...for discerning weeders September, 2012
WHY IT’S WORTH IT Inside this issue:
Weed of the
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Month Walk on the Wild 3 Side Coming Events
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Progress Report
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Here Kitty, Kitty
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Book Review
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Member Photos
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Puzzle Page
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Last Word
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Many of us see and talk to folks who need our advice. Some of them have large, lush lawns, trees, or gardens with minor problems that can easily be fixed with some bugkiller or a little less “kindness.” Then, there are others….
by Bill Buckellew er day, Michael called, asking me to come by and see what he had done. He had followed all our instructions, and his place looks as good as it can under the circumstances. He’s proud of it and wanted to show it off. His new trees are doing well. He was so grateful for the help that he actually mailed me (he has no computer) his prized tree catalog, in case I wanted something from it. He didn’t have to do that, but that was what he had, and it was his way to thank the MGs.
Let me tell you about Michael. He is a 70+, handicapped widower who lives alone in a dilapidated, rented trailer in the poorest part of Niceville. His lot has no soil; it is simply “dirt” in the form of compacted sand. He lives on his pension, has no car, and has to walk to K-Mart or wherever to Folks, we can make a difference in people’s get what he needs. He can’t afford to water. lives. All of our clients are important, whether it’s somebody who wants his place Last year, he wanted to make his place look to look like the golf course next door or a better, so he called the Extension. Joe and I lonely old man who just wants to do what visited and gave him advice on trimming his he is still able to do. That’s why we volunshrubs and what he should try to grow. At teer. the most recent Arbor Day, I took two trees to him along with planting advice. The oth-
CALLING ALL MEMBERS!
DON’T FORGET! You have to log your hours onto the VMS system!
As you are all aware, we will be moving into the new Extension building. Hopefully, the move will take place in the next few months. As you also might know, the nursery has been and continues to be busy growing and propagating plants that will be used in the landscape at the new building.
month, just one. Spend a couple of hours helping. Bodies are desperately needed and there is plenty to be done. The new office landscape has the potential to be a real asset in showing what Florida’s native plants have to offer.
Take a Friday and give a bit of your time. Folks, these plants don’t take care of themselves and only having a few people show up A huge THANK YOU to the dedicated souls to help with the plant chores isn’t going to who do show up, time after time. Your hard work. work is appreciated. If each person could give one Friday a 1
WEED OF THE MONTH Most folks know that cactus grows in deserts, but few realize that here in Florida we also have native Florida cactus. Although considered a valuable plant throughout history and in some circles, today it can be a pest. Prickly pear is one of those plants that are difficult to control. Mowing spreads it, and it doesn’t respond to herbicides as well as we would like. Cattlemen and land managers generally hate them, but cacti have some desirable features that homeowners may want to consider before doing battle with these sticky succulents. The prickly pears have been a valuable plant throughout the history of the Americas. They have been used as a food source, animal feed, and as an ornamental. The spines were used as needles for sewing. Native American and Mexican groups have used the juice to treat burns, diarrhea, asthma, rheumatism, and gonorrhea. Today, there is some work exploring the medicinal properties for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. One of the more colorful uses comes from the red cochineal dye. The dye comes from the insect Dactylopius coccus that thrives on prickly pears. This dye was extremely important to Aztec culture and became a valuable and guarded Spanish export. The bright red dye was used to make the “red coats� of the British army and in the first uniforms of the familiar Canadian Royal Mounted Police coats. It is suspected that the global spread of prickly pears may have come from attempts to set up dye producing industries in other countries. Prickly pear can be used for food and is grown commercially. In Florida yards they can be effective as burglar bushes and once established require little care. There are some prickly pears that are endangered in natural areas. Others are prohibited as invasive nightmares and have been studied as a plant in need of bio control. Opuntia is the genus in the cactus family that includes prickly pears. There are about 250 species of these plants, and all are natives of the New World. Most are found in drier climates, but 19 native species of these cacti are found east of Mississippi. Florida boasts nine native prickly pear species. Eastern Prickly pear, Devil's Tongue or Indian fig (Opuntia humifusa) is the species of prickly pear most common. Depending upon the species, prickly pear plants can grow from one to 20 feet in height. They form irregular clumps or shrub-like mounds. These armed native perennials can be found in waste areas or pastures that have been over grazed or neglected. Prickly pears
by Jenny Gillis are succulent plants and suited for dry conditions. Succulent plants retain water in their tissues to endure long dry periods. Furthermore, these plants have a specific metabolism suited for dry environments. They are CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) plants; taking CO2 in at night and storing it as malic acid. There is less water loss through the stomata during the cool night conditions. When the sun comes up in the morning the stomata close to decrease transpiration thus conserving water and the malic acid is converted back into CO2 for photosynthesis. As would be expected, these plants are found on dry sandy soils. Prickly pear bloom for several weeks, but an individual flower lasts only for one day. Flowers are cup-shaped and yellow or sometimes orange to red. Blooms appear on the outermost pads and measure 2 to 3 inches across. Pollination is by bees and the seeds are spread by mammals and birds. The showy fruit may reach a length of 2 to 3 inches and are reddish-purple at maturity. When the fruit is ripe - mid to late summer - people enjoy eating prickly pears - but first the spines must be removed - using thick leather gloves or singeing off with fire. Peeled, sliced and sprinkled with lemon, the fruit has an enjoyable, sweet-tart taste. Preserves made from prickly pear fruit are quite delicious, and the round black seed inside have been roasted and ground into flour. Young stem segments of some prickly pear are also edible, and are grown much like a vegetable crop. Commercially these are called nopales. The prickly pear fruit are called tuna or Indian Figs. The gel-like liquid of a prickly pear cactus can be used as a conditioner. Prickly pears are reported to have medicinal uses. Songbirds and small mammals shelter in spiny dens - surrounded by the plant's stems and pads. Raccoons and gopher tortoises eat the pads and fruits. Prickly pear fruit and seed are consumed by quail, wild turkey, doves, thrashers and woodpeckers, along with many mammals, such as fox, squirrel and rabbit. White-tailed deer also use the plants as a springtime browse. These plants are well-suited to hot, dry conditions. They require a sunny, well-drained site and are tolerant of sandy, alkaline soils. Prickly pears are also well adapted to seaside and rocky locations. They can handle wet conditions for only a very short time. Prickly pear can be used as a specimen and border plant in areas where it is not an inconvenience to passersby. An established row of these makes an impenetrable border for pedestrians.
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WEED OF THE MONTH
continued from page 2
Propagation is by division because the seeds may be difficult to germinate. Wrapping a long rolled-up section of newsprint or fabric around a pad provides a convenient handle that avoids the long spines and short barbed hairs or glochids. Pads can then be cut off the larger plant with hand clippers. Cut surfaces should be allowed to dry before they are replanted into another location. Although a beautiful and valuable plant, prickly pear in the wrong place can be a pest. Native to North America, Prickly pear has been invasive in other countries. Introduced to Australia in the last century as cattle feed, Prickly pear infestations rendered 12 million hectares useless, causing one of the largest ecological disasters due to an invasive plant. By 1925, Australia was struggling with 60 million acres of grazing land heavily infested with prickly pear cactus. Hundreds of square miles were virtually impenetrable to humans or animals. After failing to control it with mechanical, chemical, and cultural methods, it was bio control that finally worked. A small moth from Argentina, the South American Cactus Moth, Cactoblastis cactor, was imported and released. The moth larvae burrowed into the cactus, grew and multiplied, and within 10 years had decimated the prickly pear population. Today, the cactus covers only 1% of the area it occupied in 1925. However, this moth was also intentionally introduced to South Africa, Hawaii, and the Caribbean as a bio control agent since the mid-1920s. It is now found along both Florida coasts, Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina where it threatens all prickly pear commercial farms. Generally Opuntia has no other pests or diseases of great concern in Florida, but root rot can be a problem in wet locations.
In North America prickly pear is not considered invasive because it belongs here, but it can be very difficult to control. Do not mow! Mowing generally breaks and spreads the pads or cladodes, increasing your problem. Where you had one plant, after mowing alone, you will have many. Removal with a pick or shovel two to four inches below the soil surface then actively remove above ground plant parts. Plants should be bagged or incinerated to prevent coming into contact with soil again. http://sarasota.ifas.ufl.edu/FCS/FlaFoodFare/Prickly% 20Pear.pdf http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/cactus_moth.htm http://www.sfrc.ufl.edu/4h/Prickly_pear/pricpear.htm http://www.btny.purdue.edu/weedscience/2008/ pricklypear08.pdf http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/education/misc_pdfs/ biocontrol_brochure.pdf
WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Here we are with Fall just around the corner, along with the most active month of hurricane season. Migrating species will be seen and lots of other wildlife activity present. Here’s what to look for: BIRDS: Bald eagles return to nest sites and begin courtship. Don’t forget to get your feeders ready for returning birds!
by Linda Meyers
INVERTEBRATES: Blue crabs migrate from the shallow panhandle coast to deeper water for the winter. Blue crab “jubilee” also begins along panhandle beaches.
MAMMALS: Gray bats migrate to Alabama caves for winter hibernation. AMPHIBIANS: Start listening for Spade foot toads after heavy rains. FISH: Atlantic sturgeon begin fall migration from the Suwannee and Apalachicola rivers as well as other coastal rivers to the Gulf of Mexico. Fall Mullet migration to the gulf begins. 3
FALL: FLORIDA’S BEST GARDENING SEASON FREE SEMINAR SEPTEMBER 4TH
General Membership Meeting
10:30AM CRESTVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY
September 5th Crestview Extension October 10th Ft. Walton Annex
“MONDAYS IN THE GARDEN” PROPAGATION WORKSHOP WITH UF PROF MACK THETFORD MONDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH 10AM ROOM 4902 PENSACOLA STATE COLLEGE MILTON CAMPUS
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 29TH 9AM TO 3PM NORTHWEST FLORIDA FAIRGROUNDS, FT. WALTON
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GARDENING FOR INDEPENDENCE PROGRESS REPORT 1 by Karen Harper Time for a progress report on my plans for turning an unused area of my yard into a super-productive intensive-garden plot. As I write this in mid-August, the dog days are fully upon us and I'm wondering what the heck I was thinking two months ago when I made plans to build trellises and raised beds over the summer. I've lived here long enough to know that July and August are the 'holding on' months during which you mow the lawn (if you can't get anybody else to do it), resort to spraying RoundUp instead of hand-pulling weeds because it's so much easier, and just 'hold on' because cooler weather is coming eventually. I could give additional excuses for not having gotten some (any) of my trellis and raised bed projects built this summer. But let's just cut to the chase and acknowledge that it's HOT out there and when it's not hot it's been raining cats and dogs. All of which makes it a lot easier and more pleasant to sit at the computer, and point and click and order stuff and have the UPS man bring it right to your door. So that's where I am at this point. I WILL go outside and build things. Soon. But, gee, when favorite suppliers send sale flyers and free shipping deals isn't it a little silly to not take advantage of those and do one's bit to pump up the economy? OK, setting aside the need to rationalize for a moment, here is what I've purchased/acquired/and/or re-purposed so far in my quest to increase food production on a very small plot: Cucumber Trellis: Yes, I still want to build a modified version of this nifty PV project: http://www.pvcplans.com/trellis.htm and have actually managed to get the husband somewhat interested in helping or at least advising me on parts to buy and how to proceed. But in the meantime, Gardener's Supply had a yearend sale and I snapped up this cucumber trellis for about what it would cost me to buy parts and build my own and certainly for a lot less labor investment (see “point and click” above): http:// tinyurl.com/cffcgay. The PVC trellis would be a lot sturdier but this one will do nicely and if I remember to take it down and store it properly at the end of the season, it should last for several seasons. I do like the idea of growing the cucumbers out of containers, as pictured in the PVC version. I already grow all of my tomatoes, peppers and citrus in containers and plan to expand the use of containers as a way to overcome the problems associated with poor soil and tree root competition, all of which are very much present in my intensive garden site (and which explains why the area has never really been used successfully in the 20 years we've lived here.) And to digress a bit while on the subject of cucumbers, I've been on a quest within a quest to not only grow cucumbers next year but to grow the tiny ones used for making baby sweet pickles so that I will be able to can several pints of those next year. I had assumed (and been told by the produce guys at the local farmers market) that it was mostly a matter of picking the cukes while they were still tiny and THAT is how you make sweet pickles (or gherkins as they're often called). Well, to my surprise, I discovered that there is a specific variety grown for this purpose and they are called (ready for this?) Parisian Pickling Cucumbers: http://rareseeds.com/ parisian-pickling-cucumber.html There is also a vegetable called the West Indian Gherkin cucumber which is related to the cucumber and for which one can also purchase seeds: http:// edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mv066 But I think I'll stick with the Parisian Pickling Cucumber if for no other reason than growing anything with “Parisian” in the title should lend my garden that certain hint of savoire faire and it can certainly use that! Actually, the real reason I think I'll stick with the Parisian variety is because if I fail to get them picked when tiny, they will grow into still-
usable cucumbers. But one can only imagine what that spiny and slightly scary-looking West Indian Gherkin becomes when it is allowed to get huge! Strawberry Project: I'd like to build my own strawberry pyramid out of cedar which would be an attractive and long-lasting addition to the garden. But with fall looming and the need to get my strawberry plants on order so that I can get them growing over the winter, I went with an eBay find instead: http:// tinyurl.com/chrv855 I offered $5 less than the listing price and that offer was accepted. Alas, it's not beautiful cedar but it does have the advantage of already being mostly built. :) A lengthy search into where to find the best deal on fall-shipped strawberry plants finally turned up a nursery in GA that fits the bill: http://www.isons.com/ I ordered 50 plants to be delivered to me in early December and the cost worked out to .75 per plant, including shipping. I was very pleased to find a variety called 'Sweet Charlie' as this is one of the varieties recommended by IFAS for Florida home gardens: http://strawberry.ifas.ufl.edu/ growing_strawberries_in_the_flor.htm I am anticipating that I will have to grow strawberries as annuals but holding out the hope that I can get some to survive for the following year(s). That will be the subject of a future update! Containers: With so much of my gardening being done in containers, I'm always scouting out the best deals on those. Generally speaking, the bigger the better. For citrus, blueberries, tomatoes, etc. I use containers that are a minimum of 18” across and preferably 20” or more. I have several inexpensive containers that I use for growing tomatoes and peppers and I'll pick up a few more of those to accommodate the increased number of tomatoes and peppers I plan to grow next year. However, I also like to use more expensive, attractive containers for my citrus trees and berry plants as those are more permanent features in the landscape. Now, my definition of 'expensive' is $22+ per container! The best ones I've found are from Wal-Mart. They have the advantage of being quite attractive as well as durable. They look like ceramic but they're plastic resin and they come in nifty colors: http://tinyurl.com/8nyfy7q Unfortunately WallyWorld does not seem inclined to offer end-of-season discounts on these containers so I paid full price to add several more of these to my stock. But they sure are pretty and they continue to look good year after year. Note that the large sizes are not available at the new Wal-Mart in Niceville. They had only the smaller sizes there. I don't know about the Crestview Wal-Mart but the Ft. Walton store has had them reliably for the past few years. So, that is where my Intensive Gardening Project stands at this time. It may be too hot and too rainy to get much done now but I'm laying the groundwork for jumping into action when the blessedly cooler days of fall roll around. The dog-days of summer are perfect for dreaming, planning and researching our future gardening projects. And if anyone tries to tell you that you aren't doing enough on these gosh-awful hot and steamy days, you can borrow my favorite response: “I may look to you like I'm not doing much but I assure you that at the cellular level I'm really quite busy!”
Ed. Note: Stay tuned for more of Karen’s adventures in selfsufficiency. Eventually we’ll get pictures!
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HERE KITTY, KITTY! In last month’s issue we learned about the wild “dog family” in our state. This month, it’s the wild “cat family’s” turn.
Florida Panther Puma concolor coryi The Florida panther is one of 15 subspecies of puma that occur in North America. Also known as cougars and mountain lions, puma are one of the most widely distributed carnivores in the Americas. The Florida panther, is smaller, has longer legs, smaller feet, and a shorter, darker coat than western species of puma. Male Florida panthers weigh 100-155 lbs. and female panthers weigh 65-100 lbs. Florida panthers typically are 5.9-7.2 ft. in length and range in height at the shoulder from 24-28 in. Historically, the Florida panther ranged throughout much of the southeast. Today, however, the only remaining breeding population is restricted to the extreme southwest of Florida, where large tracts of natural areas still exist on public conservation areas and privately owned cattle ranches and agricultural lands. The Florida panther is in danger of extinction and is listed as an endangered species at both the federal and state levels. The Florida panther is extremely rare with an estimated 70-90 individuals in the wild. Despite conservation efforts, continued habitat loss threatens the survival of this large cat. To survive, panthers require suitable habitat, prey, and space. Panthers are territorial, which means they defend a home range against unrelated panthers. Like all cats, the Florida panther is strictly a flesh-eating carnivore, so large areas are needed to meet their energy requirements. Depending on the quality of the habitat, the home range of an adult male panther may be as much as 200 square miles and overlap the home ranges of several females with which he mates and which have smaller home ranges of about 75 square miles. Because panthers use such large areas, they utilize many different habitats but prefer mature upland forests such as hardwood hammocks and pinelands, where they hunt for their preferred prey, white-tailed deer and feral hogs. They will also eat armadillos, raccoons, rabbits and birds. Panthers are solitary animals. They mate in January or February, and the kittens are born in a den typically found in a crevice under roots, fallen trees or palmettos. The kittens are born spotted with rings on their tails. The spots fade as the kitten ages and after a year will have lost them entirely. The kittens usually remain with their mother for 12 to 18 months when they will disperse and seek out their own territories. They may survive for about 12 years in the wild.
by Linda Meyers Bobcat Lynx rufus floridanus Florida's other native wild cat is the bobcat. Like the panther, the Florida bobcat is a distinct subspecies, of which there are 12 in North America. The name bobcat comes from its "bobbed" tail. Sometimes called the bay lynx or wildcat, the bobcat can be recognized by its tufted, triangularshaped ears and facial tufts or "sideburns." It has a coat pattern of distinct brown or black spots over the back and legs on a reddish, buffy or gray base color. The belly is white and spotted with black. The backs of its ears are black with large white spots in the center. Males weigh 20 to 35 lb. and females 15 to 25 lb. The bobcat can reach 23 in. at the shoulder and up to 3 ft. in length. The bobcat's range extends from southern Canada, throughout the United States to southern California and the higher elevations of southeastern Mexico. In Florida, it occurs statewide as far south as Lower Matecumbe Key. A solitary, mostly nocturnal creature, the bobcat may live up to 14 years in the wild where it makes its home in swamps and forests. Bobcats prefer hollow logs, tree hollows, and almost any opening in the ground as den sites. Although they normally mate in spring, females may give birth in any month after a gestation period of 50 to 60 days. A single litter of 2 to 4 kittens usually leave their mother in autumn of the following year. However, data suggest females in the southern portion of the range occasionally produce 2 litters annually. Bobcats are entirely carnivorous, preying upon small animals such as rabbits, rodents, birds, and much less frequently on large animals such as white-tailed deer. Bobcats are territorial, but because they are smaller and hunt prey that is more abundant, they require less land area than do larger carnivores. Home ranges vary from 5-15 square miles, with male home ranges being larger and overlapping with home ranges of several females. Bobcat populations are not listed at the state or federal level as threatened or endangered. Economically it is considered a valuable furbearer. Hunting is regulated through the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. Sources of Information: Florida's Large Carnivores, Martin B. Main, Ginger Allen, Melvin E. Sunquist Did I see a panther? Larry W. Richardson and Martin B. Main Bobcat, Lauren J. Cryer and Frank J. Mazzotti Florida's Fabulous Mammals, Dr. Jerry Lee Gingerich 6
BOOK REVIEW
by Marg Stewart
Pop quiz: What northern Florida town’s residents hold up to 10% of Coca-Cola stock? What northern Florida town ranks with the Department of Transportation as having the most stolen sign? Visiting Small-Town Florida, by Bruce Hunt has these answers and more. This new edition of the popular guide reveals the real, old-time Florida that can still be found on the back roads of the Sunshine state. These towns all have a population of less than 10,000. The author revisited all the towns in the book for this updated version. He talked with local residents to find out what had changed—and what had not. What’s unique is that this isn’t just a travel guide. Included is each town’s history, museums, galleries, antique shops, local eateries, and anything else the author could find. This includes fishing holes and local characters. You get to experience the flavor of Florida’s back roads. Also provided are directions, addresses, phone numbers and websites. This books is illustrated with the author's photographs and includes handy maps. Oh, Quincy is the town with the greatest share of Coca-Cola stock while Two Eggs has their sign stolen the most.
Cajun hibiscus courtesy of Dick Hickenbothem
MEMBER PHOTOS
Night blooming cereus courtesy of Marg Stewart
Plants give us oxygen for the lungs and for the soul. Linda Solegato
James staghorn courtesy of Dick Hickenbothem 7
WORD SEARCH—CULINARY HERBS
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Using the list of words, locate them in the puzzle above. Words may go in any direction. ALLSPICE ANGELICA ANISE BASIL BAY BORAGE CARRAWAY
CATNIP CHERVIL CHIVES CINNAMON CLOVE DILL FENNEL FENUGREEK GARLIC GINGER HYSSOP LAVENDER
LOVAGE MACE MARJORAM MINT NUTMEG OREGANO PARSLEY PEPPERMINT ROSEMARY SAGE SASSAFRAS SAVORY 8
TARRAGON THYME VANILLA WOODRUFF
Marg Stewart—Editor Shari Farrell, Karen Harper and Linda Meyers—Co-Editors
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 Official proclamation…Isaac, you have officially worn out your welcome. There is a limit to southern hospitality and you have exceeded it! GO AWAY! Now, back to your regularly scheduled program. Hopefully everyone made out okay through the nasty weather. I had errands to run this morning and came across a road crew. They were busily fixing a wash out on the side of one of the roads in my neighborhood. Keep in mind, the wash out occurred several weeks ago when we had regular storms go through. Oh sure, cones had been put up, warning folks of the wash out BUT they waited until today…in the rain…to fix it. The newspaper is full of folks complaining that the storm was overhyped. Considering that our recent visitor (Isaac) couldn’t seem to make up his mind exactly where he wanted to go and that he was extremely large…I would much rather have the advance warning. I wouldn’t tell the folks over in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, or some parts of southern Florida that the warnings were over-hyped. I took the warnings seriously. I went around the property and put away things that could get blown around. I took the time to make sure the car was gassed up (which considering the price jump that has occurred, I am very glad that I did that). I did not make a run to the store specifically for storm supplies (all ready had those) and even loaned one of my neighbors an oil lamp (who is laughing about being prepared now?). What got me to really thinking was due to all of the griping I was hearing. I did go to the store as I always do and folks were fussing over having to wait in line. People were impatient. Why, I wondered? Could it be that they waited until the last minute to prepare? What was the rush? I suppose what I’m getting at is, we all tend to get irritated when things happen 9
by Marg Stewart that cause us a bit of inconvenience. Perhaps it is due to waiting a bit longer in line because the lady ahead of you is fumbling with her debit card or that the weather doesn’t cooperate with our outdoor plans. I ask you, are any of these daily irritations really that important? Don’t we waste more time being aggravated than we really should? Don’t we cause ourselves more consternation by fussing about things that we have absolutely no control over? Don’t we just end up wasting time making ourselves miserable? TIME. It’s a precious commodity. How often do we say, “If I only had time!” or “If only there was more time!” (hubby claims that since he has retired he has no time, but that is another issue.) The reality is that time is precious because we only have so much of it. There are only 24 hours in a day right? So make TIME your priority...not in how you SAVE it but in how you SPEND it. As Master Gardeners we all have demands made upon our time. In addition to our daily routine, there is work to be done in the offices, in the nursery, events that we participate in. Spending our precious time doesn’t mean that we have to spend it all in one place and all at one time. In the course of one month, we could all certainly find a couple of hours of our time to spend keeping the Master Gardener program vibrant and growing! We can all find a bit of time to donate to our neighbors, our friends, our family, and our group. Even small amounts mean so much in the end. Remember that your TIME is the most precious thing that you can spend with and on another human being. If you spend your time wisely, you’ll be amazed how much more time you actually have in the long run. See you next time!