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The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....

An equal opportunity institution.

January, 2016

2016 2016 will be an exciting year:

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Training a new intern class—As I spend time with our new interns I am more impressed. They are sharp, enthusiastic and energetic. L. Timothy is doing a great job communicating and scheduling training. Interns, you have a lot of hard work ahead, but at the end you will be extremely proud of your Master Gardener badge..

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Pavers in the nursery—Politicians love to have a road/ bridge/building named for them. Perhaps we could name the nursery after the County Commissioner who gets this long time coming project done.

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Elections—enough said. Be sure to get out and vote.

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Winter gardens with color—Thanks to all the good MG teaching, I am going to have one...at least this year...maybe.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

V. Grund M. Koser L. Morris L. Penry S. Petty C. Rose

This organization has great bones from many years of hard work by a lot of carrying and talented gardeners. It is up to us to preserve the fine values and systems that have been developed over the years. Our mission is to ensure that all our actions are beneficial for Extension, clients and our members. We are tasked with being the most trusted source for science based horticultural information in the county (and state).

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

The 2016 Board is looking forward to an exciting and innovative new year. We need your input and support.

A. Ogle, President Okaloosa County Master Gardener Association

“ We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”

Abraham Lincoln

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Updates and Info

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Wildlife Happenings

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On the Trail

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Let-us Alone!

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Pileated Ponder

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Garden Glories

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/ UniversalLogin.cfm

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

Activity Calendar

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Christmas Party

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Meet the Board

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Weedy Issue

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We’re Changing!

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Recipe Round-Up

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Info-graphics

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Meeting Dates

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Plant Clinics and Seminar Dates

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Last Word

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January, 2016

GARDENER HOLIDAYS If you were born this month your colors are: red, orange, yellow, and pink. Birthstone is Garnet. Flower is carnation and your trees are apple, fir, elm and cypress.

Month Holidays Get Organized Month International Creativity Month National Clean Up Your Computer Month

National Mail Order Gardening Month

Chocolate Covered Cherry Day 3rd Clean Off Your Desk Day 11th Weekly Observances Organize Your Home Day 14th No Tillage Week 6—9 Fig Newton Day 16th National Fresh squeezed Juice Week 17-23 Squirrel Appreciation Day 21st Clean Out Your Inbox Week 24-30 National Seed Swap Day 30th Daily Observances Fruitcake Toss Day 2nd

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January, 2016

UPDATES AND INFO

staff

EDIS Updates

nature-human-extinction-of-birds-and-mammals/

Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide Updated 11/2015 http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/vh021

Secrets of the Longleaf Pine http://video.gpb.org/video/2365587919/

Carp Edema Virus Disease (CEVD) / Koi Sleepy Disease (KSD) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa189 Biology of the Hicatee: A Critically Endangered River Turtle of Belize http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw404 What Else Can Surface Water Buffer Systems Do? Exploring Multiple Ecosystem Services http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss647 Vegetative Filter Strips: A Best Management Practice for Controlling Nonpoint Source Pollution http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss646 Contaminants in the Urban Environment: Bisphenol-A http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss648 Frequently Asked Questions about Vibrio in Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/SG140

Hardscape ideas http://www.insideaustingardens.org/oh-deer-pam-penicksgarden/#jp-carousel-468 Sunbathing natives http://www.insideaustingardens.org/sunbathingnatives/#jpcarousel-613 Amazing trees http://www.duskywondersite.com/tag/amazing-trees/ Citrus Greening http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/ florida/2015/10/8579010/citrus-co-op-ceo-carrot-and-stickneeded-combat-citrus-death-spiral Extension Articles Florida’s Owls http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/phag/2015/12/18/owls-floridasremarkable-birds-of-prey/

Interesting Info When Will the Red Tide End? http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/nat/2015/12/21/when-will-the-red Banana extinction: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/12/04/ -tide-end/ the-worlds-most-popular-banana-could-go-extinct/ Angelina Sedum http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2015/12/30/angelina-sedumPlants on the Warpath shines-in-winter-landscapes/ http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0402/ rousources_who.html Too Much of a Good Thing http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2015/12/30/too-much-of-agood-thing/ Book—The Annihilation of Nature http://mahb.stanford.edu/library-item/the-annihilation-of-

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS Welcome in the New Year by checking out some of the wildlife: Birds -Male cardinals begin territorial singing later this month.

-Nesting activity can be seen by ospreys, hawks, and owls.

-Tree swallows should be visible around sunset roosting over large marsh areas.

-This is still a great time to watch over-wintering non-human snowbirds!

courtesy of www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Did you make a New Year resolution to implement ‘green’ practices in your life? Well, you can start with that Christmas tree!

If you had a live, cut tree put it to good use! If possible, use it to start a brush pile near a bird feeder. It will provide good yearround over for birds and will also be kept out of the landfill!

Don’t have room for a brush pile? Cut off the branches to use as ‘mulch’. The trunk can be a support for climbing plants.

Get creative and pat yourself on the back for keeping a resolution!

The Jokester Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just after you’ve walked through a spider web.

Mammals -Gray foxes, bobcats, and raccoons begin breeding this month.

-Deer reach the peak of rutting season.

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January, 2016

ON THE TRAIL

by B. Bayer

The University's publication ENH865,' Demonstration Gardens of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service' mentions that we have a large open area of Deer Moss covering portions of our Native Plant Trail. While Deer Moss does not actually classify as a plant, but a lichen, it is a native. This particular lichen a Cladonia sp. grows in pillow-like mats. These grey-green clusters are formed by the symbiotic relationship between a fungus and a green algae.

The fungus provides the protective structure while the algae through the process of photosynthesis produces the carbohydrates that feeds them both.

to become soft as a cotton ball. During a normal December, it would receive all of its moisture from the morning dew. Like all lichen, deer moss has no roots. During a dry season they can become dry, brittle, and crunchy. Since it has the ability to absorb its moisture from the air, it can grow where plants cannot.

Lichen is very long lived. It can survive low temperatures. It can dry out and become dormant if there is no moisture. It can contain as much as 94% carbohydrates and also a strong acid. Very few animals can diThe presence of Deer Moss can be an indicator of a healthy gest it. It can be used as a survival food if boiled. Did I say it was environment. They are extremely sensitive to environmental long lived? It has three phases of life. First there is a growth changes due to air pollution and fire. The large stand that exists stage that lasts about 25 years. The second phase or stable phase on the trail is an indication that this area has not been burned for lasts about 100 years. During this period new growth and die a long time. Fire kills the lichen and it can take decades for the back are just about equal. The final period is one of degenerarestoration of a burned area. The process of rebuilding can be tion, where die back exceeds new growth but this also lasts 100 done by wind born spores or transported by animals. years.

We experienced an above average rainfall during the week A truly amazing non-plant. between Christmas and the New Year. This has caused the lichen

LET-US ALONE!

by D. Stever

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is among the world's most productive freshwater aquatic plants. It is a common aquatic plant in the southeastern United States, especially in Florida. It was originally noted in Florida by explorers during the period of 1765-1774, and fossil reports in Florida date to the latePleistocene period.

More Information: http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/328 http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/ invasive-plants/weed-alerts/waterlettuce/

Water lettuce is a floating plant and as its name implies, it resembles a floating open head of lettuce. Water lettuce has very thick leaves. The leaves are light dull green, are hairy, and are ridged. There are no leaf stalks.

Water lettuce roots are light-colored and feathery. Its flowers are inconspicuous.

Under optimal environmental conditions, water lettuce can double its population size in less than three weeks. Seed production makes this plant resilient to adverse environmental conditions such as freezing temperatures and drought.

The Jokester Retired Mind’s Rambling “I’ve gotten that dreaded furniture disease.”

Severe overgrowth of water lettuce can block gas exchange at the air-water interface, reducing the oxygen in the water and killing fish. Water lettuce is often used in tropical aquariums to provide cover for fry and small fish.

“That’s when your chest is falling into your drawers!”

In Florida, water lettuce has never been the problem that water hyacinth has been; water lettuce is considered under "maintenance control" in Florida.

Water lettuce is listed as a Category I invasive plant species by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council (FLEPPC).

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January, 2016

PILEATED PONDER

by L. Fabian

It has been a number of years since we took this picture. The Pileated woodpecker pair were systematically working their way across some dead/dying pines in our area.

These two had already stripped some high branches of bark and had moved on to check out the next tree.

According to Audubon Society this is the largest woodpecker in North American.

Doubts exist as to the existence of the Ivory-billed woodpecker so without further support, I guess the Pileated is the largest.

The miracle is that it is still around and is thriving even in some urban locations. In the 18th and 19th centuries we cleared a lot of forests here in the east. Habitat was destroyed but since the 1900’s the Pileated has begun to recover and is even common in some areas. Apparently it is adapting to the proximity of humans.

My point now is...are there still any in our local area? Has anyone else seen/heard the Pileated recently? Occasionally I think I hear the drumming sounds as they search for food or maybe just communicate to one another.

Such a beautiful bird. I wish it well. www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/pileated-woodpecker

Ed. Note: We have at least two breeding pair that visit the ‘green zone’ behind my house.

The rest of the time they spend in the wooded area….just off Highway 85.

GARDEN GLORIES

A blast from the past! It appears that E. Smith cannot believe what L. Williams is doing to that poor peach tree!

‘Swamp Cloud’ Cajun hibiscus courtesy of D. Hickenbotham. One of the most prolific bloomers of 2015.

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January, 2016

MORE GARDEN GLORIES

Pensacola Camellia Show L. Vanderpool’s exhibit.

R. Voelker, photographer

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January, 2016

CHRISTMAS PARTY

Many thanks to the hard-working Christmas Committee for a fantastic Christmas party! For more pictures of the festivities go to http://jalbum.net/a/1686346

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January, 2016

MEET THE 2016 EXECUTIVE BOARD 2016 means a new Executive Board takes the reins of our organization. We asked all the new members the same 5 questions. Their answers provide a bit of insight into the folks who will be guiding us through the upcoming year.

Treasurer—J. Jones 1. 2014 2. Edibles: fruits, nuts, vegetables 3. Radishes (yuck!)

1. What year did you become a Master Gardener?

4. Accounting/tax/audit, old 2. What aspect of horticulture interests you the most? movies, walking, family 3. What is your biggest horticultural goof/oops/never-again-will- 5. Newspaper I-attempt-this?

4. What other hobbies/interests do you have?

5. Quick—you’re stuck in an airport—what book do you want to have with you?

President—A. Ogle 1. 2014 2. Propagation, natives, and planting for wildlife.

3. Mexican Petunias!

4. Cooking, reading, stock & option trading 5. Killing Patton

President-Elect— K. Kirk-Williams 1. 1997 2. Gardening for wildlife and landscape design.

3. Allowing volunteer Ipomoea quamoclit (Cypress vine) and Bidens pilosa (beggartick) to reseed and take over my butterfly garden.

4. I’m still involved with coaching and judging competitive forensic high school speech and debate.

5. Antique Roses for Southern Gardens by Dr. William Welch Secretary—S. Berry 1. 2014 2. Orchids 3. Getting cheap store-bought orchids to bloom.

4. President of local Military Officers Assn. chapter, church activities, cooking.

5. Lord of the Rings

Member-at-Large J. Montgomery 1. 2006 2. Propagation 3. I let my large stag horn fern freeze—major snafu. It was in the greenhouse and all of my attempts to have a good auxiliary heating solution failed. Getting free mulch from the power company got me dollar weed— didn’t have it before.

4. Photography. Now doing some infrared in addition to other digital photography.

5. The latest Pulitzer prize winning novel.

New Class Representative L. Timothy 1. 2016 2. Vegetable gardening, citrus trees and ornamental plants.

3. Planted two small citrus trees too close together. Now they live together and seem happy but it looks like a Navel orange/Satsuma tree if you don’t know they’ve grown together.

4. Travel, spending quality time with best friends, politics, exercise, fanatical Alabama fan.

5. Ipad with Okaloosa Cooperative Library app...read any book they have available.

Wishing our new Board a successful and stress free 2016!

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January, 2016

WEEDY ISSUE

by L. Morris

Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) is a perennial weed in the nutsedge family. It resembles grass, and is a close relative to purple nutsedge (Cyperus rotundus).

Seedling can be found with smaller, finer leaves. Stem base is slightly triangular with a mid-vein area slightly pale in color.

It propagates by tubers formed on underground, horizontal creeping stems or rhizomes. It lacks collars, ligules & auricles. Leaves are arranged insets of three from the base rather than sets of two as in grasses.

Tubers of yellow nutsedge are produced singly.

Yellow nutsedge spikelet’s (flowers) are straw-colored to gold-brown with many flowers.

Control is possible but requires a three pronged approach involving cultural practices, chemical and mechanical processes. http://extension.psu.edu/pests/weeds/control/controllingyellow-nutsedge-in-agronomic-crops-an-integrated-approach http://www.ipm.ucanr.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7432.html

WE ARE CHANGING! Happy New Year from the editors of The Compost Pile! The editing staff is excited about changes that will be coming to this publication over the next few months.

credit for any photos. Articles may be submitted as word documents or pdfs.

We are adding regular articles that will feature:

Remember folks, this is YOUR newsletter. We want to know what you think. Let us know what works and what doesn’t. Give us a shout if there are topics that interest you!

New gardening products, terrific trees for Northwest Florida, insects, edible plants and much more! Stay tuned for monthly updates about our Native Plant Trail as well as an improved recipe round-up section.

We’re going to do our best to eliminate orphans (words that have to be hyphenated at the end of the column width). While this may make our columns appear a big ragged, it should improve readability.

We will still keep regular features about invasives, weeds, and wildlife.

Look for new and exciting offerings each and every month!

The main thing to remember is that there is always room for more! Consider yourself a good writer? Great! Submit your articles no later than the 24th of each month.

Ambiguity Where do forest rangers go to ‘get away from it all?’

Perhaps you have ideas but you don’t think you write that well?

Great! Submit what you have and our editing team will tackle the grammar.

Pictures should be sent as an attachment and jpeg is preferred. If you are not the photographer, please be sure to provide the An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

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January, 2016

RECIPE ROUND-UP BROWNIES originally appeared in Hershey Cookbook

GLUTEN FREE BROWNIES submitted by V. Graham

Ingredients: 3/4 cup cocoa 1/2 tsp. baking soda 2/3 cup butter—melted 1/2 cup boiling water 2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 1/3 cup all purpose flour 1 tsp. vanilla 1/4 tsp. salt 1 cup dark chocolate chips

Ingredients: 6 tbs. butter or margarine 8 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips 2/3 cup sugar 1/2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. vanilla 2 eggs 1/3 cup tapioca flour 2 tsp. coconut flour

Instructions: 1.

Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Grease a 9 x 13 baking pan.

3. Add cocoa and baking soda to a large bowl, stir to combine.

4. Stir 1/2 of the melted butter into the cocoa mixture until combined.

5. Add boiling water to cocoa mixture. Stir until smooth.

6. Add flour, vanilla and salt. Stir until batter is smooth.

7. Add chocolate chips to the batter and mix until thoroughly incorporated.

8. Pour batter into prepared baking pan and smooth top.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Brownies are done when toothpick inserted comes out clean.

9. Cool for 30 minutes in the pan. Remove from pan and cut into 24 bars.

Instructions: 1. Butter an 8 x 8 brown pan and preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Melt butter and chocolate chips in a double boiler just until smooth. (I create my own double boiler with a glass bowl fitted over a pot with about an inch of water brought to a boil.)

3. Whisk in sugar, vanilla, and salt until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat.

4. Whisk in 1 egg at a time, making sure it is completely combined after each addition.

5. Add tapioca flour slowly (its texture resembles that of powdered sugar and can be messy.)

6. Add coconut flour and mix well. Let mix sit for 5 minutes (this allows the flour to absorb moisture.)

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

There have been a lot of requests for the secret to the smoked turkey we were able to ‘gobble’ down at our Christmas party. Courtesy of S. Taylor Take a thawed turkey, loosen skin on the breast and thigh. Rub olive oil under the skin and put a handful of Bicentennial rub in there and work it in. Apply more olive oil to the outside of the turkey and liberally sprinkle more rub over the bird. Put turkey in smoker until done. This particular bird was smoked using hickory chips.

Has anyone ever heard of this? Lima Bean Loaf. Yes, folks, someone, somewhere thought this was a good idea. Can you imagine the marketing meeting on this one? “I’m telling you Boss! Folks will go nuts over this!

Smashed lima beans pressed into a can!”

You can purchase the rub here: https://www.penzeys.com/ online-catalog/bicentennial-rub/c-24/p-339/pd-s

Wrong on so many levels.

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January, 2016

INFO-GRAPHICS

2016 MEETING SCHEDULE BOARD MEETINGS

GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

January 13th February 10th March 9th April 13th May 11th June 8th July 13th August 10th September 14th October 12th November 9th December 14th

January 27th @ Shalimar February 24th @ Annex March 23rd @ Crestview April 27th @ Annex May 25th @ Shalimar June 22nd @ Crestview July 27th @ Annex August 24th @ Shalimar September 28th @ Crestview October 26th @ Annex November 16th @ Shalimar December 21st @ Crestview

Notes: September—appoint audit committee October—audit completed November—review December—Incumbents and 2017 Board

Notes: November—nominations for officers December—meeting starts at 10 a.m. immediately followed by the annual Christmas party

PLANT CLINICS

MONTHLY LECTURES

March 11th April 8th May 13th June 10th July 8th August 12th September 9th October 14th

March 16th April 20th May 18th June 15th July 20th August 17th September 21st October 19th

Plant clinics are held at the Annex and are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Lectures will rotate between locations.

10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

PLANT CLINICS AND SEMINARS

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January, 2016

M. Stewart —Editor S. Farrell , K. Harper, V. Graham 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 Everyone will be happy to note that no emergency service personnel were required to visit my residence over the holidays...this time.

Instead, I decided to usher in the New Year by losing my ability to tell time and/ or to set an alarm clock properly.

You see, I had determined that I would get up on December 31st and get a lot of chores out of the way before I had to leave the house. I was very conscientious about setting my alarm. This was done after I set up the coffee pot to automatically start brewing.

Right on cue, the alarm goes off and I hop to it. Okay, hopping isn’t quite accurate— gingerly moving body parts and creaking is better. (I’m not getting older—just crispier!) The coffee is ready and after pouring a cup, I get to work. Oh I am so pleased with myself! I got laundry going, changed the air filter, emptied trash, cleaned a bathroom...the list goes on. All that AND had breakfast!

Keep in mind that I intended to leave the house around 7:30 a.m. so I glance at the clock…..6:30?!? How can it be 6:30?!?

Check another clock (I figured the first one had stopped working.) and sure enough—it is only 6:30 in the morning!

Well bust my little bubble on feeling so efficient...turns out that I set the #!%$ alarm clock for 4:30 a.m. instead of 5:30. I told you I lost the ability to tell time at some point. What is worse is that I discovered my failing much to late to head back to bed! I should have realized something was amiss when Madam Pussycat just glared at me from her sleeping spot instead of her normal incessant meowing that she is starving to death. But no, I just went blissfully along my merry way.

In my defense, I did get a lot done, although Happy Hubby was in the dog house for a while since he would not stop laughing when he discovered what I had done.

Needless to say, I had free time on my hands and it got me to thinking. How easy it is to make one simple mistake that will impact an entire day.

With the people we deal with, one simple mistake on their part can impact an entire landscape and/or garden.

I didn’t really want to admit what I had done because I knew that HH would have a ball with that. Can you imagine how our clients feel? We have to realize that they don’t want to appear silly or lack intelligence.

It is up to us to be gracious when we are making inquiries about some problem that they are having. We need to know that they may well have done something to cause the

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

by M. Stewart problem. It’s up to us to find a way (or ways) to get that point across without making them feel stupid or inept. Granted, there are some folks who will readily admit making a mistake and may well laugh about it. But, by and large, those folks are rare.

Along this train of thought I also pondered ‘Operation Rutabaga.’ This was the moniker applied to the push for Victory Gardens during WWII. This program turned out to be the least controversial and most popular of all civilian war efforts.

Mostly because folks wanted to do their part and they were encouraged to dig up their yards to grow food. (Unlike now when you have to have laws passed so that the local HOA won’t start fining you.)

The ‘Sunday Farmers’ were involved and they had plenty of help when it came to information and support. Today, we have a bunch of companies that all are vying for the American dollar. You can’t trust all the information that is out there. Then add the Internet with it’s various venues...like Abe Lincoln said, “You can’t trust everything you read on the Web.” One other thing came from those gardens during WWII, America’s diet improved because of all the fresh produce available.

So where does that leave us? Our mandate is to be the most trusted source for horticultural information. We are to provide our clients with the science based information (not personal).

At the same time we have to remember that some folks may be intimidated as they view us as ‘experts.’ You may have to give advice that goes against everything that they thought they knew or were taught.

You’re also fighting the flashy advertisements that promise grass will grow on a cinder block.

Don’t just spew the scientific jargon without making sure that your client understands. You can’t tell them to spread lawn fertilizer unless you make sure they know how to calculate the square footage AND you show them how to do the calculation based on the label in the correct manner.

In other words, you need to take time to talk to the client and not at them. Don’t be judgmental when it comes to mistakes they may have made. After all, some of us have a problem setting an alarm clock.

Here’s wishing everyone a happy and prosperous New Year with fewer weeds and bigger tomatoes!

Plentiful Plantings

January, 2016