Download - Nl july 13
11
Inside this
issue
Weed of the
Month
2
Extra Extra 2
Walk on the Wild
Side
3
Scoop on Poop 4
Hand Paste 5
Kudzu Bug 6
Nymphs 7
Simple Pineapple 8
Bookstore 8
Events 9
Last Word 10
for discerning weeders
July 2013
Do you buy ginger root in the supermarket in
all its dry shriveled bland glory If you are
tired of using this tasteless spice in stir fry
breads jams and other wonderful homemade
concoctions here is an alternative
Edible ginger is a spice best used fresh I donrsquot
mean fresh out of the store but fresh out of
your garden Many people grow flowering
ginger in their gardens but few think of culti-
vating edible ginger Easy to
cultivate a sufficient amount
to supply a family can be
grown in a one gallon nursery
pot with a few cupfuls of good
potting soil and a couple of
teaspoons of good slow release
fertilizer
Edible ginger Zingiber offici-
nale is a short 24-30 inch
plant The edible part is the rhizome which
forms as the plant grows New extensions of
the rhizome are bright pink or reddish and are
the growing points of the plant Although I
have grown ginger for many years I have nev-
er seen it flower Literature says that it has a
yellow cone-like flower structure but it is real-
ly not important the good part is the root
To get your ginger plant started you first must
have a root with a growing point Almost any
of the store-bought rhizomes will have several
buds which if you look at them closely will be
small whitish bumps on the sides of the rhi-
zome Each of these bumps may become a gin-
ger plant In spring or summer plant a part of
the rhizome with at least one bud in a contain-
er of good potting soil covering it about two
inches deep Water and set in the sun Keep
the soil evenly moist and within a month a
small green spear should appear which quickly
becomes an opposite leafed stalk Over the
next several months the stalks will multiply
and by cool weather the container should
have a rhizome several inches long Alterna-
tively you may plant the bud directly into the
soil in your garden among your other plants
and it will fit in perfectly with the landscape
You may begin harvesting
fresh ginger as soon as the
second stalk appears using
the pink part of the growth
Cut off the part you wish to
use and replant the rest to
keep on growing
Oriental cooking is especially
good when made with fresh
ginger Ginger chicken for
instance takes on a complete-
ly new flavor when a pink rhizome is thinly
sliced into it Peeled and sliced rhizomes may
be boiled in sugar to become candied ginger
freshly dug roots may be stored in a jar of vin-
egar and used to flavor stews and soups The
list goes on from confectionery to cookies to
breads - use your imagination
The stalks of the ginger plant will die in the
fall and the pot may be moved into a green-
house or garage for the winter Keep the pot
barely moist during the winter months not
letting it freeze An alternative is to harvest
one of the growing points and store it in a
plastic bag in the crisper unit in your refrigera-
tor over winter them replant it in spring to
begin again
Try this It is fun and flavorful
DONrsquoT FORGET
You have to log your
hours onto the VMS
system
GROWING EDIBLE GINGER IN A CONTAINER
By Lee V
An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication
ldquoNo occupation is so delightful
to me as the culture of the
earth and no culture compa-
rable to that of the gardenrdquo
Thomas Jefferson
Do you have a favorite garden
quote Send it in
22
WEED OF THE MONTH by Jenny G
Psilophytes (Whisk Ferns)
There are so many different
weeds growing now in lawns
garden beds and along road-
sides If you look you will prob-
ably recognize Dollarweed
Florida Pusley spurge Smilax
Cudweed young Beggarticks
young Henbit Oxalis Bitter-
cress Hawksbeard Speedwell
and Creeping Charlie (often
called Creeping Ivy around
here) just to name a few
All of these weeds plus may others have been profiled before
and they can all be found in our archived weed files
In late March and April I came across a ldquoweedrdquo I had never
seen before I found it in new cypress mulch under shrubs in
shade This little green ldquoweedrdquo had no leaves and hardly any-
thing that looked like roots It reminded me of a fernhellipbut
without the usual fern characteristics Very strange
I took it to the Annex extension for ID Luckily Lynn F had
seen it before Lynn called it a ldquowhisk fernrdquo a Psilotales It was
so interesting that I wanted to share it
Psilotum Whisk Ferns A genus of very primitive vascular
plants without true roots and with the spore capsules borne in
fused triads on the upper parts of the forking stems in the ax-
ils of tiny scales There are no real leaves but the green ridged
stems act as photosynthetic organs
ldquoThe Psilotales are the least complex of all terrestrial vascular
plants This is primarily because psilophytes are the only living
vascular plants to lack both roots and leaves Psilotales
occurs in the Caribbean the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts as far
north as North Carolina and in Arizona Itrsquos found in tropical
Asia and on Pacific islands In addition to its natural distribu-
tion Psilotales is also
found as a common weed
in greenhouses and some-
times escapes cultivation in
regions with mild climate
It occasionally becomes a
nuisance but is still very
popular for its unusual
growth form The psilo-
phyte stem lacks roots it is
anchored instead by a hori-
zontally creeping stem
called a rhizome The erect
portion of the stem bears
paired enations out-
growths which look like
miniature leaves but unlike true leaves the enations have no
vascular tissue This ldquofernrdquo can be grown in a pot
For more info
httpwwwucmpberkeleyeduplantspterophyta
psilotaleshtml
EXTRA EXTRA
Thanks to Karen K John H Ed S Dmytro S Lee V for some
really good links and info
Knock-Out Rose Disease http
thedailysouthsouthernlivingcom20130421is-knockout-rose
-down-for-the-count
Bird migration map httpebirdorgcontentebirdcat=12
Planting wildflowers httpwwwnytimescom20130615
opiniongreedy-gardenershtmlemc-etalamp_r=0
Plants are good at math httpnewsyahoocomsquare-roots-
scientists-plants-good-math-040924317html
Florida Native Plant Society newsletter httpfnpsorgassets
pdfsabalminorsabalminor15_4_2013pdf
Thirst for Fresh Water Threatens Apalachicola Bay Fisheries
httpnytims13xVGlu
Huge yellow jacket nest httpwwwwflacom
story22658024local-expert-faces-dangerous-challenge-with-
huge-yellow-jacket-nest
Honey and Its Uses httpedisifasufleduaa154
General Rule for Honey to Sugar Conversion
1 cup of sugar = 34 honey Decrease liquid called for in recipe
by 14 cup For each cup of honey in baked goods add 12 tea-
spoon baking soda
33
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE By Linda M
Julymdashsun-filled days of summer Independence Day celebrations MG
Awards Program and great wildlife activities to look forward to
Birds
Shorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August Look out for
nesting shorebirds and keep your vehicles and dogs from disturbing them
Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and tree swallows
in preparation for migrating south for the winter Swallow-tailed kitesmdash
distinctive black and white birds of prey winters in the lowlands of Brazil
and returns to Florida each spring to nest They can be seen throughout the
state between March and August Swallow-tailed Kites feed mainly on fly-
ing insects and also small vertebrates including snakes lizards and frogs
Mammals
Gray squirrels are being born Baby raccoons foxes armadillos possums
and bobcats leave dens and begin following parents Bobcats a Florida native wild cat are among the most highly specialized of
all mammalian predators The name comes from its ldquobobbedrdquo tail usually about 5 in long Sometimes called the bay lynx or
wildcat the bobcat can be recognized by its tufted triangular-shaped ears and facial tufts or ldquosideburnsrdquo It has a coat pattern of
distinct brown or black spots over the back and legs on a reddish buff 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 This coloration is an effective camouflage when the
bobcat is among sun-dappled undergrowth Males weigh 20 to 30 lb and females 15 to 25 lb The bobcat can reach 23 in at the
shoulder and up to 3 ft in length
AmphibiansReptiles
Later this month young alligators and crocodiles will begin to hatch Listen for Eastern narrowmouth toads (ldquowaaardquo like a baying
sheep) after heavy rains This frog ranges in size from 78 to 1 14 inches It can be found statewide under logs and debris near
water Breeding occurs from April through October Treefrogs are laying eggs which hatch into tadpoles in about 5 days
Insects
Mosquitoes and chiggers are abundant so watch out while yoursquore camping or working in the yard Female mosquitoes feed on
blood to help their eggs develop into offspring When they bite they release saliva into the bite area Allergic reactions to the sali-
va cause the itchy bumps and swollen hives some people get after being bitten If a mosquito is carrying a virus that virus can be
transferred to humans through the mosquitorsquos saliva Mosquito-borne diseases currently of public health concern in Florida in-
clude St Louis encephalitis eastern equine encephalitis West Nile virus encephalitis and dengue
Special date in July
July 22 1982 First Florida bog frog discovered in a panhandle wetland Bog Frogs have rough dark green to brown backs
black mottled undersides yellow throats and may have light spots on the lower jaw A light brown line runs along the lateral
fold and does not reach the groin area This frog is less than 2 inches long They
will call from spring to summer with a call which sounds like a chuckle mdash a series
of low-pitched single clucking calls noticeably slower at the end of the call Florida
bog frogs are uncommon in Florida and are found only in a few acidic steams in
Walton Santa Rose and Okaloosa counties in the panhandle This species is fully
protected in Florida
httpwwwwecufleduextensionwildlife5Finfo and httpsnreufledu
pubseventswildhtm
44
THE SCOOP ON POOP by Karen H
ldquoThe fairest thing in nature
a flower still has its roots in
earth and manurerdquo -DH
Lawrence British poet nov-
elist and essayist 1885-
1930
Manure Magic As a gar-
dener and a lifelong horse-
owner Im a believer in the
benefits of manure in the garden With such a handy steady
source Ive had plenty of opportunity to see the miracle of ma-
nure in action This is why I dont listen when someone tells me
that manure isnt of much use in the garden because of its rela-
tively low NPK numbers Ive always known that theres magic in
manure in the way that it puts back into the earth what the
horse (or other animal) takes from it to sustain its life The circle
is complete when we return the manure to the soil to replenish it
and ensure future life-sustaining plant growth But since were
accustomed to thinking of fertilizers in terms of the NPK num-
bers below are some of the values for various types of manure
N P K
Chicken 11 80 50
Dairy Cow 5 5 5
Horse 15 10 15
Steer 70 30 40
Rabbit 35 14 20
Sheep 15 10 18
Now those ARE fairly paltry numbers when compared to chemi-
cal fertilizers But manure offers much more than nitrogen
phosphorus and potassium Manure contains large amounts of
organic matter so it feeds and builds the soil while it nourishes
the plants The organic matter is also valuable in assisting in
moisture-retention of soils which a big plus for our very sandy
soil Soil requires continual replenishment of its organic matter
to decompose into humus which in turn makes nutrients availa-
ble to plants Chemical fertilizers offer none of those benefits
Using Manure in the Garden Think of manure as a soil amend-
ment not a mulch Dont put raw manure directly on garden
soils If raw (non-composted) manure is applied to the soil there
is a good chance of nitrogen compounds and ammonia being
released into the soil as the manure breaks down This can burn
plant roots young plants and interfere with seed germination
Its recommended that all animal manure should be aged for at
least 6 months preferably by a hot composting method where
the pile reaches at least 150 degrees F This helps to reduce the
probability of passing dangerous pathogens on to people who
handle the manure or eat food grown with manure compost It
also has the benefit of killing weed seeds which can be very prev-
alent in some manures such as horse manure Another option (if
you dont have dogs or other crit-
ters that might delight in digging
in it) is to spread fresh manure
in the fall and turn it in to the
top 6 inches of soil a month be-
fore spring planting
According to the Old Farmers
Almanac ldquoManure creates nutri-
ent-rich moisture-retaining soil
for your plants The most common sources of manure are cows
horses sheep pigs goats and poultry
Other animal waste is generally not recommended as manure or
fertilizer todayrdquo Cornell University also recommends that
Homeowners should not use any manure from dogs cats or
other meat-eating animals since there is risk of parasites or dis-
ease organisms that can be transmitted to humans
The Farmers Almanac recommends this schedule for spreading
manure For flower gardens the best type of manure to use is
cow or horse and it should be spread in early spring In a vegeta-
ble garden (including root crops) use chicken cow or horse ma-
nure and spread it in fall or spring Acid-loving plants such as
azaleas or blueberries should receive cow or horse manure and
in the lilting words of the Almanac this should be spread in
ldquoearly fall or not at allrdquo
Here are some good tips about using manure in your garden
taken from this site httptinyurlcomnsnoqs8
1 You may be able to find a free source from a local farm horse
clinic police department that uses horses zoo etc This gives
you a great free source of greens for your compost (NOTE
This has been mentioned before but is always worth repeating if
you have access to Eglin AFB you can come out to the base sta-
bles and avail yourself of all the FREE horse manure you want)
2 All animal manures are great sources of beneficial microbes to
stimulate your compost piles This increases the compost de-
composition rate
3 Animal manures really increase internal heating in hot com-
post piles
4 All composts have lots of beneficial aerobic bacteria and fungi
growing in it for soil building and plant fertilization Animal ma-
nures are naturally high in actinomycetes as well as bacteria al-
so
5 All animal manures are rich in NPK and calcium Therefore
they usually alkaline when fresh However all mature composts
have a near neutral pH after the organic matter has been broken
down by the composting process
55
POOP contrsquod
6 If sawdust is mixed in the poop you have extra potassium in
the mix Straw and hay is rich in phosphorus also
7 All animal manures break down fast
8 Many animal manures have urine (urea) mixed in also This
is extra nitrogen for the compost
Notable quotes about manure httptinyurlcomnvzsxaz
One of my favorites (not attributed to anyone in particular) ldquoA
good laugh is like manure to a farmer - it doesnt do any good
until you spread it aroundrdquo
And another by actor Lee Marvin ldquoAh stardom They put your
name on a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard and
you walk down and find a pile of dog manure on it That tells
the whole story babyrdquo
Deannarsquos herb garden Courtesy of Dick H
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Kent B
Bob B
Ann F
Stevan G
Alene O
Carol S
HAND SCRUB By Shari F
Mix together any of the following to form a nice thick
paste Here are some ingredients to try
olive oil
handful of sugar
kosher salt
1 tsp dried rosemary or other herb on hand
1-2 dried orange or lemon peels grated (or zest of fresh citrus if
you dont have dried)
2-3 drops lavender oil or any other if you have it
grated knob of bar soap
smashed up handful of almonds or other nut on hand
1 glob of honey
As with any recipe except when baking I never get caught up on
measuring Just throw it all into a canning jar and mix If it looks
too dry add a bit more olive oil Too wet add more sugar or
salt The olive oil and honey leaves your hands so soft The sug-
ar salt and bashed up almonds scrub away grime The citrus
peel and lavender oil add such a lovely scent For anyone who
knows about Arbonne products and have tried their Awaken Sea
Salt Scrub-- this homemade concoction rivals that product
hands down and you dont need to pay a fortune for it
Keep at the ready lid off near your sink I like to stick a wonton
soup spoon in mine to make sure I get a nice thick blob of
it You will find yourself reaching for this even when your hands
arent full of dirt Myles does so I know its a winner
This recipe is from Mother Earth News by Liesl and Myles Pe-
tersen
66
THE KUDZU BUG HAS ARRIVED By Linda M
ldquoThe kudzu bug is on the move and becoming a nuisancerdquo says
Jennifer Bearden Agriculture Extension Agent for Okaloosa
County Jennifer recently posted on the lsquoSolutions For Your Lifersquo
website (httpokaloosaifasufledu) that the kudzu bug has
made its way to Okaloosa County ldquoI collected a kudzu bug and
eggs from a kudzu patch in the Dorcas community They may
have a significant impact on agriculture in our county as well as
being a nuisance to residents Kudzu bugs are a type of stink bug
and can irritate eyes and mucous membranesrdquo
The kudzu bug (bean plataspid Megacopta cribraria Fab-
ricius) also known as the lablab bug or globular stink bug is a
non-native insect originally from Asia They were first found
outside of houses and surrounding vegetation in northeast Geor-
gia in 2009 and now are reported in northern Florida Georgia
South Carolina North Carolina and southern Virginia
Typically light brown to olive green in color the adults are small
(35 - 6 mm) with a rounded oblong shape and live 23 to 77 days
Their egg mass has 26 to 274 eggs and are a pale salmon color
with dark bands The eggs have an elongated shape with a trun-
cated ring of rugged projections at one end Females also deposit
dark capsules underneath the eggs filled with endosymbionts
(bacteria) that provides the subsequent generation with enough
nutrition to survive on legume hosts such as peas beans pea-
nuts and the insectsrsquo preferred host soybean This species has
five nymphal stages Each nymphal stage takes two to 56 days to
develop They have a hairy appearance and tend to be pale or-
ange olive green or light brown
Kudzu bugs can produce several generations per year colonizing
from April to July and continue to be present until October in
cooler temperatures However they may be active all year in
warmer climates overwintering on light colored buildings and
structures leaf litter or under the bark of trees to keep warm
Mostly found on soybean and kudzu in the United States When
temperatures warm the strong-flying adults emerge from over-
wintering sites and move into kudzu or wisteria where they mate
and lay their egg masses The adults and nymphs congregate in
large numbers and feed on the leaves stems flowers and pods
of the host plants The insect taps through the veins of plants to
reach the phloem using piercing sucking mouthparts As a re-
sult injury to plants likely results from nutrient and moisture
loss rather than a direct loss of biomass from removal of plant
tissue This damage can have a significant impact for soybean
producers in our area
Kudzu bugs are a nuisance pest to homeowners primarily in the
spring and fall These insects are attracted to light colored sur-
faces predominately white and yellow Like stink bugs adults
excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed and the
chemical they secrete may stain the surface of houses buildings
or vehicles Indoors when crushed the kudzu bugrsquos unpleasant
odor and stains can also be hard to remove from furniture and
carpeting When a person is exposed to the kudzu bug an aller-
gic reaction may occur resulting in staining of the skin and skin
irritation
Make sure screening is placed over possible entry points of your
home and windows and doors are tightly sealed Check to make
sure soffit ridge and gable vents are properly screened and stuff
steel wool into openings where screening cannot be used such as
around pipe penetrations
As a general rule indoor insecticide use for control of the kudzu
bug is discouraged however a pyrethroid insecticide can be
used to directly spray bugs landing on the outside of a building
The elimination of the kudzu bug relies on the physical removal
or death of kudzu plants with a herbicide so if possible the
homeowner should try to remove any nearby kudzu in the sum-
mer
For more information on identification and control go to http
edisifasufleduIN939 and wwwkudzubugorg
(Jennifer Bearden
and the sites listed
above were the
sources of infor-
mation)
77
PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F
Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-
ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots
Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape
caught a few
The computer microscope picture was not the
best but it showed enough to start hunting for a
small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped
abdomen
We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is
they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss
we keep on our developing azaleas
This is a stage of development I had never seen
before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up
and down the landscape trees
You never know what you will find when you go
into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs
wwwwhatsthatbugcom
Microscope image Lynn F
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults
httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
22
WEED OF THE MONTH by Jenny G
Psilophytes (Whisk Ferns)
There are so many different
weeds growing now in lawns
garden beds and along road-
sides If you look you will prob-
ably recognize Dollarweed
Florida Pusley spurge Smilax
Cudweed young Beggarticks
young Henbit Oxalis Bitter-
cress Hawksbeard Speedwell
and Creeping Charlie (often
called Creeping Ivy around
here) just to name a few
All of these weeds plus may others have been profiled before
and they can all be found in our archived weed files
In late March and April I came across a ldquoweedrdquo I had never
seen before I found it in new cypress mulch under shrubs in
shade This little green ldquoweedrdquo had no leaves and hardly any-
thing that looked like roots It reminded me of a fernhellipbut
without the usual fern characteristics Very strange
I took it to the Annex extension for ID Luckily Lynn F had
seen it before Lynn called it a ldquowhisk fernrdquo a Psilotales It was
so interesting that I wanted to share it
Psilotum Whisk Ferns A genus of very primitive vascular
plants without true roots and with the spore capsules borne in
fused triads on the upper parts of the forking stems in the ax-
ils of tiny scales There are no real leaves but the green ridged
stems act as photosynthetic organs
ldquoThe Psilotales are the least complex of all terrestrial vascular
plants This is primarily because psilophytes are the only living
vascular plants to lack both roots and leaves Psilotales
occurs in the Caribbean the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts as far
north as North Carolina and in Arizona Itrsquos found in tropical
Asia and on Pacific islands In addition to its natural distribu-
tion Psilotales is also
found as a common weed
in greenhouses and some-
times escapes cultivation in
regions with mild climate
It occasionally becomes a
nuisance but is still very
popular for its unusual
growth form The psilo-
phyte stem lacks roots it is
anchored instead by a hori-
zontally creeping stem
called a rhizome The erect
portion of the stem bears
paired enations out-
growths which look like
miniature leaves but unlike true leaves the enations have no
vascular tissue This ldquofernrdquo can be grown in a pot
For more info
httpwwwucmpberkeleyeduplantspterophyta
psilotaleshtml
EXTRA EXTRA
Thanks to Karen K John H Ed S Dmytro S Lee V for some
really good links and info
Knock-Out Rose Disease http
thedailysouthsouthernlivingcom20130421is-knockout-rose
-down-for-the-count
Bird migration map httpebirdorgcontentebirdcat=12
Planting wildflowers httpwwwnytimescom20130615
opiniongreedy-gardenershtmlemc-etalamp_r=0
Plants are good at math httpnewsyahoocomsquare-roots-
scientists-plants-good-math-040924317html
Florida Native Plant Society newsletter httpfnpsorgassets
pdfsabalminorsabalminor15_4_2013pdf
Thirst for Fresh Water Threatens Apalachicola Bay Fisheries
httpnytims13xVGlu
Huge yellow jacket nest httpwwwwflacom
story22658024local-expert-faces-dangerous-challenge-with-
huge-yellow-jacket-nest
Honey and Its Uses httpedisifasufleduaa154
General Rule for Honey to Sugar Conversion
1 cup of sugar = 34 honey Decrease liquid called for in recipe
by 14 cup For each cup of honey in baked goods add 12 tea-
spoon baking soda
33
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE By Linda M
Julymdashsun-filled days of summer Independence Day celebrations MG
Awards Program and great wildlife activities to look forward to
Birds
Shorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August Look out for
nesting shorebirds and keep your vehicles and dogs from disturbing them
Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and tree swallows
in preparation for migrating south for the winter Swallow-tailed kitesmdash
distinctive black and white birds of prey winters in the lowlands of Brazil
and returns to Florida each spring to nest They can be seen throughout the
state between March and August Swallow-tailed Kites feed mainly on fly-
ing insects and also small vertebrates including snakes lizards and frogs
Mammals
Gray squirrels are being born Baby raccoons foxes armadillos possums
and bobcats leave dens and begin following parents Bobcats a Florida native wild cat are among the most highly specialized of
all mammalian predators The name comes from its ldquobobbedrdquo tail usually about 5 in long Sometimes called the bay lynx or
wildcat the bobcat can be recognized by its tufted triangular-shaped ears and facial tufts or ldquosideburnsrdquo It has a coat pattern of
distinct brown or black spots over the back and legs on a reddish buff 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 This coloration is an effective camouflage when the
bobcat is among sun-dappled undergrowth Males weigh 20 to 30 lb and females 15 to 25 lb The bobcat can reach 23 in at the
shoulder and up to 3 ft in length
AmphibiansReptiles
Later this month young alligators and crocodiles will begin to hatch Listen for Eastern narrowmouth toads (ldquowaaardquo like a baying
sheep) after heavy rains This frog ranges in size from 78 to 1 14 inches It can be found statewide under logs and debris near
water Breeding occurs from April through October Treefrogs are laying eggs which hatch into tadpoles in about 5 days
Insects
Mosquitoes and chiggers are abundant so watch out while yoursquore camping or working in the yard Female mosquitoes feed on
blood to help their eggs develop into offspring When they bite they release saliva into the bite area Allergic reactions to the sali-
va cause the itchy bumps and swollen hives some people get after being bitten If a mosquito is carrying a virus that virus can be
transferred to humans through the mosquitorsquos saliva Mosquito-borne diseases currently of public health concern in Florida in-
clude St Louis encephalitis eastern equine encephalitis West Nile virus encephalitis and dengue
Special date in July
July 22 1982 First Florida bog frog discovered in a panhandle wetland Bog Frogs have rough dark green to brown backs
black mottled undersides yellow throats and may have light spots on the lower jaw A light brown line runs along the lateral
fold and does not reach the groin area This frog is less than 2 inches long They
will call from spring to summer with a call which sounds like a chuckle mdash a series
of low-pitched single clucking calls noticeably slower at the end of the call Florida
bog frogs are uncommon in Florida and are found only in a few acidic steams in
Walton Santa Rose and Okaloosa counties in the panhandle This species is fully
protected in Florida
httpwwwwecufleduextensionwildlife5Finfo and httpsnreufledu
pubseventswildhtm
44
THE SCOOP ON POOP by Karen H
ldquoThe fairest thing in nature
a flower still has its roots in
earth and manurerdquo -DH
Lawrence British poet nov-
elist and essayist 1885-
1930
Manure Magic As a gar-
dener and a lifelong horse-
owner Im a believer in the
benefits of manure in the garden With such a handy steady
source Ive had plenty of opportunity to see the miracle of ma-
nure in action This is why I dont listen when someone tells me
that manure isnt of much use in the garden because of its rela-
tively low NPK numbers Ive always known that theres magic in
manure in the way that it puts back into the earth what the
horse (or other animal) takes from it to sustain its life The circle
is complete when we return the manure to the soil to replenish it
and ensure future life-sustaining plant growth But since were
accustomed to thinking of fertilizers in terms of the NPK num-
bers below are some of the values for various types of manure
N P K
Chicken 11 80 50
Dairy Cow 5 5 5
Horse 15 10 15
Steer 70 30 40
Rabbit 35 14 20
Sheep 15 10 18
Now those ARE fairly paltry numbers when compared to chemi-
cal fertilizers But manure offers much more than nitrogen
phosphorus and potassium Manure contains large amounts of
organic matter so it feeds and builds the soil while it nourishes
the plants The organic matter is also valuable in assisting in
moisture-retention of soils which a big plus for our very sandy
soil Soil requires continual replenishment of its organic matter
to decompose into humus which in turn makes nutrients availa-
ble to plants Chemical fertilizers offer none of those benefits
Using Manure in the Garden Think of manure as a soil amend-
ment not a mulch Dont put raw manure directly on garden
soils If raw (non-composted) manure is applied to the soil there
is a good chance of nitrogen compounds and ammonia being
released into the soil as the manure breaks down This can burn
plant roots young plants and interfere with seed germination
Its recommended that all animal manure should be aged for at
least 6 months preferably by a hot composting method where
the pile reaches at least 150 degrees F This helps to reduce the
probability of passing dangerous pathogens on to people who
handle the manure or eat food grown with manure compost It
also has the benefit of killing weed seeds which can be very prev-
alent in some manures such as horse manure Another option (if
you dont have dogs or other crit-
ters that might delight in digging
in it) is to spread fresh manure
in the fall and turn it in to the
top 6 inches of soil a month be-
fore spring planting
According to the Old Farmers
Almanac ldquoManure creates nutri-
ent-rich moisture-retaining soil
for your plants The most common sources of manure are cows
horses sheep pigs goats and poultry
Other animal waste is generally not recommended as manure or
fertilizer todayrdquo Cornell University also recommends that
Homeowners should not use any manure from dogs cats or
other meat-eating animals since there is risk of parasites or dis-
ease organisms that can be transmitted to humans
The Farmers Almanac recommends this schedule for spreading
manure For flower gardens the best type of manure to use is
cow or horse and it should be spread in early spring In a vegeta-
ble garden (including root crops) use chicken cow or horse ma-
nure and spread it in fall or spring Acid-loving plants such as
azaleas or blueberries should receive cow or horse manure and
in the lilting words of the Almanac this should be spread in
ldquoearly fall or not at allrdquo
Here are some good tips about using manure in your garden
taken from this site httptinyurlcomnsnoqs8
1 You may be able to find a free source from a local farm horse
clinic police department that uses horses zoo etc This gives
you a great free source of greens for your compost (NOTE
This has been mentioned before but is always worth repeating if
you have access to Eglin AFB you can come out to the base sta-
bles and avail yourself of all the FREE horse manure you want)
2 All animal manures are great sources of beneficial microbes to
stimulate your compost piles This increases the compost de-
composition rate
3 Animal manures really increase internal heating in hot com-
post piles
4 All composts have lots of beneficial aerobic bacteria and fungi
growing in it for soil building and plant fertilization Animal ma-
nures are naturally high in actinomycetes as well as bacteria al-
so
5 All animal manures are rich in NPK and calcium Therefore
they usually alkaline when fresh However all mature composts
have a near neutral pH after the organic matter has been broken
down by the composting process
55
POOP contrsquod
6 If sawdust is mixed in the poop you have extra potassium in
the mix Straw and hay is rich in phosphorus also
7 All animal manures break down fast
8 Many animal manures have urine (urea) mixed in also This
is extra nitrogen for the compost
Notable quotes about manure httptinyurlcomnvzsxaz
One of my favorites (not attributed to anyone in particular) ldquoA
good laugh is like manure to a farmer - it doesnt do any good
until you spread it aroundrdquo
And another by actor Lee Marvin ldquoAh stardom They put your
name on a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard and
you walk down and find a pile of dog manure on it That tells
the whole story babyrdquo
Deannarsquos herb garden Courtesy of Dick H
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Kent B
Bob B
Ann F
Stevan G
Alene O
Carol S
HAND SCRUB By Shari F
Mix together any of the following to form a nice thick
paste Here are some ingredients to try
olive oil
handful of sugar
kosher salt
1 tsp dried rosemary or other herb on hand
1-2 dried orange or lemon peels grated (or zest of fresh citrus if
you dont have dried)
2-3 drops lavender oil or any other if you have it
grated knob of bar soap
smashed up handful of almonds or other nut on hand
1 glob of honey
As with any recipe except when baking I never get caught up on
measuring Just throw it all into a canning jar and mix If it looks
too dry add a bit more olive oil Too wet add more sugar or
salt The olive oil and honey leaves your hands so soft The sug-
ar salt and bashed up almonds scrub away grime The citrus
peel and lavender oil add such a lovely scent For anyone who
knows about Arbonne products and have tried their Awaken Sea
Salt Scrub-- this homemade concoction rivals that product
hands down and you dont need to pay a fortune for it
Keep at the ready lid off near your sink I like to stick a wonton
soup spoon in mine to make sure I get a nice thick blob of
it You will find yourself reaching for this even when your hands
arent full of dirt Myles does so I know its a winner
This recipe is from Mother Earth News by Liesl and Myles Pe-
tersen
66
THE KUDZU BUG HAS ARRIVED By Linda M
ldquoThe kudzu bug is on the move and becoming a nuisancerdquo says
Jennifer Bearden Agriculture Extension Agent for Okaloosa
County Jennifer recently posted on the lsquoSolutions For Your Lifersquo
website (httpokaloosaifasufledu) that the kudzu bug has
made its way to Okaloosa County ldquoI collected a kudzu bug and
eggs from a kudzu patch in the Dorcas community They may
have a significant impact on agriculture in our county as well as
being a nuisance to residents Kudzu bugs are a type of stink bug
and can irritate eyes and mucous membranesrdquo
The kudzu bug (bean plataspid Megacopta cribraria Fab-
ricius) also known as the lablab bug or globular stink bug is a
non-native insect originally from Asia They were first found
outside of houses and surrounding vegetation in northeast Geor-
gia in 2009 and now are reported in northern Florida Georgia
South Carolina North Carolina and southern Virginia
Typically light brown to olive green in color the adults are small
(35 - 6 mm) with a rounded oblong shape and live 23 to 77 days
Their egg mass has 26 to 274 eggs and are a pale salmon color
with dark bands The eggs have an elongated shape with a trun-
cated ring of rugged projections at one end Females also deposit
dark capsules underneath the eggs filled with endosymbionts
(bacteria) that provides the subsequent generation with enough
nutrition to survive on legume hosts such as peas beans pea-
nuts and the insectsrsquo preferred host soybean This species has
five nymphal stages Each nymphal stage takes two to 56 days to
develop They have a hairy appearance and tend to be pale or-
ange olive green or light brown
Kudzu bugs can produce several generations per year colonizing
from April to July and continue to be present until October in
cooler temperatures However they may be active all year in
warmer climates overwintering on light colored buildings and
structures leaf litter or under the bark of trees to keep warm
Mostly found on soybean and kudzu in the United States When
temperatures warm the strong-flying adults emerge from over-
wintering sites and move into kudzu or wisteria where they mate
and lay their egg masses The adults and nymphs congregate in
large numbers and feed on the leaves stems flowers and pods
of the host plants The insect taps through the veins of plants to
reach the phloem using piercing sucking mouthparts As a re-
sult injury to plants likely results from nutrient and moisture
loss rather than a direct loss of biomass from removal of plant
tissue This damage can have a significant impact for soybean
producers in our area
Kudzu bugs are a nuisance pest to homeowners primarily in the
spring and fall These insects are attracted to light colored sur-
faces predominately white and yellow Like stink bugs adults
excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed and the
chemical they secrete may stain the surface of houses buildings
or vehicles Indoors when crushed the kudzu bugrsquos unpleasant
odor and stains can also be hard to remove from furniture and
carpeting When a person is exposed to the kudzu bug an aller-
gic reaction may occur resulting in staining of the skin and skin
irritation
Make sure screening is placed over possible entry points of your
home and windows and doors are tightly sealed Check to make
sure soffit ridge and gable vents are properly screened and stuff
steel wool into openings where screening cannot be used such as
around pipe penetrations
As a general rule indoor insecticide use for control of the kudzu
bug is discouraged however a pyrethroid insecticide can be
used to directly spray bugs landing on the outside of a building
The elimination of the kudzu bug relies on the physical removal
or death of kudzu plants with a herbicide so if possible the
homeowner should try to remove any nearby kudzu in the sum-
mer
For more information on identification and control go to http
edisifasufleduIN939 and wwwkudzubugorg
(Jennifer Bearden
and the sites listed
above were the
sources of infor-
mation)
77
PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F
Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-
ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots
Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape
caught a few
The computer microscope picture was not the
best but it showed enough to start hunting for a
small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped
abdomen
We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is
they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss
we keep on our developing azaleas
This is a stage of development I had never seen
before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up
and down the landscape trees
You never know what you will find when you go
into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs
wwwwhatsthatbugcom
Microscope image Lynn F
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults
httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
33
A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE By Linda M
Julymdashsun-filled days of summer Independence Day celebrations MG
Awards Program and great wildlife activities to look forward to
Birds
Shorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August Look out for
nesting shorebirds and keep your vehicles and dogs from disturbing them
Swallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and tree swallows
in preparation for migrating south for the winter Swallow-tailed kitesmdash
distinctive black and white birds of prey winters in the lowlands of Brazil
and returns to Florida each spring to nest They can be seen throughout the
state between March and August Swallow-tailed Kites feed mainly on fly-
ing insects and also small vertebrates including snakes lizards and frogs
Mammals
Gray squirrels are being born Baby raccoons foxes armadillos possums
and bobcats leave dens and begin following parents Bobcats a Florida native wild cat are among the most highly specialized of
all mammalian predators The name comes from its ldquobobbedrdquo tail usually about 5 in long Sometimes called the bay lynx or
wildcat the bobcat can be recognized by its tufted triangular-shaped ears and facial tufts or ldquosideburnsrdquo It has a coat pattern of
distinct brown or black spots over the back and legs on a reddish buff 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 This coloration is an effective camouflage when the
bobcat is among sun-dappled undergrowth Males weigh 20 to 30 lb and females 15 to 25 lb The bobcat can reach 23 in at the
shoulder and up to 3 ft in length
AmphibiansReptiles
Later this month young alligators and crocodiles will begin to hatch Listen for Eastern narrowmouth toads (ldquowaaardquo like a baying
sheep) after heavy rains This frog ranges in size from 78 to 1 14 inches It can be found statewide under logs and debris near
water Breeding occurs from April through October Treefrogs are laying eggs which hatch into tadpoles in about 5 days
Insects
Mosquitoes and chiggers are abundant so watch out while yoursquore camping or working in the yard Female mosquitoes feed on
blood to help their eggs develop into offspring When they bite they release saliva into the bite area Allergic reactions to the sali-
va cause the itchy bumps and swollen hives some people get after being bitten If a mosquito is carrying a virus that virus can be
transferred to humans through the mosquitorsquos saliva Mosquito-borne diseases currently of public health concern in Florida in-
clude St Louis encephalitis eastern equine encephalitis West Nile virus encephalitis and dengue
Special date in July
July 22 1982 First Florida bog frog discovered in a panhandle wetland Bog Frogs have rough dark green to brown backs
black mottled undersides yellow throats and may have light spots on the lower jaw A light brown line runs along the lateral
fold and does not reach the groin area This frog is less than 2 inches long They
will call from spring to summer with a call which sounds like a chuckle mdash a series
of low-pitched single clucking calls noticeably slower at the end of the call Florida
bog frogs are uncommon in Florida and are found only in a few acidic steams in
Walton Santa Rose and Okaloosa counties in the panhandle This species is fully
protected in Florida
httpwwwwecufleduextensionwildlife5Finfo and httpsnreufledu
pubseventswildhtm
44
THE SCOOP ON POOP by Karen H
ldquoThe fairest thing in nature
a flower still has its roots in
earth and manurerdquo -DH
Lawrence British poet nov-
elist and essayist 1885-
1930
Manure Magic As a gar-
dener and a lifelong horse-
owner Im a believer in the
benefits of manure in the garden With such a handy steady
source Ive had plenty of opportunity to see the miracle of ma-
nure in action This is why I dont listen when someone tells me
that manure isnt of much use in the garden because of its rela-
tively low NPK numbers Ive always known that theres magic in
manure in the way that it puts back into the earth what the
horse (or other animal) takes from it to sustain its life The circle
is complete when we return the manure to the soil to replenish it
and ensure future life-sustaining plant growth But since were
accustomed to thinking of fertilizers in terms of the NPK num-
bers below are some of the values for various types of manure
N P K
Chicken 11 80 50
Dairy Cow 5 5 5
Horse 15 10 15
Steer 70 30 40
Rabbit 35 14 20
Sheep 15 10 18
Now those ARE fairly paltry numbers when compared to chemi-
cal fertilizers But manure offers much more than nitrogen
phosphorus and potassium Manure contains large amounts of
organic matter so it feeds and builds the soil while it nourishes
the plants The organic matter is also valuable in assisting in
moisture-retention of soils which a big plus for our very sandy
soil Soil requires continual replenishment of its organic matter
to decompose into humus which in turn makes nutrients availa-
ble to plants Chemical fertilizers offer none of those benefits
Using Manure in the Garden Think of manure as a soil amend-
ment not a mulch Dont put raw manure directly on garden
soils If raw (non-composted) manure is applied to the soil there
is a good chance of nitrogen compounds and ammonia being
released into the soil as the manure breaks down This can burn
plant roots young plants and interfere with seed germination
Its recommended that all animal manure should be aged for at
least 6 months preferably by a hot composting method where
the pile reaches at least 150 degrees F This helps to reduce the
probability of passing dangerous pathogens on to people who
handle the manure or eat food grown with manure compost It
also has the benefit of killing weed seeds which can be very prev-
alent in some manures such as horse manure Another option (if
you dont have dogs or other crit-
ters that might delight in digging
in it) is to spread fresh manure
in the fall and turn it in to the
top 6 inches of soil a month be-
fore spring planting
According to the Old Farmers
Almanac ldquoManure creates nutri-
ent-rich moisture-retaining soil
for your plants The most common sources of manure are cows
horses sheep pigs goats and poultry
Other animal waste is generally not recommended as manure or
fertilizer todayrdquo Cornell University also recommends that
Homeowners should not use any manure from dogs cats or
other meat-eating animals since there is risk of parasites or dis-
ease organisms that can be transmitted to humans
The Farmers Almanac recommends this schedule for spreading
manure For flower gardens the best type of manure to use is
cow or horse and it should be spread in early spring In a vegeta-
ble garden (including root crops) use chicken cow or horse ma-
nure and spread it in fall or spring Acid-loving plants such as
azaleas or blueberries should receive cow or horse manure and
in the lilting words of the Almanac this should be spread in
ldquoearly fall or not at allrdquo
Here are some good tips about using manure in your garden
taken from this site httptinyurlcomnsnoqs8
1 You may be able to find a free source from a local farm horse
clinic police department that uses horses zoo etc This gives
you a great free source of greens for your compost (NOTE
This has been mentioned before but is always worth repeating if
you have access to Eglin AFB you can come out to the base sta-
bles and avail yourself of all the FREE horse manure you want)
2 All animal manures are great sources of beneficial microbes to
stimulate your compost piles This increases the compost de-
composition rate
3 Animal manures really increase internal heating in hot com-
post piles
4 All composts have lots of beneficial aerobic bacteria and fungi
growing in it for soil building and plant fertilization Animal ma-
nures are naturally high in actinomycetes as well as bacteria al-
so
5 All animal manures are rich in NPK and calcium Therefore
they usually alkaline when fresh However all mature composts
have a near neutral pH after the organic matter has been broken
down by the composting process
55
POOP contrsquod
6 If sawdust is mixed in the poop you have extra potassium in
the mix Straw and hay is rich in phosphorus also
7 All animal manures break down fast
8 Many animal manures have urine (urea) mixed in also This
is extra nitrogen for the compost
Notable quotes about manure httptinyurlcomnvzsxaz
One of my favorites (not attributed to anyone in particular) ldquoA
good laugh is like manure to a farmer - it doesnt do any good
until you spread it aroundrdquo
And another by actor Lee Marvin ldquoAh stardom They put your
name on a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard and
you walk down and find a pile of dog manure on it That tells
the whole story babyrdquo
Deannarsquos herb garden Courtesy of Dick H
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Kent B
Bob B
Ann F
Stevan G
Alene O
Carol S
HAND SCRUB By Shari F
Mix together any of the following to form a nice thick
paste Here are some ingredients to try
olive oil
handful of sugar
kosher salt
1 tsp dried rosemary or other herb on hand
1-2 dried orange or lemon peels grated (or zest of fresh citrus if
you dont have dried)
2-3 drops lavender oil or any other if you have it
grated knob of bar soap
smashed up handful of almonds or other nut on hand
1 glob of honey
As with any recipe except when baking I never get caught up on
measuring Just throw it all into a canning jar and mix If it looks
too dry add a bit more olive oil Too wet add more sugar or
salt The olive oil and honey leaves your hands so soft The sug-
ar salt and bashed up almonds scrub away grime The citrus
peel and lavender oil add such a lovely scent For anyone who
knows about Arbonne products and have tried their Awaken Sea
Salt Scrub-- this homemade concoction rivals that product
hands down and you dont need to pay a fortune for it
Keep at the ready lid off near your sink I like to stick a wonton
soup spoon in mine to make sure I get a nice thick blob of
it You will find yourself reaching for this even when your hands
arent full of dirt Myles does so I know its a winner
This recipe is from Mother Earth News by Liesl and Myles Pe-
tersen
66
THE KUDZU BUG HAS ARRIVED By Linda M
ldquoThe kudzu bug is on the move and becoming a nuisancerdquo says
Jennifer Bearden Agriculture Extension Agent for Okaloosa
County Jennifer recently posted on the lsquoSolutions For Your Lifersquo
website (httpokaloosaifasufledu) that the kudzu bug has
made its way to Okaloosa County ldquoI collected a kudzu bug and
eggs from a kudzu patch in the Dorcas community They may
have a significant impact on agriculture in our county as well as
being a nuisance to residents Kudzu bugs are a type of stink bug
and can irritate eyes and mucous membranesrdquo
The kudzu bug (bean plataspid Megacopta cribraria Fab-
ricius) also known as the lablab bug or globular stink bug is a
non-native insect originally from Asia They were first found
outside of houses and surrounding vegetation in northeast Geor-
gia in 2009 and now are reported in northern Florida Georgia
South Carolina North Carolina and southern Virginia
Typically light brown to olive green in color the adults are small
(35 - 6 mm) with a rounded oblong shape and live 23 to 77 days
Their egg mass has 26 to 274 eggs and are a pale salmon color
with dark bands The eggs have an elongated shape with a trun-
cated ring of rugged projections at one end Females also deposit
dark capsules underneath the eggs filled with endosymbionts
(bacteria) that provides the subsequent generation with enough
nutrition to survive on legume hosts such as peas beans pea-
nuts and the insectsrsquo preferred host soybean This species has
five nymphal stages Each nymphal stage takes two to 56 days to
develop They have a hairy appearance and tend to be pale or-
ange olive green or light brown
Kudzu bugs can produce several generations per year colonizing
from April to July and continue to be present until October in
cooler temperatures However they may be active all year in
warmer climates overwintering on light colored buildings and
structures leaf litter or under the bark of trees to keep warm
Mostly found on soybean and kudzu in the United States When
temperatures warm the strong-flying adults emerge from over-
wintering sites and move into kudzu or wisteria where they mate
and lay their egg masses The adults and nymphs congregate in
large numbers and feed on the leaves stems flowers and pods
of the host plants The insect taps through the veins of plants to
reach the phloem using piercing sucking mouthparts As a re-
sult injury to plants likely results from nutrient and moisture
loss rather than a direct loss of biomass from removal of plant
tissue This damage can have a significant impact for soybean
producers in our area
Kudzu bugs are a nuisance pest to homeowners primarily in the
spring and fall These insects are attracted to light colored sur-
faces predominately white and yellow Like stink bugs adults
excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed and the
chemical they secrete may stain the surface of houses buildings
or vehicles Indoors when crushed the kudzu bugrsquos unpleasant
odor and stains can also be hard to remove from furniture and
carpeting When a person is exposed to the kudzu bug an aller-
gic reaction may occur resulting in staining of the skin and skin
irritation
Make sure screening is placed over possible entry points of your
home and windows and doors are tightly sealed Check to make
sure soffit ridge and gable vents are properly screened and stuff
steel wool into openings where screening cannot be used such as
around pipe penetrations
As a general rule indoor insecticide use for control of the kudzu
bug is discouraged however a pyrethroid insecticide can be
used to directly spray bugs landing on the outside of a building
The elimination of the kudzu bug relies on the physical removal
or death of kudzu plants with a herbicide so if possible the
homeowner should try to remove any nearby kudzu in the sum-
mer
For more information on identification and control go to http
edisifasufleduIN939 and wwwkudzubugorg
(Jennifer Bearden
and the sites listed
above were the
sources of infor-
mation)
77
PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F
Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-
ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots
Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape
caught a few
The computer microscope picture was not the
best but it showed enough to start hunting for a
small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped
abdomen
We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is
they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss
we keep on our developing azaleas
This is a stage of development I had never seen
before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up
and down the landscape trees
You never know what you will find when you go
into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs
wwwwhatsthatbugcom
Microscope image Lynn F
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults
httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
44
THE SCOOP ON POOP by Karen H
ldquoThe fairest thing in nature
a flower still has its roots in
earth and manurerdquo -DH
Lawrence British poet nov-
elist and essayist 1885-
1930
Manure Magic As a gar-
dener and a lifelong horse-
owner Im a believer in the
benefits of manure in the garden With such a handy steady
source Ive had plenty of opportunity to see the miracle of ma-
nure in action This is why I dont listen when someone tells me
that manure isnt of much use in the garden because of its rela-
tively low NPK numbers Ive always known that theres magic in
manure in the way that it puts back into the earth what the
horse (or other animal) takes from it to sustain its life The circle
is complete when we return the manure to the soil to replenish it
and ensure future life-sustaining plant growth But since were
accustomed to thinking of fertilizers in terms of the NPK num-
bers below are some of the values for various types of manure
N P K
Chicken 11 80 50
Dairy Cow 5 5 5
Horse 15 10 15
Steer 70 30 40
Rabbit 35 14 20
Sheep 15 10 18
Now those ARE fairly paltry numbers when compared to chemi-
cal fertilizers But manure offers much more than nitrogen
phosphorus and potassium Manure contains large amounts of
organic matter so it feeds and builds the soil while it nourishes
the plants The organic matter is also valuable in assisting in
moisture-retention of soils which a big plus for our very sandy
soil Soil requires continual replenishment of its organic matter
to decompose into humus which in turn makes nutrients availa-
ble to plants Chemical fertilizers offer none of those benefits
Using Manure in the Garden Think of manure as a soil amend-
ment not a mulch Dont put raw manure directly on garden
soils If raw (non-composted) manure is applied to the soil there
is a good chance of nitrogen compounds and ammonia being
released into the soil as the manure breaks down This can burn
plant roots young plants and interfere with seed germination
Its recommended that all animal manure should be aged for at
least 6 months preferably by a hot composting method where
the pile reaches at least 150 degrees F This helps to reduce the
probability of passing dangerous pathogens on to people who
handle the manure or eat food grown with manure compost It
also has the benefit of killing weed seeds which can be very prev-
alent in some manures such as horse manure Another option (if
you dont have dogs or other crit-
ters that might delight in digging
in it) is to spread fresh manure
in the fall and turn it in to the
top 6 inches of soil a month be-
fore spring planting
According to the Old Farmers
Almanac ldquoManure creates nutri-
ent-rich moisture-retaining soil
for your plants The most common sources of manure are cows
horses sheep pigs goats and poultry
Other animal waste is generally not recommended as manure or
fertilizer todayrdquo Cornell University also recommends that
Homeowners should not use any manure from dogs cats or
other meat-eating animals since there is risk of parasites or dis-
ease organisms that can be transmitted to humans
The Farmers Almanac recommends this schedule for spreading
manure For flower gardens the best type of manure to use is
cow or horse and it should be spread in early spring In a vegeta-
ble garden (including root crops) use chicken cow or horse ma-
nure and spread it in fall or spring Acid-loving plants such as
azaleas or blueberries should receive cow or horse manure and
in the lilting words of the Almanac this should be spread in
ldquoearly fall or not at allrdquo
Here are some good tips about using manure in your garden
taken from this site httptinyurlcomnsnoqs8
1 You may be able to find a free source from a local farm horse
clinic police department that uses horses zoo etc This gives
you a great free source of greens for your compost (NOTE
This has been mentioned before but is always worth repeating if
you have access to Eglin AFB you can come out to the base sta-
bles and avail yourself of all the FREE horse manure you want)
2 All animal manures are great sources of beneficial microbes to
stimulate your compost piles This increases the compost de-
composition rate
3 Animal manures really increase internal heating in hot com-
post piles
4 All composts have lots of beneficial aerobic bacteria and fungi
growing in it for soil building and plant fertilization Animal ma-
nures are naturally high in actinomycetes as well as bacteria al-
so
5 All animal manures are rich in NPK and calcium Therefore
they usually alkaline when fresh However all mature composts
have a near neutral pH after the organic matter has been broken
down by the composting process
55
POOP contrsquod
6 If sawdust is mixed in the poop you have extra potassium in
the mix Straw and hay is rich in phosphorus also
7 All animal manures break down fast
8 Many animal manures have urine (urea) mixed in also This
is extra nitrogen for the compost
Notable quotes about manure httptinyurlcomnvzsxaz
One of my favorites (not attributed to anyone in particular) ldquoA
good laugh is like manure to a farmer - it doesnt do any good
until you spread it aroundrdquo
And another by actor Lee Marvin ldquoAh stardom They put your
name on a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard and
you walk down and find a pile of dog manure on it That tells
the whole story babyrdquo
Deannarsquos herb garden Courtesy of Dick H
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Kent B
Bob B
Ann F
Stevan G
Alene O
Carol S
HAND SCRUB By Shari F
Mix together any of the following to form a nice thick
paste Here are some ingredients to try
olive oil
handful of sugar
kosher salt
1 tsp dried rosemary or other herb on hand
1-2 dried orange or lemon peels grated (or zest of fresh citrus if
you dont have dried)
2-3 drops lavender oil or any other if you have it
grated knob of bar soap
smashed up handful of almonds or other nut on hand
1 glob of honey
As with any recipe except when baking I never get caught up on
measuring Just throw it all into a canning jar and mix If it looks
too dry add a bit more olive oil Too wet add more sugar or
salt The olive oil and honey leaves your hands so soft The sug-
ar salt and bashed up almonds scrub away grime The citrus
peel and lavender oil add such a lovely scent For anyone who
knows about Arbonne products and have tried their Awaken Sea
Salt Scrub-- this homemade concoction rivals that product
hands down and you dont need to pay a fortune for it
Keep at the ready lid off near your sink I like to stick a wonton
soup spoon in mine to make sure I get a nice thick blob of
it You will find yourself reaching for this even when your hands
arent full of dirt Myles does so I know its a winner
This recipe is from Mother Earth News by Liesl and Myles Pe-
tersen
66
THE KUDZU BUG HAS ARRIVED By Linda M
ldquoThe kudzu bug is on the move and becoming a nuisancerdquo says
Jennifer Bearden Agriculture Extension Agent for Okaloosa
County Jennifer recently posted on the lsquoSolutions For Your Lifersquo
website (httpokaloosaifasufledu) that the kudzu bug has
made its way to Okaloosa County ldquoI collected a kudzu bug and
eggs from a kudzu patch in the Dorcas community They may
have a significant impact on agriculture in our county as well as
being a nuisance to residents Kudzu bugs are a type of stink bug
and can irritate eyes and mucous membranesrdquo
The kudzu bug (bean plataspid Megacopta cribraria Fab-
ricius) also known as the lablab bug or globular stink bug is a
non-native insect originally from Asia They were first found
outside of houses and surrounding vegetation in northeast Geor-
gia in 2009 and now are reported in northern Florida Georgia
South Carolina North Carolina and southern Virginia
Typically light brown to olive green in color the adults are small
(35 - 6 mm) with a rounded oblong shape and live 23 to 77 days
Their egg mass has 26 to 274 eggs and are a pale salmon color
with dark bands The eggs have an elongated shape with a trun-
cated ring of rugged projections at one end Females also deposit
dark capsules underneath the eggs filled with endosymbionts
(bacteria) that provides the subsequent generation with enough
nutrition to survive on legume hosts such as peas beans pea-
nuts and the insectsrsquo preferred host soybean This species has
five nymphal stages Each nymphal stage takes two to 56 days to
develop They have a hairy appearance and tend to be pale or-
ange olive green or light brown
Kudzu bugs can produce several generations per year colonizing
from April to July and continue to be present until October in
cooler temperatures However they may be active all year in
warmer climates overwintering on light colored buildings and
structures leaf litter or under the bark of trees to keep warm
Mostly found on soybean and kudzu in the United States When
temperatures warm the strong-flying adults emerge from over-
wintering sites and move into kudzu or wisteria where they mate
and lay their egg masses The adults and nymphs congregate in
large numbers and feed on the leaves stems flowers and pods
of the host plants The insect taps through the veins of plants to
reach the phloem using piercing sucking mouthparts As a re-
sult injury to plants likely results from nutrient and moisture
loss rather than a direct loss of biomass from removal of plant
tissue This damage can have a significant impact for soybean
producers in our area
Kudzu bugs are a nuisance pest to homeowners primarily in the
spring and fall These insects are attracted to light colored sur-
faces predominately white and yellow Like stink bugs adults
excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed and the
chemical they secrete may stain the surface of houses buildings
or vehicles Indoors when crushed the kudzu bugrsquos unpleasant
odor and stains can also be hard to remove from furniture and
carpeting When a person is exposed to the kudzu bug an aller-
gic reaction may occur resulting in staining of the skin and skin
irritation
Make sure screening is placed over possible entry points of your
home and windows and doors are tightly sealed Check to make
sure soffit ridge and gable vents are properly screened and stuff
steel wool into openings where screening cannot be used such as
around pipe penetrations
As a general rule indoor insecticide use for control of the kudzu
bug is discouraged however a pyrethroid insecticide can be
used to directly spray bugs landing on the outside of a building
The elimination of the kudzu bug relies on the physical removal
or death of kudzu plants with a herbicide so if possible the
homeowner should try to remove any nearby kudzu in the sum-
mer
For more information on identification and control go to http
edisifasufleduIN939 and wwwkudzubugorg
(Jennifer Bearden
and the sites listed
above were the
sources of infor-
mation)
77
PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F
Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-
ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots
Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape
caught a few
The computer microscope picture was not the
best but it showed enough to start hunting for a
small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped
abdomen
We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is
they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss
we keep on our developing azaleas
This is a stage of development I had never seen
before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up
and down the landscape trees
You never know what you will find when you go
into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs
wwwwhatsthatbugcom
Microscope image Lynn F
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults
httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
55
POOP contrsquod
6 If sawdust is mixed in the poop you have extra potassium in
the mix Straw and hay is rich in phosphorus also
7 All animal manures break down fast
8 Many animal manures have urine (urea) mixed in also This
is extra nitrogen for the compost
Notable quotes about manure httptinyurlcomnvzsxaz
One of my favorites (not attributed to anyone in particular) ldquoA
good laugh is like manure to a farmer - it doesnt do any good
until you spread it aroundrdquo
And another by actor Lee Marvin ldquoAh stardom They put your
name on a star in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard and
you walk down and find a pile of dog manure on it That tells
the whole story babyrdquo
Deannarsquos herb garden Courtesy of Dick H
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Kent B
Bob B
Ann F
Stevan G
Alene O
Carol S
HAND SCRUB By Shari F
Mix together any of the following to form a nice thick
paste Here are some ingredients to try
olive oil
handful of sugar
kosher salt
1 tsp dried rosemary or other herb on hand
1-2 dried orange or lemon peels grated (or zest of fresh citrus if
you dont have dried)
2-3 drops lavender oil or any other if you have it
grated knob of bar soap
smashed up handful of almonds or other nut on hand
1 glob of honey
As with any recipe except when baking I never get caught up on
measuring Just throw it all into a canning jar and mix If it looks
too dry add a bit more olive oil Too wet add more sugar or
salt The olive oil and honey leaves your hands so soft The sug-
ar salt and bashed up almonds scrub away grime The citrus
peel and lavender oil add such a lovely scent For anyone who
knows about Arbonne products and have tried their Awaken Sea
Salt Scrub-- this homemade concoction rivals that product
hands down and you dont need to pay a fortune for it
Keep at the ready lid off near your sink I like to stick a wonton
soup spoon in mine to make sure I get a nice thick blob of
it You will find yourself reaching for this even when your hands
arent full of dirt Myles does so I know its a winner
This recipe is from Mother Earth News by Liesl and Myles Pe-
tersen
66
THE KUDZU BUG HAS ARRIVED By Linda M
ldquoThe kudzu bug is on the move and becoming a nuisancerdquo says
Jennifer Bearden Agriculture Extension Agent for Okaloosa
County Jennifer recently posted on the lsquoSolutions For Your Lifersquo
website (httpokaloosaifasufledu) that the kudzu bug has
made its way to Okaloosa County ldquoI collected a kudzu bug and
eggs from a kudzu patch in the Dorcas community They may
have a significant impact on agriculture in our county as well as
being a nuisance to residents Kudzu bugs are a type of stink bug
and can irritate eyes and mucous membranesrdquo
The kudzu bug (bean plataspid Megacopta cribraria Fab-
ricius) also known as the lablab bug or globular stink bug is a
non-native insect originally from Asia They were first found
outside of houses and surrounding vegetation in northeast Geor-
gia in 2009 and now are reported in northern Florida Georgia
South Carolina North Carolina and southern Virginia
Typically light brown to olive green in color the adults are small
(35 - 6 mm) with a rounded oblong shape and live 23 to 77 days
Their egg mass has 26 to 274 eggs and are a pale salmon color
with dark bands The eggs have an elongated shape with a trun-
cated ring of rugged projections at one end Females also deposit
dark capsules underneath the eggs filled with endosymbionts
(bacteria) that provides the subsequent generation with enough
nutrition to survive on legume hosts such as peas beans pea-
nuts and the insectsrsquo preferred host soybean This species has
five nymphal stages Each nymphal stage takes two to 56 days to
develop They have a hairy appearance and tend to be pale or-
ange olive green or light brown
Kudzu bugs can produce several generations per year colonizing
from April to July and continue to be present until October in
cooler temperatures However they may be active all year in
warmer climates overwintering on light colored buildings and
structures leaf litter or under the bark of trees to keep warm
Mostly found on soybean and kudzu in the United States When
temperatures warm the strong-flying adults emerge from over-
wintering sites and move into kudzu or wisteria where they mate
and lay their egg masses The adults and nymphs congregate in
large numbers and feed on the leaves stems flowers and pods
of the host plants The insect taps through the veins of plants to
reach the phloem using piercing sucking mouthparts As a re-
sult injury to plants likely results from nutrient and moisture
loss rather than a direct loss of biomass from removal of plant
tissue This damage can have a significant impact for soybean
producers in our area
Kudzu bugs are a nuisance pest to homeowners primarily in the
spring and fall These insects are attracted to light colored sur-
faces predominately white and yellow Like stink bugs adults
excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed and the
chemical they secrete may stain the surface of houses buildings
or vehicles Indoors when crushed the kudzu bugrsquos unpleasant
odor and stains can also be hard to remove from furniture and
carpeting When a person is exposed to the kudzu bug an aller-
gic reaction may occur resulting in staining of the skin and skin
irritation
Make sure screening is placed over possible entry points of your
home and windows and doors are tightly sealed Check to make
sure soffit ridge and gable vents are properly screened and stuff
steel wool into openings where screening cannot be used such as
around pipe penetrations
As a general rule indoor insecticide use for control of the kudzu
bug is discouraged however a pyrethroid insecticide can be
used to directly spray bugs landing on the outside of a building
The elimination of the kudzu bug relies on the physical removal
or death of kudzu plants with a herbicide so if possible the
homeowner should try to remove any nearby kudzu in the sum-
mer
For more information on identification and control go to http
edisifasufleduIN939 and wwwkudzubugorg
(Jennifer Bearden
and the sites listed
above were the
sources of infor-
mation)
77
PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F
Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-
ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots
Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape
caught a few
The computer microscope picture was not the
best but it showed enough to start hunting for a
small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped
abdomen
We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is
they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss
we keep on our developing azaleas
This is a stage of development I had never seen
before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up
and down the landscape trees
You never know what you will find when you go
into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs
wwwwhatsthatbugcom
Microscope image Lynn F
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults
httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
66
THE KUDZU BUG HAS ARRIVED By Linda M
ldquoThe kudzu bug is on the move and becoming a nuisancerdquo says
Jennifer Bearden Agriculture Extension Agent for Okaloosa
County Jennifer recently posted on the lsquoSolutions For Your Lifersquo
website (httpokaloosaifasufledu) that the kudzu bug has
made its way to Okaloosa County ldquoI collected a kudzu bug and
eggs from a kudzu patch in the Dorcas community They may
have a significant impact on agriculture in our county as well as
being a nuisance to residents Kudzu bugs are a type of stink bug
and can irritate eyes and mucous membranesrdquo
The kudzu bug (bean plataspid Megacopta cribraria Fab-
ricius) also known as the lablab bug or globular stink bug is a
non-native insect originally from Asia They were first found
outside of houses and surrounding vegetation in northeast Geor-
gia in 2009 and now are reported in northern Florida Georgia
South Carolina North Carolina and southern Virginia
Typically light brown to olive green in color the adults are small
(35 - 6 mm) with a rounded oblong shape and live 23 to 77 days
Their egg mass has 26 to 274 eggs and are a pale salmon color
with dark bands The eggs have an elongated shape with a trun-
cated ring of rugged projections at one end Females also deposit
dark capsules underneath the eggs filled with endosymbionts
(bacteria) that provides the subsequent generation with enough
nutrition to survive on legume hosts such as peas beans pea-
nuts and the insectsrsquo preferred host soybean This species has
five nymphal stages Each nymphal stage takes two to 56 days to
develop They have a hairy appearance and tend to be pale or-
ange olive green or light brown
Kudzu bugs can produce several generations per year colonizing
from April to July and continue to be present until October in
cooler temperatures However they may be active all year in
warmer climates overwintering on light colored buildings and
structures leaf litter or under the bark of trees to keep warm
Mostly found on soybean and kudzu in the United States When
temperatures warm the strong-flying adults emerge from over-
wintering sites and move into kudzu or wisteria where they mate
and lay their egg masses The adults and nymphs congregate in
large numbers and feed on the leaves stems flowers and pods
of the host plants The insect taps through the veins of plants to
reach the phloem using piercing sucking mouthparts As a re-
sult injury to plants likely results from nutrient and moisture
loss rather than a direct loss of biomass from removal of plant
tissue This damage can have a significant impact for soybean
producers in our area
Kudzu bugs are a nuisance pest to homeowners primarily in the
spring and fall These insects are attracted to light colored sur-
faces predominately white and yellow Like stink bugs adults
excrete an odor as a defense mechanism when disturbed and the
chemical they secrete may stain the surface of houses buildings
or vehicles Indoors when crushed the kudzu bugrsquos unpleasant
odor and stains can also be hard to remove from furniture and
carpeting When a person is exposed to the kudzu bug an aller-
gic reaction may occur resulting in staining of the skin and skin
irritation
Make sure screening is placed over possible entry points of your
home and windows and doors are tightly sealed Check to make
sure soffit ridge and gable vents are properly screened and stuff
steel wool into openings where screening cannot be used such as
around pipe penetrations
As a general rule indoor insecticide use for control of the kudzu
bug is discouraged however a pyrethroid insecticide can be
used to directly spray bugs landing on the outside of a building
The elimination of the kudzu bug relies on the physical removal
or death of kudzu plants with a herbicide so if possible the
homeowner should try to remove any nearby kudzu in the sum-
mer
For more information on identification and control go to http
edisifasufleduIN939 and wwwkudzubugorg
(Jennifer Bearden
and the sites listed
above were the
sources of infor-
mation)
77
PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F
Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-
ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots
Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape
caught a few
The computer microscope picture was not the
best but it showed enough to start hunting for a
small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped
abdomen
We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is
they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss
we keep on our developing azaleas
This is a stage of development I had never seen
before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up
and down the landscape trees
You never know what you will find when you go
into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs
wwwwhatsthatbugcom
Microscope image Lynn F
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults
httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
77
PSOCID NYMPHS By Lynn F
Just doing a bit of scouting in the garden tonight and found a cluster of insects run-
ning across the bonsai benches and up into the pots
Plants looked healthy but whatrsquos the critter They moved too fast for the hand lens and the camera but a piece of transparent tape
caught a few
The computer microscope picture was not the
best but it showed enough to start hunting for a
small (64th inch) wingless insect with a striped
abdomen
We have a case of psocid nymphs My guess is
they are thriving on the moist sphagnum moss
we keep on our developing azaleas
This is a stage of development I had never seen
before Usually we see the tree cattle moving up
and down the landscape trees
You never know what you will find when you go
into the garden Just keep your eyes peeled
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs
wwwwhatsthatbugcom
Microscope image Lynn F
Psocids or Bark Lice Nymphs and Adults
httpokeechobeeifasufleduNews20columnsBarklicehtm
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
88
SIMPLE PINEAPPLE Courtesy of Shirley H
The pineapple is a member of the
bromeliad family It is extremely
rare that bromeliads produce edible
fruit The pineapple is the only
available edible bromeliad today
It is a multiple fruit One pineapple
is actually made up of dozens of
individual flowerets that grow to-
gether to form the entire fruit Each
scale on a pineapple is evidence of a
separate flower
Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked No special
way of storing them will help ripen them further Color is rela-
tively unimportant in determining ripeness Choose your pineap-
ple by smell If it smells fresh tropical and sweet it will be a
good fruit
The more scales on the pineapple the sweeter and juicier the
taste After you cut off the top you can plant it It should grow
much like a sweet potato will
This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical it also offers
many benefits to our health Pineapple is a remarkable fruit
We find it enjoyable because of its lush sweet and exotic flavor
but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available to-
day If we take a more detailed look at it we will find that pine-
apple is valuable for easing indigestion arthritis or sinusitis
The juice has an anthelmintic effect it helps get rid of intestinal
worms Lets look at how pineapple affects other conditions
Pineapple is high in manganese a mineral that is critical to de-
velopment of strong bones and connective tissue A cup of fresh
pineapple will give you nearly 75 of the recommended daily
amount
It is particularly helpful to older adults whose bones tend to
become brittle with age
Bromelain a proteolytic en-
zyme is the key to pineapples
value Proteolytic means
breaks down protein which
is why pineapple is known to
be a digestive aid
It helps the body digest pro-
teins more efficiently Brome-
lain is also considered an ef-
fective anti-inflammatory
Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily
is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis It
also produces mild pain relief
In Germany bromelain is approved as a post-injury medication
because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling
Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold
because it is high in Vitamin C Fresh pineapple is not only high
in this vitamin but because of the Bromelain it has the ability to
reduce mucous in the throat If you have a cold with a productive
cough add pineapple to your diet
It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to
cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations
Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer
sinus problems related to allergies In and of itself pineapple has
a very low risk for allergies
Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development
This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and
others who may be at risk for blood clots
An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice
It really works Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the
morning often make a difference
Its also good for a healthier mouth The fresh juice discourages
plaque growth
IFA
S
BO
OK
ST
OR
E
Insects and Related Pests of Turfgrass in Florida SP140 by Donald E Short and
Eileen A Buss 13 pages
Learn how to identify and manage the ten most common insects and related pests
that infest Florida turfgrass This newly revised edition features color photographs
showing the pests the damage they cause and how to control them
Click on the image to go to the UFIFAS Bookstore
Price $500
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
99
Donrsquot forget that Julyrsquos
meeting is on the 10th of
this month It will be
starting at 1030am at the
Extension Office in
Crestview The annual
Awards Ceremony will be
held immediately follow-
ing lunch
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors
1010
Your member site
wwwocmgamembersorg
The Foundation for the
Gator Nation
An equal opportunity institution
LAST WORD By Marg S
Have pictures or an idea for
an article
Send it in
Articles and pictures are
always welcome
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away
tomatoes are growing I picture a planet
where there are vigorous vines and blem-
ish free fruit This planet also has no
mockingbirds
This year I planted Amelia and Christa
Now to be fair the little seedlings were-
nrsquot the greatest in the world but after a
while they produced gorgeous plants and
even had little fruits forming I should
have taken a picturethey were deader
than a doornail shortly after that
Lucky for me I also had several heir-
loom varieties that I was trying out Ger-
man Johnson Cherokee Purple Home-
stead and several others These vines
have not been the prettiest things on the
block but they have been productive
Then we had a bunch of rain You all
know what that meanscracks in the
tomatoes Oh well they may be ugly but
they are still edible
I go out to harvest one particularly nice
looking tomato and one whole side is
gone When I say gone I mean gone
What in blazes
Squirrel damage Unlikely as the fat
furry fiends are gorging themselves on
the blackberries Rabbits Again unlikely
as the mini Peter Rabbit in my yard is
happily trimming the sweet potato vines
(I sure wish hersquod develop a taste for
chamber bitter)
I finally caught the culprit Mr Mock-
ingbird has an affinity for tomatoes I
tried hanging red ballshersquos no dummy
Avoided the fake tomatoes and honed in
on a rapidly ripening Roma Okay next
tactic a cover That worked wellfor
about 5 minutes
I finally resorted to harvesting when I
just saw color appearing and allowing the
fruit to ripen on the window sill Indoors
was ruled out upon discovering I have a
cat who appears to be in training for the
local rugby team Irsquom not keen on the
idea of a ripe tomato being swatted
around the kitchen
That left the window ledges on the patio
This worked well and the fruit ripened
nicely Irsquove done this a few times now and
had put another batch up there One
would think that with a lot of movement
near the window ledge there would be no
problem One would think that being that
close to humans would be a deterrent
HA
Mr Mockingbird was very happy to
have a comfortable place to perch while
he enjoyed the fruits of my labor When I
shooed him I clearly detected laughter as
he flew away
Now I like animals I really do I fill the
feeders I provide water I actually have a
nice spot for them to visit And I enjoy
watching them But this is taking ad-
vantage of my hospitality
Besides I really think that Mr M has
started a gang Hersquos getting all the other
birds together and extolling the virtues of
tomato juice just as slick as a snake oil
salesman
Hersquos out there now getting all the other
birds together planning out their attack
You think Irsquom imagining things I saw the
woodpecker going after a tomato and had
the young hatchlings right there Mr M
probably convinced the woodpecker that
tomatoes make your red feathers even
brighter
So that battle continues I try and get to
the tomatoes before they do Itrsquos sadso
far the birds are winning Where is that
darned hawk when you need him
Marg SmdashEditor
Shari F Karen H and
Linda MmdashCo-Editors