Nl june 14

...for discerning weeders CHANGES INSIDE THIS ISSUE Coordinator’s Corner

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President’s Message

3

Trash or Treasure?

4

Correction

4

Events

5-6

The Good, The Bad, The Invasives

7

Wildlife Happenings

8

Book Review

8

Updates and Info

9

Last Word

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site that will allow our membership to keep abreast of events and happenings. The member roster page will mirror that of your handbook.

During this period of transition, if you have any suggestions or ideas—please forward them to our editor/web master by email. As always, we are happy to get pictures from our members of their gardens and places they’ve been. Just make sure that you provide a short description with what the picture is! Articles are always welcome. Whenever possible please send pictures as a .jpeg.

We hope that you enjoy the changes and hopefully the computer gremlins will remain elsewhere for quite some time.

Cereus in full bloom courtesy of D. Hickenbotham

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Change is inevitable. A pain to deal with at times but hopefully the end result is worth the aggravation.

Our current Blog is no longer being hosted at its previous location. That meant a scramble to find a suitable home and with the goal of not losing any of the previous posts. We are happy to report that the new address for our Blog is http://ocmga.wordpress.com/.

We saved all the archived postings so fortunately all that information is still there. You can follow the Blog and always get Larry’s articles (published in the Daily News) as well as other items that we are able to post.

This month we introduce Coordinator’s Corner! This will be (hopefully) a monthly update directly from our Master Gardener Coordinator Larry Williams. We intend for this to help increase communication and provide pertinent information to our group.

In the meantime, our web sites are still undergoing some issues. Most of which are computer issues that seem to have been resolved. That being said, we are stream-lining the appearance of both sites in an effort to make them less cluttered and more user friendly.

There will be a full calendar on the member’s

Gloriosa Lily courtesy of D. Hickenbotham

Head Start

by Webmaster

June/July, 2014

COORDINATOR’S CORNER It has not been business as usual lately. Below are updates on a number of items related to the Okaloosa County Extension Office.

by L. Williams Extension Annex and Nursery

As you know, the Extension Annex was flooded. As a result, I saw an opportunity to have some work done to that facility. The County Facility Maintenance employees have been busy in making a number of needed improvements to that building. Please have patience as this work is in progress. I’m hopeful that the Office Staff & Faculty work will be completed by the end of this month or the first of July. Work on the nursery floor has been delayed due to the With the retirement of County’s Public Works Dept. having to respond to an overElaine Courtney (FCS whelming number of flooded properties, roads… and continued Agent) and Ann Moss heavy rains. Again, please have patience with this. We will even(Extension Technician) and with Haley Worley (4-H Agent) retually get this project accomplished. signing and relocating due to a military move for her and her husband, we are short staffed. In 2008, our office went through Upcoming Events a comprehensive review by a team from the University of Florida. One of the items the team identified was the longevity of our Don’t miss the “Month-by-Month” (A N.G.C. Tri-refresher and employees and the fact that in the near future, we would be los- Advanced Master Gardener Training) on August 14 & 15 in Miling a number of those employees. I am dealing with the reality of ton. This will count toward your MG recertification hours. Details are available at http://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/events, including this now. I have been busy attempting to fill these vacant posithe registration form. tions.

Ann’s replacement began work at our office on June 23. Her name is Joanna Sims. She was an internal applicant, coming to our office from the County HR Dept. Please join me in welcoming Joanna to our Extension team.

Instead of having the Master Gardener State Conference this year, we will have District Conferences. Our District Master Gardener Conference will be held in Milton on Friday, October 10 with a preconference tour being held the day before (October 9).

There are limited details at this point but please put this on your calendar. The idea is to have a statewide conference on odd years and local district conferences on even years.

It will take longer to fill the FCS and 4-H faculty positions. I am working on this through the University of Florida and am hopeful that the 4-H position will be posted soon with the FCS position being posted shortly thereafter. It probably will be late sum- The Extension Office will be closed on Friday, July 4th for Independence Day. I hope you find time to enjoy quality time off this mer or fall before these positions are filled. summer.

Annex in the first stages of repair after the flooding.

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June/July, 2014

President’s Message It’s been a long time since I’ve been here in the Compost Pile – 5 years to be exact. I’d like to start out by saying that I am humbled by the opportunity to stand at the front of the room again.

First time around, I accepted the job to prove to myself (and to my kids that) I could do it. This time around it’s an opportunity to learn more about myself, and all of you. If nothing else, the OCMGA offers opportunities – it’s up to you to figure out how to best take advantage of them.

We’ve been busy certifying our newest class. Congratulations to those of you that have completed your training! (The rest of you are not far behind) You are now able to make the most of the opportunities offered to MGs. Like to talk to people? Work in the CV office or at the annex, present a program to a garden club. Prefer getting your hands dirty? The people at the annex love to play in the dirt and the CV landscape ALWAYS needs weeding. Neither of those apply?? Figure out what you want to do and see if you can come up with a way to implement it. Make your own opportunity. The sky is the limit here (well actually Larry is, but he is pretty accommodating).

by S. Taylor Veterans (or as Ed Smith calls you….vintage MGs) you too can make the most of those opportunities. So you have given programs or worked at the nursery and are burned out. Go a totally different direction. Volunteer for a standing chair position or become an intern training coordinator. Figure out what attracted you to the OCMGA way back when and see if you can recapture that zeal.

Two surveys have been sent out. Why? You ask. Because we are 76 members strong yet only about half of that number are truly active. Please, take the survey and help us see what we are doing right as well as what we are doing wrong. Let us know what opportunities you want to have and how we can encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities that are out there.

We all started our MG careers with a desire to learn and help others. The opportunities are out there – which ones will you choose?

In spite of flood damage to the annex building, our nursery is still going!

Amenities are severely limited but our dedicated volunteers are working hard!

Friday’s are nursery day (unless otherwise noted).

Come on out!

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June/July, 2014

SCROUNGING—TRASH OR TREASURE?

by B. Buckellew

People throw away the neatest things. In Niceville, the “claw” comes around once a week to pick up the trash discarded by residents. Usually, it’s just that – trash, but there are treasures to be found as well. Hal put me onto this; he has put a lot of it into his landscape, and some of it is actually good (Sorry, Sandie). Along with lots of good free oak firewood, I have collected a smoker, a park bench, a fire pit (converted into a planter), a lawn ornament, numerous planting pots, bricks, landscape stepping stones, plants, bottles for the tree, buckets for veggie growing, and more.

After each weekend, drive around and see what your neighbors have considered to be junk. You may be surprised (and don’t worry about being thought of as Sanford and Son.) Folks actually tossed this stuff: Now, it’s mine!

Don’t forget those yard and garage sales! There are lots of garden tools and other items you would be able to convert to garden use!

Keep an eye out for moving days as well! When folks are moving out, you would be amazed at what they leave out by the curb when they are done.

Recycling at its best!

Correction to "MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS" from the May Compost Pile "Asclepias tuberosa is commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two colors, yellow and red with yellow high-lights." should have read: "Asclepias tuberosa is commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two colors, yellow and orange."

There is a tropical variety of Asclepias, Asclepias curvassavica which is considered invasive. It overwinters primarily in south Florida although it may survive north Florida winters in mild years. This variety has red flowers with yellow interiors and is also a favorable food source for monarch butterflies and their young.

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June/July, 2014

Click on the images to open up a link to the specific event page.

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June/July, 2014

Next general membership meeting will be on July 30th at the Crestview Extension Office

Click on the images to open up a link to the specific event page.

District Master Gardener Conference October 9th (pre-conference tour) October 10th conference Milton, FL More information will be posted as it becomes available

Limited Pesticide Training and Exam

Friday, July 25th 10:30am窶馬oon Shade Gardening Located at the Tryon Library Pre-register by email bbolles@ufl.edu or call (850)595-3460

IMPORTANT! Due to the recent flooding, the Extension Annex, Ft. Walton Beach will be closed until further notice.

The Nursery is still in operation and workers are needed!

Nursery is open on Friday from 9 to noon

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June/July, 2014

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE INVASIVES

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of names such as Australian holly, coral ardisia, coral bush, coralberry tree, hen's-eyes, Christmas berry and spiceberry. This invasive species was introduced to the United States in the early twentieth century as an ornamental.

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant. It is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the horticulture industry as an ornamental plant. Ardisia’s native range includes areas of Japan and northern India. Ardisia escaped cultivation in 1982, spreading into wooded areas. Currently Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and central Florida. In the landscape, Ardisia is known and grown for its persistent red berries, glossy foliage and low maintenance.

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida, such as hardwood hammocks, becoming a significant pest. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/42.

by D. Stevers

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia julibrissin) can been seen in an array of unusual locations throughout our area.

Originally imported from China the tree has been cultivated since the 18th century. Mimosa is a member of the legume family and therefore capable of fixing nitrogen. It reproduces both vegetatively and by seed. It is considered short lived and extremely messy.

The tree produces flowers and seed pods which require cleaning up during the growth season. There are over a hundred species of Albizia, all native to Asia, Africa or Australia. http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/albizia.cfm It is easily grown in average, medium, well-drained soils in full sun to light shade. Best flowering in full sun. The tree prefers rich, light soils, but will live in a wide range of soils, including poor ones. It will tolerate drought, but best growth occurs with regular watering. It also thrives in high summer heat. It is considered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape.

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it. It can be spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of water and water movement.

The best method for control is not to plant, however it is used extensively for landscaping. Cutting is an initial control measure, Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and best done prior to seed set, and usually requires follow-up cutWild coffee. Chinese holly is a non-native, non-invasive substitings in combination with herbicide treatments due to retute as well. sprouts. Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are effective. http://www.nps.gov/plants/alien/pubs/midatlantic/ Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council alju.htm . (a non-governmental organization) as a category I species, defined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia, Redbud and Fringe native plant communities in Florida. In many areas, Ardisia cre- tree. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep468 nata has become a significant pest.

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant http://www.floridata.com/ref/a/ardis_c.cfm Council as a Category I species, defined as an invasive exotic A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communiplant that is disrupting native plant communities. http:// ties by displacing native species, changing community strucwww.floridata.com/ref/a/albizia.cfm tures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. This I want to end with the following: definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic range of the problem, but on the documented ecological damage caused. Category II invasive exotics have increased in abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant communities to the extent shown by Category I species. They may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated.

(FLEPPC definition) An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

Of the more than 4,000 known plant species growing in Florida, approximately 30% are not native to Florida or the Southeast.

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificially in locations beyond their known historical native ranges. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr133 7

June/July, 2014

BOOK REVIEW

by M. Stewart

ing, growing, and maintaining the shrubs and small trees that thrive in the Florida land274 color photos of Florida’s more popular turfgrass, bedding plants, perennials, groundcovers, palms, shrubs, trees, vines and scape. Written for everyone from the interior foliage. Each plant has the scientific name, common homeowner with name, zone, size, form, flower culture, uses and notes. limited gardening There are two other books (well he’s written more) that you skills to the landreally should consider adding to your library if you haven’t done scape professional so. An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy or property managto understand, An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING, Third Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and er, the new edition of this photo-filled maintenance of trees. Filled with updated illustrations, photographs, and examples, this completely updated guide is designed guide includes a harto help readers understand and implement the appropriate diness-zone map pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable strucand all the inforture in the first 25 years of a tree's life. Coverage includes a varie- mation you need to ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning help create a beautisuch as disease prevention, root pruning, mature tree pruning, ful landscape!

If you don’t have this book in your library, you should! Dr. Edward Gilman (yes, that Dr. Gilman) authored Betrock’s Florida Plant Guide. It was published in 1996 but still provides an excellent reference source for the Florida gardener.

and restoration following storms. With its simple tables, lists, and strategies, this book is an appealing resource for horticulA word of caution—the guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE! ture, landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat- But, if you’re going to tackle pruning and aren’t sure of ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores. yourself, this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it. In the meantime, enjoy the Florida Plant Guide Finally, there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs: Selection, Establishment, and Maintenance, written with Robert J. Black and and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your garSydney Park Brown. No other book offers such colorful, com- den. plete, and reliable information about all aspects of select-

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS

courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

We’ll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going Plants on in the animal world!

—Scrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom.

Birds —Shorebird migration starts in mid-July, peaking in August.

—Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter.

—Look out for nesting shorebirds! Keep from disturbing them!

Special Date: On July 22, 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discovered in a panhandle wetland!

Reptiles —Later in July, young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatching.

Insects —No one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are abundant...watch out!

Mammals —Baby raccoons, foxes, armadillos, possums, and bobcats leave dens and begin following parents.

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June/July, 2014

UPDATES AND INFO

by Editorial Staff

Don’t forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on Crestview Community Television! There should be more programs coming soon! http://www.cvctv.info/channel.cfm? category=The%20Master%20Gardener&id=4430

website at http://escambia.ifas.ufl.edu. If you have questions concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log you may contact Extension Agent Rick O'Connor at roc1@ufl.edu

Grant Writing: Tips and Advice for New Writers Highlights from Louie Schwartzberg’s TED2014 talk and his 3D http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/wc161 film title “Mysteries of the Unseen World”. Definitely worth a few Black salt marsh mosquito http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1035 minutes to watch. http:///www.youtube.com/watch_popup? v=FiZqn6fV-4Y Insects: Friend or Foe? A color and learn handout! Perfect for visits from the grandkids!

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Florida’s native http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1030 orchids. You may be surprised where they are going to be put. http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_25971851/lab -project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep498

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate, Punica granatum. Read all about it at http:// nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/hort/2014/06/17/purple-sunsetpomegrnate/

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture: French Grunt http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fa186 Introduction to organic crop production http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cv118

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer. Snakes like warm weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this time of year. We continue to log snake sightings in the panhandle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is tracking to report to them. The tracking website can be found on the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update on snakes logged since the beginning of May. You can find this

University of Florida potato variety spotlight: ‘Elkton’ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1237 Butterfly personality quiz http://bit.ly/1jMrpR4 The Savvy Survey Series http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

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June/July, 2014

HEAD START

by M. Stewart

For a couple of months, our group has been heading over to the and J. Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings. Our mission, teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening. Our intrepid

McCreary salvaged that project .

We also did a class we called ‘What Part Do We Eat?” Samples of roots, stems, leaves and flowers (all edible) were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample volunteers: L. Chambers, S. Taylor, L. Morris, M. Stewart, A. Phillips, J. McCreary, R. Herington, V. Grund aka Mr. Farmer man, and F. Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 9:30am and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms. Plant parts, were covered one day. Other days included: making seed mats, Mother’s Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the donation of zinnias for that project) , Mother’s Day cards using plant parts as stamps, seed bombs, and finally fuzzy caterpillars. Fuzzy caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M. Stewart’s garage with the help of S. Taylor and R. Herington but the results were well worth it. The kids also planted the beans in cups. A lesson in overwatering and strategic removal was necessary. A. Phillips

fresh produce. They really liked Mr. Farmer man's onion—complete with flower and lease!

Our last project was Buzzy, Buzzy, Bees. You can tell from the below picture, even the instructors were called in to partake. Definitely a ‘fashionable’ queen bee!

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs to go around. We had as much fun as they did!

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June/July, 2014

M. Stewart —Editor S. Farrell and K. Harper—coeditors

Have pictures or an idea for an article?

Send it in!

Articles and pictures are always welcome.

Your member site: www.ocmgamembers.org

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

LAST WORD Garden journals. We have all had them. I have had my share. Gorgeous things, some of them. All sitting there ready to be attended to. I couldn’t tell you where half of them are at this point.

All the ‘experts’ have repeated that we should have garden plans and we should keep records. After all, it would be a good thing to remember exactly when you sprayed what...what worked and what didn’t...without relying on what is sometimes a very uncooperative memory.

But those journals....something about them. Perhaps it’s the pre-prepared pages. Nice charts and tables that more often than not are pointing out the fact that what I’m doing isn’t recommended. Maybe it’s the pages for the garden plan...all set up with a grid and sometimes even with stickers for those items in your yard. I don’t know about you but my arbors and ‘decor’ don’t match any of the stickers. Let’s not even get started with trying to lay out a half circle garden (complete with sort of even pie wedges) onto a square grid! There’s a reason that most of high school geometry class is a distant and painful memory!

Then again, it could be those pages for each month (in one case...each day) of what was planted, harvested (don’t forget the scientific names)....I think it gets to the point of being intimidating.

I don’t like a book that will make me feel guilty. Not just because I forget to fill it out but the fact that I’m not out in the garden every single day. Besides which, I do enough writing for my classes! I’ve been assigned a paper a week (plus citations) on topics that would bore a toad into hibernation! Now this journal has the audacity to know at what depth I planted bulbs???

My journal is my memory...faulty though it may be. I distinctly remember

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By M. Stewart where the water line is in the back yard.

Having someone installing edging and getting a bit too happy with the pick...I can even tell you where the resulting geyser was located as well as which wrench fits the shut off valve exactly! I can also tell you the exact location of my cable line. When your irrigation installer knocks on the door and the question is, “Is your computer still working?” you sort of remember little things like that. Yes, he sheared off the cable line.

I did find a little blank journal. A bit bigger than pocket size but there are no pre-filled pages. I can tote it in my work bucket and jot things down...or not. I don’t feel guilty making an entry like, “! #%!#$ I hate rabbits!” or an entry, “Rabbit 0, Me 1.” Look, I believe there is room in the garden for plenty of critters, just not when the hairy little demon from hell has eaten every single bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes! But I digress.

I’ve made an entry that just said, “First tomato!” I did remember to put the date on it. Now, I’m not sure which tomato it was either. Forgot that little detail. There are other tidbits in there, mostly of memories. I think that’s more of what the journal is anyway—a way to remember the garden...not just the facts and figures. A garden should be more than that—it should be a place you remember how that first tomato tasted fresh from the vine; how the woodpecker yells when the suet feeder is empty; and yes, the geyser that erupted.

So I’ll keep going with my little blank book. It might not be a ‘proper’ garden journal but it’ll be full of the memories I think are worthwhile.

Enjoy your gardens and the summer!

Don’t forget we can always use articles and ideas!!!!

June/July, 2014