young ladies I am working with men-

tioned they did not want to get their

shoes dirty, I suggested they simply go

barefoot. Shoes went flying in 10 differ-

ent directions and they jumped right in.

Mayville is in the process of becoming a “Blue Zone Community” (read more about the Blue Zone project here: https://www.bluezones.com/about-blue-zones/). The Youth Master Gardener Association will play an integral part of that program. One aspect of this pro-gram is to incorporate healthier food into daily living. With the Youth Master Gardener Association, the food that we harvest will not only go to the families of the students in the program, but some will go to the school lunch pro-gram. (This will also be true in the Hus-tisford Youth Master Gardener Associa-tion.) We will teach the youth about growing, harvesting, and preparing the food in healthy and nutritious recipes. As we get this core group of students

educated, they will take their

knowledge back to their families and to

their peers. It will be a watershed effect

and will continue to spread in the com-

munity. The initial class will be small,

but from small starts come great things.

So, get out there and enjoy the summer

despite the man-eating mosquitoes.

Bring along a neighbor, friend, or family

member and spread the word. Garden-

ing is the healthy thing to do.

Happy Gardening.

Carol

Digging in Dodge

A member of my family got me a plaque

this year that says, “I may sleep in the

house, but I live in the garden.” Well,

then. I would try sleeping out there as

well, but the man-eating mosquitoes

would get me. Speaking of mosquitoes,

they seem to be worse this year. Some of

them are big enough to qualify as the

state bird.

Summer does mean mosquitoes. And, it

is the season when we are all busy in our

gardens; improving, trying something new,

clearing out the old, or just plain enjoying

our efforts. As I drive from place to place,

I cannot help but notice how much the

people of this great state love gardening.

There is seldom a home that does not

have some sort of horticultural enhance-

ment. It is hard to miss the bursts of color,

the patches of vegetables, and the hard-

scapes that catch the eye and spark a

smile.

One of the things our organization has

been striving to do is educate people

about the benefits of gardening. We have

launched two Youth Master Gardener As-

sociations and have a third in the works.

The first two are with Kindergarten

through sixth grade students and the third

will be with Middle/Senior High School stu-

dents. I am thrilled to see the enthusiasm

with which these young people are em-

bracing these programs. This summer,

the primary classroom has been outside in

the gardens themselves. I have never

known it to be a problem to get children to

dig in the soil, and these classes have

been no exception. When some of the

A Note from our President

July 2015

Issue 42

Upcoming Meetings 2

Events of Interest 3

Gardening for Gold 4

Cedarburg Bog Tour 4

Fireflies 5

Annual Bus Tour 5

Moths 6

Difference between Moth

& Butterfly

6

Hummingbird Moth 7

Ask a Master Gardener

Helpline

7

Inside this issue:

Dodge County Master Gardener Association

askamastergardener@att.net

Master Gardener E-mail

Master Gardeners will be working on various projects in Dodge County this year. Projects are underway in Beaver Dam, Horicon, Juneau, Mayville, Watertown, and Waupun. Each project has a Master Gardener who coordinates the work. A complete and updated list of projects with contact person information is available from our website or from Carol Shirk (920) 387-5105.

2015 Projects

Upcoming Meetings

Anyone with an interest in gardening is welcome to attend the following free programs. Master Gardener meetings are held on the fourth Thursday of the month. Unless otherwise noted, the meetings are at 6:30 p.m. in the Administration Building, 127 E. Oak Street, Juneau.

Page 2 Digging in Dodge Issue 42

Master Gardener Websites http://www.wimastergardener.org/

http://www.wimastergardener.org/?q=Dodge

http://dodge.uwex.edu/master-gardener/

July 23 – Tour Bryn-Teg Farm, Ashippun by Gary and Caryl Watterson. The acreage of BrynTeg Farm has been in the same family since 1963. They use all-natural, time-tested growing processes: vegetables, herbs, and most fruits are grown free of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and the apple orchard is maintained us-ing integrated pest management (IPM). Produce is available through Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter CSA subscriptions, individual ordering, and the Delafield Farmers' Market. We will be touring the 13 acre farm, and sharing a snack potluck. The meeting time will be 6:00 rather than 6:30.

August 27 – Landscaping with Native Plants by Lois Damerow. Native plants are beautiful, interesting, low-maintenance and now, new research shows, essential for a healthy ecosystem. Drawing on her years as landscape designer and gardener, Loris Damerow, current president of the Wild Ones Fox Valley Area Chap-ter, will share her enthusiasm for native plants and tout their importance in the home landscape.

September 24 – Brighten Your Indoor Space with Living Plants by Patti Nagai. Gardening year round in your home can be a joyful learning experience (or a big mess!) Patti Nagai, the Horticulture Educator for Racine County UW-Extension will teach about selection and care of houseplants - tropical foliage, flowering plants, even citrus and herbs. Plants help create a healthier and more beautiful indoor environment, but only if they are in the right place and cared for to stay insect and disease free. Brighten your interior with plants and enhance your quality of life through the natural therapy of nurturing a productive, healthy plant.

Events of Interest

Page 3 Digging in Dodge Issue 42

August 25 — 27 2015 Wisconsin Farm Technology Days Sun Prairie (Dane Co.), Wisconsin

This premier exposition (previously called Farm Progress Days) – the largest agricultural show in Wisconsin – is also one of the largest in the nation. The three-day outdoor event showcases the latest improvements in production agriculture, including many practical applications of recent research findings and technological de-velopments. For more information see the Farm Technology website at http://www.wifarmtechnologydays.com/

Wednesday, July 29, 2015 Gorgeous Gravel Gardens Walk Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Madison 6:30 p.m.— 8 p.m.

Green or sustainable gardens make sense for many reasons—they are good for the environment and they are good for us. Many people want beautiful gardens, but don’t have the time, nor want to see precious re-sources like water and energy go into growing them. Join Olbrich’s Director of Horticulture Jeff Epping for a walk through the outdoor gardens to learn about gravel gardens and how they can easily be incorporated into home landscapes. He will show you how Olbrich has replaced lawns and traditional perennial beds with these sustainable gardens. Limited space; register early. To register or for more information visit their web-site at www.olbrich.org or call (608) 246-4550.

Registration Deadline: July 22 Cost: $15/12 member Course Number: 31-06

For more events, visit the Wisconsin Master Gardener website at http://wimastergardener.org/?q=EventsList

Wednesday August 19, 2015 Paper Making with Prairie Grass UW-Fond du Lac, Room A215 7 p.m.

Did you know you can make paper from dried plants and grasses you have around your yard or garden? In this class, we'll explore what happens when you combine common plants, some soda ash, boiling water, and pressure - you'll be amazed at the gorgeous handmade papers we'll create!

Mel Kolstad is an artist, speaker, instructor, curator, arts advocate, and Certified Papermaker. Her love of vintage ephemera and repurposed materials is what first led her to creating art; since then she's discovered the joys of printmaking and encaustic work, as well as rediscovering her love of fiber art. For more infor-mation check the website at www.gottfriedprairie.org or call 920-313-0190.

August 19—23, 2015 Dodge County Fair Dodge County Fairgrounds, Beaver Dam

The Dodge County Fair is the areas main event. An outdoor main stage concert venue entertains country and rock concert goers, taste great fair food, view the many exhibits and animals while learning, doing and just having a great time!

And don’t forget to visit the Dodge County Master Gardner’s booth while at the fair. The booth will be in the 4-H Youth Building and will be highlighting tree diversity. Master Gar-deners will be on hand Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 2 p.m.— 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.– 6 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m.— 6 p.m. to answer gardening questions.

Page 4 Digging in Dodge Issue 42

2015 Gardening for Gold

Family of Judy Studer

Reed Chrysler Dodge

Jeep Ram

Kathryn J. Hassin Attorney at Law Waukesha, WI

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2015

8:15 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M.

HORICON MARSH EDUCATION CENTER

PUBLIC IS WELCOME

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED

SPACE IS LIMITED

PRESENTERS:

Bee Keeping ~ Quinn & Bernadette Williams

Gardening for Pollinators ~ Tim Eilbes

Fairy Gardens ~ Heather Kreif

Growing and Using Herbs ~ Susan Obry

Brochure/registration form is available online

at: http://dodge.uwex.edu/

Gold Sponsors

Bronze Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

A small group of Dodge County Master Garden-ers along with friends and family, visited the Cedarburg Bog on Saturday, June 6th.

Dr. James Reinartz, Director of the UW-Milwaukee's Field Station met the group at the field house and shared information about the Cedarburg Bog.

Kate Redmond, an Environmental Educator and guide, took the group on a 2 1/2 hour guided walk through Cedarburg Bog. The tour re-vealed the many different aspects of the bog - prairies, forests, and wetlands, and the variety of plants and animals that make the Cedarburg Bog home.

Cedarburg Bog Tour 2015 Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

The Pitcher Plant is a carnivorous plant (plants that capture and digests animals, usually insects and other small arthropods) found in boggy areas includ-ing the Cedarburg Bog. The leaves of this plant re-semble a pitcher that holds water. The inside of the leaves are lined with small downward pointing hairs that contain nectar to attract and trap insects. These insects are used by the plant as nutrition to make up for the nutrients it is not receiving from the wet, acidic soil in boggy areas.

Photos by Carol Shirk

Tell me and I'll forget. Show me and I may remember. Involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin

Page 5 Digging in Dodge Issue 42

Fireflies The Wisconsin Pest Bulletin suggests fireflies are especially abundant this year.

UW-Madison Insect Diagnostician, PJ Liesch specu-lates that the population increase may coincide with a rise in slug and snail populations resulting from wet weather the last two years. Immature fireflies feed on snails, slugs, worms and soft-bodied insects. The larvae even use slime trails of slugs and snails to lo-cate their pray.

Firefly or Lightning Bugs are nocturnal beetles be-longing to the family Lampyridae. There are about 200 species of fireflies in North America. In the Unit-ed States they are almost never seen west of Kan-sas. The best places to see fireflies are over mead-ows or lawns, and at the edge of woods or streams between dusk and midnight.

Both male and female fireflies produce greenish-yellow to reddish-orange light from special organs on the underside of the abdomen. This light is called bioluminescence. The light show seen on summer evenings are actually mating signals. The male fire-

flies flash patterns of light to the females, in return the female signals her response from perches in or near the ground. This continues until they find each other and mate. Each species of fireflies sends dif-ferent mating signals. The firefly is the only insect that can flash their light on and off in distinct signals. The eggs and larvae of some species glow, which is where the name “glowworm” comes from.

Fireflies are beneficial insects, in that they help to control pests. It is actually the larval stage which is the most beneficial. The larvae are active at night and feed on things like snails, slugs, and other soil-dwelling insects such as cutworms.

Fireflies do not bite, they have no pincers, they don't attack, they don't carry dis-ease, they are not poisonous, and they don't even fly very fast. Fireflies are interesting and fun to watch.

Remember when….

Catching Fireflies in a jar was what you did for hours. That’s when life was simple.

The annual bus tour was held on June 27th, and included tours of the Green Bay Botanical Gardens and the

Gardens of Kohler. The gardens are considered leading educational, social and horticultural destinations en-

riching the quality of life. At both locations the entire bus load was divided into smaller groups so the tour

guides could more easily interact with the gardeners. Lunch was at the American Club in their Fountain

Courtyard.

Annual Bus Tour 2015

Green Bay Botanical Gardens

The American Club Photos by Jan Krause

Page 6 Digging in Dodge Issue 42

Moths National Moth Week

July 18 — 26, 2015

National Moth Week celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths. Individuals of all ages, and

abilities are encouraged to learn about, observe, and document moths in their backyards, parks, and neigh-

borhoods. This is a worldwide event. More information at http://nationalmothweek.org

According to the National Moth Week website, moths are among the most diverse and successful organisms

on earth. There are 150,000 to more than 500,000 moth species. They range in size and shape, from as

small as a pinhead to as large as an adult’s hand. Finding moths can be as simple as leaving a porch light

on and checking it after dark.

Moths are in the order Lepidoptera, the same as butterflies. Some moths are important pollinators, such as

the Hummingbird Moth, and all are a food source for birds and other wildlife. Although bats may have a little

trouble with some moths. There are moths that have ears that let them hear the sonar calls of bats, when

they hear the bat they quickly drop to the ground to get away.

All members of the order Lepidoptera, go through a four–stage life cycle, or complete metamorphosis — egg,

larva, pupa, adult. Moth and butterfly larva (caterpillars) look fairly similar.

Silkworm is the caterpillar of the domesticated silk moth Bombys mori, which is the primary commercial pro-

ducer of silk.

There are moths that are more problematic than others. The

codling moth (Cydia pomonellais) is an agricultural pest, their

larva being the common apple worm or maggot. The gypsy moth

(Lymantria dispar) is an invasive moth where the caterpillars de-

foliates trees, which may eventually cause the tree to die.

Male & Female Gypsy Moth Codling Moth

Difference Between Moth and Butterfly

Moth

Feather like or thread like antenna without knobs

Fat, often fuzzy bodies

Nocturnal (active at night)

At rest, fold/flatten their wings against their bod-

ies, so the wing tops are visible

Pupal stage—cocoons that are wrapped in silk

coverings

Use chemical senses to find each other in the

dark

Butterfly

Skinny antennae with knobs or clubs on the ends

Long slender bodies

Diurnal (active during the day)

At rest, close their wings high above their backs,

so under-sides are visible

Pupal stage—form chrysalises which are hard,

smooth and silk less

Use sight more to find each other

There are numerous exceptions to these rules. Read about one such exception, the Hummingbird Moth on

the next page

Page 7 Digging in Dodge Issue 42

Hummingbird Moth

Ask A Master Gardener Helpline The Ask A Master Gardener Helpline is now open. Certified Master Gardener Volunteers will answer ques-tions about yard, garden or plants every Tuesday morning from 9-noon and every Thursday afternoon from 1-4 pm through September 3rd. The Certified Master Gardener Volunteers will be located at the Dodge County Administration Building, 127 E Oak Street, Juneau on the first floor in Room 1E. Clients can bring in plant, insect, or tree specimens to be identified. Or if there are questions about plant health, turf care management, plant selection, landscape problems, vegetable and fruit management, or anything horticulture related, clients can call, stop in, or email questions. The email address is askamaster-gardener@att.net.

There are several species of hummingbird moths. They look similar to hummingbirds and move just like them as well. They can remain suspended in front of a flower for extended periods of time as they unfurl their long tongues to sip the nectar. They even emit a hum like a hummingbird as their wings beat rapidly. With their plump bodies and their tails that open like a fan, it is no wonder that people mistake them for small hummingbirds.

While most moths fly at night, hummingbird moths fly during the day. They have a very long tongue which rolls up under their chin. When uncoiled, they use it to feel on flowers, only staying at one for a short time before darting on to another. They will feed at a varie-ty of flowers, including petunias, bee balm, butterfly bush, Joe-pye weed, phlox, honeysuckle, purple coneflower, and verbena.

Hummingbird moths have one to two generations per year. Although the adults will feed on a variety of flow-ers, the larvae are more particular. They lay their small round green eggs on the underside of the leaves of honeysuckle, viburnum, dogbane, or some members of the rose family such as hawthorn, cher-ries, and plums. The caterpillars, usually green, have a horn at the rear end and are well camouflaged among the leaves. The caterpillars resemble the to-mato hornworm with their distinctive anal horn. How-ever, they do not feed on the garden fare such as to-mato, pepper, and eggplants. When they are fully-grown they drop to the ground, spin a dark, loose, thin-walled cocoon and pupate, partially protected by leaf litter. Hence, if you have seen these beauties in your garden, it would be wise to leave your leaf litter be-

neath the plants in which they overwinter. The adults are typically seen in mid-summer and there are several species common to central Wiscon-sin. Hummingbird clearwing, Hemaris thysbe, is one of the most common. These moths have no scales on the wings except for a dark border around the edge, hence the name clearwing moths. They have an olive-green or tan body with reddish-brown bands across their abdomen and a wingspan of 1½ to 2¼ inches. Tufts of hairs from the end of the abdomen look a lot like feathers, making them look even more like hum-mingbirds.

The snowberry clearwing (Hemaris diffinis) is a slight-ly smaller, but closely related species. Its markings remarkably resemble a bumblebee with yellow to greenish-yellow and black stripes.

The graceful clearwing moth, Hemaris gracilis, is simi-lar to the hummingbird clearwing. However, it is slight-ly smaller and occurs mainly in the pine forests of the northern counties of the state.

In order to attract these flying beauties, plant similar flowers that would attract hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. They are especially fond of plants in the honeysuckle family, including viburnum and snow ber-ry. And, be certain to leave the leaf litter beneath the plants that the pupae might be residing.

Carol Shirk Certified Master Gardener

Board of Directors

Crops and Soils Agent

UW-Extension Office

(920) 386-3790

Carol Shirk

President

(920) 387-5105

Terry Zimmerlee

Vice President

(920) 885-2137

Jan Krause

Secretary

(920) 261-7939

Claudia Mielke

Treasurer

(608) 575-3577

Lois Livens

Local Record Keeper

(817) 939-8534

Al Krause

Local Representative to

the WIMGA

(920) 261-7939

Dodge County Master Gardener Association

UW-Extension, Administration

Building 127 E. Oak Street,

Juneau, WI 53039

Phone: (920) 386-3790