty of spring! Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Manager of Horticulture for the Morris County Parks Commission, and a Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at BCrawford@ morrisparks.net

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April 2022 21

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Tips for Youth Planning a Community Garden

What would a student need to know if placed in a leadership role in a youth-driven school or community garden project? Who benefits? There can be many positive outcomes when surrounded by knowledgeable, experienced gardeners, teachers, and caring community-minded adults with access to helpful resources. A student becomes a Growing Gardener, gaining gardening skills while problem solving. They experience commitment and confidence as they succeed in contributing to their community often achieving more than they had imagined. They feel appreciated and grow through the process while learning caring lessons through garden-based projects. Are you reaching out to youth? I was contacted by a teen Girl Scout who was researching gardening suggestions. She was preparing a pollinator garden proposal for a nearby cemetery. While serving as a Youth Chair coordinating youth gardening since 1997, I have seen teens become involved and accomplish new things that surprised themselves. I advise youth to set goals, stay disciplined and be dependable. Most importantly, show up and contribute. Describe the kind of garden you plan to grow and explain why. List priorities of things to do, create a realistic timeline, and clearly mark dates in a calendar. Learn to be flexible and always have a plan “B.” Plan ahead. Research all aspects of your project. Visit possible garden sites with an adult and ask about required approval. Check flooding history. Learn how to draw a garden map and write your ideas on graph paper. Create a budget, listing items to be purchased, costs,

and purchasing sources. Brainstorm fundraising ideas. Suggest fun youth programs that could be planned following a gardening session. Ask a bakery or local business to sponsor refreshments for your volunteers. Food and fun make volunteering more enjoyable. Always ask volunteers to bring their own water. Learn to network to find resources and volunteers. Your enthusiasm will become contagious. Get to know your local youth and adult community service clubs and community leaders. Is there a nearby Garden Club or Green Team? Visit them to describe your project and invite them to volunteer. Be a good listener and communicate with everyone involved. Acknowledge volunteers for their effort and time. Write an informational press release for local papers then ask for volunteers. Write about your garden project and invite local businesses, organizations, and individuals to be a sponsor or volunteer. Always arrange for an organization or an adult to be the contact person so you, as a student, do not publicly give out your personal contact information. Photo document your garden before you break ground. Before and after photos are often needed for grants. Basics of gardening start with testing the soil in your garden. Look up what kind of soil is best for your plants and determine if you should amend your soil. Check the drainage at possible sites during and after a heavy rain to see how much run off there is. Observe the available sunlight. Is there an available water source? Is the garden site a safe distance from traffic and moving cars? Young children must work within fenced-in areas. Do you have access to the site as needed, or is there a locked gate, or is the

garden inside a school courtyard without access when the school is closed? Is there a place to use for composting? What tools and garden gloves are needed and where will they be stored? Put together a Plant Wish List; note their spacing, expected height and months they’ll bloom. In our school garden we recommend drought and deer resistant native plants that are non-invasive and free of neonicotinoids. Connect with plant nurseries and greenhouses. Research what to plant to benefit pollinators, and learn what not to plant to discourage deer, groundhogs, tent caterpillars, spotted lantern flies, and gypsy moths, etc. Will bird feeding stations be part of your plan? Not if Black Bears live nearby! How will you label your plants? There are some things adults must handle: liability insurance, safety issues, vandalism incidents, but always obtain approval for everything you do and be sure there are always at least two adults on site, with cell phones, during gardening sessions in case of an emergency. Make long range plans. Show your garden boundaries to the person who mows the grounds. Mark the garden clearly. I have been told of some school gardens that were accidently mowed early in the season. Communication is a key factor to success. Once a maintenance plan is in place, then planting should begin. Think about sustainability, longevity, team work, and always garden safely, while being weather-wise. A Community Garden initiated by youth benefits not only those involved, but it becomes a treasure for the community by bringing people together and creating Growing Gardeners.

Editor’s Note: Diana is an Environmental Educator who can be reached at dianadove13@ gmail.com She co-teaches “Wildlife & Litter” programs with her husband Mike. They offer this and Wildlife Education booths, free, with kids’ crafts, fully funded by County & Local NJ Clean Communities for Pre-K through all grade levels and adults. Please “Like” the FB page of the Karen Nash Memorial Butterfly Garden she founded in Washington Borough, Warren County. Diana is Co-Youth Chair on the Board of the Garden Club of NJ and is the 2021 National Garden Club Youth Leader Award Recipient. She has a BS in Forestry & Wildlife Mgt, with a concentration in Biology, plus a BA in Communications from Va Tech. She is a former Sr. Naturalist for Somerset Co. Parks and has been teaching since 1975.

22 April 2022

GardenerNews.com

Pleasant-Smelling Wood Oil Not So Pleasant for Biting Ticks, Other Pests (Continued from page 1)

the black-legged tick, Ixodes scapularis, whose bite infects nearly half a million people annually with the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. To make matters worse, some ticks, such as the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) can induce Alpha-Gal Syndrome, a condition in which the person bitten by the tick develops a severe allergy to meat from livestock and other mammals. Interestingly, the researchers found different species of ticks exhibit different degrees of susceptibility to cedarwood oil. For instance, the blacklegged tick was the most susceptible of the four tick species exposed to cedarwood oil in the experiments. The others, in order of decreasing susceptibility were: brown

dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) and lone star tick (A. americanum). To test for repellency or toxicity to the ticks’ nymph stages, scientists treated small pieces of filter paper with microgram amounts of cedarwood oil and placed the papers on short vertical rods. They then released the nymphs and recorded what happened to them upon crawling up the rods and contacting the treated paper. Contact with the oiltreated papers repelled 80 to 94 percent of black-legged tick nymphs, meaning they retreated, moved more slowly or dropped off the rods. However, the oil’s repellency faded with time. More of the nymphs (94

percent) were repelled 30 minutes after the oil had been applied to the paper than after 60 minutes (80 percent). Results such as these are important considerations in formulating the oil as a repellent product that can be applied to bare skin or clothing, for example. In the experiments, DEET was more repellent than the cedarwood oil for all tick species except the blacklegged tick nymphs. Against them, the oil worked just as well. Full details of the work were published in the journal Experimental and Applied Acarology by Lina FlorWeiler, Robert Behle, Fred Eller, Ephantus Muturi and Alejandro Rooney—all of ARS. Additional tests are necessary to determine the

optimal doses to use and delivery method, they noted. Their tests also re-affirmed the benefits of using a procedure called supercritical fluid extraction, which relies on carbon dioxide (CO2) to penetrate deeply into cedarwood shavings or sawdust where reserves of the oil can be removed without degrading its quality. Typically, a method called steam distillation is used, however it is inefficient and degrades the oil during the process. Starting in the early 2000s, Eller, together with Jerry King (formerly ARS) showed that CO2 supercritical fluid extraction could yield 30 percent more cedarwood oil than steam distillation. More recently, using CO2 also resulted in a

three-fold increase in the oil’s concentration of cedrol, a biologically active ingredient that plays a major role in not only repelling ticks, but also fire ants and other insects. Pressure-treating lumber with an emulsion of the cedrol-rich oil also inhibits termites and fungi that cause wood decay, the researchers found. Editor’s Note: The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $17 of economic impact.

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April 2022 23

24 April 2022

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