Nl april15

01 5 L, 2 RI AP

...for discerning weeders

Inside This Issue!

Lots of updated and new publications!

Natural dyes for Easter Eggs!

Do you know what plastic can be recycled?

And much, much more!

The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....

An equal opportunity institution.

HOPPING INTO GARDENING! Warmer weather has arrived (to a point). Don’t forget that we had a freak cold snap in April a few years ago! Don’t let your guard down just yet when it comes to those tender plantings.

There is a great field trip coming up this month. It is outside so dress appropriately. For more details, contact Dick H. Don’t forget that if you have ideas for field trips send them to S. Taylor, D. Gordon, and/or Dick H. Keep in mind that we may not have been as physically active throughout the cooler months. Take the time to stretch and limber up a bit before tackling those big garden projects that you have in mind. Being in traction won’t help your garden (or you)!

E Fabian J. Fitzhugh R. Hastings J. McCreary

As I look around it is always amazing at what a few warm days and nights will produce in our landscapes. Color is everywhere as vines, trees and shrubs put on their Easter finery! And the scents! And the sounds! Birds chirping, weedeaters humming and people sneezing. Yes, allergy season. If you suffer from allergies, try local honey every day. It is purported to help with allergies. Don’t forget that it has to be local honey!

As you know, we’re also doing the monthly free seminars. The first one was a rousing success! We have several more scheduled as well as Plant Clinics! Make sure you come help with some of these.

34th Continued Training Conference October 18-21, 2015 Kissimmee, FL http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/ gardener/index.html

The nursery is getting into high gear and needs your help. Even if you just pick one Friday each month, many hands will make light work. Attend just one work day and I know that you’ll be hooked.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

This month’s edition of The Compost Pile has plenty of timely information to help with our gardening. You might even learn something new! A reminder that articles and pictures are due by the 24th of each month.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Wishing everyone a Happy Easter and a blessed Passover!

Plentiful Plantings Your Editor

Sign in to VMS and log in your hours!

You may access the VMS site by clicking on the link below: https://florida.volunteersystem.org/

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

1

Events Calendar

2

All-Abuzz

3

Proliferating Plastics

4

Wildlife Happenings

5

Stickywilly

5

Available Invasive

6

John McMahon

6

Updates and Info At Large

7-8 9

Infographics

10

Natural Dyes

10

Last Word

11 April, 2015

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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April, 2015

You may access our interactive Events calendar by visiting http://www.ocmgamembers.org/Calendar.html

ALL-ABUZZ! I know I promised to talk about sting physiology this month, but alas, I forget how very busy we are in the bee yard this time of year. Also, family matters took me to Atlanta, GA for the past week. Therefore, I beg your forgiveness and will most definitely delve into stings with next month’s issue. Instead, I’m going to talk about what is fresh on my mind today as I have just come in from the apiary for the afternoon.

by P. Garrett earlier, it is their instinct to do so, but also they tend to want to swarm if the hive is very crowded. If you remember from the castes and the various “jobs” the bees graduate into, the scout finds an idea location that is to be the new home upon swarming.

If you find a swarm hanging in a tree, and it isn’t too high up, some lucky beekeeper may be able to help! The extension office maintains a “Swarm List” of local beekeepers that are willing to come and try to “capture” the swarm. This is a win/win for everyone. We provide a service to help the homeowner, the bees get a new home, AND best of all, the beekeeper gets a free colony! M and I will cover Niceville, Val-P, Destin and Bluewater Bay. We have others on the list that cover Ft. Walton, Crestview, DeFuniak Springs, etc. Linda B. from the extension office keeps this list and it was recently updated at the monthly meeting of the Tri-County Beekeeper’s Association. Most people we receive calls from do not want to hurt the bees. This is so promising to hear! We must continue to do all we can to not only help our European honey bees, Apis mellifera, but ALL pollinators as well!! Remember, it was our native bees that did the yeoman’s chore of pollination long before Apis mellifera came to this continent.

M retrieving a swarm. Photo courtesy of P. Garrett

During the spring, the instinct for proliferation of the species and a honeybee’s desire to “swarm” is very strong. I believe I have mentioned before that if a colony swarms, the existing queen will leave and take 50-60% of the bees with her. One can imagine what this does to our honey harvest! This year, M has tried various management practices in order to prevent our hives from swarming. I just do the work and he tells me in brief terms why he’s decided to do things a certain way. For example, we “checker boarded” the frames so the brood will have more room and spread out, giving the queen more room to lay eggs. In the deep hive body, where the queen and brood usually are, M had me put one frame full of brood, and the next frame empty (or nearly empty), When capturing a swarm, it is most helpful IF and so on until all 10 frames were back one is able to capture the queen as well. If not, Swarm in a tree. Photo courtesy of P. Garrett in place. He also had me leave a methen a frame with eggs must be placed in a hive dium super (a box full of medium sized frames), on top of the body with the swarm so they can make a new queen OR you can “deep” in hopes the queen would move on up and lay eggs there introduce a queen obtained from a breeder into the colony. The as well. We actually saw that this was working very well in a few last queen we purchased went for about $22. It is very nice when hives today. Also, if we have lots of bees in a particular hive, we the girlz make a new queen of their own, but that takes time, and may remove an entire frame of brood and bees and introduce then when she mates, who really knows the genetics? Best Manthem to a smaller, weaker hive. Today, we did this twice, but agement Practices dictate re-queening every year with a honeybefore we did, I sprayed a sugar water solution on the frame full bee of known genetic background. of brood and bees so the receiving hive wouldn’t kill some of the bees, as the pheromones are different. So far, all of our interven- Now back to the bee garden and my new coneflowers to plant! tions have worked very well and we haven’t had a swarm yet this (Remember if you want to bring bees and butterflies to your yard, they prefer a mass of flowers)…. spring. When we are ready for the “girlz” to start putting honey in a honey super for US to harvest, we will place a “queen excluder” on top of the “deep” box so the queen isn’t able to move up and lay eggs. The queen excluder is a metal cover with slits in it that is the perfect size for workers to crawl through, but drones and queens can’t fit through. We wouldn’t want to harvest honey that is all mixed up with little developing bee parts…

I find it interesting that before a colony swarms, the girlz will reduce the queen’s nutritional intake so she loses weight. That way, she can make the flight to a new home more easily. Many beekeepers clip one forewing (the lower half) on the queen. Then if she tries to fly, she won’t get very far or very high so the beekeeper can reclaim the swarm. I have clipped wings in the past, but there is risk with this as well. Sometimes when marking the queen with a dot of paint on her thorax or when clipping her wing, there is the danger that the “girlz” will see her as damaged and roll her over and kill her. I have clipped queens in the past, but decided I didn’t want to maim them anymore, but I do paint their thorax in order to locate them more easily when inspecting the hive. I do make sure the paint is dry before reintroducing her back into the hive so the “girlz” do not clean it off. Also, you have to make sure the queen has mated before marking or clipping. I made this mistake once and marked a young, virgin queen. We surmise her queen pheromone wasn’t strong enough and the “girlz” probably saw her as very damaged, thus killing her.

You know, many people think the queen controls the colony, but it is the “girlz” that decide when and if to swarm. As mentioned An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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April, 2015

PROLIFERATING PLASTICS “Plastics, Ben.” Who could ever forget that sage bit of career advice given to a young Dustin Hoffman in the film “The Graduate” in about 1968?

As funny as that line was at the time, I doubt if any of us could have foreseen the significant role that plastics would play in our lives in the coming decades.

Plastics are everywhere, for better or worse. Many of us are becoming legitimately concerned about the effects they have on our health and well-being. And the impact they have on landfills is significant. Consider that it takes anywhere from five years to “millennia” for plastics to break down, depending upon the type of plastic (http://www.brighthub.com/environment/greenliving/articles/107380.aspx). Now consider that, according to the EPA, in the United States alone 32 million tons of plastic waste are generated each year (http://www.epa.gov/osw/ conserve/materials/plastics.htm) and we can see that the landfill problem compounds dramatically over time. So what can we do about all of that? We can recycle, of course! My purpose today is to provide some guidelines for recycling plastics. Specifically, what the heck do those numbers on the bottom of plastic containers really mean? I will also briefly mention some the health issues involved in the different types of plastics because that is certainly of concern to all of us. But in-depth discussion of the health hazards of plastics is a subject for another day.

First, from within the plastics industry itself we have a description of each of the seven numbers you might see on the bottom of plastic containers along with a cheery little video describing each: http://www.usplastic.com/knowledgebase/article.aspx? contentkey=638 But this does not tell us much about what the numbers mean in terms of recyclability and safety. For that I have compiled information from several sources and summarized it as follows: Plastic #1: This is polyethylene terephtalate, also known as PETE or PET. This is usually clear and is found mostly in soda bottles, water bottles, beer bottles, salad dressing containers, mouthwash bottles, and peanut butter containers. This plastic is picked up by most curbside recycling programs. It is ‘generally’ considered safe but is known to have a porous surface that allows bacteria and flavor to accumulate, so it is best not to keep reusing these bottles as makeshift containers. In other words, if your idea of recycling is to re-use your plastic water bottles, a much healthier choice for you would be to let the recycling guys pick them up. Plastic #1 is recycled into tote bags, furniture, carpet, paneling, fiber, and polar fleece.

Plastic #2: This is high density polyethylene, or HDPE. It is usually opaque and is found mostly in milk jugs, household cleaner containers, juice bottles, shampoo bottles, cereal box liners, detergent bottles, motor oil bottles, yogurt tubs, and butter tubs. This plastic is considered safe and is picked up by most recycling programs. Plastic #2 is recycled into pens, recycling containers, picnic tables, lumber, benches, fencing, and detergent bottles, to name a few.

Plastic #3: This is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC. It is used to make food wrap, bottles for cooking oil, plumbing pipes, medical equipment and windows. PVC is a tough plastic but it is not considered safe to cook food near it. It used to (and still may), contain phthalates, which are linked to numerous health issues ranging from developmental problems to miscarriages. They also contain DEHA, which can be carcinogenic with long-term exposure. DEHA has also been linked to loss of bone mass and liver problems. You should minimize use of #3 plastic around food as An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

by K. Harper much as possible. Never cook using food wrap, especially in a microwave oven. Plastic #3 is rarely accepted by curbside recycling programs. It is recycled into paneling, flooring, speed bumps, decks, and roadway gutters.

Plastic # 4: this is Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). Yogurt cups and similar wide-necked containers are often made from it, as well as water bottles with a cloudy finish. You’ll also find it in straws, squeezable bottles, shopping bags, clothing, carpet, frozen food containers, bread bags, and some food wraps. This plastic is considered safe. In the past it was not often accepted by curbside recycling programs but that has changed and it is more commonly accepted now. Plastic #4 is recycled into compost bins, paneling, trash can liners and cans, floor tiles, and shipping envelopes.

Plastic #5 is PP (Polypropylene). It is increasingly accepted by curbside recycle programs and is typically found in such things as ketchup bottles, syrup bottles and medicine bottles. It is considered one of the safer plastics. Polypropylene is recycled into brooms, auto battery cases, bins, pallets, signal lights, ice scrapers, and bicycle racks.

Plastic #6: this is polystyrene, or Styrofoam, from which disposable containers and packaging are made. You’ll find it in disposable plates and cups as well as compact disc cases, egg cartons and meat trays, Evidence is increasingly suggesting that this type of plastic leaches potentially toxic chemicals, especially when heated. It is difficult to recycle and most curbside recycling programs won’t accept it. It is recycled by the industry into egg cartons, vents, foam packing, and insulation. If you have ever popped your take-home leftovers in their Styrofoam box into the microwave to reheat (guilty here), stop it right now!

Plastic #7: This number basically means “everything else.”

It’s a mixed bag, composed of plastics which were invented after 1987. Plastic #7 is found in sunglasses, iPod cases, computer cases, nylon, 3- and 5-gallon water bottles, and bullet-proof materials. Polycarbonate falls into this category. It contains the notorious toxic bisphenol-A (BPA). These plastics should be avoided due to possibly containing hormone disruptors (like BPA), which have been linked to infertility, hyperactivity, reproductive problems, and other health issues. Plastic #7 is difficult to recycle and most curbside recycling programs won’t accept it.

It is recycled by the industry into plastic lumber and other custom-made products.

To summarize: try to avoid plastics with the recycling symbols 3, 6, and 7. Look for symbols 1, 2, 4, and 5, as these plastics are considered to be safest in terms of human and animal consumption and are generally recyclable. And avoid using plastics at all whenever possible!

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April, 2015

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS April means spring is in full force for our area. Here are some of the animal behaviors to look for this month.

Birds Bobwhite quail nest now through September. Migrant warblers concentrate on coasts after cold fronts. Get those hummingbird feeders up! Hummingbirds are back and feeding. Grosbeaks, warblers, tanagers, orioles, and thrashers begin returning.

Mammals Black bears begin moving. Long-tailed weasels, minks, and river otters will be born April through May. Endangered Gray Bats return to caves to raise young.

Amphibians/Reptiles Pine barrens treefrogs begin calling.

courtesy of www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Most Florida snakes begin mating rituals. Beginning of Sea Turtle nesting season on Florida beaches. Alligators begin moving about, seeking new territories and mates.

Fish The cobia migration is in full swing in the Panhandle.

Insects Plant extra parsley for black swallowtail butterfly larvae.

CATCHWEED BEDSTRAW

by L. Morris

Catchweed Bedstraw, also known as Stickywilly is from the Rubiaceae family.

Gallium aparine L., is a broadleaf weed and is found throughout North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. It may be classified as a winter OR a summer annual weed.

Its flowers provide a food source for some beneficial insects.

Cotyledons (seed leaves) are oblong to egg shaped, have slightly notched tips and are either hairless or have tiny hairs.

Cotyledon and stalk combined are 2/5-1-1/5 inches (9-30 mm.) long. The stem above the cotyledons is square in cross-section and the first leaf set has two somewhat unequal pairs of leaves.

You definitely do not want to walk through this unprotected.

Otherwise you will soon discover why it is called Stickywilly.

References: Weeds of Southern Turf Grasses http://www.co.stevens.wa.us/weedboard/other%20weeds/ HTM%20pages/catchweed%20bedstraw.htm http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/ catchweed_bedstraw.html

Cajun series hibiscus.

The Jokester

Photos courtesy of Dick H.

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future.

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April, 2015

AVAILABLE INVASIVE! The Camphor tree (Cinnamomum camphora) is a large evergreen tree that grows up to 40–50ft tall. The leaves have a glossy, waxy appearance and smell of camphor when crushed. In spring, it produces bright green foliage with masses of small white flowers. It produces clusters of black berry-like fruit around approximately 1/3 in diameter. Its pale bark is very rough and fissured vertically.

The Camphor tree is native to China and other parts of Southeast Asia, and has been introduced to many other countries.

Camphor is widely planted as a shade tree, screen, or windbreak. In China and Japan, it is grown commercially for its medicinal oil. Camphor oil has a strong penetrating fragrance, a pungent bitter flavor, and feels cool on the skin like menthol, though it also has irritating qualities as well as a numbing effect. Camphor has been used to treat ailments ranging from parasitic infections to toothaches.

Scientific evidence has confirmed that chemicals in the plant have value in antiseptics and medications.

In Florida the Camphor tree is able to rapidly displace native trees and infest forests and other natural areas. This invasive species displaces native plants due to its fast growth habit and the ability to produce large amounts of seed. The seed is readily eaten and spread by

by D. Stever birds. This species is also spread by wildlife and other animals that eat the fruit, spreading the seed to different areas.

Nurseries and garden centers sell Camphor tree as a popular ornamental plant which aids in its dispersal in landscaped areas. Because camphor tree is available in garden centers and nurseries, home-owners are able to purchase plants, ensuring its survival and spread.

Camphor tree is not on the Federal or State Noxious Weed List; however it is listed as a Category I species on the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC) list of invasive species.

FLEPPC considers Category I plants invasive exotic species that displace or disrupt native plant communities, alter the ecology of the environment, or hybridize with native species.

More Information: www.floridata.com/ref/C/ cinn_cam.cfm http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/ node/101

JOHN H. MCMAHON John H. McMahon, age 90, longtime resident of Crestview, Fla., passed away Monday morning, March 9, 2015. He was born in Fort Myers, Fla., and grew up in Arkansas. John was drafted at the age of 18 and sent to Europe where he fought in the Battle of the Bulge. In 1951, he moved to Florida to work as a state forester.

Upon retiring from the State after 30 years of service, John worked as a consulting forester. John loved God and this beautiful earth, and was passionate about educating people about nature and the environment. He developed and managed the John McMahon Environmental Center in Crestview. He was an acAn Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

complished writer and poet, and was the poet laureate for the Florida Forestry Service. John was a faithful member of First United Methodist Church in Crestview, and taught the same Sunday school class for over 60 years.

Susan (Little Girl Series) Photo courtesy of Dick H. 6

April, 2015

UPDATES AND INFO

by Staff

The following helpful hint is courtesy of Ed S. We all have lots of photos on our phones, computers. Ever think about that? If there are photos you really care about, print them out. Find out why by checking out this article. http://tinyurl.com/qgeqnjq

plants in the family Poaceae (grasses), especially rice, and is a reported pest of economic significance in rice-producing countries like India, Australia, and China. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ in1067

PESTS AND INSECTS:

Wellsina Mite - This predatory mite was recently discovered in an unsprayed greenhouse at the University of Florida, Gainesville, living on Phalaenopsis and Dendrobium orchids, and assumed to be feeding on orchid pests such as spider mites, tenuipalpid mites, and mealybugs that were present on the orchids.

Because there was no published information on this species as a natural enemy of orchid pests, colonies were initiated here to study its biology, maintained on two-spotted spider mite prey.

Hemicheyletia wellsina does not appear likely to be an effective natural enemy in agricultural crops as an introduced predator, but could be beneficial in natural biological control in natural ecosystems, where pest densities are lower. http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1066

New Thrips-Transmitted Plant Viruses in Florida Crops http:// nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2015/02/27/new-thripstransmitted-plant-viruses-in-florida-crops/ Urban Pests and Pest Management - The warm southern states provide an ideal environment for a wide variety of pests — and because almost everyone has problems with pests, most urban areas are sprayed with pesticides. 30 to 40 percent of pesticide use is in urban areas, but most pesticide applications are unnecessary and can result in environmental contamination and human exposure to pesticideshttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1073 Robbing Behavior in Honey Bees - Western honey bee workers can invade and steal honey/nectar from other colonies or sugar/ corn syrup from feeders used to deliver syrup to other colonies.

This is called “robbing” behavior. Robbing behavior typically involves the collection of nectar and honey, but not pollen or brood. Some beekeepers report that robbing bees may steal wax or propolis from other hives, but there is not much data available on this occurrence. Robbing behavior can escalate quickly from just a few bees robbing other colonies to a massive frenzy of bees robbing many colonies in an apiary. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ in1064 Tawny Crazy Ant (previously known as Caribbean crazy ant) Nylanderia fulva is part of a group of ants referred to as “crazy ants” due to their quick and erratic movements. It has been reported from 27 counties of Florida and 27 counties of Texas, as well as from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. Huge number of workers in infested areas can make human activities uncomfortable and difficult. They can infest sidewalks, buildings and gardens, and damage phone lines, air conditioning units and computers. They have killed honey bee larvae and used the hives as their nests, and are even displacing red imported fire ants where the two populations overlap in Texas. http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1071 Fiddlewood leafroller - These caterpillars roll up leaves of the host plants and use the rolled leaves as larval retreats and locations for pupal cocoons. Although these leaf-eating pests do no permanent damage, they can completely defoliate fiddlewood, a Florida native that can form a large shrub or small tree. The shrub simply puts out a new flush of leaves. The larvae themselves are valuable food source for baby birds during the spring dry season in Florida. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1079 Squash Vine Borer - Squash vine borer is a moth species that is active during the day (diurnal). The larvae complete their growth and development on wild and domesticated species of the genus Cucurbita. Once only considered a nuisance to commercial growers, with the expansion of cucurbit production in the United States over the last decade, the squash vine borer has become a pest of economic importance. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1068

Io Moth - The beautiful Io moth is one of our most recognizable moths, because of its prominent hind wing eyespots. The attractive Io moth caterpillar is also well-known because of its painful sting. But like many of the other saturniid moths, is less common now in parts of its range. With the exception of Cape Cod and some of the Massachusetts islands, it is now rare in New England where it was once common, and its populations have declined in most of the Gulf States since the 1970s. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ in1065 Yellowmargined Leaf Beetle: A Pest of Cole Crops - The yellowmargined leaf beetle is a pest of cole or cruciferous crops that is native to South America. Since first reported in Mobile, Alabama, in 1947, the beetle has spread throughout the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida and up into Georgia and North Carolina. It has also been reported from Illinois and California. Not considered a major pest in conventionally grown cruciferous crops because it is susceptible to a wide range of insecticides, it poses a significant threat to the growing organic industry in the southeastern United States. It is a particular problem on Asian greens such as mizuna, mibuna, and napa cabbage, as well as on other high-value cruciferous crops like turnip, mustard, and watercress. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1049

ANIMALS: Habitat Requirements of the Florida Panther - The Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) was listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 1967. Habitat loss and fragmentation are primary threats, driven by urban development and the conversion of rangelands to row crops, citrus production, and mining. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw390

The Jokester: A bus station is where a bus stops.

A train station is where a train stops.

On my desk, I have a work station….

Rice Bug - Broad-headed bugs belong to a well-known but relatively small family of plant-feeding true bugs, usually seen feeding on the foliage and flowers of leguminous and graminaceous crops. Leptocorisa acuta (Thunberg) can be found on many crop An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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April, 2015

UPDATES AND INFO ANIMALS: The Florida Panther: Past, Present, and Future - Florida panther was presumed extinct by the early 1950s, but were rediscovered in 1973 by a survey team organized by the National Geographic Society. They were one of the first species to be added to the US endangered species list and are now the only population of North American puma that occurs east of Mississippi River. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw402 PLANTS: Bismarckia nobilis: Bismarck Palm The Bismarck palm is a native of Madagascar that grows to a height of 30 to 60 feet with a spread of 12 to 16 feet. The massive 4-foot-wide costapalmate leaves are typically silver-green in color, but a light olive-greenleaved variety also exists. The persistent leaf bases are split, creating an attractive pattern on the 15–18-inch-diameter trunks.

The dark brown male and female inflorescences are produced on separate trees, with females developing olive-brown fruit about 1.5 inches in diameter. The bold texture and color and eventual great height of this species make a strong statement in any setting, but can be overpowering in small residential landscapes. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st101

cont’d.

Melissa Friedman, and Robert Irving and published by UF/ IFAS. Available only at the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore.

Nutrient Management of Vegetable and Agronomic Row Crops Handbook - Through the implementation of a series of targeted cultural practices discussed in this production guide, growers should be able to reconcile economic profitability and responsible use of water and fertilizer. Topics include: proper sampling practices and test interpretations; irrigation management methods and automation; use of alternate fertilizer materials to retain nutrients in the soil but allow adequate supply for crop uptake.

Use of these BMPs ensures that adequate fertilizer rates may be achieved by combinations of UF/IFAS recommended base rates and supplemental fertilizer applications. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ ss639 OTHER:

Ten Strategies for Working with Your Home Owner Association to Convert to a Florida-Friendly Yard - Many homeowners are beginning to rethink their landscapes for several reasons, including mandated water and fertilizer restrictions, increasing maintenance costs, and concern for the environment. But over sixty million people now live in neighborhoods governed by Homeowner Associations, whose regulations can make it difficult to Howea forsteriana: Kentia Palm The kentia palm is considered implement some changes by mandating types of plants, percentone of the best interior palms for its durability and elegant apages of turf and plant material, location of plant materials, and pearance. The dark green graceful crown of up to three dozen restricting specialty gardens to back yards. More environmenleaves gives it a tropical appearance. Containerized palms can be tally sound landscapes are possible with careful planning and used on a deck or patio in a shady location or the palm can be design and by using an educated and knowledgeable approach to planted into the landscape. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/st297 working with the HOA board to gain approval for a new landscape. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep513 Hairy Indigo Control in Peanut - Hairy indigo is an annual legume that was introduced to Florida as a forage crop. It has since Economic Impacts of Highway Beautification in Florida - The escaped cultivation and can be a troublesome weed in some crop Florida Department of Transportation is allocated money every settings, particularly in peanut production, since we are attempt- year for highway landscaping projects. They make driving more pleasant and are better for the environment, but do they attract ing to control a legume weed in a legume crop. http:// private investment and contribute to the economy? This study, edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag391 commissioned by the FDOT, finds that the average annual economic impacts of highway beautification expenditures in Florida Selecting Cultivars of Lettuce For Production Using Hydroponics during 2008–2013 amounted to $46 million in output impacts and Protected Culture in Florida - With correct variety selection and $28 million in value-added impacts. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ and protected culture strategies, lettuce is a crop that can prefe963 sent even the novice grower with a fast-growing commodity for market sale. Includes brief descriptions of hydroponic lettuce production systems, cultivars, and a table summarizing the lettuce types successfully grown in Florida using protected agriculture and hydroponic techniques. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1258 BOOKSTORE: The Jokester

BOOKSTORE: SP 496 Trees: North & Central Florida ($24.95)

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift...Thrown away...Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

This sturdy, pocket-sized field guide–the only one of its kind for north and central Florida–is designed for landscape professionals, arborists, naturalists, gardeners, and anyone seeking to know the trees around them. Full color photographs of leaves, bark, flowers and full trees, together with clear descriptions and other information make identifying trees easier than ever. The book also features a handy diagnostic key, an introduction to plant parts, a glossary and a ruler to guide you, whether you’re a trained botanist or a total beginner. This field guide to 140 common tree species is written by Andrew Koeser, Gitta Hasing, An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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April, 2015

MASTER GARDENERS AT LARGE! On occasion, we get asked what is it that Master Gardeners do.

The normal response is that we volunteer for the University of Florida/IFAS Extension to assist agents in providing researchbased horticultural education to Florida residents. In reality, we are a lot more than that.

For starters, we have the offices at the Extension building in Crestview and the Annex in Ft. Walton Beach. At those locations, we perform soil pH testing (free to the public) as well as handle telephone calls and walk-ins. You never know what those visits might bring. Anything from how to take care of weeds in a lawn to identifying insects and helping folks determine what is the best variety of a plant for their particular situation.

We teach folks how to read that pesky fertilizer label and how to calibrate their sprinkler system. Not only are we providing a valuable educational service, we are also helping owners save money and protect the environment!

We have the nursery located at the Annex. It may be small but my, oh my, the things they are able to do in there! Those who work there learn about propagating and caring for the plants.

The plants grown go towards beautifying the Extension landscape as well as being sold to the public.

We attend local events with our information booth as well as provide speakers for groups. At the BIA home show we were in direct contact with over 300 people! That’s a whole lot of folks who have a better understanding on how to take care of their gardens and landscapes.

There is the Extension landscape that recently underwent a major upheaval. Irrigation has been installed and thanks to one of our members who has really cool toys (i.e.: heavy equipment) the soil amending wasn’t as back-breaking nor time consuming.

There will be more work days to get the landscape up to its full potential as the teaching/education landscape it is meant to be.

We provide judges for the Science Fair and judges for 4-H. We assist the Extension office for telephone coverage as well as special projects that the agents may need assistance with.

Plant Clinics will be starting up this month. They will be held at the Annex on the 2nd Friday of each month until October 9th from 10am to 1pm. Our free monthly seminars have started off really well and will be continuing on the 3rd Wednesday of each month until October 21.

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

By Staff

There are activities where we celebrate our group like our upcoming 20th Birthday Bash and our Christmas party.

In other words, there are loads of activities that everyone can and should participate in.

You don’t have to sign up for every single thing, BUT there’s at least one event or activity that you can help with each month. There is plenty to do and it doesn’t matter what your ability level is. The help is always needed and appreciated.

Did we also mention the Phenology recording that is on-going at the Extension office? Nature Trail? Articles for the Newsletter? So many things.

Since this year marks our 20th Anniversary as an organization, why not give the gift of your time. Make the commitment to participate in just one thing each month. You’ll be so glad you did and our overall outreach will just get better and better!

This is also the year of our 34th Continued Training Conference. If you have never attended one of these conferences, you should plan on being there.

Don’t forget to log in your hours on VMS. We know that we keep harping on this but the importance can’t be stressed enough. These records actually benefit our organization and the Florida Master Gardeners as a whole. These hours equate to money when it comes time to apply for grants and awards. We do so much and we should get credit for all that we do.

So, celebrate our 20th Anniversary year by getting involved and joining in at least one of our many activities.

Photos of latest landscape workday. Courtesy of Marg S.

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April, 2015

Infographics courtesy of www.gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu

DYE-ING FOR COLORED EGGS! Easter is just a few days from now and what says Easter more than colored eggs? Why not give natural dyes a try this year? It’s easy and fun. Not to mention totally cool for the nerd in all of us.

To get started you’ll need a few things: Mordant—Alum, cream of tartar, or white vinegar will help the colors penetrate the eggshell. These aren’t a necessity but you will get better results if you use one of these. You’ll need one tablespoon for each cup of water.

Pots—Enamel or glass pots.

Water– Use distilled water or water that has had the chlorine filtered out.

Eggs– White eggs work best.

Dyestuff—There are a lot of things in your pantry that can make wonderful dyes. Here are just a few: Hibiscus flowers—reddish blue/lavender Turmeric powder—deep gold Safflower petals—pale yellow Curry powder—pale orange Chili powder—reddish brown Paprika—orange Dill seed—soft brown You can also use beet juice, berries, coffee, grape juice, cranberry juice, lemon peels, orange peels, red cabbage leaves, tea, onion skins…..

by M. Stewart

you leave the eggs in the dye, the deeper the color. Remove eggs and gently rinse in lukewarm water. Allow to air dry.

Cold bath—Make the dye bath by brining the ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until the water is deeply colored.

This could take anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours.

Keep the lid on the pot to prevent evaporation. Strain the liquid and cool. Add hard-boiled eggs to the dye and let soak until desired color is reach.

Directions courtesy of www.frontiercoop.com

You’ll need: 4 cups water; of your choice of dyestuff you will need 2-4 tablespoons of any ground herbs or spices, 1 cup if you’re using onion skins etc; 4 tablespoons of mordant; 4 to 6 eggs. Use raw eggs if you choose the hot bath method and hard -boiled for the cold bath method.

Hot bath—Bring all the ingredients to a boil. Add the raw eggs and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 15 minutes, remove from heat, cover and let sit another 15 minutes. The longer An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

10

April, 2015

M. Stewart —Editor S. Farrell , K. Harper and S. Berry—co-editors

Have pictures or an idea for an article?

Send it in!

Articles and pictures are always welcome.

Mission To assist Extension Agents in providing research-based horticultural education to Florida residents.

Vision To be the most trusted resource for horticultural education in Florida.

LAST WORD The daily war continues within our household. Ms Pussycat thinks that Happy Hubby’s chair is the perfect spot for a nap and H.H. thinks it is HIS chair. So, there is now a special kitty towel on the couch and several times a day, Ms Puss gets carried to the couch. I’ve watched this whole scenario several times and I swear I see that cat grin each time she is carted to her new location.

This is the same Queen Puss who is on the special diet due to her digestive issues.

That means she gets fed on a schedule and of course there are only a few ‘flavors’ that she will condescend to subject her discerning pallet to. That being said, the schedule doesn’t always suit Her Highness. I have discovered that for a little cat, she is capable of meowing at pitches and decibels that could shatter windows. I’m sure it’s against the Geneva Convention or something.

The past week has been interesting. Between having a planting bed land on me, the freezer dying, septic system acting up, getting stung on the ear, and my fan dying...I was ready to run away from home and not leave a forwarding address. Oh I know, there are bigger disasters out there but did I have to enjoy all of these in the space of two days??? Seriously?

Not to mention that the doctor said I need to exercise more. I’m a gardener for Pete's sake! Between weeding, moving hose connections (the whole pipe—not just the hose), pruning and everything else that goes with gardening...if I exercised anymore I would need to buy stock in BenGay! But all of this got me to thinking. All these irritations—just how bad were they? Sure, life in general was a tad inconvenienced...okay a whole lot inconvenienced...you try not flushing for 24 hours.

Sure, it was painful (my leg can attest to that) but we survived.

By M. Stewart I was able to find a fan that fits on my nightstand and doesn’t freeze out H.H. The man sleeps like the mummy even in the middle of the summer...he’s an alien.

I got stung but we were able to remove the bee tucus from my anatomy AND I didn’t have a reaction.

Yay! The new planting beds look really good and I know that they’ll hold up. I don’t recommend my particular drop test but still, nothing fell off and my leg finally is a normal color again.

The Battle of the Chair shall continue, I’m sure. Puss knows that she has H.H. wrapped around her paw and I think H enjoys the kitty transfer routine as much as she does.

So perhaps the minor disasters in our lives are nothing more than looking at things from the wrong perspective. Instead of a problem—consider it as an opportunity just waiting for us to jump on.

Fine, I’ll park a few more spaces away from the door and use a broom to sweep the patio instead of the blower. That is about the limit to increasing my exercise quotient.

I will continue the feeding schedule that I want with Madam Puss and I know there will be some days that she will win and others that I will. Take the victories when you can right?

I will employ more assistance when it comes to moving things that are bigger than I am. I will also not be the one walking backwards the next time something is moved.

I will keep the septic guy’s number in the book instead of having to go back through 5 years of check registers to try and find the name of the company. (Pitiful I know)

We were able to nurse the freezer along and in doing so scored a really good deal on a much bigger freezer. Although H.H. has indicated that it is plenty big enough for me to be stuffed into. Hmmmmm.

But in the mean time, I wonder if it would be too much to ask of the Universe if I could do without a few ‘opportunities’ for a while? I don’t think my wallet nor my body can handle anymore for the time being.

The septic didn’t back up into the house and the pumper was able to arrive on Monday. The joy of hearing a ‘whoosh’...it’s the little things in life.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter!

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

Plentiful Plantings April, 2015