...for discerning weeders November, 2011
Cool suggestions Inside this issue:
Coming events
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Critter calendar
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November
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gardening Spring Ahead,
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Fall Back Weed of the
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Month Conference
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Book Review
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Last Word
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DON’T FORGET! You have to log your hours onto the VMS system!
The holidays are right around the corner and we aren‟t the only ones feeling some of the stress of the season. Our house plants and lawns will be facing stress as well. Here are some suggestions to help the NW Florida gardener. When bringing indoor plants inside the three main things to consider are humidity, light and temperature. Most indoor plants originated in the tropics and prefer a higher humidity than our homes will normally provide. You can correct this problem by installing a humidifier. A less expensive option is to place potted plants on a two or three inch bed of moist gravel contained in a shallow, waterproof container. Add water as needed. But make sure the pots are sitting on the gravel, not in the water. Suddenly bringing a plant inside after it has been accustomed to outdoor light may result in the plant dropping many of its leaves. If possible, gradually move the plant from high light to low light locations. This allows the plant to better adjust to the lower light situation. Plants that will be located in a dark room where they receive little or no sun, will benefit from a combination of supplemental light. Plants that receive some sunlight each day may need only extra blue light from a fluorescent source. Too much red light from an incandescent source may stimulate undesirable leggy growth. It‟s important to maintain the proper balance. Temperature is another critical factor. Most plants grow better if the nighttime temperature is lower than the daytime tem1
Linda Meyers
perature. Most plants do well when the temperature is about 65 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day and about 10 degrees lower at night. Scientists have found that a slightly higher daytime light intensity will help compensate for a lack of temperature variation for many plants. Help protect lawns from cold damage: in north Florida delay fall planting (sprigging, sodding, seeding) of grasses until spring or early summer. A late season (late September - October) application of fertilizer containing nitrogen is also not recommended for our area. It will promote shoot growth in the fall, when grass growth and metabolism are slowing down, this will deplete carbohydrate reserves, which help the grass regrow from any stress, and will also produce new, tender shoot growth that is less able to tolerate adverse conditions such as cold. Increasing mowing height can reduce cold damage in a number of ways. First it will provide deeper rooting, which is one factor always associated with greater stress tolerance. It will also allow for production and storage of more carbohydrates late in the summer. In addition, higher mowing heights can create a warmer microenvironment as a result of extra canopy cover provided by longer leaf tissue. Sources: article 12/2010 “Provide a Little Bit of the Tropics for Your Houseplants This Winter” by Larry Williams; Florida Lawn Handbook, Laurie E. Trenholm and J. Bryan Unruh
AMERICA RECYCLES DAY SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19th 10:00am to 3:00pm SANTA ROSA MALL FOOD COURT AREA FFGC District 1 and Dogwood Garden Club of Gulf Breeze Present: Welcome to our Home: Designs and Dessert! Sunday, November 13, 2011 2pm—4pm at the Gulf Breeze Presbyterian Church 100 Andrew Jackson Trail
Master Gardener Christmas Party and Silent Auction December 7th 9am until 12 noon Extension Office Old Bethel Road
A virtual holiday home tour, including how to decorate for Thanksgiving thru New Years, flowers, cooking, baking etc. Vendors, Entertainment—cost $15 contact Marie Harrison for more information
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A Walk on the Wild Side
November Gardening.....
Linda Meyers
Shari Farrell
Courtesy of www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Cooler weather, football, local fairs and the wonderful holidays with family and friends are just around the corner. This is also a great time to enjoy wildlife that is arriving for the winter. Happenings in our area are: Birds: Set up winter seed and suet feeders. Cedar waxwings come south for the winter. Their flocks can be seen on cedars, hollies, cherry laurels, privet, and other fruit plants. Look for downy, hairy, red-bellied, and redheaded woodpeckers on suet feeders. Bald eagles begin their nesting season. Look for spectacular aerial courtship displays. Sandhill cranes return in full force from their breeding grounds up north. Many yellow-rumped warblers and palm warblers will be in neighborhoods, natural areas, and yards. Gray catbirds have already arrived and will be skulking (and cat-calling!) in thickets. Kinglets, phoebes, robins, and other northern songbirds have arrived for the winter. Mammals: Peak of deer rutting in central and north Florida. Bears are on the move and crossing roads. Look for migrating Hoary and Red Bats in North Florida. Hoary is a large bat with frosted fur. Amphibians: Ornate chorus frogs begin calling. Trees: Cypress begin turning a rust color. Fish: Spotted sea trout should enter tidal creeks around Thanksgiving.
With leaves still falling, it‟s almost too early to get out the rakes. What we can do is get a head start on what has cluttered the beds and yard. Mulch! Shredding leaves and pine straw will make the economically free mulch available to most of us. It‟s a dusty, dirty job and well worth the effort. Granted, a majority of gardeners appreciate the finished look of bark mulch or pine straw which can be obtained by using these materials as the final layer. The thicker layer of „natural‟ mulch that is hidden from view means less pocket money is needed to attain the „look.‟ Other shredded materials from the clean-up process also adds to the free layer. Those ginger and canna stalks, passion vines, small twigs, and discarded vegetable plants add nutrients to the mixture. If available, a layer of home grown, finished compost applied will help break down the plant materials. Purchased compost will do the same great job, just be sure the label reads desiccated or dried. Watering between each layer also aids in the break down and gives us a realistic depth to work with. Often our neighbors put bags of leaves at the curb for the trash men to haul away; just be sure the neighbor hasn‟t added pet droppings or seeded weeds to the mixture. Another caveat to consider is the neighbor‟s use of chemicals when cut grass is an addition. Those herbicides will definitely affect the soil and any planned seed germination. This is where getting to know the neighbors is another benefit. Not everyone has the availability of a dedicated shredder; using a string trimmer/weed eater in a strong container does a great job. Just remember to limit the contents or the storm created will have astronomic consequences! Another alternative is putting dried debris in a large trash bag and crushing the contents by walking on it. Organic mulch is the best additive to the landscape. Share your thoughts and ideas with the Editor so we can post them in the December edition!
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Spring Ahead.....Fall Back Karen Harper
Love it or hate it, we'll all be doing the semi-annual adjustment at 2:00 AM November 6 when we set our clocks back an hour. But why do we have Daylight Saving Time? How did this practice get started? And more importantly, can we ever get rid of it? DST is observed in most of the U.S. and its territories But the federal government doesn't require U.S. states or territories to observe daylight saving time which is why Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and most of Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Indian Reservation in Arizona) don't have DST. Indiana, which used to be split with a portion of the state observing DST and the other half not, is now whole with the entire state of Indiana observing DST as of April 2006. DST is also observed in about 70 other countries. Why do we have Daylight Saving Time to begin with? Well, the main idea has been to save energy with DST but the jury is still out as to whether it actually does result in energy savings. And there are a number of studies that show detrimental effects on health. And more than a few opinion polls indicate that most people don't much care for it. We can blame Ben Franklin—of the "early to bed and early to rise" fame— for the original concept, since he was apparently the first person to suggest the idea of daylight savings. While serving as U.S. ambassador to France in Paris, Franklin wrote of being awakened at 6 a.m. and realizing, to his surprise, that the sun would rise far earlier than he usually did. He thought of the resources that might be saved if he and others rose earlier and burned less midnight oil. However, Franklin did not suggest a plan for implementing his idea. It wasn't until World War I that daylight saving time was instituted on a large scale. Germany was the first state to adopt the time changes, to reduce artificial lighting and thereby save coal for the war effort. Many countries followed suit. In the U.S. a federal law standardized the yearly start and end of daylight saving time in 1918—for the states that chose to observe it. During World War II, the U.S. made daylight saving time mandatory for the whole country, as a way to save wartime resources. Between February 9, 1942, and September 30, 1945, the government took it a step further. During this period daylight saving time was observed year -round, essentially making it the new standard time, if only for a few years. The American law by which we turn our clock forward in
the spring and back in the fall is known as the Uniform Time Act of 1966. Since the end of World War II, though, daylight saving time has always been optional for U.S. states. Its beginning and end have shifted—and occasionally disappeared. During the 1973-74 Arab oil embargo, the U.S. once again extended daylight saving time through the winter, resulting in a one percent decrease in the country's electrical load, according to federal studies of the time. Thirty years later the Energy Policy Act of 2005 changed both the starting and ending dates. Beginning in 2007, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. So, does DST save energy? It depends on whose study you choose to believe. In recent years several studies have suggested that daylight saving time doesn't actually save energy—and might even result in a net loss. In the U.S., the state of Indiana provided a good opportunity for comparison since prior to 2006 only 15 of the state's 92 counties observed daylight saving time. When the whole state adopted DST, before-and-after energy uses were studied. Indications were that while the use of artificial lights dropped, an increase in air-conditioning use more than offset any energy gains. It seems that people got home an hour earlier to a warmer house and they turned on the a/c. But how do people feel about DST? National surveys by Rasmussen Reports show that 83 percent of respondents knew when to move their clocks ahead in spring 2010. Twenty-seven percent, though, admitted they'd been an hour early or late at least once in their lives because they hadn't changed their clocks correctly. Other telephone surveys by Rasmussen Reports from 2009 and 2010 show that most people just "don't think the time change is worth the hassle." Forty-seven percent agreed with that statement, while only 40 percent disagreed. Here's a question that has puzzled some: In many states, liquor cannot be served after 2 a.m. But at 2 a.m. in the fall, the time switches back one hour. So, why can't they serve for that additional hour in the fall? The answer: the bars do not close at 2 a.m. but actually at 1:59 a.m. So, they are already closed when the time changes from Daylight Saving Time into Standard Time. Gotcha! 4
Weed of the Month Fall has definitely come to NW Florida! Driving at this time of year the ditches and the wood's edge along the roadsides are brightened with the yellow and gold flowers of Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.), Golden Aster (Chrysopsis spp.), Silkgrass (Pityopsis spp.), Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.), and Goldenrods (Solidago spp.). Climbing high in the trees a vine of gold and scarlet leaves is adding to the show. This is most likely the native wild grapevine Muscadine. A favorite and important food of our wildlife, wild grape can be a weedy, nuisance vine in our gardens. Wild grape is also known as muscadine, scuppernong, and southern fox grape, and is valued for its edible, tasty fruit. Wild grape grows from Texas to south Florida, north to Delaware, and west to Missouri. Muscadine grape (Vitis rotundifolia Michx.) is a commonly occurring high-climbing woody vine growing to 60‟-100‟ in the wild. The grape vines will grow in full sun to partial shade. The leaves are simple, heart shaped, deciduous, and about 4" by 4". The rounded leaves have coarsely serrate edges and are smooth, dark green above and green tinged yellow, somewhat hairy below. They occur alternately along the stem. Muscadine grape has inconspicuous yellow-green flowers from April through June.
Jenny Gillis
The fruit is a 1” round berry/grape that ripens between July and September. It is green at first, turns red to purple to black with tan spots when ripe. The berries grow in small clusters of no more than 12 or as single grapes. The skin of the fruit is very thick but separates from the flesh of the fruit easily. It is a favorite food for birds, whitetailed deer, wild turkey, raccoon, skunk, squirrel, opossum and black bears. Humans also enjoy the unique fruity flavor of the grapes and make jellies, jams, juices, and wines from the fruit. Wild grape is prolific because mockingbirds, cardinals, and robins spread the seed to various areas away from the original vine. Wild Turkey and quail consume fruit that has fallen to the ground. White-tailed deer readily consume leaves, twigs and the ripe fruit that grows within their reach or have fallen from the vine. Deer will eat wild grapes no matter where they grow or what variety - in the woods or in your garden! Commercial production is small, but muscadine grapes are widely grown for home use and local markets in southeastern states. Native Americans in Florida also
made a blue dye from the grapes. Wild grapes have been hybridized and grown since the 1500‟s. For more information on selection of Muscadine grape varieties and general care please read the University of Florida publication titled “The Muscadine Grape” http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs100 “If you want to get rid of the vines, first cut them close to the ground. Immediately paint the stump with glyphosate. The upper portion will die once it is cut. It may take a few days but ultimately the vine will die and then it will be easier to remove from the trees. Reapplication of the herbicide may be necessary for best control.” http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/ horticulture/questions/other.html
MARK YOUR CALENDAR November 11th Annex and Extension Office closed Annex closed the weekends of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years November 16th Board Meeting November 19th America Recycles Day December 7th Christmas Party December 14th Board Meeting
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31st Florida Master Gardener Continued Training Conference The State conference was held at the Royal Plaza Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on October 24th through the 26th. There were two pre-conference tours offered on Sunday. Where Plants Come From included tours of Knox Nursery, DeRoose Plants and Agristarts. Where Plants End Up included a tour of Harry P. Leu Gardens and Lukas Nursery. The first full day of the conference included General Session seminars: Groceries from the Garden, What’s New in IPM, and Gardening Sustainability. Concurrent sessions: Turf selection, The Lazy Gardener, Camellias, FFL training and updates, New Foliage Plants, Success with Fruit in Florida, Household Pests, Shade Gar-
dening, New Pests, and Community Gardening. Everyone enjoyed the reception at poolside that followed the first day of seminars. Tuesday began with the 4-H ID and judging contest. The general session was Flower Power: The People-Plant Connection. Concurrent sessions included: FFL training and updates, Attracting Wildlife to the Landscape, Citrus Pest Update, Tea Time with Dr. Bart, Secrets of the Pros, Backyard Bee Keeping and Patio and Small Space Gardening. A full day of informative seminars was followed by the horticulture auction.
Book Review
Courtesy of UF/IFAS Wednesday was the plated awards breakfast and was followed by Tom MacCubbin UF Extension Agent Emeritus who presented Gardening Challenges. Next year‟s Training Conference has already been scheduled and will be held on October 1st through the 3rd and will be in Clearwater, Florida. If you haven’t attended a conference and you are able to make the trip, it is a great source of information, meeting Master Gardeners from all over the State and a lot of fun. Congratulations to the Okaloosa County award winners! Charlie Reuter for Communications and Fisher House crew for Special Audiences!
Marg Stewart
Duane Campbell has been a syndicated humor/garden columnist for over 30 years. While Mr. Campbell has an impressive resume, he states: “I am not an expert...I am a home gardener with dirty hands...through the decades I have learned more, usually by screwing up, and I managed to stay two weeks ahead of my audience.” You guessed it, this is not your normal reference book. There is a helpful index to the tools and tricks mentioned but
mostly it is a „gardener‟ (yeah, okay the guy is an expert no matter what he says) pondering on frass, bilko doors, begonias, concrete reinforcing wire and the desire to finally use those pesky garden journals he has laying around. With the weather getting cooler and perhaps a bit more time on our hands, this is a great book to curl up with and simply enjoy. It‟s nice to know that even an expert has many of the same issues we do in the garden. Learn how to calculate when to start seeds without needing a slide rule, learn that when you get to the „article‟ titled Animals, put down the iced tea and perhaps make a trip to the facilities first. Don‟t say I didn‟t warn you. Even though we‟re in the South and Mr. Campbell is in Pennsylvania, you‟ll get a laugh and probably learn a few new tricks at the same time.
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Master Gardener| Plant Sale A very big THANK YOU to everyone who worked so hard to make this event a success 7
LAST WORD
DON’T FORGET TO VOTE! Have pictures or an idea for an article? Send it in! Articles and pictures are always welcome.
Your member site: www.ocmgamembers.org
Instead of being tucked in bed like any normal person, I‟m sitting at the computer at 4am. Don‟t ask. I will say this, the house makes weird noises at this hour when no one else is awake and all the appliances are turned off. You don‟t realize how much noise there is in a normal day until you find yourself without it. That got me to thinking about the „noise‟ we have in our lives generally. Between all the electronic gadgets that we rely on, the people we are around, traffic, planes.....none of that can compare to the „noise‟ we generate in our own minds. The holidays are coming up and if you haven‟t started already, the internal list maker will soon be in full force. There are guests to attend to, schedules to juggle, meals to plan and prepare. There are gifts to get, wrapping to be done. Don‟t forget the decorating and the baking!
Marg Stewart Cold weather is approaching fast and we‟ve got to make sure we have the cold protection in place. There are still garden chores to be done and spring planning to take care of. Needless to say, it can be difficult to keep your composure and your sanity while all the „noise‟ is going on. We all need to remember that we MUST make some quiet time for ourselves during this hyper-busy time. Even if it‟s a quiet walk around the yard to just enjoy the cool air. If you have to make a list, decide on what is most important to you during this holiday season. Attend to what is important first. Ask for help when you need it and remember that sometimes things won‟t get done. Remember, no one is going to recall that you didn‟t have 27 strings of Christmas lights adorning your trees. What they‟ll remember is the warmth of your company and the joy of your time.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy
NEXT MONTH! THE YEAR IN REVIEW! PICTURES, PICTURES AND MORE PICTURES The Foundation for the Gator Nation.....An equal opportunity institution.
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