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The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....An equal opportunity institution.

PRESIDENTIAL PONDERINGS Greetings and salutations! Your Board met on January 14th and made plans for the year 2015. My goodness, how time flies! It seems like just yesterday, anticipating the year 2000, people were concerned about computers crashing, a run on banks, and Mayan calendars predicting the end of the world. Oops! I digress.

Back to the Board meeting. Monthly education seminars for the public are in the planning stage. More information will be coming out about these seminars. The Outreach committee is making plans for the Spring BIA home and garden show as well as a fall event that we can participate in. Larry is working on advanced training sessions for Master Gardeners, Plant Clinics, and a new training session to welcome another group of dedicated folks into the Master Gardener program.

So, you see, we are planning not only prospect for public education but also for our own education.

We are proud of our past successes and look forward to even more accomplishments.

L. Penry, OCMGA President

J. Bauer B. Bayer V. Burke M. Drake K. Harper R. Herington J. Langham L. Meyers B. Thomas

Show your heart is in the right place!

Sign in to VMS and log in your hours!

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

https://florida.volunteersystem.org/ UniversalLogin.cfm

Events Calendar All A-Buzz

2 3-4

Cat’s Whiskers

4

Wildlife Happenings

5

Chickweed

5

Aggressive Invasive

6

Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow.

According to legend, this means 6 more weeks of winter.

However, the gator saw his shadow which means 6 MORE weeks of great Florida weather! And just a few days of rain.)

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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What is Organic?

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Updates and Info

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The Living Soil

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The Last Word

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February, 2015

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

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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February, 2015

ALL A-BUZZ Insects have been on this earth for approximately 300 million years. Evidence of insects from Hymenoptera, the order in which honey bees belong, has been found in fossils. Specimens of amber showed membranous wings and the skinny, ant-like waists Honey bees, however, didn’t evolve until 100 million years ago Their ancestors were predatory sphecid wasps that lived on animal protein. We know that honey bees need vegetable protein (pollen), in addition to carbohydrates (nectar) in order to survive. Our first flowering plants (known as angiosperms) provided plenty of both and co-evolved with honeybees.

This was a symbiotic relationship to say the least. Unlike wasps, bees developed branch-like hairs on their body, which are able to trap vast amounts of pollen. They also developed expandable honey stomachs, or sacs, which then allow the bee to carry nectar back to the hive. Additionally, unlike wasps, honey bees’ communication through pheromones enables them to not only defend the hive, but to find the most rewarding locations and flowers in which to forage upon.

Listed below is the honey bee’s location in the animal kingdom: Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Hexapoda (or Insecta, six-footed) Order: Hymenoptera Suborder: Apocrita (bees, wasps & ants) Superfamily: Apoidea Family: Apidae Tribe: Apini Genus: Apis Species: Mellifera (honey bearing) In the genus Apis, there are 8 species of honey bees. Apis mellifera being one of them. Interestingly, there are 25 races among this particular species. Since becoming a beekeeper, I commonly hear of the Italian honey bee, the Carniolan honey bee, and the Russian honey bee. M. and I have Italian honey bees at the present time, although we have used Russian queens on occasion.

Each race has advantages and disadvantages. For example, Italian bees are excellent foragers, but forage for shorter distances and may have a tendency to “rob” weaker hives, which often creates quite a stir in the apiary. In the US today, the Italian honey bee is most commonly used honey bee, having been imported in 1859. In our hives, we have the “goldens” which have five bands on the abdomen in contrast to the “leathers,” which have three.

M. and I are often asked about Africanized bees. This subspecies of honey bees comes from the central and southern part of Africa. Known as Apis mellifera scutellata, it is type you will find that was introduced into South America and is known as “killer” bees. Since the African bee is the same species of honey bees, hybridization can occur between our European races and the African races. Then, this progeny will be known as “Africanized”, or “AFB”. I could do an entire article on AFB (common acronym used now), but for the sake of this article, will mention only for clarity. In northwest Florida, AFB’s do not seem to be a problem as they have not been able to get a foothold north of Gainesville area.

by P. Garrett wondered if the honey bee’s tongue was similar to a butterfly proboscis and discovered what an amazing organ it truly is. The butterfly’s proboscis is like a hollow drinking tube, or straw, which curls up when not in use. Formed during metamorphosis, it begins as two sides that are split, but then fuse together. Occasionally, the two sides fail to fuse and thus making the flutter baby unable to consume liquids. I have seen this happen, but not very often. It is truly a sad sight as one knows this beautiful creature will only live for a short time without nourishment. The honey bee’s proboscis does function like a straw when taking in vast quantities of liquid such as water, or when they are in a hurry to fill their honey stomachs with honey in case of an alarm, but there are differences. Picture a straw split down the middle.

These two “sides” are called the labium and the maxillae. When trying to gather very small, tiny droplets of nectar or honey, another innermost tube found inside the outer tube functions as a little mop with attachments at the end. This spoon-like lobe is called the labella. I remember when learning about this I pictured my Rachel Ray mopping brush in my kitchen utility drawer ;-) Nature is just so full of little wonders and surprises!

The honey bee has a mandible (lower jaw) that shapes beeswax into its known hexagonal shape and manipulates the pollen. The mandible isn’t large enough to bite humans, but it can bite invaders such as mites and other insects.

The antennae function to detect odors and for touch.

The thorax is full of muscles that not only control the legs, but the wings as well. I often get asked how do honey bees stay warm and what do they do in the winter. They cluster into a ball over the brood (developing larva) and queen. This happens in the center of the hive where the bees take turns being in the center where the heat is. Also, they have an amazing ability to generate heat through contracting their thorax muscles and shivering. I have seen an amazing video of honey bees killing a large hornet intruder into a hive by clustering on top of the invader and literally baking the hornet. The highest temperature I have heard about is 115° F. This high temperature, combined with a high CO2 level that is expended from all that activity, will kill the hornet. During normal hive operations, they must maintain a brood temperature of 95° F. for the developing larvae. This clustering and shivering is very effective as even honey bee colonies in the north survive prolonged severe temperatures in the winter. Our friend’s honey bees in Indiana don’t come out of their hives for 3 months or more. Honey bees also have the ability to cool the hive, using their wings to cool things down and create a draft to release moisture from the ripening honey in the cells.

You may wonder if a honey bee breathes? They do not have lungs per se, but do “respire” (taking in O2 and releasing CO2) through a system of tubes (called tracheae), which are connected to the outside by spiracles. There are 3 pairs of spiracles on the Of course being an insect, the honey bee has three main body thorax that makes it possible for bees to drown! They do have an parts: the head, thorax (with six legs) and the abdomen. There ability to temporarily close off the spiracles if splashed with waare 5 eyes: 2 compound eyes and 3 simple eyes (ocelli). For now, ter but can’t for very long. I don’t know how many of my “girlz” I I will say that the compound eyes distinguish light, color, and have rescued from the bird bath or hot tub when I’m working on directional information from the sun’s UV rays. Honey bees do it that were okay as I rescued them quickly. Normally, they love not see the color red, and their color range includes violet, blue, to drink water from the rim of the bird bath or from the leaky blue-green, orange and yellow, not to mention UV light, which faucet outside. They are able to hang onto to rough surfaces with humans cannot see. little hooks on their feet, but also have a smooth pad surface on their feet when they need more surface area. (cont’d next page) The head also contains the proboscis and mandible. I always An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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February, 2015

BUZZ As a BPM (Best Practice Management) tool, it is recommended that beekeepers “mark” their queens with a dot of paint on the thorax, a different color for every year. I would like to warn anyone reading this who marks his or her queens with a paint pen how easy it could be to paint and clog up a spiracle, which could interfere with a queen’s gas exchange. I think I probably did this one year as I had this gorgeous Russian queen. She was a little smaller than my usual Italian goldens, and the pen delivered a large dollop of paint. Normally one wouldn’t worry too much as the “attendants” would clean her. Sometimes one can mark a queen and the next time you inspect the hive, the mark is totally gone. If you let the paint dry, this doesn’t happen, but it could.

Anyway, I went to retrieve her to reintroduce into the hive when there she lay all curled up and still. I was heartbroken. M. kept trying to reassure me that she could have been in “shock” and that maybe she would revive. As a nurse, I know dead when I see

cont’d it, and she was gone. After a few tears and comments about learning a hard lesson, we drove to Georgia to get a new queen.

Dear readers, I have just barely touched on honey bee anatomy and realized I am running out of space. I have decided to save the abdomen and stinger etc. for next month’s issue. I did want to end by saying I have struggled whether to type “honey bee” or “honeybee”. I have found, with M.’s help, that much has been written on this subject. Webster’s Dictionary and newspapers use one word, honeybee. Entomologists use two words, honey bee, as honey and bumble bees are true bees in the order Hymenoptera. Issue solved! So spellcheck, are you reading this!!

Leave me alone!! Lol Until next time….

References: Sammataro, D and Alphonse, A. The Beekeeper’s Handbook, 3rd Ed., 1978.

CAT’S WHISKERS—NOT JUST FOR KITTIES Cat’s Whiskers can be beneficial to people and pollinators, as well as cats. Ground up wet or dry, leaves of this member of the mint family are used as ingredients in medicines. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds appreciate the nectar from cat’s whiskers in backyard habitats.

Officially, cat’s whiskers, Orthosiphon aristatus, prefers Zone 9 (hardiness to 20°F.) through Zone 11 (hardiness to 40°F), but I can attest to the fact that it can be grown in containers in Zone 8b. It is a slender, upright, evergreen perennial, but the flowers are what make this particularly interesting. Blooms open up in a long spike full of flowers and stamens which extend outwards to twice as long as the flower itself and look like cat’s whiskers (hence the name).

The coloration of these exotic looking blooms can range from white to light blue or a violet lavender. Some people have commented that the white flower is impressive in the moonlight.

Cat’s whiskers flower from late summer to early fall on stems that range from 18 to 24 inches. They are classified as tropical and tender perennials. Frost may kill the plant unless well protected so some shelter in the extremes of winter is recommended here. Full sun may cause plants to wilt. Try growing conditions of filtered light to partial shade and spotty sun. Cat’s whiskers can be grown in enriched, fertile soil from harvested seeds allowed to dry before planting, or from softwood cuttings. Prepare the soil by adding 3 to 4 inches of organic matter and working it into the soil. Feed these plants monthly with a complete and balanced fertilizer for maximum growth and bloom. Orthosiphon aristatus requires moist soil Water regularly and do not let the soil dry out too much.

The Herb Cottage tells us, “Cat’s Whiskers has many synonyms and alternative common names, especially in the South East Asian region. Commonly used names around the world include Java Tea, Kidney Tea, Kumis Kucing, Jumis Kutjing and Kitty whiskers. Only the parts of the plant that are above ground are An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

by A.J. Rosati

used in teas and for medicinal purposes as other parts are potentially toxic if ingested.

You may see the same plant referred to as Orthosiphon spiralis, Orthosiphon stamineus, or Ocimum aristatum.

The scientific name orthosiphon refers to the upright tube shape of the flower and aristatus means ‘with ears.’

This plant is native to some tropical regions of Australia and South East Asia. It can also be found in east India, Indo-China, and Indonesia.

On the islands of Sumatra and Java it is cultivated for Java Tea. In nature it can commonly be seen along roadsides and wastelands and at the edges of forests.

If you decide to plant cat’s whiskers in the ground, consider groupings of several clustered together with ferns, or cannas. Let your imagination guide you. In-ground plants may die back with cold temperatures. Some may come back the following year if you allow them to self-seed and grow them as an annual. I put my cat’s whiskers in containers and winter them in the greenhouse.

Plants may be purchased on line with Dave’s Garden, or at Garden Gate in Gulf Breeze at a reasonable cost. I recommend calling to check on availability with reputable dealers who specialize in native plants and/or herbs.

So try something new if you aren’t familiar with cat’s whiskers.

It is not plagued by any major pests, or diseases and won’t invade your yard like some members of the mint family if you grow it in a container! Happy Gardening!

References: Brown, Sydney Park. “Gardening with Perennials in Florida.”

ENH-68, revised August 2014.

Dave’s Garden.com Plant Files: “Cat’s Whiskers, Java Tea.” Herb Cottage. “Cat’s Whiskers-Botanical Name: Orthosiphon artistatus.”

Orthosiphon stamineus, Cat’s Whiskers.Florida.Gardener.com 2004.

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February, 2015

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS

courtesy of www.wec.ufl.edu/extension

Punxsutawney Phil says there are 6 more weeks of winter. Here in Florida, February signals that Spring isn’t far away. Here are some happenings in the animal kingdom to watch for this month:

begin their migration back to northern nesting areas. Swallow-tailed kites begin returning from South America.

MAMMALS BIRDS Eastern Moles are breeding this Early purple martin scouts will start to appear this month. month in tunnels under our Now is the time to raise bird houses or gourds. lawns. Ospreys will begin nesting near the end of the month. Striped Skunks begin their breeding season. North Florida woodcocks begin courtship behavior. Listen as Pocket Gophers begin their spring breeding season. dusk for their “peenting” in open fields.

REPTILES Pileated Woodpeckers begin their mating season and will start Alligator snapping turtles will start mating this month, with announcing territories by drumming on various objects includnesting activity throughout the spring. ing houses and telephone poles. Gopher tortoises seldom seen outside burrows. Others who are beginning their nesting season: Little Blue and FISH Tri-colored Herons, wood and Mottled Ducks, and Snail Kites. Crappie and Striped bass are spawning. Purple Finches and Pine Siskins will leave our feeders and

CHICKWEED

by L. Morris

Stellaria media or common chickweed is an annual winter weed which germinates in the fall and winter. It begins actively growing as soon as the weather starts to warm up i.e.: January through March. It has also been tagged as alsine media, starwort, starweed, bindweed, winterweed, satin flower, tongue-grass and A PEST! The weather we are having now brings this plant to ATTENTION. It has been growing slowly all winter and presents itself when our warm season grasses are dormant.

References: www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Winter Annual Weeds Weeds of Southern Turfgrasses by Colvin Dickens Everest Hall McCarty pg: 80 www.winterannualweeds

ADVICE FROM A HONEY BEE Courtesy of P. Garrett CREATE A BUZZ SIP LIFE’S SWEET MOMENTS MIND YOUR OWN BEESWAX WORK TOGETHER ALWAYS FIND YOUR WAY HOME STICK CLOSE TO YOUR HONEY BEE YOURSELF!

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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February, 2015

AGGRESSIVE INVASIVE

by D. Stever

There is only one species of Hydrilla in the world. Hydrilla verticillata's dioecious type originates from southern India while Hydrilla's monoecious type is probably from Korea.

(Madeira et al. 1997).

Hydrilla is an herbaceous perennial forming dense stands of very long stems (25 ft.) in the water. It reproduces mainly by regrowth of stem fragments; it can also reproduce by growth of auxiliary buds and subterranean tubers. Hydrilla can grow an inch or more per day and can be found in water only a few inches deep to the deepest parts of Florida’s lakes and rivers.

Hydrilla is naturalized and invasive in the United States following release in the 1950s and 1960s from aquariums into waterways in Florida. It is now established in Canada and the southeast from Connecticut to Texas, and also in California. The story of its introduction to Florida is that a west coast aquarium dealer shipped live Hydrilla from Sri Lanka under the common name "Indian star-vine. After these plants were considered unsatisfactory, they were dumped into a canal near Tampa Bay and then appeared in the Crystal river system.

As an invasive species in Florida, Hydrilla has become the most serious aquatic weed problem for Florida and most of the U.S. The Hydrilla is known to be an aggressive and competitive plant, even out-competing and displacing native species, such as pondweeds and eelgrass.

One of the unfortunate best examples of Hydrilla is at the Morrison Springs park area south of Ponce De Leon. No sign of the unwanted guest in the early spring months but during the summer and early fall it will reach from the area surrounding the spring to the surface and make use of the swimming/diving area a challenge.

Annually, millions of dollars are spent on herbicides and mechanical harvesters in an effort to control Hydrilla. Besides the

impact to recreational fishing, Hydrilla slows water flow and clogs flood-control canals.

Control is by chemical method, mechanical harvesters, biological control (grass carp) and insects.

From time to time I want to interject this information, of the more than 4,000 known plant species growing in Florida approximately 30% are not native to Florida or the Southeast.

More Information: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr133 http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/183 http://www.protectyourwaters.net/hitchhikers/plants_hydrilla http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/hyve.htm http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/invasiveplants/weed-alerts/ hydrilla

Stink Horn fungus emerging. Photo courtesy of S. Farrell

The Jokester: Beelzebug (n): Satan in the form of a mosquito, that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.

Cedar of Lebanon on Eglin. 3 feet in diameter. Photo courtesy of R. Hastings

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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February, 2015

ORGANIC…..WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN? What IS Organic? Technically, it’s an adjective meaning of, relating to, or derived from living matter and/or produced without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or other artificial agents.

Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it?

Of course, we know it’s not simple and the labels and claims of ‘organic’, ‘natural’, ‘hormone-free’, etc. are bewildering at best. And if you’ve been to the market and plunked down extra money to buy organic food, you might be wondering if you got taken for a ride or if you got your money’s worth. After all, what’s to stop any farm or middle-man or supermarket from labeling products as ‘organic’ whether they are or not? The answer to that question is “the government”, specifically the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is in charge of developing and enforcing standards for organic certification for every step of a product’s journey from the farm to your shopping cart. The USDA does this under the authority of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA, Title XXI of the 1990 Farm Bill), by which the USDA established the NOP (The National Organic program). NOP is responsible for the development national standards covering the production and handling of “organic” products. The USDA organic regulations do not address food safety or nutrition.

Taken from the USDA’s consumer brochure: “Organic food is produced by farmers who emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality for future generations. Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled ‘organic,’ a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too.” Organic standards cover the product’s lifecycle from production to processing and handling, including: natural resource and biodiversity conservation, animal health and welfare, allowed and prohibited substances, pesticide and other residue testing, certification and labeling requirements and annual on-site compliance inspections. Producers and handlers must meet these standards to use the word “organic” or the USDA organic seal on food, feed, or fiber. The USDA standards recognize four categories of organic production: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Crops: Plants that are grown to be harvested as food, livestock feed, fiber, or used to add nutrients to the field.

Livestock: Animals that can be used for food or in the production of food, fiber, or feed.

Processed/multi-ingredient products: Items that have been handled and packaged (e.g., chopped carrots) or combined, processed, and packaged (e.g., bread or soup).

Wild crops: Plants from a growing site that is not cultivated.

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

by K. Harper

Within the USDA’s ‘organic’ definition, are three categories defined for labeling organic products: 1. 100% Organic: Made with 100% organic ingredients 2. Organic: Made with at least 95% organic ingredients. Only these two categories may use the USDA’s Organic Seal which appears at the end of this page.

3. Made With Organic Ingredients: Made with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients with strict restrictions on the remaining 30% including no GMOs (genetically modified organisms) Products with less than 70% organic ingredients may list organically produced ingredients on the side panel of the package, but may NOT make any organic claims on the front of the package.

Certification and Compliance. Converting land to organic status is a three-year process. There is a two-year conversion process consisting of building up the fertility of the land. Produce grown in the first year cannot be stated as organic. In the second year produce may be stated as “In Conversion”. It is not until the third year that produce may be stated as fully organic. Soil and natural fertility building are important parts of organic farming.

Certification and Compliance is conducted worldwide. The USDA accredits State departments of agriculture and private organizations around the world to serve as certifying agents. Certifying agents first review the written application to ensure that practices comply with organic regulations. An inspector then conducts an on-site inspection of the applicant’s operation. Afterward, the certifying agent reviews the inspector’s report. If the written application and the on-site inspection show that all practices comply with organic regulations, the agent grants certification to the operator for one year. Certification renewals follow the same process. The USDA organic regulations allow foreign organic products to be sold as organic in the United States. This is possible through three channels, each of which is regularly audited to ensure compliance: 1.

2.

3.

An NOP-accredited certifying agent certifies the foreign farm or business to the USDA organic regulations.

NOP authorizes a foreign government to accredit certifying agents within that country to the USDA organic regulations.

The United States and a foreign country recognize each other’s organic standards as equivalent. This designation allows organic products certified in one country to be sold as organic in the other.

Compliance with the USDA regulations? Well, you’d just better because if you don’t, punishments may include financial penalties up to $11,000 per violations and/or suspension or revocation of an operation’s organic certificate. Certifying agents are also subject to compliance and enforcement actions.

Cont’d on next page 7

February, 2015

ORAGNIC Who must be certified? Most farms and businesses that grow, handle, or process organic products must be certified, including: 1.

2.

3.

4.

Farms that sell more than $5,000 in organic products per year (gross sales).

Handlers that sell more than $5,000 of organic processed food, including handlers that place bulk products into smaller packages or that repackage/re-label products.

Processors that sell more than $5,000 of organic processed products, unless all products contain less than 70 percent organic ingredients or only identify the organic ingredients in the ingredient statement.

Vendors that handle (e.g. package) and sell products online (but not in stores) or otherwise deliver organic products.

Overall, if you make a product and want to claim that it or its ingredients are organic, your final product probably also needs to be certified.

cont’d. less than $5,000 a year selling at booths are exempt. So even if not touted as “certified,” you should feel free to ask, "How was this food grown?" and let the answer guide your choice to buy. See the AARP article here: http:// www.aarp.org/food/healthy-eating/info-04-2012/realorganic-food.html Who sells organic food? This may surprise you (or perhaps not!). As of 2011, the largest retailer of organic produce is WalMart, followed by Costco, Kroger, SuperTarget, Safeway, and Whole Foods Markets. I do almost all of my shopping at military commissaries, which offer organic produce and meats but I don’t know where they rank in terms of overall organic sales. More information on retailers here: http://organic.about.com/od/ marketingpromotion/tp/6-Largest-Organic-Retailers-In-NorthAmerica-2011.htm

Why does organic cost more? These are the frequentlygiven reasons for the higher cost of organic produce: Organic Who doesn’t need to be certified? Small organic farms and farmers who elect to get certified have to bear the cost of that businesses with a gross agricultural income from organic sales of process as well as the annual renewal of their certification, once $5,000 or less per year, are considered exempt from certification granted. Organic farmers don’t receive federal subsidies like conventional farmers do. Therefore, the price of organic food rerequirements. This means you don’t need to be certified to sell, flects the true cost of growing. The price of conventional food label, or represent your products as organic. You also do not does not reflect the cost of environmental cleanups that we pay need to develop a written organic system plan. However, you must follow all other requirements in the USDA organic regula- for through our tax dollars. Organic farming is more labor and tions. Specifically, you must: Maintain records for at least three management intensive. Organic farms are usually smaller than years; not use the USDA organic seal on your products or refer to conventional farms and so do not benefit from the economies of scale that larger growers get. them as certified organic. If you would like to use the USDA organic seal, pursue organic certification; meet other USDA orProblems with the USDA’s certification program. To ganic labeling requirements; not sell your products as ingredifurther complicate the issue of ‘real’ organics, there have been ents for use in someone else’s certified organic product. some very real problems with the USDA’s program (surprise!).

Some of the accredited certifying agents, along with the USDA, If you are still bewildered, The AARP offers some useful have come under fire for certifying products as organic, when practical tips for making sure you’re getting what you expect: A the product may not conform to USDA standards for organic summary of those tips: certification. For example, a 2010 Inspector General report found many problems with the enforcement of the regulations.

1. On loose fruits and vegetables, look at the Price Look-Up Steps have presumably been taken to correct these shortcom(PLU) sticker. If the produce is organic, the code will contain five-digits beginning with 9. Non-organic counterparts ings. Read more here: http:// www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/03/the-us-department-ofwill have four digits. (for example: Organically grown bananas will be 94011, compared to 4011 for those treated with agricultures/#.VMLMX5VCK70 and read the unflattering report chemicals and pesticides.) A five-digit PLU beginning with 8 here: http://www.cornucopia.org/USDA/OIG_AuditofNOP.pdf means the item is genetically modified.

Clearly, the USDA/NOP program has some work to do to reach 2. To bear the green-and-white “USDA Organic” seal, packaged organics must be certified by the USDA and contain at its goals in establishing and enforcing its own standards and least 95 percent organically produced ingredients (excluding your best course of action is to raise your own food when possible and/or know your sources very well. I’m excited that we’re water and salt). Those with at least 70 percent organically getting a new Whole Foods Market in Destin Commons next produced ingredients may use the words “made with oryear and am planning to check them out thoroughly. http:// ganic ingredients” but cannot have the green-and-white www.nwfdailynews.com/business/local-business-news/wholeUSDA seal. Some may have labels with a different color foods-market-coming-to-destin-commons-in-2016-1.397507 combination. Mislabeling can result in fines of up to $11,000 per violation.

Note: Many specific questions about certified organic produce 3. What about your favorite farmers’ market? At farmers’ stands and markets, where organics may cost less because of (e.g. Can GMO’s be used?) are answered at this USDA FAQ site: http://tinyurl.com/nn3zff5 low shipping costs and no middlemen, it can be trickier to vet what you’re getting – especially when items lack PLU The Jokester: stickers. Under the USDA’s National Organic Program, farmers who market their products as "organic" also must – Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not or at least should – have their wares certified by a USDAaccredited agent (or face fines if caught). If it’s touted as putting it in a fruit salad. “certified,” you can ask to see a copy of the organic certification paperwork. Vendors are supposed to have it on-hand.

4. Some farmers use legitimate organic growing practices but choose not to enter the certification process. Those earning An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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February, 2015

UPDATES AND INFO Pest Identification Guides—identify common arthropod pests and the damage they inflict. Each field guide provides photos of the important life stages and crop damage associated. The text highlights key general morphology and biology, distribution and natural enemies. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topic_series_pest_Identification_guides Flower thrips in blackberries in Florida—3 page fact sheet providing information on flower thrips identification, monitoring and management for blackberries. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1060 Wedge-shaped beetles– Ripiphoridae are a family of unusual parasitic beetles that are thought to be related to tumbling flower beetles and blister beetles. They parasitize bees and wasps, roaches, and wood-boring beetles. 4 page fact sheet. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1069

by Staff Do you dread the thought of writing an article for a news outlet?

Check out the following fact sheets!

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Moso bamboo at E. Smith’s house Photo courtesy of R. Hastings

The Jokester “We do not quit playing because we grow old; we grow old because we quit playing.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

9

February, 2015

THE LIVING SOIL When most gardeners view their landscape, they consider the condition of their grass, shrubs and trees but give little or no consideration to the soil beneath their feet. If there is a problem with the plants, the first though is what chemical is needed to correct the situation. In many cases this makes the situation worst rather than relieving it. Science tells us that 80% of all plant problems are related to the soil they grow in. In an attempt to prevent a problem before it occurs, it may be beneficial to have a better understanding of how we should treat our soils and how to improve them.

At first appearance, the soil seems to be a replica of its inert parent material, a rock, in a smaller version but it is so much more. Soil is a mixture of minerals, organic material, water, gases and a multitude of organisms that can support plant life. Without soil we would have a limited supply of plants, without plants we could not exist.

The minerals in our soils are composed of the 92 naturally occurring elements created billions of years ago by a supernova.

They vary in amounts and locations throughout the world, which explains in part the variety of soils. All of these elements are not essential for plant growth . Presently, there are 18 essential elements that plants require in order to naturally complete their life cycle. Over the years, elements that where once considered beneficial are now found to be essential. This can be attributed to the development of better and more sensitive space age equipment.

The mineral particles that compose the soil come in three forms, sand, silt and clay; the largest being sand and the smallest clay. A sand particle can be seem with the naked eye or with a magnifying glass. It takes an electron microscope to view a clay particle. If we could stack clay particles, it would take 12,000 to make 1 inch. In general, an undisturbed soil would contain 45% by volume of its content as sand, silt and clay. Depending on the percentage of each of these different particles accounts for different soil texture classes. (example, 10% silt,10% clay, 80% sand =Loamy sand) A soil with 90% sand, 10% silt=Sand .

Five hundred years ago, Leonardo da Vinci said; "We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot." Although we have made many advances in both of these fields, the same is true today. Within our life time, discoveries have been made that shattered our previous beliefs of the world around us. The electron microscope has shown us that beneath our feet lies a hidden subterranean biosphere that is An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

by B. Bayer more immense than life aboveground. It boggles the mind to comprehend that a handful of healthy soil contains hundreds of miles of fungal threads and more creatures than there are humans on the entire planet.

Soils supply plants with inorganic mineral nutrients in the form of dissolved ions (electrically charged atoms), protects plants from toxic concentrations, moderates soil temperature fluctuations, has water-holding capacity and provides ventilation through a network of soil pores.

We usually think of the soil as being firm and solid but typically only 50% is solid (minerals and organic matter) the other 50% is air and water.

Depending on the amount of rainfall and irrigation the equally between air and water shifts back and forth from 25% each to 20/30, 22/28 etc. in either direction. If there is too much water the soil becomes waterlogged or the plants suffer drought if there is too little.

Soils with much more than 50% solids are likely to be too compacted for good plant growth.

The transformation of inorganic rock and organic debris into a living soil is one of nature's most fascinating displays.

The relative proportions of air, minerals, water and living things greatly influences the behavior and productivity of soil.

Only about 5% by volume of the ideal soil is composed of a wide variety of organic matter. These are divided into four categories.

The first are living organisms and roots which account for less than 5% of the total organic matter. Second are the remains of dead plants, animals and soil organisms (<10%) which have not begun to decompose. Next is the portion undergoing rapid decomposition (20-45%) Finally, the stabilized organic matter (humus) that remains after being decomposed by soil microorganisms. (50-80%) .

The negative and positive charged particles of humus and the negative charged particles of clay are suspended in the soil water solution. They attract the oppositely charged ions of the essential elements and are held by a mild static charge until freed by a more powerful charge. The freed ions can then be taken up by the plant roots and used for growth.

The unseen multitude of microorganisms at the bottom of the food chain constantly transforms what was once a living organism (including humans) back into usable nutrients for all living things. Without these mighty recyclers we could not survive and if we could, we would be eyeball deep in yuck.

10

February, 2015

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

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LAST WORD My Wife, the Gardener (from an old magazine) She dug the plot on Monday, the soil was rich and fine, She forgot to thaw out dinner so we went out to dine.

She planted roses Tuesday, she says they are a must, They really were quite lovely but she forgot to dust.

On Wednesday it was daisies, they opened with the sun, All whites and pinks and yellows, but laundry wasn't done!

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.

The poppies came on Thursday, a bright and cheery red, I guessed she really was engrossed, she never made the bed!

It was dahlias on Friday in colors she adores, It never bothered her at all, all the crumbs upon the floors.

I hired a maid on Saturday, my week is now complete, My wife can garden all she wants, the house will still be neat!

It's nearly lunchtime on Sunday and I cannot find the maid, Oh no! I don't believe it! She's out there with a spade!

I actually found a copy of the above poem while cleaning up the Master Gardener office. I don’t know about you but I can relate to the sentiments this little ditty contains. How many times do we have a list of things to do and just one step out into our gardens….POOF! We forget that list instantly!

Not to mention if we have bird feeders out there. Between watching the various birds coming in, we have to figure out the ultimate squirrel deterrent.

Have butterfly gardens? Oh that’s good for at least 2 hours a day that are lost.

Better yet, finding some new disease/ plant/weed/insect in the garden. Well that certainly gets us back into the house but it is straight to our resources and the com-

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

By M. Stewart puter because we won’t rest until we have identified the intruder!

And woe to the gardener who heads out on a nice day, intent on just a bit of sprucing up. We soon discover that there is a hole.

Yes, a hole. Whether caused by a vacated plant or lawn ornament. Like Nature abhors a vacuum, gardeners cannot rest easy knowing that there is a hole that resides in the flower bed. Off to the nursery!

You know, of course, that we simply cannot go to the nursery and buy one plant.

That, my friends, is simply un-American!

No, we see a lovely specimen on another bench that would be perfect near the water garden. Wow, they are having a really good deal on peat moss. We arrive back home with most of the day gone and a full load of materials that now must find a home.

Result? The original job of sprucing didn’t get done and dinner is going to be a can of soup because we are too tired to cook!

Our lives get even more involved when we attend a propagation seminar. Never again will we be without bags, marking pens and clippers when we travel beyond our own gardens. We must then guard our new ‘plants’ to ensure that they thrive, take root and ultimately grace our garden beds with a new color...wait, for it…...yup, another trip to the nursery because that dianthus would look lovely with some plant we saw during our last trip.

Face it, my friends. We have a condition for which there are no telethons, nor bucket challenges. There are no rehabilitation facilities for people afflicted as we are (we’d probably redesign the atrium!). No help groups exist for us nor our long suffering family and friends.

Garden catalogs fill our in-boxes and mailboxes, dragging us back into the dark world of horticulture. We congregate with other addicts and speak strange languages of pH and insect morphology. We hoard reference books...telling ourselves that we can stop any time we want.

I’m here to tell you that we can’t stop and we won’t. There is always one more plant, one more weed, one more bean to be harvested.

We’ll get to the mundane chores eventually and may even take a stab at dust bunny removal under the bed. Dinner will get made and the laundry will get done.

Like the maid in the poem, we’ll seduce others into our ranks and smile when they excitedly point out a new plant they grafted. Yes, folks...we’re gardeners….ain’t it great!?

February, 2015