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A Publication of the Travis County Master Gardeners - A volunteer program of Texas AgriLife Extnsion
The Compost Bin
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 2
Inside this Issue....
• MayMeetingSpeaker-BobRose• ThePresident’sMessage• IntheVegetableGarden• WinterAftermathSurprises• Drought-ResistantGardenBook
• Help,I’mAPlantNerd!• GardeningwithBambi• GardenPlantExchange• SpiderIdentification• ComingEvents
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Williteveryrainagain?When?Areweheadingintoanothersuperhotsummer?Gardenersarealwaysconcernedabouttheweath-er. Analyzingandpredicting theweather ismeteorologistBobRose’sjob!Bob,thechiefmeteorologistatLCRA,willtouchonthereasonsfortheunusualweatherinCentralTexasbutwillconcentrateonthetypicalweatherweexperience includingextremeswehaveexperienced.Hewillpresentinformationabouttheclimateandwhyitappearstobechanging.
Mr.RosegraduatedfromTexasA&Min1979withaBachelorofSciencedegree inMeteorology. BeforeBobgraduated,hewasemployedasWeekendMeteorologist,KBTX-TV,Bryan,Texas(ABC/CBS). Hewasresponsible for the forecasting,preparationandpresentationof10PMweekendweathercasts.InSeptember1980hewaspromotedtoPromotionManagerandPublicServiceDirectoratthestation.
InFeb.1988BobbecameMeteorologist,KVUE-TV(ABC),Austin,Texas.Inthispositionhewasresponsibleformorningandmiddaynewscastsfor4years.Hewasresponsibleforweekendnewscastsfor3years.BobpreparedaweeklyastronomicalreportcalledSkywatch,anddidoccasionalscienceandenvironmentalreporting.From Jan. 1995 to the present Bob Rose has been the ChiefMeteorologist for theLowerColoradoRiverAuthority. He isre-
sponsible fordaily forecastofweatherconditionsaffectingLowerColoradoRiverBasinandElectricalServiceArea.Heworkswithareaemergency management officials along with city and stateagencies.EachdayheproducesawrittenforecastandblogaboutCentral Texasweather that appears in LCRA’swebsite and theAustin-AmericanStatesman.
Bob’sprofessionalmembershipsincludetheAmericanMeteorologi-calSociety(TVSeal#501). He ispastpresidentof theCentralTexasChapter,AmericanMeteorologicalSociety. HealsoservesontheBoard forPrivateSectorMeteorologywiththeAmericanMeteorologicalSociety.
Mr.RoseregularlycontributesreportstotheNationalDroughtMonitor.HeisamemberoftheSouthernClimateImpactsPlanningProgram(SCIPP)aswellasCoCoRaHScoordinatorforTravisandWilliamsonCounty.
MasterGardenerMeetinginformation:Wednesday,May4th,2011startingat7pm.
ZilkerBotanicalGarden
May Meeting Speaker — Bob Rose
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 3
Hello Master Gardeners:A Message From Your President
WhoHasSeenTheWind?
Whohasseenthewind?NeitherInoryou.Butwhentheleaveshangtrembling,Thewindispassingthrough.
Whohasseenthewind?NeitheryounorI.Butwhenthetreesbowdowntheirheads,Thewindispassingby.
ChristinaRossetti“TheGoldenBookofPoetry”(1947)
Weareinthemiddleofabadnightmare,springwithnorain,highwinds thatshouldbecontained inWestTexasand theriskofwildfireoutbreakseverywhere.Notanidealspring,buthereweareandhereweonwardgarden!
Ihaveanabsoluteplethoraofbirdnests.Babybirdshoppinginsideofbirdhouses,inmy‘Mrs.B.R.Cant’rose,inmyrosearbor and even one little momma bird patiently sitting onsixtinyeggsinanabandonedpotinsidemygardencottage.Theyareeverywhere!Springissuchajoywhenitcomestowatchingnaturerenewitself…evenifIamonconstantalertwatching the fragilenests swingbackand forth ingustsofwind.Neitherofusstopourpursuit,theywithfeedingtheirlittleonesorhangingoninsidetheirnestofpreciouseggsandIwithmyhoeorpitchfork.
Tomatoes are beginning to produce little green ones. Thisyear’s cropwill come from ‘BlackCherry’, ‘BlackKrim’, ‘BigBeef’,‘CherokeePurple’,‘CrimsonCarmello’,‘Juliet’and‘SunGold’.Surelythatwillprovideenoughforthetwoofus.Basilisgrowingnearbyinthenewherbarea…ifonlyMichaelwouldletmebuyagoat!Dinnercouldbeservedsoeasily!
Ihavesquash,zucchini,chard,onions,cucumbersandlovingto travel, have both Italian and Frenchgreenbeans. Let’shopehalfofthemmakeittoourdinnertable.I’llkeepyoupostedonprogress.
Mybloomersarebloomingandmakemehappywiththeirwildarrayofcolor.Theyaremylove;myroses,iris,wildflowers,etc.Evenwithabadbackandagardenfullofrocks,Ipushonward to create the garden that I envision. Perhaps it isthequestthatkeepsmegoing.Whoknows!Butagardenerunderstandsand,withthisinmind,IamverymuchlookingforwardtoourupcomingInsideAustinGardenTouronMay14th. If you have not yet volunteered andwish to do so,pleasecontactLinkDavidsonasheisinchargeofthisyear’sevent“WaterWiseGardening.”Aperfectthemeforthisyearofnorain!Comeout,tourthegardensandlearnmoreaboutthisimportantsubject.
Happywindygardening!CarolynWilliams
Aboveleft:Mommabirdfeedinghernestfullofbabies.Aboveright:Acosynestinanoldflowerpot.PhotosbyCarolynWilliams.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 4
Andnowwewait!Theseedhasbeensown,theplantshavebeentendedandnowwewait for thatfirstcucumber,potato,squashor tomato.GamblerswhoplantedinFebruaryorearlyMarchmayhavealreadygottenanearlyrewardofaquick-maturingsquashorcucumber.IattendedLinkDavidson’sexcellentpresentationonIntegratedPestManagementat theHomewoodHeightsCommunityGardenonApril9andafterwardswentonasearchforsquashvineborereggswithseveral other attendees.We could not find a one, but we did findsomebeautifulsummersquash,seededinFebruary,perfectlyripeforharvest.However,backinmyowngardenthesquashvineborermothhasbeenveryactiveasIamfindingeggsonafewsquashthatIdidnotprotectwithrowcover.Thefemalemothisquickmoving,butIamperseveringandsofarhavebeenabletodispatchatleastthreemothswithmylow-tech,hard-workingflyswatter.Theleaf-footedbugsaregraduallystartingtoappear,soIamonthelookoutfortheeggcases,hopingtoeliminateseveralwould-beadultsatonce.
Ifyouplantedpotatoes inFebruaryyourplantsshouldbe largeandvigorous bynow. Potatoes are edible at any stage of developmentso try digging a few new potatoes late in themonth. Strawberrieshave probably seen their best days, so once your plants beginto wane it is time to pull them out. We tend to have better luckgrowingthemasannualsfromfallthroughspringthantryingtonursethemthroughahellacioussummer.
Heatloverslikeokra,sweetpotatoesandSouthernpeascanbeplantedanytimethismonth,butthesoonertheygetestablishedthebettertheywillbeabletowithstandtheheatthatistocome.
In The Vegetable Garden
by Patty Leander
Left:Leaf-footedbugnymphsandeggcases.AboveRight:QuickandeasyIPMtool.MiddleRight:SquashVineboreradultLowerRight:NewpotatoesreadyfortheskilletPhotosbyBruceLeander.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 5
It iscritical tomulcheverythinggrowing inyourgardentohelpconservemoistureandregulatesoil temperature.Overthesummer,themulchwillgraduallybreakdownandenrichthesoilforfutureplantings.Tokeepvegetablesgrowingvigorouslyfertilizelightlywhenthefirstfruitappearandagain3-4weekslater.Ageneralrecommendationis1cupoforganicfertilizerper10’ofrow.Ifyouhaveasmallgardenwithonlyafewplants,workin1-2tablespoonsoffertilizerperplant.
Thisspring’sseverelackofrainhaszappedsomeoftheenjoymentfromgardening,butthis,too,shallpass.IsolatedstormsarepredictedasIwrite,soperhapsreliefisinsight.Considerarainwatercollectionsystem,nomatterhowsmall,andconservewaterbyusingdripirrigationratherthanoverheadsprinklers.Andremembertowaterthesoil,nottheplant.
In The Vegetable Garden Continued...
Left:Nootherstastebetterthangrowingyourownstrawberries!Right:Oneofthegoodguys—aladybuglarvae.Below:Ripetomatoesandcucumbersareontheway.PhotosbyBruceLeander.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 6
Eventhoughmonthshavegoneby,Istillcan’tsaygoodbyetosomeoftheplantsIlostduringournastywinterfreezeandhopethatagardeningmiraclewillhappenandmyLoquat,Bougainvilleas,Plumbago,Cycadswillspringtolife(evenahintoflifewouldbeawelcomesign).BelowthesadremainsofayoungLoquat.
Buttomysurprise,it’snotallbadnewsinthegardenafterwinter’sbrutalblast!
Herearesomeofmywintersurprises:
A bumper crop of self-seeded (left) edible purple lambsquarters/tree spinach (Chenopodium giganteum) and some (middle) variegated ornamental peppers and (right) native sunflowers(Helianthuspetiolaris?).
Winter Aftermath Surprises
by Anne Van Nest
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 7
Andsomeperennialsandshrubsthatlovetohavecoldwintertemperaturesarebloomingmuchbetterthantheyeverhave:Achillea ‘PeachySeduction’ (left), Penstemon ‘Prairie Twilight’ (right) anda variegated roseofSharon ‘SugarTip’ (Hibiscus syriacus‘SugarTip’)(middle).
And lastly, the poor prickly pearcactus that collapsedandfloppedall over the front walk from theexcessive cold has recoveredand sent out a ton of new pads(shownherewiththeeverreliableJerusalemsage(Phlomis fruticosa)ontheright).Andbloomingbetterthan usual is a Verbena hybridcalled ‘Princess Dark Lavender’(right).
Winter Aftermath Surprises Continued...
PhotosbyAnneVanNest
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 8
Announcingtheupcomingreleaseof...
CreatingaDrought-ResistantGardeninCentralTexas
NewlyupdatedbyTravisCountyMasterGardener’s
LaunchingMay14thattheInsideAustinGardensTour.$24.95(245pages)
WithcontributionsfromDaphneRichards,TexasAgriLifeExtensionService,CountyExtensionAgent—Horticulture.TravisCountyMasterGardener’s:VickiBlachman,SusanDecker,CherylHarrison,SherillNilson,HollyPlotner,MandaRash,SteveReynolds,MarianStasney,DonTelge,AnneVanNest,BeckyWaak,andCarolynWilliams.
PhotographsbyBobBeyer,DebbieHyde,BruceLeander,PattyLeander,MikeMcGiffin,MarianStasney,AnneVanNest,andCarolynWilliams
ThankstoVickiBlachmanandJaNetBarkley-Booherfortheirtitlesuggestions.
CentralTexasisawonderfulplacetoliveandgarden.Italsocanbeachallengetokeepplantshealthyandhappywhentheweatherturnshotanddry.
TheTravisCountyMasterGardenersAssociationhasharvestedabountyofadvice,facts,listsandtipsspecificallyforgardenerswhoaredealingwiththechallengesofdroughtanddryweather.Itispossibletocreateabeautifulgardenwhilesavingapreciousnaturalresource—onedropofwateratatime.
Filledwithcollectivewisdomfromlocalgardeningexperts,Creating a Drought-Resistant Garden in CentralTexasisaboutsurvivingandthrivingwhenMotherNaturebringsdryweather.Includedarewaystoconservewaterinthegardenwithoutsacrificingtheentireareatoano-water”zero-scape“areaofstone,desertcactiorsun-witheredsucculents.Theprinciplesandtipsoutlinedinthisbookareimportant,notonlyforthedrought-proneregionofCentralTexas,whereoutdoorwaterrestrictionsareongoing,butalsoforanywheregardenerswanttobemorewater-conscious.
Drought-Resistant GardenDrought-Resistant Garden
The Travis County Master Gardeners Association
Creating a
in Central Texas
The Drought-Resistant Garden Book
Creating a Drought- Resistant Garden in Central Texas includes:
•Planning and Design• Improving the Health of Soil•Selecting Appropriate Plants (with numerous plant lists) •Creating Practical Lawn Areas•UsingEfficientIrrigation•Applying Mulches•Watering Appropriately
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 9
Help I’m a Plant Nerd!
by Felder Rushing
FromthegardenexperienceofFelderRushing.
Ithitmetheotherdayand,goingintowashup,foundasprigofrose-marysoakinginawaterglassonthekitchensink.Ihadslippeditintomyshirtpocketafeweveningsearlierduringa“date”withdaughterZoeatanupscalerestaurant,promisingtorootitforherwhenwegothome.Somebodyhelpme!
Haveyoueverboughtplantsyoudidn’tneed,orreallyevenwant,butjustcouldn’tresist?Ihavesetpotsandevenentireflatsofflow-ersonthedriveway,andwateredthemforweeksandmonthsuntiltheyeventuallyjustmeltedaway,becausetheresimplywasnoplacetoplantthem.
I supposeoutsiders could seeourpassionas tamewhen com-paredsuperficiallywith,say,indoorsoccer(“dryhockey”)orNascarracing.ButIdon’thavetoexplaintorealgardenershowfastaheartratecangetfromafewpullsonthestarterropeonarecalcitrantgasengine,orhowsweatdripsfromoureyebrowsaswetossbulbsandmulchintofreshly-preparedsoil,orhowitchyfireantstings(andevenpoisonivy)canbe,betweentoesandfingers.Orhowourheartssingwhenwediscoveradelicatedetail,flavor,fragrance,orotherbonusinanewfoundplant.
Andgardening isaddictive.WecouldevencomposeaGardenersAnonymousTwelveStepProgram.Icanhearitnow:“Hi,mynameisFelder,andIamagardener...”(Inunison,theothergardenersinthegroupreply“Welcome,Felder,wearegladyouarehere.Comebackoften.”)
“Igardenedjustthismorning.(“Amen.”)Pulledafewweedsonthewaydowntopickupthemorningpaper,andbeforeIknewit,foundmyselfdividingdayliliesandrepaintingafencepost.ComingtothisGAmeeting,Ifoundamailordercatalogundermycarseat,andpeoplebehindmeatthestoplighthadtohonktogetmyattentionbackontheroad.”
“Ineedhelpwithmygardening.Ican’tstoponmyown.AndIamsorryformyfamilythat,eventhoughIdon’townabassboatorbelongtoagolfclub,Ididspendmylastpaycheckonshrubbery,anewgreenhousedoor,andabigbucketofMiracleGrow...”
Soundclosetohome?Here’sasimpletesttoseeifyouareagardennerd:
• Yougrowtenormoredifferentkindsofthesameplant(rose,daylily,daffodil,iris,Africanviolet,camellia,tomato,whatever),andknowtheirnames(extrapointsifthey’relabeled).
• Yousubscribetothreeormoregardenmagazines,andkeepasmallshovelinyourcartrunk.Turnyourcompostweekly.Buybirdseedbythefiftypoundsack.OwnapairofFelcopruningshears(bonuspointsfortheclip-onleatherscabbard).
• Vegetablesaregrowinginyourflowerbeds.Youmowaroundaweedbecauseithasprettyflowers,ortosaveaplacetohideEastereggslater.
• Haveyoueverwillinglytakenatourofagardenbyflash-light?Doublebonuspointsforluringguestsoutsideafterdark(“Hey,wannaseesomethingreallyneat?”).Doweneedtosearchyourpurseorcameracaseforpurloinedseeds,afteravisittoabotanicalgarden?
• Extrapointsifyourcuticlesaredirtyrightnow.Andlast,butnot least, triplepointsofyouwouldappreciateaspecialsomeonesendingyoualoadofmanureforananniversary...
I’mnotsuggestingwegardenersshouldquit—thoughweallclaimwecan,anytime.ButmaybeourmottoshouldbeEasyGrowIt,orsimplyOneFloweratATime!
ThankstoLizCaskeyforthesuggestiontoreprintthisarticlefromFelderRushingthatwasintheSeptember2008CompostBin.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 10
Gardening with Bambi
by Bob BeyerGardeningwithdeerisalove/haterelationship.Welovelivingamongandseeingwildlife,butwitha“stayoutofmygarden”rule.Whyaredeersuchaproblemtogardeners?Destructionoftheirnaturalhabitat has led to their adaptation to our suburban environment.Vehiclesdomoretocontroldeerpopulationthannaturalpredators.Whenoverpopulationresults,deerwilleatanythingwhentheyarehungryenough.Inaddition,maledeerantlerrubbingdamagesandcankillyoungtrees.
Understandingdeerispartoftheresolutiontothisproblem.Theirprimaryfood istenderbroadleafplant leaves,twigs,andbranches— but not grasses. They are territorial and have habitual trafficpatternsthattheyfollowwithintheirarea.Thehungrieradeergets,themoredifficultitistocontrol.Summerandearlyfalltendtobeaperiodoffoodshortagesanddeerarenaturallycurioustosamplenewplantings.
Someotherthingsforthegardenertoconsider isthatornamentalplantsmay lose theirdeer resistancecharacteristics throughplantbreeding. For example, the Lantana you buy at a nursery maybe hybridized and not as resistant to deer as the smellier nativeLantana.Sometimesnewgrowthmaybenippedbuttherestoftheplantuntouchedsincetheyfavortendernewgrowth.Deerexposureto human presence and their comfort level with being aroundhumansmakesitmoredifficulttowardthemoff.Neverfeeddeer.Unestablishedplantswithtendergrowthpullupeasilyifnippedsomay need temporary protection until the roots “dig in.” And didyouknowthatdeerareStateofTexasproperty(TPWD)?Assuch,itisillegaltokill,trapandrelocateorinjuretheseanimalswithoutexpresspermitfromtheTexasParksandWildlifeDept.
Allthisbegsthequestion,“Howdowemanagedeer”?Therearefourmainmethods.1.Useofnon-preferredlandscapeplants—theleastexpensiveandmosteffectiveway.2.Tall(8ft.)physicalbarriers&fencing—themostexpensivebutaneffectivemethod.
3.Motion-activatedscaredevices.Thesearegoodinvestmentsandfairlyeffective.4. Scent-based repellants. Themost expensive and least effectivewaytorepeldeersincetheyrequirecontinuousreapplication.
Let’sfirst focusontheplantsdeerdonotprefer. Thesehavefivecharacteristics:astrong,unpleasantodor;bitter,disagreeabletaste;prickly,stiff-texturedfoliage;fuzzy(pubescent)foliage;haveamilkysapwhichiscaustic&/orsticky.Someexamplesfollowbutrememberthatthisisjustaverysmallsamplingofdeer-resistantplants.
Deer-resistant plants with unpleasant scents include: Rosemary,Mexican Oregano, Copper Canyon Daisy, Mexican Mint Marigold,Sanolina,Lantana,WaxMyrtle,Sumac,oranystrongscentedherbs.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 11
Gardening with Bambi Continued...Plantswithunpleasanttastesinclude:TexasMountainLaurel,FlameAcanthus,Thryallis,BlackfootDaisy,Esperanza,Plumbago,ShrimpPlant,TexasBetony,DesertWillow,RockRose,Skullcap,Columbine,Coreopsis,Eleagnus,MockOrange,Sage,andFloweringSenna.
Plantswithpricklyortoughfoliageinclude:Agarita,BasketGrass,Fragrant Mimosa, Fan Palms, Cacti, Yucca, Pomegranate, Holly,Agave,andSagoPalm(reallyaCycad).
Plants with fuzzy foliage include: Artemisia, Black-eyed Susan,Lamb’s Ear, Coneflower, Wooly Butterfly Bush, Wooly Stemodia,TexasSage,andGermander.
Plants with sticky, caustic sap include: Oleander, ConfederateJasmine,Euphorbiafamily,andArizonaCypress.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 12
Whenlookingatlistsofdeer-resistantplant,therearenoguaranteesthattheyaredeer-proof—rememberdeerwilleatanythingifhungryenough. You should placewire fencingup to 8’ to protect youngtreesuntiltheyreachatleast6”diameterorputbarriersaroundnewplantingsuntilestablished.Considercostvs.benefitinthechoiceofthemethodyouuse.Italldependsonyourindividualcircumstances.Learntolivewithandenjoywildlife.Thegoalistominimizedamage,noteliminateit.Becomefamiliarwithdeerpopulationhabits.Assessyourneedsforplantprotection—haveaplan.
Somegoodresourcestohelpyougardenwithdeerinclude:
1.TheCityofAustin“GrowGreen”book,52pages,freeatgardencenterswithinAustin.
2.GrowGreenProgram:DeerResistantDesignPhamplet—freeatgardencenterswithinAustinorpostedontheGrowGreenwebsite.
3.Website: CityofAustinGrowGreenProgram—www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen
4.TexasCooperativeExtensionArticle“GardeninginDeerCountry”
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/docs/gardening_in_deer_country.pdf
Enjoyournativewildlifeandhaveabeautifulgardenat thesametime.Itispossible!
UsedwithpermissionfromtheGardeningInCentralTexasblogwww.centraltexasgardening.blogspot.com
Gardening with Bambi Continued...
GardentoGardenPlantExchangeScheduledforMayMeeting
Iknowit’shotanddry,butit’stimetogetreadyfortheplantexchangeaftertheMaymeeting.Andasyoucleanupyourgardensforthespring,potupthoseextraplantsthatwouldmakeyourgardeningfriendshappy.Inaddition,plantobringthoseextrasseeds,gardenmagazines,potsandothergardeningsuppliesthatyou’dliketoshare.Don’tforgettolabelyourplantsandplease,nomuddymesses.Also,doplantotakehomeanyofyourplantsoritemsthatdon’tfindahome.Inordertogetabetterselectionofplants,prizeswillonceagainbeawardedforthemostcovetedplantandthebestlabeledplant!Ifyoucanhelpout,eitherbeforethemeetingand/oraftertheexchange,pleaseletmeknow,byemailingmeatluciludog@austin.rr.com
LizCaskeyandFrankieHart
Above:Abountifularrayofbloomsincludingpoppies,larkspurandLouisianaIrisaresweetseasonalrewardsinCarolyn’sgarden.PhotosbyCarolynWilliams.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 13
Spider Identification
by Wizzie Brown
Spidersarearachnidsandcanbedistinguishedfrominsectsbycountingbodyregionsandlegs.Spidershavetwobodyregionsandeightlegswhereasinsectshavethreebodyregionsandsixlegs.
Allspidershavefangsandvenom,butthemajorityofspidervenomdoesnotreactwithourbodychemistryinanegativeway.Itisgoodtothinkofspidersasbeneficialorganismsthathelpreducepestpopulationswithintheenvironment.
Here’sabreakdownofsomecommonspidersthatyoumayfindinyourbackyard.
Wolfspiders(Fig.1.)arelargespiderswithbrown,blackorgreycoloring.Thesespidersoftenhavestripesonthebody.Wolfspidersareoftenfoundonthegroundandaresolitaryspidersthatprefertohuntatnight.Femalescarrytheeggsacundertheabdomenuntiltheeggshatch.Spiderlingsclimbonthemother’sabdomenforashortperiodafterhatchingfromtheegg.Webbingisspuntoprovidedaytimeshelter,nottocaptureprey.
Greenlynxspiders(Fig.2.)arelarge,brightgreenspiderswithspinesontheirlegs.Abdomensaresometimesanelongatedovalshape.Theyarehuntersthatarefoundonshrubsandotherlow-lyingvegetation.Thesespidersdonotuseawebtocapturepreybutwilltrailadraglinewhenjumping.
Right:Wolfspider(figure1)Left:Greenlynxspider(figure2)
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Spider Identification Continued...
Jumpingspiders(Fig.3.)comeinavarietyofsizesandcolors.Manyarestockyinbuildwithbrightcontrastingcolors.Thesespidersaredaytimehunterswithgoodeyesight.Theywilltrailadraglinewhenjumpingandmaybeseendanglingfromthedraglinewhentheymisstheirtarget.
Thomisidcrabspiders(Fig.4.)haveasomewhatflattenedshapeandthefronttwopairoflegsareelongated.Thespideroftenholdsthefronttwopairsoflegsoutandslightlyraised,similartothewayacrabholdsitsclaws(hencetheirname).Colorcanvaryfromdrabcolorstoverybrightcolors.Mostcrabspidersdonotrelyonawebtocaptureprey.Theyareambushersandwillwaitmotionlessonflowersforpreytocometothem.Crabspiderscanwalkforwards,backwardsortothesidewithease.
Orbweavers(Fig.5.)comeinavarietyofsizes,colorsandshapes.Orb-weavingspidersproducethewell-knownflatornatewebthatcomestomindwhensomeonesays“spiderweb.”Thewebiswellorganizedandofteninaroughcirculargridpattern.Thesespidersneeduprightstructures-fences,trees,shrubs,etc.—tobuildtheirwebs.Orbwearvershavepoorvisionandrelyontheirwebtocaptureprey.
AboveRight:Jumpingspider(figure3)Left:Thomisidcrabspider(figure4)BelowRight:Yellowgardenspider(figure5)
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Spider Identification Continued...
Cobwebspiders(Fig.6.)aresmalltomediumsizedandcomeinavarietyofcolors.Theseareoftenmistakenwithsomeorbweavers,andoftenit’sbesttolookatthespider’swebtotellthedifferencebetweenandorbweaverandcobwebspider.Cobwebspiderscreateawebthatappearsmessyanddisorganized.Theabdomenofcobwebspidersisusuallylargerandmoresphericalthanorbweaverabdomens.Thesespidersarepredatorsthatusetheirwebtocaptureprey.
Tarantulas(Fig.7.)areverylarge,hairyspidersoftenmorethan3incheslong.Texastarantulasareusuallybrownorblackincolor.Tarantulashideduringthedayunderrocks,burrowsorothershelteredareasandemergeatnighttohunt.Webbingmaybeusedtolinetheburrow.
Reclusespiders(Fig.8.)areaboutthesizeofaquarter(includinglegs)andtantodarkbrownincolor.Theyhaveaviolinorfiddleshapedmarkingontheirback.Theeyepatternisverydistinct—threepairsofeyesinasemicircleatthefrontofthehead.Thesespiderspreferdark,secludedareasandusuallyhideduringthedayandhuntatnight.
Toavoidbeingbittenbyspiderswhileworkinginthegarden,itisrecommendedthatyouweargloves.
Above Right: Black widow spider (a type of cob webspider)inwebwithcapturedgrasshopper.(figure6)Left: Texas brown tarantula molting (shedding itsexoskeleton).(figure7)BelowRight:Reclusespider(figure8)
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Gardening in Deer Country
Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
SteinerRanchBellaMarCommunityCenter
12401BellaMarTrail,Austin,Texas78732
DeerpopulationsinCentralTexasareagrow-ing problem as suburban neighborhoodssprawlintoournaturalareas.Asdeergrowaccustomedto livingaroundpeople, theydomoredamagetogardensandlandscap-ing.Inthisseminaryouwilllearnaboutdeerbehaviorandhowtomanagetheminyourenvironment.
MasterGardenerSueNazarwillequipyouwithinformationaboutnon-preferredplants,chemicalrepellants,scaretechniquesandde-vicestohelpyoudeviseastrategyforyourownproperty.
Thisseminar is freeandopentothepub-lic. It is presented by the Travis Coun-ty Master Gardeners, a volunteer armof the Texas AgriLife Extension Servicein Travis County. www.tcmastergarden-ers.org. Formore information see www.tcmastergardeners.orgor call theMasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.
Austin Community Garden Tour
Sunday, May 1, 2011, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
ThroughoutAustin,Texas
Please join the Coalition of Aus-tin Community Gardens and Sustain-able Food Center for the Second AnnualAustinCommunityGardenTour,onMay1st.TheCommunityGardenTourisafree,openhouse-styletourprovidingtheopportunitytovisiteachoftheseuniqueplaces,talktothegardenersthere,learnhowtogetinvolved,andmaybeevenstartyourown.Wehopeyou’ll joinus incelebrationof thesecom-munityspacesfor locallygrown(andself-grown!)foodinAustin.Adownloadablemapofparticipatingcommunitygardenswillbeavailableherehttp://communitygardensau-stin.orgsoon.
CloseoutthetourwithaPanelandPotluckfrom6-8:30p.m.at5604Manor(homeoftheWorkersDefenseProjectandThirdCoastActivistResourceCenter).Speakerswillshareinformationaboutthecurrent landscapeofcommunitygardeninginAustin.Bringadishmadewithlocallygrownfood!Spaceislim-ited,ifyou’dliketoattendthePanelandPot-luck,visitwww.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=170433056342051toRSVP.Formore informationcontactSariAlbornozatsari@sutainablefoodcenter.orgofcall236-0074.
Inside Austin Gardens Tour Saturday, May 14, 2011, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Throughout Austin, Texas
TheTravisCountyMasterGardenersAssocia-tion, incooperationwiththeTexasAgriLifeExtension Service of Travis County, willhosttheInsideAustinGardensTour2011onSaturday,May14,2011, from9:00amto4:00pm.Thisyear,thetourfocusesonwater-wisegardening. GardeningthroughaCentralTexassummercanbetrying.Atthesametime,escalatingwaterratesandmandatory restrictionshavemadeawa-ter-sappingplantpaletteoragrass lawna luxury or an impossibility for many.Increasingly,CentralTexasgardenersareturningtowater-wisetechniques,nativeandadaptedplantselections,andvariousprinci-plesofxeriscaping.TheInsideAustinGardensTour2011will includegardensthatfeaturerain-watercollectionsystems,dripirrigation,xericandnativeplantselections,raingardens,shadegardens,andwater-conservingprac-tices.Eachgardenwill featureeducationalsessionsthroughouttheday.
Ticketscanbepurchasedateachgardenontheeventdateat$10fortheentiretourticketor$5forasinglegardenentry.Please,nodogs.Consultwww.tcmastergardeners.org/what/gardentour.html for information.Savethedateforaday-longlookatwhatothergar-denersaredoingtoweathertheheatandconservewater.You’llbegladyoudid.
Coming Events
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 17
ComingEvents Continued...
How To Read a PlantSaturday, May 21, 2011,
1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
ReaganCommunityGarden(atReaganHighSchool)
7104BerkmanDrive,Austin,Texas78752
Discover the needs of your vegetables byobservingthephysicalconditionoftheplant.Need water, has a disease, infested withpests?Manypractical tipswillbesharedbyMasterGardenerstoimproveplanthealthandvegetableproduction. ParkatNelsonFieldStadiumandentertheReaganHighSchoolgrounds from the St. Johns Avenue fenceopening and proceed to the garden (neartheBerkmanandSt.JohnsAvenuesideofcampus).
This seminar is freeandopen to thepub-lic. It is presented by the Travis Coun-ty Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm ofthe Texas AgriLife Extension Service inTravisCounty.Formoreinformationseewww.tcmastergardeners.org or call the MasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.
Propagate Your Own PlantsMay 21, 2011,
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
SunsetValleyCityHall
3205JonesRd.,SunsetValleyTX78745
Learninghowtopropagatefromexistingplantsisagreatwaytofillyourgardenorpassalongfavoritestoyourfriends.JoinMasterGarden-ersTommieClaytonandSusanJungwhowillteachyouhowtomakecuttingsanddivisionsandsuccessfulstrategies forstartingplantsfromseed.You’llalsogettipsonhowtotrans-plantandcareforyournewplantstogetthemofftoagoodstartwhenplacedinthegarden.
Thisseminar is freeandopentothepublic.It ispresentedbytheTravisCountyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.www.tcmastergardeners.org
Plant Propagation
Friday, June 3, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
TravisCountyAgriLifeExtensionOffice
1600-BSmithRd.,Austin,Texas
Plantshavedevelopedmanymethodstoensuresurvival.Learnpropagationtechniqueswhichtakeadvantageofsomeofthesemethodstocreatemultipleplantsfromasingleplant.Dis-covertheimportanceofthepropagationmedia,moisture,light,humidity,temperature,rootinghormoneswhichensuresuccess.Examplesofpropagationbyseeds,leafandstemcuttingswillbecovered.
This freeseminar ispresentedbytheTravisCountyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.
Formore informationseewww.tcmastergar-deners.orgorcalltheMasterGardenerPublicGardeningHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 18
Rain Gardens
Saturday, June 18, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
ZilkerBotanicalGarden
2220BartonSpringsRoad,Austin,Texas78746
Excessstormwatercarriesurban landscapecontaminantsintostormdrainsandsoilerosioncausessedimentstoaccumulateinourwaterresources.Dr.DottyWoodson,WaterResourcesSpecialistwithTexasAgrilifeExtension,willtellushowtoprotectstreams,riversandlakesbybuildingaraingarden.
Theselovelygardensareattractivelandscapefeaturesplantedwithperennialnativeplantsdesignedtoabsorbstormwaterwhichfiltersit throughplantrootsandsoilmicroorgan-isms.Attendthisfreepresentationandyou’llbereadytomakeyourownbeautifulsolution.
Thisseminarisfreeandopentothepublic.ItispresentedbytheTravisCountyMasterGarden-ers,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExten-sionServiceinTravisCounty.www.tcmaster-gardeners.org.Formoreinformationseewww.tcmastergardeners.org or call the MasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600
The Joys of Container Gardening
Friday, July 15, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
TexasAgriLifeExtensionOffice,
1600-BSmithRd,AustinTX
Bloomingflowersandvegetablescanthriveinacontainer!Thisgardeningmethodises-peciallyusefulifspaceislimited.Contain-ersmayalsoserveasaccentpointsonthepatioorinthegarden.Learnhowtoselectacontainerandtherightsoil,discoveridealcontainerplants,andwitnessarrangingtech-niquesyoucanreplicatetocreateyourownmini-garden.
Thisseminarisfreeandopentothepublic.ItispresentedbytheTravisCoun-tyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.Formoreinformationseewww.tc-mastergardeners.orgorcalltheMasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.
ComingEvents Continued...
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 19
CarolynWilliams,PresidentMandaRash,ImmediatePastPresidentRosalieRussell,VicePresidentforProgramsCherGroody,VicePresidentforEducationMargarineBeaman,VolunteerCoordinatorforProjectsRichardMoline,Co-VolunteerCoordinatorforTraineesPatMokry,Co-VolunteerCoordinatorforTraineesSusanJung,SecretaryMaryLouBell,Co-TreasurerFerneMizell,Co-TreasurerBarbPowell,MembershipDirectorDorothyAkin,GreenhouseManagerChrisGiaraffa,GreenhouseManagerVickiOlson,GreenhouseManagerJoePosern,AustinAreaGardenCouncilRepresentativeJackieJohnson,StateCouncilRepresentativeTommieClayton,StateCouncilRepresentativeVacant,DirectorofPublications
PastPresidents(Non-voting):
BillBaldwinBillBoytimSusanCashinTommieClaytonSusanDeckerDonFreemanMandaRashPeggyStewartBeckyWaakWillWalker
ExOfficioMemberoftheBoard(Non-voting):
TexasAgriLifeExtensionTravisCountyHorticultureAgentDaphneRichards1600-BSmithRoad,Austin,Texas78721512-854-9600drichards@ag.tamu.edu
TRAVIS CouNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSoCIATIoN 2011 ExECuTIVE BoARD
The Compost Bin May 2011 Page 20
ThisissueoftheCompostBinhasbeenpublishedthankstothecontributionsofthefollowingTravisCountyMasterGardenersandWizzieBrown—TexasAgriLifeExtension:
ContributingWriters:
© 2011 Travis County Master Gardeners Association 512-854-9600 Visit the websites: www.tcmastergardeners.org and http://travis-tx.tamu.edu
EditorandLayout:AnneVanNest
Webmaster:PaulaMiddleton
BobBeyerLizCaskeyFrankieHartPattyLeanderRosalieRussellAnneVanNestCarolynWilliams
The End... Time for a Rain Dance!
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