Gardener News October 2014

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Gardener News 16 Mount Bethel Road #123 Warren, NJ 07059

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Gardener News

October, 2014

Serving the Agricultural, Gardening and Landscaping Communities GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 138

Think of cider as drinking your apple! By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor

Tom Castronovo/Photo

George Melick, Jr. gets ready to apply apple mash onto his family farm’s apple press.

His name is George Melick, Jr. and he’s a Hunterdon County farmer. His farm is Melick’s Town Farm. His family’s farming roots date back to the 1730s. He is also the father to Gardener News featured columnist Peter Melick. His wife is Norma and he has two other children, John and Rebecca. An entire ninth and 10th generation of family farmers. Early settlers brought apple seeds to the continent and started the first apple orchards. In 1938, George’s father George Melick, Sr. (1905-1954) planted apple trees on his New Jersey farm. In 1964, Melick, Jr. thought it was great idea to add a cider mill to the farm. The more he learned about cider and cider making, the more he fell in love with it. Fifty years ago, Melick, Jr., saw an opportunity to expand his orchard’s offerings and converted an unused barn on his property to an apple cider mill. Melick, Jr. said that the family recipe does not include using any preservatives or added sugar, and uses cold pasteurization (using UV light) to maintain the highest quality cider and retain the flavor. They produce an allnatural cider (Cont. on pg. 17)

2 October, 2014

GARDEN CENTER DIRECTORY

Plan Your Fall Landscape With Us! Pumpkins & Gourds Corn Stalks Garden Mums Fall Decorations Hay & Straw Harvest Baskets Scarecrows

All Grown in our Family Owned Greenhouses

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October, 2014 3 Around The Garden By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

4 FOR $19.99

Happy fall everyone‌ I’m so in the mood for shows and school season again. With that in mind, I thought I would share my “Save The Dateâ€? list that I have been putting together for the New Jersey metropolitan area. The below list are events that are open to the public, as well as trade-only events. Please check the paper regularly for more show listings and advertisements. As the old saying goes‌See You at the Show (or in School!) South Jersey Pumpkin Show (Open to the public) October 12, 2014 6DOHP &RXQW\ )DLUJURXQGV ‡ :RRGVWRZQ 1 - Don’t Miss the Big Pumpkin Weigh Off on Sunday, October 12, at noon. $4,000 in prize money up for grabs! Holiday Train Show (Open to the public) November 15, 2014 – January 19, 2015 7KH 1HZ <RUN %RWDQLFDO *DUGHQ ‡ %URQ[ 1 < Step into this annual New York tradition where model trains zip around landmark replicas in the glow of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. The conservatory plays host to a city in miniature, featuring more than 150 New York landmarks re-created with nuts, bark, leaves and other plant parts. NJ Plants (Trade only) Professional Landscape & Nursery Trade Show January 27 - 28, 2015 1HZ -HUVH\ &RQYHQWLRQ &HQWHU ‡ (GLVRQ 1 - NJ Plants is the place that horticultural professionals go to see, touch, learn and purchase the best available green industry products & services. Deep Cut Orchid Show (Open to the public) February 5-8, 2015 'HDUERUQ 0DUNHW ‡ +ROPGHO 1 - The Deep Cut Orchid Society Winter Show is the largest orchid show and sale in New Jersey. It is an AOS-sanctioned show and hosts many displays from orchid societies and professional growers from the area. And it’s free! NJ Flower and Garden Show (Open to the public) Feb 12 - 15, 2015 1HZ -HUVH\ &RQYHQWLRQ &HQWHU ‡ (GLVRQ 1 - $W WKH 1HZ -HUVH\ )ORZHU *DUGHQ 6KRZ H[SHFW ULYHUV RI FRORU DQG IUDJUDQFH LQ EHDXWLIXO display gardens, sit in on seminars and shop ’til you drop in the Great Garden Marketplace. PHS Philadelphia Flower Show (Open to the public) February 28 – March 8, 2015. 3HQQV\OYDQLD &RQYHQWLRQ &HQWHU ‡ 3KLODGHOSKLD 3HQQV\OYDQLD The PHS show is the world’s oldest and largest indoor flower show, attracting more than 260,000 people annually. The Show features large-scale gardens, elaborate landscapes, and overthe-top floral creations. Proceeds from the Show support PHS, particularly the City Harvest program, which feeds more than 1,200 families each week during the growing season. Landscape New Jersey 2015 (Trade only) February 25, 2015 0HDGRZODQGV ([SRVLWLRQ &HQWHU ‡ 6HFDXFXV 1 - The New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association celebrates its 38th Annual Trade Show and Conference this year. This is a one-day Green Industry marketplace and educational event. Springfest Garden Show (Open to the public) March 12-15, 2015 6XVVH[ &RXQW\ )DLUJURXQGV ‡ $XJXVWD 1 - Springfest Garden Show is well known for showcasing flower-filled garden displays designed to inspire visitors with the latest trends and ideas for their own home landscape. This is a nonprofit show produced by garden lovers for garden lovers that features beautiful garden displays by premier landscape companies and has some of the greatest garden shopping under one roof. Rutgers Home Gardeners School (Open to the public) March 21, 2015 +LFNPDQ +DOO ‡ 1HZ %UXQVZLFN 1 - 7KH +RPH *DUGHQHUV 6FKRRO RIIHUV \RX H[SHUW LQVWUXFWLRQ LQ WKH PRVW LQQRYDWLYH JDUGHQLQJ DQG landscaping subjects available. Their Spring 2015 Home Gardeners School features 35 different VHVVLRQV ĘŠ VR \RX PD\ SDUWLFLSDWH LQ PDQ\ GLYHUVH FODVV RIIHULQJV WKURXJKRXW WKH GD\ PS. Make sure you tune up your snow blower early this year. If you don’t have one, I have a Toro, and it works great. As always, I hope you find the information in the Gardener News informative and enjoyable. 8QWLO QH[W WLPHÂŤ.HHS WKH ÂłJDUGHQ´ LQ WKH *DUGHQ 6WDWH -Tom Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

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2014 NJ Flower and Garden Show Award Winning Water Display Garden

4 October, 2014

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For many in New Jersey, fall means heading out to one of our state’s farms to take a hayride, pick a pumpkin, or pick a basket of apples. These fall agritourism activities have become traditions for many families. Thousands of people in October flock to farms all over the state to participate. They might stroll through a corn maze, drink fresh-pressed apple cider or purchase homebaked pies. There are great fall vegetables available for picking or for purchase – broccoli, spinach, squash, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, eggplant, greens, parsnips, turnips, beans, beets, bok choy, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, leeks and lima beans. A favorite pick-your-own fruit is apples, and New Jersey has more than 30 varieties of apples to choose from. Winesap is the oldest, dating back to the late 1700s. Some of the other popular varieties are the Honeycrisp, red and golden Delicious, McIntosh, Gala and Granny Smith. There is an apple variety for every taste and New Jersey farms are great places to find what you like. Another fruit harvested in the fall in New Jersey is cranberries. Harvested by flooding the bogs until the fruit

Spring Village in Cape May, Holcombe-Jimison Farmstead Museum in Lambertville, Howell Living History Farm in Titusville, Longstreet Farm in Holmdel and Lusscroft Farm in Wantage. Each of the attractions has their own schedule of events, so visit their individual websites to see what is on tap. New Jersey ranks ninth in the nation in total agritourism dollars, with nine counties ranking in the top 10 percentile in agritourism sales in the nation. People love visiting our farms and participating in the wide variety of agritourism activities. I urge you to H[SHULHQFH PRUH DQG KDYH DQ enjoyable time out on the farm this season.

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

Heading out to the Farm This Fall in New Jersey floats to the surface, most of our state’s cranberries are sold for processing, but there are some cranberry farms that allow visitors or sell their cranberries for fresh consumption. Agritourism is a good value for families, providing hours of fun and countless memories. However, there is so much more to agritourism and I would like to suggest you consider adding more stops to your October agritourism outings in the Garden State. On October 5 in Beach Haven on Long Beach Island is the long-standing event, Chowderfest, this year dubbed “Clamiccon.� Visitors can sample red and white chowders from the area’s best seafood chefs and even vote for their favorites. There also is live music, children’s entertainment and a food court. The fun takes place at the Taylor Avenue ball field. New Jersey is one of the

top producers in the world for clams used for clam chowder, so it is very appropriate for our state to have a “Clamiccon.� New Jersey wineries are geared up in October with many special events and festivals. Hawk Haven Vineyard and Winery in Rio Grande, Cape May County, Brook Hollow Winery in Columbia, Warren County, Tomasello Winery in Egg Harbor Township, Atlantic County, Unionville Vineyards in Ringoes, Warren County, and Bellview Winery in Buena, Atlantic County all have special events scheduled in October. Check out their websites for all the details. Don’t forget the Grand Harvest Wine Festival at Fosterfields Living Historical )DUP .DKGHQD 5RDG Morristown, on October 4 and 5. Visitors can sample more than 300 wines from more than 20 New Jersey wineries while

Look Who’s Reading the Gardener News!

It’s in the news

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Tom Canete, president of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA), looks at the “NJLCA Today� column written by Jody Shilan in the September Gardener News. The NLJCA is a group of over 500 professional landscape contractors and associate members dedicated to advancing the integrity, proficiency and continued growth of the landscape industry. NJLCA members receive valuable information and benefits indispensable to the ongoing success of their business. The NJLCA is a proven resource to both the landscape professional and consumer. Canete is also owner and founder of Canete Landscape, Canete Snow Management, and Canete Garden Center in Wayne, Passaic County, N.J. His company has been chosen as one of the top 25 Snow Management companies in America, and has won several Landscape Achievement Awards.

enjoying live music and food. The annual Cape May Wine Festival will be held this year October 11 and 12 at the Cape May Winery Festival Grounds, Sandman Blvd. and Shunpike Road, Cape May. There will be 20 New Jersey wineries, shore-inspired food and live entertainment. Also included in agritourism are the many equine events held throughout New Jersey. Harness racing continues into October at Freehold Raceway in Monmouth County. This year, thoroughbred racing is back at the new Meadowlands, with turf racing throughout October. There also are countless horse shows and other equine events that can be found on the Jersey Equine website. Other agricultural attractions include Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morristown, Historic Cold

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

Gardener News

October, 2014 5

6 October, 2014 Pumpkin has become a seasonal favorite flavor, aroma and color. It has been trendy for a few years now and makes us feel that fall has really, truly arrived. Many times this seasonality is introduced in October, where it makes sense for most of us. Interestingly enough, purveyors of the popular products that litter the landscape have been WU\LQJ WR H[WHQG WKH VHDVRQ ,Q that sense, it follows the new tradition of many holidays, H[SDQGLQJ WKH VHDVRQ SDVW LWV traditional boundaries. Clearly, this annoys many people who tire of holidays before they even arrive. Christmas trees arrive at retailers before Thanksgiving and sometimes before Halloween. Back-to-school sales start when the kids are barely out of school less than three weeks. It seems the trend H[SDQGV RQ WKH PRVW SURILWDEOH holidays and has now spilled to seasonal trends like pumpkin. It is hard to protract the growth of fresh pumpkin, considering its seasonal placement. Generally at the first hard frost, fresh pumpkin season is over. But other aspects of the trend have and

Gardener News Passionate About Produce By Paul Kneeland The King of Produce

Yes, Pumpkin is Great! will continue to be stretched over a longer period of time. Most may think of pumpkin just as the squash that most of us associate with Halloween. That was really all it was at one point in history. Yet still we look forward to decorating the spirit of fall with these plump favorites. Make sure a sturdy stem is apparent when selecting any pumpkins and you should have one that lasts IRU D ZKLOH .HHS RXW RI GLUHFW sunlight for long periods and spray these wonders to repel wildlife if they are displayed outside. Pumpkin picking is an enjoyable perennial favorite activity. It is one usually done as a social event with friends and family. What could be better than getting out in a field and spending time with nature and those who are closest to

\RX" 7KHUH DUH HYHQ SXPSNLQ catapults at many of these growers. But why would you want to launch and destroy VXFK D JRRG DQG IXQ SXPSNLQ" Small pumpkins are also grown and can easily be displayed at work or at home. A little beauty that can keep you company wherever you spend time. My favorite of these is called the jack-be-little – a great name and such a nice little squash. They are the little mini of the bigger size pumpkins that generally weigh less than a half-pound. Pumpkin carving was always a fun event. There were those who made the traditional triangle eyes and nose for the pumpkin face with a mouth made with a few teeth placed liberally around the top and bottom. There were those who tried to make the scariest face

possible with jagged cuts and evil eyes. And then there were the lavish use of special knives and cuts. Once a lit candle is placed inside, it looks pretty cool in the night. We used to roast the pumpkin seeds that we carefully scooped out of our pumpkins. Just give them a quick rinse and into the oven. It was another great tradition and aroma. Bakers started a food trend by making pumpkin pies and pumpkin breads. Since then, pumpkin-flavored items such as beer and sausage and salads and side dishes have abounded. Pumpkin spice cider is popular, pumpkin muffins are delicious. Pumpkin flavor is truly a good trend. Pumpkin also works as an aroma. Many candle makers embrace the color and aroma

of pumpkin. It simply puts you in the mood for the cool, crisp nights of autumn. Pumpkin air fresheners also help us get to that happy place. Makes me want to start warming fresh apple cider and start a nice fire. Pumpkin colors are UHOD[LQJ DQG VRRWKLQJ &HUWDLQ to make friends and family feel at ease. Smartly appointed scarves and handkerchiefs will accent perfectly professional and leisure dress for both men and women. Thinking of a QLJKW RQ WKH WRZQ" %H D SDUW RI the seasonal trend of pumpkin. Get in the spirit of fall with a great color, a great flavor, and a great aroma. Yes, it is the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Editor’s Note: Paul Kneeland is the Vice President of Floral, Meat, Produce and Seafood for Kings Food Markets, President of the Eastern Produce Council, and a board member of the Produce Marketing Association. He holds degrees in Business Management from Boston College as well as Northeastern University. He can be reached at pkneeland@kingssm.com

A Gardener Coming of Age chinensis. Abel was a British physician and naturalist who accompanied Lord Amherst on a trip to China from 1816Years back, I attended a 1817 with the intention of lecture entitled “Tough Plants improving relations with for Tough Sites.� One of the China. It was an ill-fated plants mentioned was Glossy trip, since not only was the Abelia, known botanically as group kicked out of China when Lord Amherst refused Abelia x grandiflora. At the time, I considered to bow before the Emperor, this a rather boring selection. but on the return voyage the After all, who wants an old- boat was shipwrecked and fashioned plant that everyone pillaged by pirates, losing all has seen and perhaps used, the plant specimens in the versus something new and process. Fortunately, Abel H[FLWLQJ" )RUWXQDWHO\ ZLWK shared some of his collection age there often comes at – including the Abelia – with least some degree of greater a friend in Canton, while wisdom, and my days at additional specimens were Rutgers Gardens have brought to Europe in 1844 by allowed me to look at this IHOORZ SODQW H[SORUHU 5REHUW old-fashioned plant in a Fortune (1812-1880). As the name implies, whole new light. Abelia is a member Abelia x grandiflora is an of the Caprifoliaceae, or interspecific cross between Honeysuckle Family, with Abelia chinensis and another around 30 species spanning Fortune introduction, Abelia -DSDQ &KLQD .RUHD DQG uniflora. The cross was first 0H[LFR 7KH JHQXV QDPH conducted in 1886 by the was penned by the Scottish Rovelli Nursery in Verbana, botanist Robert Brown Italy. Glossy Abelia is an multi-stemmed (1773-1858) and honors Dr. arching, Clarke Abel (1780-1826) shrub that reaches heights who was the first European to DQG ZLGWKV RI PRUH WKDQ VL[ collect specimens of Abelia feet in the south, with a more

moderate four feet in the north. Interestingly, neither SDUHQW LV H[FHSWLRQDOO\ ZLQWHU hardy for New Jersey, while Glossy Abelia is zone 6 hardy. As the common name belies, the ovate or egg-shaped foliage is a glossy deep green, with the new growth suffused with hints of red. The foliage is arranged oppositely along the stem, and since each leaf is merely one and a half inches long, and three-eighths of an inch wide, the plant SURYLGHV D UHILQHG WH[WXUH IRU the garden. The pink blushed white flowers of all three plants are trumpet shaped, DSSUR[LPDWHO\ WKUHH TXDUWHUV of an inch long with a quarterinch diameter. The flowers appear in clusters within the OHDI D[LOV DORQJ WKH XSSHU WKLUG of the stem. Glossy Abelia has the longest duration of bloom, with new flowers appearing from June until frost. The advantage of Chinese Abelia is the wonderful fragrance the flowers provide and its ability to attract butterflies. Unfortunately, Glossy Abelia only has a faint fragrance, and is visited by only a few butterflies.

Since this plant provides floral interest from June ’til frost, why is it featured as a plant for autumn interest, when clearly it would be better discussed in latesummer when flowering shrubs are few and far EHWZHHQ" 2EYLRXVO\ LW KDV interest beyond flowers! First, upon enduring the first few frosts, the glossy dark-green foliage turns a glossy deep bronze. With the flowers still appearing over this bronze background, that should be sufficient for autumn promotion, yet there is more. The calyces or leafy bracts that appear beneath the flower persist long after the flowers have faded, and come cool temperatures of fall and into early-winter, they turn a deep maroon-red. Wow! As is typical of most plants in the Caprifoliaceae, Abelia is also deer-resistant! Furthermore, as alluded to in the introduction, it is a very adaptable to difficult sites once established. Glossy Abelia can withstand prolonged droughts, severe heat, and the various air and soil pollutants that accompany urban sites.

Should the plant become leggy or too large for the site, it can simply be cut to the ground in March and allowed to re-sprout – since it blooms on new growth, flowering will not be impacted. Indeed, some of our tried-and-true plants are still our best plants – we simply need to grow old enough to understand the merits of an old-fashioned plant. Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth; is the managing director of the Rutgers Gardens, a 180-acre outdoor teaching classroom, horticultural research facility and arboretum; an adjunct professor in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences; regularly participates in the Rutgers – Continuing Education Program; and the immediate pastpresident of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at (732) 932-8451. For more information, please visit www.rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu

Gardener News

October, 2014 7

Landscaping: Hawaiian Style

Tom Castronovo/Photo

/DQGVFDSH 3URIHVVLRQDOV IURP DOO RYHU WKH 6RPHUVHW DQG 0LGGOHVH[ county area were treated to a Hawaiian Lei and Pig Roast at Northern Nurseries in the town of Somerset in Somerset County, N.J., during their annual customer appreciation day on Wednesday, Sept. 10. The professionals were also treated to special programs from Toro, Belgard, Cambridge, and Techo-Bloc. Northern Nurseries is a wholesale horticultural distribution center supplying the industry with nursery stock and hardgoods. Pictured is Northern Nurseries Outside Sales Representative Steve Langella welcoming and presenting a lei to Chris Manzi, the Landscape Supervisor from Hillsborough Irrigation and Landscape Services. Grow – A – Head Bugs— This is such a cool and educational activity for kids. Simply soak the whole bug in water until air bubbles release and add water to the jar. Place on a windowsill in a bright location and in several days WKH ÂłKDLU´ ZLOO JURZ .LGV ORYH to trim it and watch it keep on growing. A fun choice for your favorite trick or treat visitors! Available at many garden centers or Grow-A-Head.com

Rustic Air Plant Holder— An Open rustic weaved container that enables air plants to stay upright. This really is a fabulous and contemporary look and since air plants only need to be occasionally misted it can be put on a coffee table as a great conversation piece. Available at Barlow’s Ancient Graffiti

Garden Shopping By Leslie Barlow Garden Educator Pumpkin Chiminea— Outdoor, rustic pottery that LV LPSRUWHG IURP 0H[LFR D leader in the industry in clay design and color. They are usable for small wood and/or candles and perfect for cool autumn evenings. Available at Barlow’s, Pottery Patch

which eliminates overwatering or drying out. It could not be an easier system. This new swirl style is very pretty and is available in several colors. Available at Barlow’s, Plant Furniture Company.

Narrow Slate Containers— These are simply the most perfect containers for a windowsill and when filled with succulents and/or snake plants they are ideal. Easy care, low maintenance and so attractive they really are a winner. They are available in many sizes from a small 4� square to 26�L. Available at Barlow’s, Hills Imports

Plant Nanny Stakes—I recommend these decorative globes especially to our customers who are often out of town. They allow the plant to take only the moisture they need

Enjoy this beautiful season with the most amazing colors, hues and crisp fresh air. As you put your gardens to bed

I recommend that you try to find a place for spring bulbs or winter pansies (if you have not already done so). The pansies will brighten a dreary winter day and the thoughts of bulbs emerging in early spring will be something to look forward to and will give you a reason to take a walk around your yard. Before you know it, there will be tiny green leaves poking through even through the snow! Please send photos of your garden “through the seasonsâ€? to the email address below. I really enjoy seeing the fruits of your labor and all of the unique ideas from “The Gardener Newsâ€? readers. 7LOO QH[W WLPH /HVOLH Editor’s Note: Leslie Barlow is co-owner of Barlow Flower Farm in Sea Girt, NJ, one of the largest retail growers in NJ since 1983. She has appeared on News 12 NJ and has been a guest speaker at local garden clubs. She is a Certified Staging Professional™ with a specialty in Curb Appeal. She has been gardening for many years and is always at trade shows hunting for useful accessories for the home garden. For product information she can be reached at 732-449-9189 or lbarlow@barlowflowerfarm.com.

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Gardener News

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Gardener News

October, 2014 9

Ups and Downs in the Garden By Jeannie Geremia Garden Club of New Jersey This summer has emphasized to me the importance of being in tune with and aware of nature spilling all around us in our yards, gardens, parks and preserves. Every day provides a continual feast for the mind and body, and the “ups and downs” of growing plants, interacting with the critters, bugs, butterflies and mystery plants popping up in XQH[SHFWHG SODFHV NHHSV XV on our toes. Where to begin I think will be to address the “downs” and the major one coming to my mind was the obvious lack of butterflies this year. If you think about it, it was across the board with the good, bad and ugly in our butterfly and moth population being a shadow of numbers seen in past years. Imagine my dismay at this phenomenon since, as the newly appointed GCNJ Butterflies & BeeGAP (Gardeners Adding Pollinators) Chair, I was all set to happily record the comings and goings of countless butterflies and bees. The bees did finally come to our community garden and my article in last month’s Gardener News entitled “Grow It and They Will Come” proved to be entirely accurate. Not so for our sadly missing butterflies and moths as this past winter, followed by a cold, wet spring, spawned a naturally occurring bacterium that “hammered” our caterpillars. Some of these missing-inaction, caterpillars were our “bad” and “ugly,” so thumbs up for that as I don’t care if I ever see another gypsy moth caterpillar or those destructive tent caterpillars as well. But, alas! We were fortunate if we even had one butterfly a day in our community garden or my own yard. During summer 2013, we had so many

butterflies that I couldn’t even cut a bouquet of zinnias as I didn’t want to disturb all the butterflies sipping nectar from their flowers. We can’t change the weather, but we can help the good ones that survive by following a few steps and PD\EH QH[W \HDU ZH FDQ be dazzled by hordes of butterflies again, (if only). One of the first things we can do is to help the few butterflies that did survive overwintering here by not destroying their chrysalises and cocoons of the new generation. You’ll be helping beneficial insects and native bees, too, by not doing a total yard and garden clean-up this IDOO DQG QH[W VSULQJ HLWKHU Leave perennial flower stalks standing, leave some leaf litter and just relocate some branches from trees and shrubs to a designated “wild” section in your yard. Go easy on so-called “weeds.” Remember Ralph Waldo Emerson’s take on a weed as “A plant whose Virtues have not yet been discovered.” Plan on growing some milkweed species this IDOO RU QH[W VSULQJ FRPPRQ milkweed, Asclepias syriaca; butterfly weed, Asclepias tuberosa; and swamp milkweed, Asclepias incarnate. The good news is our own Bruce Crawford, Director of Rutgers Gardens, is going to be growing these milkweed plants for sale and distribution along with Monarch Watch, helping us to create a corridor of milkweed, creating Monarch Waystations for our seriously endangered PRQDUFK EXWWHUIOLHV *R WR KWWS PRQDUFKZDWFK RUJ waystations/ where you can download a chart displaying butterfly host plants and nectar plants for many butterfly species, as well as bees. One of the coolest ways you can help our butterflies and bees is to provide nesting sites, including bee houses,

and take a “proactive” stance by reading and learning as much as you can on their requirements, including protecting them from numerous predators. As I write this article, I have two monarchs in my great room. One is encased in its chrysalis and one is making ready. I was thrilled to find these magnificent caterpillars on my swamp milkweed (grow it and they will come), as I hadn’t seen any for two years. Anyway, my delight at seeing these caterpillars was short-lived as I was dismayed to see an assassin bug feasting on a bee in its clutches on the very same swamp milkweed stand. I knew my monarch caterpillars didn’t have a chance against this “beneficial” but deadly insect, so I had nothing to do but cut stalks of milkweed and take the caterpillars to the safety of my home. Along with the monarchs, I have 12 black swallowtail chrysalises (hopefully soon New Jersey’s Official State Butterfly) in my great room with one ready to hatch out today. Check out GCNJ Vice President, Susan O’Donnell and my upcoming guest appearance on local WDVR radio show “Into the Garden” with hosts Carl Molter and Leslie Guli on Wednesday, October 15, at 6 p.m. on 89.7 FM, or streaming live at wdvrfm.org. Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is the Community Garden Chair and the Butterflies & BeeGAP Chair for the Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc., and is a National Garden Clubs, Inc., Accredited Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie can be reached by emailing jeannieg42@earthlink. net Garden Club of New Jersey website is: www. gardenclubofnewjersey.com and phone number is 732249-0947.

10 October, 2014

Gardener News

As I sit down at my computer to write this column, I am faced with a “noon on the first of Septemberâ€? deadline. And for those that can remember, this year, the first of September was Labor Day. And at the risk of being banned from writing for this fine paper, this holiday weekend deadline caused me to think some rather unkind thoughts about our esteemed editor. But then I got to thinking about some other industries and how there are many lines of work where people have to work on holidays. And, of course, our very own industry, agriculture, is famous for not stopping for such trivial matters as weekends, weather, health or holidays. As a matter of fact, there are very few forms of agriculture when you can perform all of the necessary tasks that have to be done at your very own leisure. Of course, everyone is familiar with the different types of animal agriculture where the cows have to be milked, the chickens have to be fed, etc‌

of our friends and neighbors in the community who we might not otherwise have a chance to interact with. So with all of this having been said, that gets us back to WKH LVVXH DW KDQG :K\ GRHV a monthly newspaper have to have a deadline that falls on D KROLGD\" )RU WKH DQVZHU to that question, I guess you will have to ask the editor. But I guess there also is no real reason why this column couldn’t have been written at any time before the deadline instead of waiting until the last minute!

The Town Farmer By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Who works on Weekends? But most other segments of agriculture present their own challenges in having to deal with tasks that need to be done now, and not on the QH[W DYDLODEOH DQG FRQYHQLHQW weekday. When planting crops, there is usually a fairly narrow window of optimum timing when all of this has to be accomplished. Crops that are planted too soon or too late will usually suffer a great deal and their overall yield and quality will be greatly diminished. If rain is forecast for Monday, then that means that the time to plant is Saturday and Sunday. And the same rules obviously apply at harvest as well. In our business, which is very retail oriented, the normal 9-to-5 weekday work week is actually turned upside down. Due to the fact that

we probably sell two to three times the amount of fruits and vegetables on a Saturday or a Sunday as we would on a Monday or Tuesday, that means we not only have to ramp up our labor force which deals with harvesting, but our sales staffing has to be increased as well. When I was a teenager in high school and later on in college, one of my responsibilities was to pick sweet corn. Because corn is best when it is picked fresh, we would pick what was needed for the day the first thing in the morning. Needless to say, picking twice as much corn by hand early in the morning when the plants are still wet with a heavy dew is quite a jolt to the senses for someone with an active social schedule who

may have only gotten to bed an hour or two before getting up and going to work. While there are many obvious downsides to having a retail-oriented business, there are a few positives that go along with it. Sure, we have to function in a world where almost everyone else has their weekends off and most family and social functions are scheduled accordingly. And as an employer, I know that most employees do not like to work every weekend. But our type of business allows us to hire many part-time people, who might have other jobs, to help us out when we are the busiest. And many of these employees have become integral to the success of our farm. It also allows us to come in contact with many

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

Supporting Winged Wonders with Fall Flowers By Kathleen Salisbury We garden with native SODQWV IRU PDQ\ UHDVRQV aesthetics, supporting local nurseries, maintaining a sense of place in what is becoming a generic world. But for a lot of us, the primary reason for including native plants in the landscape is to support the ecosystem – including a great variety of butterflies. May of you have heard about the mystery of monarch migration and have planted milkweed to ensure fuel and habitat for these struggling beauties. But did you know many of our other familiar butterflies have been found to PLJUDWH DV ZHOO" By planting fall-blooming native plants, you have the opportunity to support the migration of these winged beauties and help to ensure future generations will delight anyone venturing outdoors. Painted Lady Butterflies have been found to migrate and studies have shown they

prefer composite (Daisy-like) IORZHUV WKUHH WR VL[ IHHW WDOO Try Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) and Ironweeds (Vernonia spp.) in your garden to support these butterflies AND add some fall flowers to your landscape. The stunning eyespots on the Buckeye Butterfly alone should make you want to attract them to your garden. Plant some Wild Petunia (Ruellia spp.) or Asters of any type and be sure to get your camera out. These winged wonders will be visiting your garden in no time. Oak sap is the preferred food of Mourning Cloak butterflies. Plant a Red Oak (Quercus rubra) to feed these butterflies and enjoy the bright-red fall color of this native tree. By planting this tree, you also will create a habitat for hundreds of other species of butterflies, moths and other insects. There are some natives you can plant that will guarantee a great variety of late-season butterfly visits. Any of the Eupatoriums – Joe Pye Weeds, Bonesets and Hardy Ageratums – are attractive to a stunning array of butterflies. Butterflies can’t

resist the magnificent flowers of our native perennial Hibiscus, Hibiscus moscheutos. White or pink turtleheads (Chelone) will also draw butterfly crowds. 3LQN WDOO JDUGHQ SKOR[ Phlox paniculata, and the fall-blooming yellow Sneezeweed (Helenium) will add diversity in colors, wildlife and plant life to your landscape. Finally if you have a spot just calling out for a vine – plant our native honeysuckle, Lonicera sempervirens. Those coral blooms are irresistible to butterflies and hummingbirds alike. If you want to ensure generations of butterflies in your garden, be sure to include the native trees, shrubs and flowers that will support all life cycles of butterflies. The Question Mark Butterfly, with its hooked forewings and question marklike markings, prefers dung and carrion and only visits flowers, native or otherwise, as a last resort – including those in your garden – my friends, is an article for a different day. Plant some natives, attract some butterflies, get out and enjoy your native plant garden.

If you would like to visit some sample butterfly gardens around New Jersey to gather ideas, check out the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. They offer programs and events that highlight New Jersey’s native butterflies and the native plants that support them. Though not specifically focused on native butterflies or plants, you can learn more about the importance of butterflies and their unique life cycles by visiting the butterfly gardens at Trailside Nature Center, Camden Children’s Garden, Wagner Farm Arboretum and the EARTH Center of the 0LGGOHVH[ &RXQW\ ([WHQVLRQ For more information about gardening for butterflies in New Jersey, or to certify your garden as a Butterfly Habitat, visit the North American Butterfly Association website www. NABAbutterfly.com. Please, don’t forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming events! Saturday October 4 – NPSNJ Fundraiser at Wild Ridge Plants (10 percent of

proceeds from native plant sales will go to support the NPSNJ mission and regional chapters.) Saturday November 15 (note the change from Nov 1) – NPSNJ Annual Fall Conference - Trailside Nature Center - 10 D P WR S P ¹ 7RSLF 7KH Appreciation, Protection and Study of NJ Native Plants. Saturday March 14 – Native Plant Society of NJ Annual Conference Details can be found at www.npsnj.org Show us what butterflies are visiting your native plants by posting your photos on our Facebook page. Editor’s Note: Kathy Salisbury is a Horticulture Educator and the President of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey (NPSNJ). The NPSNJ is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation, protection and study of NJ’s native flora. To learn more about the Native Plant Society please visit www.npsnj.org or contact Kathy directly at president@npsnj.org.

Gardener News

October, 2014 11

More Jersey Fresh Produce into School Cafeterias Across the State 1HZ -HUVH\ /W *RY .LP *XDGDJQR VHUYLQJ DV DFWLQJ JRYHUQRU ZKLOH *RY &KULV &KULVWLH ZDV RXW RI VWDWH VLJQHG ILYH ELOOV WKDW VXSSRUW DQG VWUHDPOLQH 1HZ -HUVH\ÂśV Âł)DUP WR 6FKRRO´ SURJUDP DW 7HUKXQH 2UFKDUGV LQ 3ULQFHWRQ RQ 0RQGD\ $XJ $FWLQJ *RYHUQRU *XDGDJQR H[SUHVVHG the Christie Administration’s support for farm-to-school in the state. The bills were passed in the legislature with bipartisan support. A-156 Requires the Department of Agriculture to post on its website certain information regarding the State’s farm-to-school program. (Identical Bill S-1902) 6XPPDU\ 7KLV ELOO UHTXLUHV WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI $JULFXOWXUH WR PDNH FKDQJHV WR LWV GHSDUWPHQWDO ZHEVLWH DV ZHOO DV WR WKH Âł1HZ -HUVH\ )DUP WR 6FKRRO´ ZHEVLWH WR SURYLGH FHUWDLQ LQIRUPDWLRQ UHODWHG WR WKH Âł1HZ -HUVH\ )DUP WR 6FKRRO´ SURJUDP 6SHFLILFDOO\ WKH GHSDUWPHQW LV UHTXLUHG WR SRVW in a prominent location on its website, a hyperlink that provides visitors with direct access to the separate and distinct “New Jersey Farm to Schoolâ€? website; and 2) post, on the “New Jersey Farm to Schoolâ€? website, a copy of any written agreement entered into and successfully implemented by any school or school district in the State for the purchase and provision of fresh foods to school children. $ 3URYLGHV IRU YROXQWDU\ FRQWULEXWLRQV E\ WD[SD\HUV RQ JURVV LQFRPH WD[ UHWXUQV WR VXSSRUW IDUP WR VFKRRO DQG VFKRRO JDUGHQV SURJUDPV (Identical Bill S-1903) 6XPPDU\ 7KLV ELOO HVWDEOLVKHV WKH Âł1HZ -HUVH\ )DUP WR 6FKRRO DQG 6FKRRO *DUGHQ )XQG´ DQG SURYLGHV IRU D GHVLJQDWLRQ RQ WKH 6WDWH JURVV LQFRPH WD[ UHWXUQ WR SHUPLW WD[SD\HUV WR PDNH YROXQWDU\ FRQWULEXWLRQV WR WKH IXQG WR VXSSRUW WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI $JULFXOWXUHÂśV )DUP WR 6FKRRO SURJUDP DQG JUDQWV IRU WKH GHYHORSPHQW DQG H[SDQVLRQ RI WKH )DUP WR 6FKRRO SURJUDP DQG VFKRRO JDUGHQ DFWLYLWLHV 7KH 'HSDUWPHQWÂśV )DUP WR 6FKRRO SURJUDP RIIHUV information and training on farm to school issues, including school garden activities, to teachers, schools, and others. The Bill was amended to clarify WKDW WKH DSSURSULDWHG IXQGV PD\ EH XVHG IRU JUDQWV IRU WKH GHYHORSPHQW DQG H[SDQVLRQ RI WKH )DUP WR 6FKRRO SURJUDP DQG VFKRRO JDUGHQV DFWLYLWLHV A-2642 Allows contributions to “New Jersey Farm to School Program. (Identical Bill S-1908) 6XPPDU\ 7KLV ELOO DOORZV WKH 6HFUHWDU\ RI $JULFXOWXUH WR VROLFLW DQG DFFHSW SULYDWH DQG SXEOLF PRQHWDU\ FRQWULEXWLRQV WR KHOS IXQG WKH Âł1HZ -HUVH\ Farm to School Programâ€? (program). The objective of the program is to provide agricultural products to school food service departments to serve healthy meals to improve student nutrition, provide health and nutrition education opportunities that will last a lifetime, and support local farmers. A-2643 Establishes “Best in New Jersey ‘Farm to School’ Awards Programâ€? to annually recognize the best farm to school programs implemented by a school or school district. (Identical Bill S-1907) 6XPPDU\ 7KLV ELOO GLUHFWV WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI $JULFXOWXUH LQ FRRUGLQDWLRQ ZLWK WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI (GXFDWLRQ DQG DQ\ RWKHU DJULFXOWXUDO RU IDUPLQJ organization as determined appropriate by the Department of Agriculture, to establish an awards program to be known as the “Best ‘Farm to School’ Awards Programâ€? for annual recognition of schools or school districts with outstanding achievements in the incorporation of farm-to-school principles into their school meal and snack programs. A-2644 Directs the Department of Agriculture to establish a clearinghouse website for farmers to offer produce and dairy products for use by school breakfast programs, school lunch programs, and food banks. (Identical Bill S-1964) 6XPPDU\ 7KLV ELOO GLUHFWV WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI $JULFXOWXUH LQ FRQVXOWDWLRQ ZLWK WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI (GXFDWLRQ DQG WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI +HDOWK WR develop and establish, or partner with a nonprofit organization to develop and establish, a website, to serve as a clearinghouse for farmers to provide produce and dairy products to school breakfast programs, school lunch programs, and food banks throughout the State.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Pictured with New Jersey Lieutenant and Acting Governor Kim Guadagno signing the bills into law (from left to right) are: David Hespe, Acting Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Education; Sen. Shirley K. Turner; Assemblywoman Donna Simon; New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fischer; Beth Feehan, Director, New Jersey Farm to School Network; Assemblywoman Celeste M. Riley; Pam Mount, owner, Terhune Orchards; and Sen. Steven Oroho.

12 October, 2014 On August 12, members from the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association took advantage of a unique opportunity to improve their pruning skills while also providing a valuable service to one of New Jersey’s most precious resources, the New Jersey Botanical Gardens (NJBG) located at the Skylands in Ringwood, N.J. Although I have lived in New Jersey for most of my life, I admit that I have never been to the New Jersey Botanical Gardens, nor Ringwood Several months ago, the NJLCA had one of our bi-monthly meetings at the NJBG to take a tour of the property and learn about pruning and plant health care. The tour was given by Rich Flynn, who is the head landscape designer at the botanical gardens. As always, WKH WXUQRXW ZDV H[FHOOHQW ZLWK over 50 landscape contractors in attendance. As we walked the property, Rich gave us a history lesson of the stone structures and gardens. He introduced us to plant varieties none of us had ever seen before, along with rare and mature trees that were absolutely stunning. During the tour, one of our members asked how Rich

A look at a lawn which is not responding to the wonderful weather of this season may show a layer of stems, crowns, roots and undecomposed organic matter that is more than a half-inch deep. Although a perfect cover for a dwelling in another climate, this thatch layer will prevent good air and water percolation and will increase the susceptibility of the lawn to disease and insect damage. Conditions which will increase thatch development are compacted soil conditions, the over-application of nitrogen, over-watering, planting varieties which produce large amounts of tough, fibrous tissue, and improper cultural practices. To find out how much thatch is in your lawn, take a core or remove a wedge of lawn with a spade and measure the amount of thatch from the soil surface to the grass blades. Many times, a lawn choked in thatch looks to be beyond control. All hope is not lost, however. The first step is to test the soil. A soil medium which is stagnant will lead to compaction and an increase in thatch. Investigating what is going on in the soil will

Gardener News The NJLCA Today By Jody Shilan, MLA Executive Director

NJLCA Today and his staff could possibly maintain the 96 acres of gardens and the 1,000 acres of woodlands that make up the NJBG. Rich admitted that LW ZDV H[WUHPHO\ GLIILFXOW GXH to limited funding and limited resources. After the meeting, we did a little brainstorming with Rich and decided that this was a perfect occasion for members of the NJLCA to volunteer their time and energy to help out at the NJBG. We also realized that this could be a wonderful opportunity for our members to brush up on their pruning skills. So after a few phone calls and emails back and forth, we selected a date for a day of service at the gardens. I like to call these win-win-win scenarios. The botanical gardens win, our members win and the general public wins. During a continental breakfast, Rich laid out his

goals and objectives for the day, which included proper pruning techniques. Once outside our members broke down into smaller groups. A team of employees from Chris James Landscaping were responsible for attending to a formal garden that had been ravaged E\ GHHU UHPRYLQJ H[LVWLQJ yews and preparing the area for ER[ZRRG UHSODFHPHQWV *UHJ Carpenter and his foreman from American Beauty Landscape Design grabbed their pruners and thinned out more deutzia in one day than they had in their entire careers. Students from the Rutgers Veterans Environmental and Technology Solutions (RVETS program), developed to train returning U.S. military veterans for job placement in the green industry, literally dug in, transplanting and dividing overgrown perennials and removing organic debris.

John Raffiani of Raffiani’s Automatic Sprinklers replaced sprinkler heads and repaired damaged irrigation lines in several gardens. The day ended with a tour of the Mansion provided by Rich Flynn. After such a successful outing, we decided that this needs to be a bi-annual event, allowing us to give back to the community and help train and educate our members. Volunteering at the New Jersey Botanical Gardens is such a perfect fit for our association and our members. You do not have to be a member of the NJLCA (although we’d like you to be) to get involved. The gardens are open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., free of charge. Most public gardens require entrance fees ranging from $5 to $30 per person to help offset the cost of operations and maintenance. Although The NJBG/Skylands

The Landscaper By Evan Dickerson Landscape Professional

What is Choking My Lawn? help alleviate the core problems associated with these conditions. The pH will probably need to be addressed. Many times the use of high-calcium lime is warranted. Acidic soil conditions will decrease the rate of decomposition, as will any pesticides which restrict earthworm and microbial activity. There are many products available which can be applied that will increase microbial and earthworm activity. During the growing season, the soil test results can be acted upon. Proper mowing can be implemented. Cut off no more than one-third of the grass blade whenever possible. Leave clippings on the turf whenever they cannot be seen readily after mowing. Aerate the lawn through the use of soil conditioners or by mechanically

pulling cores from the lawn. Water the lawn deeply and infrequently. This may be only once or twice a week, but you may need to water up to 60 minutes per area. Your yard’s H[SRVXUH ZLOO GLFWDWH WKLV DV well. Lawns which bake in the summer sun will need more water than a shaded condition. You may need to adapt an automatic sprinkler system to target areas which are getting improper water. Your irrigation contractor can address improvements which will allow you to get this accomplished. When the thatch layer is more than one-half-inch thick and implementing soil test recommendations and improved cultural practices are not enough to see an improvement, then mechanical means may be necessary. Early fall is the perfect time to implement the

removal of a lot of the thatch layer. The use of a hand rake made for thatch removal can be used on very small lawns. On larger areas, a power rake or vertical mower will be needed WR H[SHGLWH PDWWHUV 7KLV removal will open up the soil and in the case of the vertical mower will create a bedding area for seed. Choosing seed varieties which are adapted to the site is important. Shade conditions require blends which have more fescue varieties. Sunny locations lean toward the blue and rye varieties and high-traffic areas can use the turf type tall fescues. After the mechanical process is completed and seeding to upgrade the lawn is accomplished, your fertility program will need to be addressed. The use of organic products which will increase

Association is working very hard to close the gap between state funding and the true needs of the property, the NJBG depends on individual support from private donations, volunteerism and of course, becoming a member. It is a historic site which needs to be preserved for the future. For more information go to www.njbg.org and check out their upcoming events. Make sure to join their email list for future updates. You can also call (973) 962-9534 for more information. Make sure to tell them that Jody Shilan from the Gardener News sent you. Editors Note: Jody Shilan is the owner of Jody Shilan Designs in Wyckoff, where he provides landscape design and consulting services for homeowners and landscape contractors. He earned his bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture from Cook College, Rutgers University and his masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Currently, he is Executive Director of the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association (NJLCA). He can be reached at 201-783-2844 or jshilan@gmail.com.

the amount of microbial activity will help prevent the future buildup of thatch. Returning clippings into the lawn will help. Cutting of no more than one-third of the grass blade and keeping a sharp blade on your mower will help as well. You may even look into the use of reel mowers. There are many updated push mowers which are much more efficient and ZLOO DIIRUG VRPH H[HUFLVH WLPH as well as helping to reduce pollution. As your lawn recovers and fills in, continuing a natural organic fertility approach will increase the health of your lawn and the vitality of the soil. .HHSLQJ WKH VRLO LQ EDODQFH ZLOO prevent the buildup of thatch and keep many weeds from returning. Your local landscape professional or garden center can help you analyze and cure your thatch issues. Editor’s Note: Evan Dickerson is owner of Dickerson Landscape Contractors and NaturesPro of North Plainfield. He has been pioneering the organic approach to plant health since 1972. Evan can be reached at 908-753-1490

Gardener News

October, 2014 13

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14 October, 2014

Gardener News

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Gardener News

October, 2014 15

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16 October, 2014

Gardener News

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Gardener News

October, 2014 17

Think of cider as drinking your apple! (Cont. from page 1)

Unique Plants By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

Plants That Make “Scents�

Tom Castronovo/Photo

John Melick inspects a giant stainless steel storage tank in his family’s cider mill.

from a custom blend of the freshest apples. To make fresh cider, apples are washed, cut and ground into a mash that is the consistency of applesauce. Layers of mash are wrapped in cloth, and put into hard plastic racks. A hydraulic press squeezes the layers, and the juice flows into refrigerated tanks through UV lights. This juice is then bottled as apple cider. Cider can also be frozen; pour off an LQFK RU WZR IURP WKH FRQWDLQHU WR DOORZ IRU H[SDQVLRQ GXULQJ freezing. The health benefits of apples are well known, and drinking cider gives you all the same benefits in a glass. No added sugar, no fat, saturated fat or trans-fat. No cholesterol. $QG LW KDV DERXW FDORULHV SHU VL[ RXQFH JODVV &LGHU DOVR contains pectin, a soluble fiber that reduces cholesterol.

Juice from fresh squeezed apples.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Melick’s Town Farm is the largest fruit grower in central and northern New Jersey, with more than 20,000 apple trees and 4,000 peach trees covering 650 acres on two pickyour-own farms in Oldwick and Califon. The Melick’s also operate farm markets in Bridgewater. The family grows over 20 varieties of apples in any given season and produces over 100,000 gallons of cider a year. Gardener News salutes George, Jr., and the Melick family on producing this tasty, unfiltered, unsweetened, nonalcoholic beverage for the past 50 years. Happy 50th! Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration, and education to the agricultural, gardening and landscaping communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

Plants have the ability to capture our attention in a number of ways. Flowers are the obvious draw initially, while things like leaves, bark, stems and buds may, in time, earn our respect and admiration. But these attributes are purely visual. Just one of our senses that helps us appreciate plants. But what about those plants that captivate our DWWHQWLRQ VLPSO\ EH WKHLU VPHOO" For me, the Sassafras tree, Sassafras albidum, will always trigger acute nostalgia, reminding me of my youth. Growing up in Roseland, N.J., our yard had three large Sassafras trees that you could climb. That alone is saying something if you know the tree. It takes years for Sassafras to be large enough to climb and often you see them as single trunks, not branched low like our trees were. Distinct three-lobed and mittenshaped leaves no doubt contributed to an early infatuation for plants not to mention an education as well. It is these leaves that have been likened to that of Spicebush. More on this soon enough. Often there would be broken branches in our tree, as I climbed it almost every day. It was these broken branches and its roots; sometimes I got too close with our lawn mower, which smelled like root beer. As the original source for this popular soft drink, Sassafras also has a flower that most miss. Clusters of showy yellow flowers, usually dioecious, appear early in the spring before the tree even leafs out. The cold autumn weather has its leaves turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow too. As promised, Spicebush, Lindera benzoin, has odoriferous leaves. Nondescript leaves, when crushed, have a sweet, almost addictive scent. I have seen a few Spicebush in my time, nearly denuded as those introduced to the plant for the first time had a hard time controlling themselves because of its fragrance. Spicebush is highly adaptive. In the wild it survives in wet, shady, bottomland areas, and in your garden can handle full sun. Ideally however, this plant prefers moist, rich soil. A wonderful butterfly plant, Spicebush is a host plant for the eastern tiger swallowtail. Additionally, birds can’t help themselves as they devour the little red drupes this plant produces in late-summer into early-fall. Finally, this small- to medium-sized shrub typically has reliable yellow fall color. Grits, sweet tea and Magnolia always conjure up great images of the south. Southern Magnolia, Magnolia grandiflora, is the one Magnolia everyone asks for after WKH\ YLVLW WKH VRXWK PRVW OLNHO\ IRU WKHLU LQWR[LFDWLQJ IUDJUDQFH DQG OHDWKHU\ HYHUJUHHQ foliage. However, another beauty, Sweetbay Magnolia, Magnolia virginiana, is a native tree that thrives in swampy areas. I never understood why this small, rather petite tree was not more popular for garden center sales. In late-May/early-June, Sweetbay’s creamy white, lemon-scented flowers bloom. For me though, the “tardily deciduousâ€? (statebystategardening.com) or somewhat evergreen foliage is what does it. Spicy, evergreen foliage only adds to the allure of this small tree. .DWVXUDWUHH Cercidiphyllum japonicum, is a large tree native to China and Japan. As a student at Rutgers University, many years ago, I had a plant ID class in the fall DQG WKLV WUHH KDV VWRRG RXW HYHU VLQFH .DWVXUD FDQ JURZ IHHW WDOO DQG IHHW ZLGH Attractive bluish-green foliage somewhat resembles Redbud leaves. In early-October, .DWVXUDÂśV VHQHVFLQJ OHDYHV JLYH RII D VSLF\ FLQQDPRQ EURZQ VXJDU IUDJUDQFH 0DQ\ have likened this smell to cotton candy, too. It is for this reason alone that I planted one in our own front yard for our daughter. Truth be told, ours does not always offer such an aroma, but it is worth waiting for. A marginally “hardyâ€? conifer is the last to make my list, at least for this article. Monterey Cypress “Wilma,â€? Cupressus macrocarpa, is a zone 7 plant, which points its ÂłKDUGLQHVV´ WRZDUG 6RXWK -HUVH\ Âł)LQHO\ WH[WXUHG VPDOO WKUHDGV RI VFDOH OLNH OHPRQ yellow foliage are the highlight of this this compact, narrow, columnar coniferâ€? (Iseli Nursery). Michael Ehrhart, an accomplished plants person and colleague, has aptly described the scent of this plant as Lemon Pledge. Despite its marginal “hardiness,â€? WKH RXWVWDQGLQJ FRORU DQG WH[WXUH RI WKLV WLG\ FRQLIHU VKRXOG EH WULHG DW WKH YHU\ OHDVW as a container plant for our warmer seasons. Plants offer us so much enjoyment! We could hear the rustling of their leaves, taste their fruit, see their beautiful flowers, caress their unique foliage and even appreciate their pleasant aromas. 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, the American Boxwood Society, the European Boxwood Society, a members of the Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society, a member of the NJ Plants Trade Show Advisory Board, and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers. He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

18 October, 2014

Gardener News

Cooking Extravaganza Featuring Jersey Fresh Produce Benefited Cancer Center

Tom Castronovo/Photo

%DUU\ÂśV $SSOLDQFH 79 RI %ULGJHZDWHU KRVWHG D &RRNLQJ ([WUDYDJDQ]D IHDWXULQJ Jersey Fresh produce on Wednesday, Sept. 3, to benefit Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s Steeplechase Cancer Center in Somerville, Somerset County, N.J. The event was presented in conjunction with the Somerset Health Care Foundation and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Jersey Fresh program. 5REHUW :RRG -RKQVRQ 8QLYHUVLW\ +RVSLWDO 6RPHUVHWÂśV H[HFXWLYH FKHI 3HWHU 3DVFDOH FRQGXFWHG OLYH FRRNLQJ GHPRQVWUDWLRQV DQG WDVWLQJV RI IRXU healthy recipes featuring Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables. New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher and Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray were on hand answering questions about the Jersey Fresh program and highlighted Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset’s efforts to promote the use of Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables in patient meals and through its summer farmer’s market. Pete Melick, co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm, provided complimentary Jersey Fresh produce to all who attended. Barry’s Appliance & TV is the first independently owned retail business outside of the produce industry that has partnered with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Jersey Fresh program. “As a small business owner, I like to support the people who support me,â€? said Barry Goldan, owner of Barry’s Appliance & TV. “I know that almost every customer who has shopped in my store has been touched in some way by cancer – either they themselves have personally had cancer or they have a family member, neighbor, friend or colleague with the disease. This fundraiser gives me the opportunity to give back to the community that I serve.â€? The Steeplechase Cancer Center which opened in 2007, houses radiation therapy services, infusion therapy, breast imaging services, lung cancer screening, gynecologic oncology services, a clinical research team, oncology rehabilitation, oncologists’ and surgeons’ offices, complementary medicine services, nutritional counseling, patient navigator services, a patient resource library and the Sanofi US Wellness Boutique. For more information about the Steeplechase Cancer Center, visit www.steeplechasecancercenter.com. Barry’s Appliance &TV, family owned and operated since 1988, offers a wide selection of appliances and electronics from the most trusted brands, as well as service and parts. 3LFWXUHG IURP OHIW WR ULJKW DUH 1HZ -HUVH\ 6HFUHWDU\ RI $JULFXOWXUH 'RXJODV + )LVKHU %DUU\ *ROGDQ &KHI 3HWHU 3DVFDOH 3HWHU 0HOLFN DQG 1HZ Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Al Murray.

Gardener News Fall is upon us. Hooray!!!! Great weather, produce, football and in general one of my most favorite times of the year, aside from the supermarket overload of holiday H[SORLWDWLRQ 7KDQN \RX IRU jamming each and every holiday down my throat by at least two months in advance, by the way. Not that I don’t enjoy the holidays of any sort. Just seems very overloaded WKHVH GD\V QR" +H\ hanging the Christmas lights in late-October does have its benefits! Anyhow, salad JUHHQV DUH LQ +XK" <HV fortunately they are healthy, abundant, and can be locally sourced. Avoid overpriced West Coast greenery that has traveled 2,000 miles-plus to make it to your plate. Instead, seek out East Coast love! Ask for it by name. Better yet, demand it from your local store. The more you speak, the more they will listen. I am so amazingly surprised and all around stoked at the entire JERSEY FRESH movement. Here I love cooler weather! Yippee! My front yard is littered with maple leaves, the spiny green chestnut balls are big and the mums are being planted in Mom’s side garden as my sister pulls out all the dead summer flowers. And, after a very rainy summer here in the Northeastern seaboard, the forsythia bushes have grown H[SRQHQWLDOO\ ODUJH VR WKH\ are getting carefully trimmed back also. Here we look for overgrown branches that can be bent over by ice that will either hit the house or impede a walk or driveway. Limbs that are near power lines, we call the local power company and let them know. Their dangerous-tree-limb trimming schedule gets full quickly this time of year and any help you can give them with locations is appreciated. If anyone knows the costs associated with a power outage, it is them. The bird and squirrel feeders are getting hit really hard and the hummingbird feeder got drained in less than a week. Sitting on Mom’s back deck, having a glass with a number of

October, 2014 19 CHILLER THEATRE

From the Deep By Craig Korb Executive Chef

Greetings from the shore once more! is an amazing program that almost burned out several years back but is now gaining such amazing, purposeful momentum in the perfect time. I see “Jersey Fresh� signs everywhere and think “YES!� This is such a good thing. My two girls had the chance this summer to visit Ellis Farms in Yardville. They got to see a 700-plus acre, second-generation corn farm in its prime with a personal guided tour by Mr. Scott Ellis. They were floored. They saw things they never knew could SRVVLEO\ H[LVW LQ -HUVH\ :H went home with, honestly, the best hand-picked corn I have ever eaten in my entire life. Hands down, the end. We also left with

DQ LQYDOXDEOH H[SHULHQFH my daughters will never forget. Being that there are plenty of greens left and my mother recently passed, I will share with you my family’s favorite salad dressing recipe, which my mother always felt should be tossed with the lettuce at least a half an hour in advance to produce the Southern style “cooked salad� effect. I have actually adapted it to my family’s “specs� in order to keep them all happy (quiet). Good luck and good fall!! Mom’s garlic vinaigrette (adapted from my Nonna’s Italian vinaigrette!) -enough for at least one head of iceberg lettuce ingredients 2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 cup good quality H[WUD YLUJLQ ROLYH RLO 1 tsp. (my addition!) grey pompon mustard Salt and black pepper to taste Method - whisk all ingredients together well and toss liberally over lettuce. - let sit for at least 15 minutes before consuming!

By Richard W. Perkins Freelance Writer

“Ahhhhhh, Fall is Once Again Upon Us!� there at my fingertips was the Wi-Fi assisted answer. Male and female hummingbirds can be identified simply based on the color of their feathers. Male hummingbirds have bright feathers to attract females and to deter PDOHV E\ H[SUHVVLQJ WKHLU dominance. A patch of brightly-colored feathers on the necks of males is known as a gorget. A gorget’s color range includes red, purple, orange, blue and pink. When hit with sunlight, the gorget will glisten due to refraction, or the bending of sunlight against the different-sized feathers. Males can make the gorget appear to be black to avoid attracting predators. Unlike males, female hummingbirds have no bright feathers to display.

October 24-26, 2014 Friday - 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday - 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday - 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sheraton Parsippany Parsippany, NJ www.chillertheatre.com

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

The Miscellaneous Gardener

people, the hummingbirds zipped in and out to sip from the feeder attached to the underside of the center strut of the awning, many times. I was actually sitting under the awning watching the hummingbirds, writing this article on my laptop while croquet was being played in the yard by the kids amidst whoops and hollers, and swordfish steaks were being grilled and the potato salad, adorned with deviled egg slices spattered with paprika, sat covered awaiting my relentless attack. Hah, someone asked me which one was male and which one was the female hummingbird. One of the back deck guests said the “big oneâ€? is the male. You NQRZ ZKDW" , GLGQÂśW NQRZ if that was right, but right

7R\ 0RGHO )LOP ([SR

to impress her. Sometimes females even join males in their dances. In general, male hummingbirds are much more aggressive than females. They need to be aggressive to attract females and to defend their territory. Males also do a lot of scratchy chirping to attract females or to bicker with other males. So there it is. Of Note: In my August article I wrote, “On the day I was writing this article, the tick in the sealed bag was still alive after 32 days!� I got the adult tick in the sealed sandwich bag on June 17th. On the day I wrote this article the tick was still alive, 76 days later with little fresh air, no food and I did put some water in the bottom of the bag. That knowledge is both interesting and frightening to me, that a worthless, disease-spreading, bloodsucking parasite can survive this long. Biblical! Thanks for reading and see ya next month.

Females are often brown or dull green in color. Immature male hummingbirds typically resemble females in that they have no bright feathers. Although it is hard to tell, female hummingbirds are typically larger than PDOHV )RU H[DPSOH IHPDOHV usually weigh between 2.8 and 4.5 grams, while males weigh between 2.4 and 3.6 grams. This size difference is because females lay eggs and their bodies need to be able to support this process, from actually laying the eggs to sitting upon them to keep them warm. In mating situations, it is simple to tell a male and female hummingbird apart. Once a male hummingbird finds Editors Note: Check out a female to mate with, he Richard’s photography at; will do a series of dances rwperkinsphotography.com

20 October, 2014

Gardener News

Autumn Beauty New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, center, and Sen. Steven Oroho, left, look out at the millions of sunflowers that paint the landscape a golden yellow LQ 6XVVH[ &RXQW\ 1 - ZLWK 5DM Sinha, owner of the Liberty Farm’s 6XVVH[ &RXQW\ 6XQIORZHU 0D]H The official visit on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2014, heralded the start of the fall agritourism season. Cut out in this year’s Liberty )DUPÂśV 6XVVH[ &RXQW\ 6XQIORZHU Maze are the words “Amazing 6XVVH[ &RXQW\ ´ The maze on Route 565 in Augusta is located on 50 acres, with more than a million blooming black oil sunflowers. Accompanying the maze are a variety of on-farm activities, including a kids’ scavenger hunt, build-your-own scarecrow contest and a self-guided bug safari. According to the most recent agricultural statistics, New Jersey ranks ninth in the nation in total agritourism dollars, and nine New Jersey counties rank in the top10 percentile in agritourism sales, LQFOXGLQJ 6XVVH[ &RXQW\ ZKLFK ranks 85th in the nation, with more than $1.5 million in agritourism Tom Castronovo/Photo sales. It’s October and the Fall Harvest is here. The changing of the seasons is in full effect. The leaves are changing color and falling, brilliant colors of yellow, oranges, reds, and all shades in between filling the autumn scenery. Mums bloom prominently throughout the marketplace. Fall pansies are popping color in containers and around borders to help enhance the season. Ornamental grasses are showcasing their plumes in the wind. Becoming increasingly popular among gardeners and professionals alike are ornamental peppers, cabbage and kale. They add a nice contrast and are something different to plant around the landscape. Fall asters, also available for plantings, have been gaining popularity this time of year. With October in full swing, Halloween is around the corner. Halloween is one of the most popular holidays for decorating outdoors. People plan and decorate all month long for the festive day. Planting some

year. How far apart to plant WKHP" ,W LV LGHDO WR SODQW seven to 10 tulip bulbs per square foot, for hyacinths SODQW VL[ WR HLJKW EXOEV SHU square foot, daffodils five By Tim Hionis to seven bulbs per square Greenhouse Specialist foot, and smaller bulbs like crocus, iris and muscari nine to 12 bulbs per square foot. Plenty of fall activities October is also the time of these items mentioned FRPSRVW" ,I VR QRZ LV WKH diseased plants into the pile to take the family to all above around ghosts, time to start. Since you’re because they may spread the fun outdoor markets and witches, pumpkins, straw cleaning up the garden LQWR \RXU H[LVWLQJ EHGV ZKHQ pick your own farms and and hay bales, etc., help to and getting rid of the last you go to spread them in corn mazes. What better enhance the displays and the vegetables once they are later. Weeds can drop their way to spend time with finished. Find a corner of VHHGV LQ \RXU PL[ DQG \RX the family than to go to landscape. .HHS LQ PLQG ZLWK your property to start your don’t want to risk spreading a working farm that opens Gather all disease to your other plants. up their doors or gates and Halloween coming closer, it composting. Looking to get a jump provides you with a great is good idea and practice to the spent plants, cutbacks, VWDUW SUHSDULQJ IRU WKH QH[W and leaves to make a pile. RQ QH[W VSULQJ" 1RZ LV WKH day of hayrides up to their season to come. Before you 1R URRP WR VWDUW D SLOH" time to plant early spring fields and allow you to go start decorating or by mid- Then look into getting a bulbs so they pop as soon as and pick fruit right from the month, think about tropical composting bin or making the ground thaws out. Plant ILHOGV RU WUHHV WKH\ JUHZ RQ" plants that you want to one. Compost is one of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, I have the utmost respect for winter over. They should the best and affordable crocus, Iris and muscari now these farmers. Support your be brought in before the ways to add nutrients to before the ground freezes to local farmers! threat of cold and frost hit your garden, and by using get a jump. By the end of this them. Fall clean-ups should a little forethought in the month, they should all be in Editor’s Note: Tim Hionis be done by month’s end. fall, you can have great the ground and establishing has been growing plants Cleaning out the garden VXFFHVV IRU WKH QH[W \HDU their root systems before for over 20 years, and beds and the last cut of the with your crops. Compost the ground freezes. These is co-owner of Hionis lawn before the landscape can be added to vegetable bulbs require a period of Greenhouses and Garden goes in to hibernation for and annual gardens as well cold temperatures in order Center in Whitehouse DV VSUHDG RYHU \RXU H[LVWLQJ to perform and bloom Station, NJ. He can the winter is ideal now. Here’s a tip, have you trees and shrubs. Remember beautifully in the late-winter be reached by calling ever thought about making not to throw weeds or DQG HDUO\ VSULQJ RI QH[W (908) 534-7710.

The Professional Grower

Gardener News

October, 2014 21

Support NJ Agriculture JERSEY GROWN

Nursery Stock JERSEY GROWN

Sunflower Birdseed JERSEY GROWN

Firewood

JERSEY GROWN

When you’re shopping for JERSEY GROWN nursery stock, you know the trees, shrubs, plants and flowers are checked for quality, disease, are pest free, and accustomed to the Garden State’s climate and soil conditions.

Annuals & Perennials Made With JERSEY GROWN

Wood Birdhouses & Bird Feeders

Governor Chris Christie Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher

jerseygrown.nj.gov

22 October, 2014 In this day of instant gratification, I think some of us have missed one of the easiest things to grow in the garden. That is the spring bulb. Tulips, along with daffodils, crocus and hyacinths, are spring bloomers. They are collectively known as “spring bulbs.â€? This name sometimes confuses the consumer, but if you remember that it’s the flowering time that gives the bulb group its name, you’ll be fine. A bulb is an underground storehouse of everything the plant needs to grow and flower. The flower bud, leaves and roots are already lying dormant inside of the bulb. When tulips start to flower in spring, people come in looking to buy bulbs to plant in the garden. They seem surprised when I tell them that they should have planted their bulbs in the fall. There are three words that describe the fall bulb planting process. Dig, drop, done! It couldn’t be any easier. If you fear gardening and want to start with something easy, pick flower bulbs. The first step is to dig. Grab a trowel, shovel, pointy Leaves are starting to change to beautiful colors and fall to the ground. That’s why they call this VHDVRQ ÂłIDOO ´ ULJKW" *UDVV seed roots are hopefully growing deep to give you a nice, dark-green lawn. What, your lawn isn’t darkJUHHQ" :K\ QRW" Fall is the best time to apply grass seed and fertilize your lawn. If you have not fertilized yet, now is a great time. The cooler weather and regular rainfall coupled with warm soil allows grass to grow nicely. Using a fall-winter fertilizer helps promote color and helps prepare the lawn for the cold winter ahead. Two applications of fertilizer also help roots to grow deep and thicken the grass plants, filling in bare spots. It is not too late to apply grass seed even if you missed the ideal September window. Do not wait until spring to re-seed. Spring seeding is more difficult since cold weather delays germination and crabgrass is germinating along with other broadleaf weeds, which reduces seeding

Gardener News The Great Plant Escape By David Williams Plant Enthusiast

Dig, Drop, Done stick, spoon, anything you would use to make a hole. There are even planters and drills that are designed to make a hole. These are great if you want to plant lots and lots of bulbs. There are charts that would tell how deep to plant a bulb, but the easiest way to remember is the hole should be two to three times deeper than the size of the bulb. I personally like to make it closer to three times, as it gives the bulb a little more protection from the winter. The second step is to drop the bulb into the hole. I get asked which side is up, many times. Have you ever seen an onion or garlic sprout in your fridge. The shoots come out of the point at the top. This is where the top is located on your bulb. Bulbs have a flat

spot on the bottom. The great thing about bulbs is that even if you dropped it into the hole upside down, they should still come up and bloom. The third step is cover them back up with the soil from the hole. Water them, so that the loose air spaces around them fill back up with soil. You are done! The bulb will sit and rest in the ground during the winter months. After eight to 12 weeks of cold temperatures, the roots will then start to sprout, and connect with the soil. When the days warm up a little more, the shoots will start to emerge out of the ground, and soon these little flowers will emerge and spring will officially have begun. There are quite a few choices for spring bulbs.

.HHS LW VLPSOH EXOEV FRPH clearly marked with the color, the month it blooms, and how tall that it grows. I would recommend planting the smaller bulbs like grape hyacinths in front of the taller ones. Tulips are the most colorful and variable of the flower bulbs. There are double ones that look like peonies, bright colored ones with frilly edges that look like parrots, tall, stately ones that are famous in photos of Holland, and many other styles. Tulips last two to three years in the garden, but the best blooms are from the first year. Places like Longwood Gardens have remarkable shows of tulips, but for a very consistent look, they replant their 100,000 bulbs every fall. The biggest problem with tulips is that the deer love them, so they need

Turf ‘s Up By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Fall leaves and green grass‌ success. What about FRPSDFWLRQ" ,I \RX DUH suffering from compaction problems, consider renting an aerator with a few neighbors to loosen up the soil. This should be done prior to applying any fertilizer or grass seed. The grass plants need quality soil, which allows water and air flow in the soil to allow roots to grow deeply. If you are suffering from DQ H[FHVVLYH WKDWFK OD\HU aerating will help cut through thatch, provided you rake off the debris afterward. Otherwise, rent a de-thatching machine prior to seeding in order to get good seed-to-soil FRQWDFW IRU PD[LPXP germination results. So you have some

FUDEJUDVV" ,I VR LW LV probably big, fat and ugly! With the first frost in your area, the crabgrass will die. It first will turn purple in color and then in a few weeks brown. You can rake through this to create a good seed bed for planting grass seed. It is too late to get effective chemical control of crabgrass at this time. Consider a better strategy to reduce the crabgrass population with your new spring lawn care program. Broadleaf weeds such as clover and dandelion can still be effectively controlled during the fall, provided daytime temperatures are over 50 degrees. Do not try to control broadleaf weeds if you need to apply grass seed. Follow all

label directions, whether using a granular Weed & Feed control or liquid for PD[LPXP UHVXOWV Now is a good time to take a soil test to see if your soil pH level is ideal for growing grass. There are VRPH LQH[SHQVLYH VRLO WHVW kits available at your local garden center or hardware store. If you have a low pH value, weeds tend to thrive, since the grass cannot grow in these conditions. An application of calcium or limestone helps to raise pH vales. The ideal range to grow grass is between 6.0-6.8. You can apply these products at the same time you are seeding after aeration or thatching. If you have a high pH value, apply a sulfur-based product to reduce pH vales.

to be planted in areas that deer do not visit. Daffodils will spread over time and are great to put in a semi-shaded wooded area. The deer will not eat daffodils. The color pallet of GDIIRGLOV LV QRW DV H[WHQVLYH or bright as tulips, and you are limited to a selection of yellows, whites, oranges and a few pale pinks. All bulbs look best planted in clusters. There is little impact to a single row of bulbs. Plant them in clusters of fives for the best impact. Editor’s Note: David is a fourth generation partner at Williams Nursery in Westfield. He is a member of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Union County Board of Agriculture. He has served as a board member for the Friends of Mindowaskin Park, the International Garden Center Association, and the Rutgers Board of Managers. He recently finished a two year term as President of Garden Centers of America (GCA). He can be reached at (908) 232-4076. Continue to mow your grass at the regular height as needed, even into late fall. Remember to not mow off more than onethird of the blade height in order to not stress grass plants. This mowing will spur grass plants to continue to tiller and thicken as the fall marches DORQJ .HHS \RXU PRZHU blade sharp in order to get a good, clean cut. I know football season is in full swing, but you cannot forget to take care RI \RXU ODZQ (YHQ QH[W month, we will have some closing chores you will need to do to have a great ORRNLQJ ODZQ QH[W VSULQJ After all, you are trying to achieve the lawn “Emmy� DZDUG RQ \RXU VWUHHW ULJKW" Stick with my plan and you’ll get there. There’s hope. Remember Moses was once a basket case! 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

Gardener News

October, 2014 23

Stimulating the Sense of Flavor .LQJV )RRG 0DUNHWV .LQJV GHEXWHG LWV QHZO\ LQVSLUHG VWRUH LQ :DUUHQ 7RZQVKLS 6RPHUVHW &RXQW\ 1 - RQ )ULGD\ 6HSW 7KH HYHQW NLFNHG RII ZLWK .LQJV )RRG 0DUNHWVÂś VLJQDWXUH SDVWD ULEERQ FXWWLQJ DW D P IHDWXULQJ VSHFLDO UHPDUNV IURP &22 5LFK 'XUDQWH DQG 6WRUH 0DQDJHU -RKQ :HVWHUPDQ ,Q DGGLWLRQ .LQJV PDGH D PRQHWDU\ GRQDWLRQ WR WKH )RRG %DQN 1HWZRUN RI 6RPHUVHW &RXQW\ DQ RUJDQL]DWLRQ GHGLFDWHG WR GLVWULEXWLQJ IRRG DQG SURYLGLQJ EDVLF KXPDQ QHHGV WR WKRVH OHVV IRUWXQDWH LQ RXU FRPPXQLW\ DV SDUW RI LWV Âł$FW $JDLQVW +XQJHU´ LQLWLDWLYH .LQJVÂś donation will help support the Food Bank Network’s “Back Packâ€? program, helping fill students’ back packs with nutritious items to bring home over the weekend. .LQJV )RRG 0DUNHWV LV DQ XSVFDOH PDUNHW FKDLQ VHUYLQJ FXVWRPHUV WKURXJKRXW 1HZ -HUVH\ 1HZ <RUN DQG &RQQHFWLFXW SURYLGLQJ D XQLTXH VKRSSLQJ H[SHULHQFH SDLUHG ZLWK WKH KLJKHVW TXDOLW\ IRRGV )URP ORFDOO\ VRXUFHG RUJDQLFDOO\ JURZQ SURGXFH WR KDQG VHOHFWHG FKHHVHV IURP RYHU FRXQWULHV WKH KLJKHVW TXDOLW\ PHDWV DQG ÂłWRS RI WKH FDWFK´ VHDIRRG .LQJV VHHNV WR EULQJ H[FHSWLRQDO JRXUPHW LWHPV WR VKRSSHUV LQ DOO RI WKH FRPSDQ\ÂśV ORFDWLRQV 7KH LQ VWRUH H[SHULHQFH LV HQKDQFHG E\ .LQJVÂś DVVRFLDWHV DOO RI ZKRP DUH SDVVLRQDWH DERXW IRRG DQG HDJHU WR KHOS FXVWRPHUV FUHDWH WKH SHUIHFW PHDO .LQJV is based in Parsippany, N.J., with 25 stores serving the region.

Tom Castronovo/Photos

Standing at the podium is Richard Durante, Chief Operating Officer for Kings Food Markets, officially reopening the store along with Kings corporate team members and store associates.

Pictured in the produce department from left to right are Richard Durante, Chief Operating Officer, Kings Food Markets; Donald T. DiFrancesco, New Jersey’s 51st Governor; and Paul Kneeland, also known as the King of Produce, a featured columnist for the Gardener News, and vice president of Floral, Meat, Produce and Seafood for Kings Food Markets.

Gardener News

is Now Accepting Nominations for its 2014 Person of the Year Award. Do you know someone in the “Green Industry� whose contributions deserve recognition? This person must be from the landscape, nursery, garden center or gardening industries who best epitomizes concern for, involvement in, and dedication to those pursuits. Or a person who performs exemplary outstanding service to the green industry. The deadline for receiving nominations for 2014 is November 1, 2014. Gardener News annually bestows our “Person of the Year� Award in our January edition. To download the form, please visit www.GardenerNews.com and click on the “Person of the Year� link. Thank you!

24 October, 2014

Gardener News

ATTENTION GARDEN CENTER & NURSERY OWNERS: Want to sell

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In South Jersey Contact:

Rich Imlay 908-216-8933

Steve Leyland 908-217-0682

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Serving Central New Jersey

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

Gardener News

October, 2014 25

Still Promoting Healthy Choices

Tom Castronovo/Photo

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher visited the Farmers Market at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset, Somerset County, N.J., on Aug. 25 to show his continued support of the hospital’s Jersey Fresh initiative in the use of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Each week since June 28, 2010, during the state’s harvesting season, a farmers market is set up on Monday’s in the hospital’s Steeple Chase Cancer Center parking lot featuring fresh produce from Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick, Hunterdon County, N.J. The hospital also incorporates Jersey Fresh produce and seafood items into patient meals, their dining room, the Good Day CafÊ and catered meals. Initiated by the Somerset Health Care Foundation, RWJUH Somerset was the first hospital in New Jersey, and possibly the nation, to team up with a state agriculture department. The hospital officially partnered with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture on May 6, 2010. A large press conference was held on June 3, 2010 to make the announcement public in the Frimmer Healing Gardens at The Steeplechase Cancer Center. Pictured from left to right at the farmers market DUH &KDUOHV :LOVRQ $VVLVWDQW 9LFH 3UHVLGHQW RI 2SHUDWLRQ IRU 5:-8+ 6WHSKHQ . -RQHV 3UHVLGHQW DQG &(2 RI 5:-8+ 1HZ -HUVH\ 6HFUHWDU\ RI Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher; Joe Atchison, Marketing Specialist for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture; George Jonkoski, Director of Food and Nutrition for the RWJUH Somerset Campus; as they listen to Peter Melick, a featured columnist for the Gardener News and co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm, talk about his family farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.

Equine Scholarship Offered to 4-H and FFA Members

USDA Continues Commitment to Hurricane Sandy Recovery

75(1721 1- ĘŠ 7KH 1HZ -HUVH\ (TXLQH $GYLVRU\ %RDUG LV RIIHULQJ D scholarship to help 4-H and FFA members pursue their equine activities. Members of organizations represented on the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board also are eligible. Applicants must be New Jersey residents between the ages of 13 and 16. The Sara Dubinin Scholarship, in memory of Sara Dubinin who loved horses, will be presented at the New Jersey Bred Equine Breeder Awards Luncheon on January 25, 2015 at Charley’s Other Brother Restaurant in Eastampton. Sara, a Sayreville resident, graduated from Cardinal McCarrick High School in 6RXWK $PER\ LQ 7KH \HDU ROG ZDV DWWHQGLQJ 0LGGOHVH[ &RXQW\ &ROOHJH ZKHQ she succumbed to injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident in September of 2007. Those interested in receiving the scholarship must submit an application form including an essay on, “How horses have affected my life and how horses figure into my future.â€? The application can be found at www.jerseyequine.nj.gov/ dubininapplicationform.pdf. Consideration of applications will be weighted upon the candidate’s financial need. The deadline to submit the essay is January 2, 2015. It can be submitted to Lynn Mathews, 609-292-2888 or lynn.mathews@ag.state.nj.us.

:$6+,1*721 ' & ĘŠ 8 6 $JULFXOWXUH 6HFUHWDU\ Tom Vilsack recently announced that up to $99 million in conservation funding will be provided to assist Hurricane Sandy victims in Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. Funding will be used to enroll 671 acres of hurricanedamaged property into permanent floodplain easements, while also making affected communities more resilient to future flooding and storm surges. The resources will help coastal communities, both human and natural, which are still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, which came ashore on the northeast coast of the U.S. on October 29, 2012. The funds announced are provided through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP-FPE), which provides long-term protection and restoration of floodplains on privately owned lands damaged by flooding.

26 October, 2014

Gardener News RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION PHONE DIRECTORY

U.S. EPA Settles With DuPont Over Wide Spread Tree Damage :$6+,1*721 ' & ĘŠ 7KH 8 6 (QYLURQPHQWDO Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 15, 2014 a settlement with the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) for alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). DuPont will pay a $1,853,000 penalty to resolve allegations that the company failed to submit reports to EPA about potential adverse effects of an herbicide product called Imprelis, and sold it with labeling that did not ensure its safe use. When customers applied the misbranded Imprelis product, it led to widespread death and damage to trees.

Pennsylvania Mushroom Production +$55,6%85* 3$ ʊ 3HQQV\OYDQLDœV $JDULFXV growers led all states by producing 571.7 million pounds, or 65 percent of all U.S. Agaricus mushrooms sold during the 2013-2014 growing season. Second-ranked California contributed 12 percent. For Pennsylvania, this is a 5 percent increase from 2012-2013’s 544.9 million pounds. Pennsylvania growers received, on average, 94.4 cents per pound for all Agaricus mushroom sales, up 1.1 cents from the previous year. Pennsylvania’s Agaricus crop was valued at $539.7 million, up 6 percent from the 20122013 crops. Nationally, the value of the Agaricus crop was estimated at $1.05 billion dollars, up 1 percent from a year ago. 6RXUFH 86'$ 1$66

Gardener News The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 138 Published Monthly Contact Information 3KRQH :HEVLWH ZZZ *DUGHQHU1HZV FRP ( 0DLO 0DLO#*DUGHQHU1HZV FRP Staff Executive Editor/ Publisher . . . . Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tom Castronovo Justin Kukuc Tom Castronovo

October Columnists Tom Castronovo Tim Hionis Evan Dickerson Paul Kneeland Craig Korb Douglas H. Fisher Leslie Barlow

Todd Pretz Jody Shilan Bob LaHoff Peter Melick Richard Perkins David Williams

Contributing Writers Bruce Crawford Jeannie Geremia

Kathleen Salisbury

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5($' 7+,6 3$3(5 21/,1( ‡ ::: *$5'(1(51(:6 &20 Full Moon, October 8, 2014

TIP OF THE MONTH

3URWHFW \RXU SXPSNLQ IURP VTXLUUHOV %\ DSSO\LQJ D FRDW RI OLTXHILHG KRW SHSSHU KRW VDXFH RU SRZGHUHG cayenne pepper, you can give the squirrels in your neighborhood a shock once they take a nibble. Blend the hottest peppers you can find with enough water to form a liquid. Add a drop of dish soap and a drop of vegetable oil to help the solution stick and pour it into a spray bottle. Coat the pumpkin every few days with this solution to drive squirrels away. The potent smell of vinegar can also be overpowering to squirrels since these critters have more sensitive noses than humans. Vinegar is also effective at repelling ants and other insects. Rubbing petroleum jelly or vapor rub all over the pumpkin has also been known to work. Make sure you wash your hands thoroughly after each application. These applications might also deter theft.

Gardener News

October, 2014 27

28 October, 2014

Gardener News

Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies Find your inspiration with the season’s best recipes at kingsfoodmarkets.com/holiday

inspiration strikes

Just as an extra layer of clothing adds warmth on a crisp autumn day, a thick layer of frosting on a fresh-baked pumpkin sandwich cookie adds flavor and goodness. Right now, Kings has pumpkins and other fresh flavors to inspire fall menus, as well as ready-to-enjoy seasonal favorites. Get your taste of autumn today at your neighborhood Kings. Follow us for fresh updates #kingsfoodmarkets

©2014 Kings Food Markets

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