...for discerning weeders ALL A-BUZZ
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Peanut butter challenge
2
Events
3-4
Rabies
5
Contest
6
Book Review Mycelium
7
Book Review Straw bales
8
Wildlife Happenings
8
Updates and Info
9
Invasive Plant
10
The Swamp
10
Recipe Round-Up
11
Out and About
12
Last Word
14
HAVE YOU LOGGED ON TO VMS LATELY? DON’T FORGET TO KEEP YOUR HOURS UP TO DATE!
by P. Garrett
Before attending UF’s Bee College in 2010, I thought all honeybees were essentially the same. I really didn’t give much thought to whether honeybees could be either male or female or even whether there was a division of labor in the hive. I hope this and next month’s article clears up some misconceptions, adds to your knowledge base and ,as always, helps all of us develop even more of an appreciation for our beloved insect, Apis Mellifera. There are three castes in a colony: the queen, drones and workers. All drones are male and all workers are female. The queen’s primary function is to lay the eggs. Usually she lays ALL the eggs in a colony but occasionally when the queen pheromone is low or she just isn’t producing enough eggs, one or more of the workers may get an inkling to lay eggs too. Unfortunately, ALL of those eggs will become drones as they are unfertilized eggs. All female bees have the capability to lay eggs, but only the queen, who has previously mated with drones, can produce female offspring. When a worker decides to lay eggs, we call this “laying worker phenomenon” and it is pretty easily detected. In the cells on the frame where the brood should normally be, if a laying worker is suspected, the cell may hold more than one egg. I have seen up to 3 eggs in a laying worker cell. Also, the eggs usually aren’t in the right place as the worker’s abdomen isn’t long enough to reach the bottom of the cell correctly. Understandably, these multiple eggs will not develop properly. Once this phenomenon is started, it is very difficult to stop. You may be wondering how a queen knows when to lay a fertilized egg or an unfertilized egg? The worker bees fashion the cells in the honeycomb and they make the drone cells a little bit larger. We think this is how the queen knows which egg to lay. Controlled by the female worker bees, not the queen. When all is going well, there always seems to be just the right number of workers and drones in a colony,
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imagine that! Approximately 5% of a strong colony are drones and depending on the time of year, a total of anywhere from 10,000 to 60,000 honeybees in a managed colony. Basically, the drones are responsible for two things, eating and fertilizing queens. A drone has a 24-day larval and transition period whereas a worker has 21 days. After birth, drones will do orientation flights for a week or two, and then for a few hours each day, fly up into the wild blue yonder into the “DCA,” the Drone Congregation Area, to mate with virgin queens. Drones have huge eyes to better see queens from a distance and do not have stingers! Unfortunately, upon mating with the queen and upon insertion of his appendage, he is temporarily stunned, paralyzed and falls to his death, leaving his appendage in her majesty. Boy, just when you were thinking those drones have it made! When her majesty returns to the colony, her “attendants” proceed to clean her to remove all the foreign body parts. She may mate with 15 to 17 drones. Some say the queen flies into the DCA for only a few days, up to a week, but basically she will return every day until her “spermatheca” is full of sperm. Once it is full, she is done mating for life. That is why we don’t clip a virgin queen’s wings. We want them to be able to fly high (about 300’ ) to the DCA. Then, after we see she is laying eggs in the hive, we clip one of her four wings to prevent her from flying too far if the instinct to swarm comes her way. Cont’d on page 2 October, 2014
BUZZ
cont’d
Incidentally, if there are still drones around come winter, they are pushed out of the hive by the workers (some even have their wings chewed off first) and are left to starve or freeze….bless their hearts. Better they die during mating, at least a moment of bliss before sharing their DNA for the proliferation of the species. As mentioned before, many believe the queen controls the colony but in reality, it is the workers. The queen does produce “queen substance” (pheromone) from her mandibular glands that the workers detect to keep them from laying eggs. However, the workers run the show. If the workers feel the queen isn’t performing up to par, the pheromone is low, or they think she is unhealthy, they will exhibit “supersedure” behavior. They will take one of her eggs and proceed to make a new queen, and
sometimes many queen cells can be found in the hive at one time. Normally there is only one queen per colony. All eggs receive the same nutritional formula for the first few days, and then when a queen is desired, the workers feed the larva Royal Jelly. Royal Jelly has a higher sugar content and is a more specialized larval food. Sixteen days after an egg is laid, a beautiful virgin queen emerges. Beekeepers are forever diligent in checking for these queen cells, called supersedure OR swarm cells. I thought I would be able to talk about various roles workers have too, but alas I have exceeded my space already. In the next Compost Pile, will learn more about the workers, and polyethism (word of the day).
The Peanut Butter Challenge is underway! Click on the image for more information. Pumpkin Planter. Submitted by A. Ogle
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October, 2014
You can find even more events by going to the member web site: www.ocmgamembers.org and click on the calendar page. Events throughout the Panhandle are listed. Simply click on the event and you’ll see all the pertinent information!
ANTIQUE TRACTOR DRIVE AND PULL NOVEMBER 21ST AND 22ND MARIANNA, FLORIDA CLICK ON THE IMAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION
SUGARCANE FIELD DAY NOVEMBER 6TH There is a $10 registration fee per participant. To register, call the Gadsden County Extension Office 850-875-7255 Click here for more info
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October, 2014
Tri-County Horticulture Studies Group Meetings and Activities for 2014 Meetings 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, lunch optional
Click on the images to open up a link to the specific event page.
General Membership Meeting October 29th 9am Crestview Extension Office
November 20 Coordinators: Brenda Jordon and Marie Harrison Location: Emerald Coast Nursery Speaker: Designer for Leslie Odom, Owner of Nursery, “Designs for Christmas” Activity: On site. Emerald Coast Nursery is a great place to shop. Lunch: Ruby Tuesdays, Niceville
If you want the rainbow, you’ve got to put up with the rain.
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October, 2014
RABIES Encounters with wildlife are increasing in urban and suburban areas of the sunshine state as Florida's population expands and natural areas shrink. Enjoying nature while protecting yourself, your family and your pets starts with being informed and knowing what to do in an emergency. An unexpected encounter with wildlife could be awesome, but also a chance to exercise caution. Mammals that are behaving in an unusual manner, drooling excessively and are either too friendly, or aggressive should be avoided. Rabies can be carried by wild animals, domestic pets and livestock, including horses and cows, that have not been vaccinated.
by A. Rosati last 130 years, only 73 people have died from rabies in Florida. This reported loss of life was mostly children bitten by dogs, or cats, before the 1950s when the Florida law for animal vaccination was enacted. All cats, dogs and ferrets, older than 4 months, are supposed to be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. This does not protect us from feral cats and dogs, however. Prevention
However, even though the risk is minimal, recognizing the signs of a potentially dangerous animal is paramount. The average In the United States, 90% of reported animal cases with rabies person would probably avoid an aggressive animal, but might be are wildlife. Raccoons are a major carrier of rabies in Florida, lulled by an unexpectedly passive, or friendly one that is easy to followed by foxes and bats. Raccoons and bats tend to live closer approach. Avoid contact with animals you don't know, or with to people and cause the most concern. However, not all bats car- whom you aren't familiar. Don't touch wild mammals, or strays ry rabies. Only 1/2 of 1% are infected with the virus. Just as only with your bare hands whether they are alive, or dead. If you see 1 out of every 200 raccoons in the wild has been exposed to raan animal behaving strangely, notify County Animal Control, or bies. Distemper and rabies will often kill raccoons if they bethe County Health Department. Affected animals may move come infected. The idea that if you see a raccoon out during the slowly and have problems walking, or flying while drooling conday it must be sick is a myth. It might be foraging for food when tinuously. Be prepared to explain the animal's actions and locayour yard is quiet with your home's occupants at work, or tion. school. Conversely, just seeing a bat flying does not mean there is cause for concern, or panic. The University of Florida Wildlife Do not trap wild, or stray mammals and attempt to relocate them as it is against the law. Both a handling permit and series states that bats that carry the rabies virus will probably permission from the land owner are required. become paralyzed and die quietly. Joe Schaefer states that more people die annually from dog attacks, bee stings, lightning and household accidents than from bat transmitted rabies.
Keep your pets and livestock vaccinations up to date.
Get vaccinated if you work in a high risk occupation, or for Some surprising mammals that have tested positive for rabies in travel to countries with a high rate of rabies. Florida between 1992 and 2011: bobcat, otter, skunk, horse, cow, beaver, coyote, ferret, opossum and panther. Although very few Follow quarantine regulations on importing dogs and other wild beaver, coyote and opossum have been documented. mammals in disease-free countries. What is Rabies Rabies is a viral disease that is usually transmitted from the saliva of an infected mammal when it bites another animal, or person. The virus attacks the central nervous system (the brain and the spinal cord) where it causes swelling, or inflammation which leads to the symptoms of the disease. It is possible for the virus to be spread through the saliva or brain tissue of an infected animal if it comes in direct contact with broken skin, open wounds or mucous membranes (eyes, nose, or mouth) of another animal, or person. The virus could spread from the saliva, or brain tissue of a dead rabid animal, as well. The virus becomes noninfectious when it dries out and when it is exposed to sunlight (Holly K. Ober).
Contact local wildlife rehabilitators if you find injured mammals rather than trying to care for them.
Cont’d on next page
For humans, the risk of dying from rabies is very low. An infected bite can be disastrous and result in coma and death if left untreated, or not treated soon after exposure. More people die from lightening strikes than rabies in the United States. In the An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
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October, 2014
RABIES
cont’d
What To Do If You Are Bitten, or come in contact with the saliva, or brain tissue of an infected animal. Scrub the site of the infection with soap and running water for 5 to 10 minutes. Seek immediate medical attention. Call your health care provider, or 911. Report to your doctor, clinic, or emergency room as soon as possible to be examined by a medical professional. The same test used on animals can be done to check for rabies in humans. Call the County Health Department, or County Animal Control to come and safely capture the animal. If your pet is bitten, put on gloves before examining the wound. Avoid direct contact between yourself and saliva from the offending animal. If you don't see any bite marks, or wounds, wash your pet with soap and water to remove the saliva and call your veterinarian for immediate advice. In summary, be alert, use common sense and caution when encountering unfamiliar mammals, whether wild, or domestic. No
matter how interesting, cute, or cuddly-looking respect that they are wild and can be unpredictable, as well as, pose a potential danger to you, your family, or your pets. Your diligence could offer safety rather a trip to the emergency room! References Forrester, Don and Schaefer, Joe, "Infectious Diseases of Florida's Wildlife," EDIS Publication #WEC113. Kern Jr., William H., "Raccoons," EDIS Publication #WEC34. Ober, Holly K., 2013, "Protecting Your Family and Pets from Rabies," EDIS Publication #WEC239, Solutions for Your Life. Schaefer, Joe, 2013, "Dealing with Unwanted Wildlife in an Urban Environment," EDIS Publication #WEC20, Solutions for Your Life. Smith, Ruthe and Schaefer, Joe, "Opossums," EDIS Publication #WEC28. UF, Florida Wildlife Extension, University of Florida Wildlife, "Bats: Our Unexpected Ally." UF Health, University of Florida Health, 8-14-2012, "Rabies." Reference to Centers for Disease Control.
CONTEST We’re starting a new feature with our newsletter. Every so often, there will be a contest. This month’s contest is called Who Am I? The photo is of an Okaloosa County Master Gardener. Let’s just say that it is a photo taken a short time before he joined our group! Feel lucky? Go ahead a email your guesses to our Editor by clicking here One entry per person. Entries must be received no later than midnight, October 31st. Here’s the fun part of the contest. If no one guesses correctly, then the person who submitted the stumper photo will get that month’s prize! Winners will be announced at the general membership meeting. So check through those photos! Do you have a unique plant that you think will stump our members? An old time gadget or other item? Send them in! Remember! If you stump our members then you’ll win the prize for the month!
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October, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
by E. Smith Every now and then I run across a book which provides me with a new insight into the way the world functions. Mycelium Running is one of those books. The author, Paul Stamets, has published many scientific papers and is highly regarded by his peers. So how did I find this book? Another one of those very informative presentations on TED talks. (See the site at the end of this review.) For clarity; Mycelium. - The white threads or filamentous growth from which a mushroom or fungus is developed; the so called mushroom spawn. Now that we have that, try this--does the statement, “Mycelium is sentient.� seem absurd and outlandish? If you take the time to watch the TED Talk or read the book it may change your understanding as Stamets explains the concept. That may have turned off a number of readers because plant growth and health seems to be our main area of service. Without mycelium there would be no plants or animals or any other life form. You would not even have any soil ! You might have some dust or rocks but no soil. It is the Mycelium that breaks inert substances into the nutrients which can be absorbed by plants. There are some that even break down granite.
Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World by Paul Stamets ISBN-10: 1580085792
Another clarification : The term mycorrhizae is a term widely used for the symbiotic association between the mycelium and the roots of a vascular plant. In a mycorrhizal association, the fungus colonizes the host plant's roots. It is usually a beneficial fungus that we call mycorrhiza. In the book are photos showing the growth pattern differences with a beneficial mycorrhiza and without.
If supporting life is not enough, consider their vast contribution to the medical world. Just think about Penicillin or the vast array of antibiotics developed from molds. Their use in pesticides is also becoming more widespread and some hybrid mushrooms are being used to defeat species specific insects. Reforestation time and cost can be greatly reduced with their proper application. They have been use for oil spill clean up and now it has been discovered they are a great way to cleanup radioactive waste. Their uses are become so diverse it has even created new terms. Mycotechnology is part of a larger trend toward using living systems to solve environmental problems and to restore ecosystems. Covers mycorestoration (biotransforming stripped land), mycofiltration (creating habitat buffers), mycoremediation (healing chemically harmed environments), and mycoforestry (creating truly sustainable forests). They not only form the underpinning of life they may just save us from ourselves. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/paul_stamets_on_6_ways_mushrooms_can_save_the_world.html
Staghorn on Redwood Mount Photo courtesy of D. Hickenbothem
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The Jokester
Atheism is a non-prophet organization.
October, 2014
BOOK REVIEW
by A. Rosati Want to try something new with vegetable gardening that will reduce your work load, can be located anywhere, and extend the growing season while preventing disease and insect issues? This 139 page guide just might persuade you to try bale gardening.
Straw Bale Gardens by Joel Karsten
den. Topics covered include planning, conditioning the bales, planting, growing and harvesting. Tips are provided throughout this easy to read book, as well as, questions and answers, resources and plant profiles from basil to zucchini. You will need one, or more, bales of straw, at least six hours a day of direct sunlight and water. Of course you can always start with one straw bale, but layout and suggested plants are given for five, ten, fifteen and twenty bale vegetable gardens. Two particularly interesting sections are the construction of trellises and planting low growing annuals along the sides of the bales with veggies on the top.
In summary, Joel Karsten tells us, "Using bale straw just like a rectangular planting container, anyone can grow his or her faColor photos and vorite crops, with little effort, no weeding, and minimal bending drawings enhance the over"... "You won't need special tools, advanced training, hortistep-by-step instruccultural expertise or a big backyard with beautiful productive tions for creating a soil." bale garden verses a traditional soil gar-
WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS October is the first real Fall month in Florida, and along with breaking out the blankets (for those chilly 60 degree nights), we get to see a whole new batch of animals and wildlife activity. Here are some interesting things to look for in October:
courtesy of www.wec.ufl.edu/extension and their fascinating mascots: bats. If you want to learn the real skinny about these beneficial little insect eaters, you should check out the special Halloween edition on Florida’s bats by clicking on the picture below.
Birds: *Warbler migration peaks early this month. *Sandhill cranes that nested in more northern latitudes begin to move down to join our resident birds. *Ducks begin to arrive for the winter. *Grosbeaks, warblers, tanagers, orioles, and thrushes begin migrating south for the winter. Mammals: *Flying squirrels will be moving into pecan groves as the nuts ripen. *Black bears are feeding heavily in preparation for winter. Amphibians: *Flatwoods salamanders breed with the first rains of October. Insects: *Monarch butterfly migration nears its peak along Florida’s Gulf coast. Fish: *Redfish and trout move up creeks and rivers in north Florida. *Fall spawning of redear sunfish. *Largemouth bass active in cooler waters. October also gets us thinking about Halloween, ghouls, vampires An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
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October, 2014
UPDATES AND INFO
by Editorial Staff
A reminder to check out the Master Gardener program on Crestview Television! We have some new videos up there! http://www.cvctv.info/channel.cfm?category=The%20Master% 20Gardener&id=4430
*Pests and Fungal Organisms Identified on Olives (Olea europaea) in Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1046 *Muscadines…it’s good to be late http://nwdistrict.ifas.ufl.edu/ phag/2014/10/03/with-muscadines-its-good-to-be-late/
UPDATED PUBLICATIONS The Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011 http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs248
*Homeowner best management practices for the home lawn http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep236
How to Start a Food Business http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs254
*Jalapeno and other hot pepper varieties for Florida http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1241
*Survival of Foodborne Pathogens on berries: http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs236
*African malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae Giles (Insecta: Diptera: Culicidae) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1048
*Integrated Pest Management for Mosquito Reduction around Homes and Neighborhoods http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1045
INTERESTING ‘STUFF’
*Pavement ant Tetramorium caespitum (Linnaeus) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Formicidae) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1047
If you haven’t check out UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions web site, you really should. Packed with lots of goodies. http:// gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/
*Gardening with Annuals in Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ mg319
Science Take—Rise of the Worker Bees http://www.nytimes.com/video/science/100000003068527/ rise-of-the-worker-bees.html?emc=eta1
*Mexican Sycamore (Platanus mexicana) http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep502
Article on butterflies http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/ mailings/2014/20140916_ButterfliesFlamingos.pdf
*Phoenix roebelenii: Pygmy Date Palm http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ st441
Where have all the butterflies gone? http:// www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/where-have-all-thebutterflies-gone/2014/08/05/db293360-182d-11e4-934984d4a85be981_story.html
*Purple Sunset Pomegranate (Punica granatum ‘PIIPG-1’) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep501
Climate indicators http://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/carbondioxide/
*Waterhyacinth: Florida's Worst Floating Weed http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ag385
Florida Climate Institute https://floridaclimateinstitute.org/
Florida State Parks Newsletter http:// *Giant Woolly Bear (larva), Giant or Great Leopard Moth (adult) www.floridastateparks.org/resources/sp-newsletter.cfm Hypercompe scribonia (Stoll 1790) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1043 Science Friday—Rooting Out the Plant Microbiome http:// www.sciencefriday.com/playlist/#play/segment/9566 *A guide to Florida's common bark and ambrosia beetles http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr389 *A Parasitoid Wasp Cotesia congregata (Say) (Insecta: Hymenoptera: Braconidae) http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in1042 The Jokester *Soil and Plant Tissue Testing http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ss625
Venison for dinner again? Oh deer! *Heirloom Eggplant Varieties in Florida http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ hs1242 *Peach Scab http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1249 An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
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October, 2014
IF YOU THOUGHT KUDZU WAS BAD....
by D. Stever
Japanese Climbing Fern (Lygodium japonicum) is an adventive (non-indigenous) species that was introduced into Florida as an ornamental plant in the 1930’s. In Florida it is currently found in the north and western areas of the state, but is quickly spreading southward. It is also found in the southern areas of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Japanese climbing fern is able to engulf shrubbery and ground covers by forming a dense canopy of vegetation. It is considered a perennial viney fern, climbing and twining, to 90 feet (30 m) long, with lacy finely divided leaves along green to orange to Black wiry vines, often forming mats of shrub- and tree-covering infestations. Tan-brown fronds persisting in winter, while others remain green in Florida and in sheltered places further north. The Japanese climbing fern can grow in sun or shade, damp, disturbed or undisturbed areas. It can grow so dense that it forms a living 'wall', leading to the elimination of seedlings and other native vegetation. Japanese climbing fern was added to the Florida Noxious Weed List in 1999. It is also a major problem in pine plantations, causing contamination and harvesting problems for the pine straw industry. Old World climbing fern infests cypress swamps and other hydric sites, forming a monoculture. This massive infestation displaces all native flora and fauna, completely changing the ecosystem of the area. http:// plants.ifas.ufl.edu/node/639
The plant produces alternating generations of vegetative and reproductive plants. The reproductive generation is rarely visible, and consists of smaller leaflets with sporangia along the undersides of the margin. Spores are wind- as well as equipmentdispersed. Japanese climbing fern is a perennial vine-like fern that repeatedly grows back from rhizomes. Easily confused with (Lygodium microphyllum), another invasive climbing fern. Alternatives include Southern maidenhair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris), Turks' cap (Malvaviscus arboreus), and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana).
THE SWAMP
by L. Fabian The Swamp by Michael Grunwald © 2006
of counties, roads and towns. Some were heroes, some were goats.
Is it a liquid wasteland, the Garden of Eden, a national treasure or just something to be controlled by man and bent to the many demands of the people?
My family lore had my grandmother riding down the railroads into the Florida Keys. Reality says she wasn’t old enough to have made a trip like that but her father was a conductor on one of the Florida rail lines. Why did Flagler build his railroads and put a hotel at the end of each segment? If he built it they would come. Over time his railroad pushed into South Florida and with train service people came to the towns he built and the great weather that was advertised. And they came, and they stayed and their need for land expanded. So did their need for fresh water.
It is all about the Everglades. I was fascinated as I read the book just how much history had been crammed into a story that told of the efforts of the many to drain the Everglades or to save the Everglades (but no one can agree what to save it for...or from!). I ‘met’ politicians whose names are all over Florida as place names An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
Of course all of this new growth happened along the coasts. That middle part was particularly hellish with alligators, mosquitos and “savages” and bugs and sawgrass. Whites ignored the people who thought they owned all that land in the middle...and a good part of the outsides too. As far back as forever, no one had noticed (or cared) that the land was already home to the Seminoles who had learned to live with the ‘swamp’ not fight it. Many lives were lost in a battle for land that was declared “...the poorest country that ever two people quarreled for.” cont’d next page
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October, 2014
RECIPE ROUND-UP
by K. Harper
I grow Serrano peppers. They’re a lovely hot pepper, small and beautifully shaped. They don’t pack the set-your-hair-on-fire heat that some of their siblings exhibit but they are definitely assertive. I grow a single Serrano plant from seed every year and every year the plant is overly prolific and I give away as many peppers as I can. It’s surprising how little demand there really is among one’s friends for fresh hot peppers. I use some in cooking but not a lot since they are, well, assertive! This year I vowed to do something constructive with my Serrano harvest so last month I went out picked the plant bare, and reaped enough to can my first ever batch of hot pepper jelly and my first ever batch of pickled peppers. Both turned out great, and I felt a real sense of accomplishment at actually using all of my hot peppers for a change. With that, the canning season drew to a close for me and I put away all my canning equipment till next year. So you can imagine my chagrin when I went out to the garden last week and found the same plant fully laden with beautiful peppers in various stages of ripeness, from emerald green to fire engine red. I picked a pound and a half of the little beauties. And I found that here isn’t any more of a demand for fresh hot peppers now than there was last month.
So, out comes the canning equipment again and tomorrow I’ll again be in the business of making hot pepper jelly and pickled peppers. This is my recipe for hot pepper jelly and, although it calls for Serrano peppers, there isn’t any reason you couldn’t use a different variety. I chose this recipe out of many because I wanted the resulting jelly to have a red color and many recipes were for a green version of the jelly. I used only the red Serranoes for my first batch of hot pepper jelly and I loved the way the natural red coloring came through just like the photo in the recipe. The jars are lovely and will make great Christmas gifts: http://tinyurl.com/mztlyuy My yield was 5 ½ eight ounce jars. And that still leaves me with a lot of hot peppers to use up! So I will can another batch of pickled peppers using this recipe which was very simple and turned out beautifully: http:// tinyurl.com/mzre3nf My yield was two pints. I hope this will give you some ideas to use in the event that your hot pepper plant is also an overachiever!
DON’T FORGET! We now have a full calendar on our member web-site! Click on the event and any additional information will be posted for that event. This calendar is updated constantly so check back often. www.ocmgamembers.org/Calendar.html
SWAMP
cont’d.
Survey after survey predicted that if the “swamp” was drained there would be the richest soil seen outside of Eden and all a man had to do was throw out a few seeds and he would be rich with the bounty the land would produce. There was just one little problem. No one could decide just where the plug was that. when pulled, would drain the Everglades. Time after time there were schemes to drain the Everglades and open up all that glorious land to new ventures. Over time, many more dollars were spent on futile efforts to drain the Everglades than what Florida paid Spain to acquire the land. What we have done is interrupt the flow of water that nourished an ecosystem unlike any in the world.
from the Everglades and the men who wanted to tame it. Follow the history of Florida from it’s pristine state and the efforts of man to remake it in their own vision through to the present day when we have almost destroyed one of nature’s most fabulous ecosystems. Is there still hope? Marjory Stoneman Douglas, author of Everglades: River of Grass was reported to say “the Everglades is a test; if we pass, we may get to keep the planet”. The Swamp is available from the Okaloosa County Library System.
What land the drainage efforts revealed was quickly bought up (or given away by the state!) and all who bought demanded more An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
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October, 2014
OUT AND ABOUT
by M. Stewart
We’ve had a busy few months! Here is just a small sampling of pictures from the Home Show, landscape work day, phenology training and our latest Field Trip! Click on the images to check out the full photo albums from each event!
Home Show
Landscape work day
Phenology training Wildflower Field Trip DON’T FORGET! We are always on the lookout for neat links, updated information, and ideas for future articles. L. Buhrow L. Chambers M. Crow S. Daigle A. Donatelli D. Hickenbotham J. Jones D. Stever A. Young
An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
We also look forward to your pictures! Recipes and anything else welcome! Please submit your items before the 24th of each month. Pictures should be in a jpeg format. If you copy something, be sure to provide the source!
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October, 2014
M. Stewart —Editor S. Farrell , K. Harper and S. Berry—co-editors
Have pictures or an idea for an article? Send it in! Articles and pictures are always welcome.
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LAST WORD I am hereby declaring that I have had enough! It was bad enough that I spotted Christmas decorations on display before Labor Day but now...I had to head into the local Big Box store and couldn’t believe my eyes. Spider webs and pumpkins were vying for space next to the pre-lit Christmas trees while Pilgrims hats floated on an end cap. Fall foliage was relegated to a side aisle but there it all was. Conspicuous consumption at its best. I have a problem with tracking down candy for the trick-or-treaters and having to move mistletoe in order to get to the Milky Ways! I mean, what am I supposed to decorate my porch with? Perhaps a pumpkin stuffed turkey surrounded by holly? Am I to expect ghosts and goblins at my door on the 31st singing carols? I remember, as a kid, the outdoor lights didn’t get taken out of their boxes until the weekend after Thanksgiving. At least one day was set aside to untangle the strings. Face it, no matter how careful you were, the light gremlins got into the boxes and tangled everything up. Next came the ritual of testing. Now, this was when the bulbs screwed in and each bulb was the size of Manhattan. If the string didn’t light up, you had to go through each bulb and see which one was the culprit. After bulb replacement, you had to make sure that you didn’t have two colors that were the same next to each other. I’m not sure what followed next. I think the light fairy came along and put the lights on the house. I supposed
An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
13
By M. Stewart hyper kids and ladders would scare away the fairy. Be that as it may, the lights were up and it was good. No one turned their lights on until the 1st of December. Earlier illumination could get you banned from the next 6 covered dish dinners at the VFW hall. Now, we have the decorations out in the stores before Fall even has a chance to settle in. Lights have transformed into meekly glimmering, non-heat producing, LED’s. Giant inflatables have taken the place of the pressed plastic molded candles. Could someone please explain to me the significance of the pink, lit up poodle???? And let’s not forget the pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING that is inundating our lives. Pumpkin lattes, Oreos..pumpkin scented candles, dish soap and Lord only knows what else. I hereby declare that we need to get our holiday’s back in order and pumpkin belongs in pies...not ice cream. We will not cave in and purchase Christmas decorations before Halloween! We won’t light any decorations before Thanksgiving! Oh I know. We’re all conditioned to believe that all the ‘good’ stuff will be gone if we wait too long. There will be shiny objects that we just can’t live without. But wouldn’t it be nice if Halloween was allowed to have October, Thanksgiving would have November and Christmas would have December. They’ve been around for a long time so shouldn’t they have earned the right to have their months all to themselves? I imagine a future being landing on our planet and discovering a big box store this time of year. I would hate to imagine what they would think...probably that we decorated green trees with pumpkins while wearing Pilgrim hats.
October, 2014