A Publication of the Travis County Master Gardeners a volunteer program of Texas AgriLife Extension

In this issue ...

June Speaker: Mike Quinn

In the Vegetable Garden

Stinging Caterpillars

The Traveling Gardenista

Lawn Gone! ...a Book Review

June 2013

The Compost BinA Publication of the Travis County Master Gardenersa volunteer program of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

The Compost Bin June 2013 Page 2

Inside this Issue....• Meeting, June 5• In the Vegetable Garden• Stinging Caterpillars• The Traveling Gardenista• Lawn Gone! ...a Book Review• Coming Events• 2013 TCMGA Board• Credits

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Mike Quinn, President of the AustinButterflyForum, will speak aboutgardeningforbutterflies,andfocusonidentifyingbutterflies

andtheircaterpillars.

Mike’sentrywayintoinsectswasthroughbutterflies.HeholdsaMaster’sdegreeinentomologyfromTexasA&MUniversity.He

alsohasakeeninterestinbeetlesofTexas,andhasphotographedovertwentypercentofTexas’7,500beetlespecies.HisphotosofbeetlesandotherinsectsarepostedonBugGuide.net and on Tex-asEnto.net.ListsofAustinandTravisCountybutterfliesalsoare

on these sites.

Austinishometoabout170speciesofbutterflies,sowehaveoverhalfthespecieslivinginTexas.TheAustinButterflyForum,Inc.isanon-profitorganizationdedicatedtobutterflyconservation

andtoenrichingpeople’slivesthroughbutterflies.

Comelearnwhichcaterpillarsyouwanttokeepinyourgardenso

youcanenjoythebutterflies.Ifyouhaveabutterflyorcaterpil-larorchrysalisyouwouldlikeidentified,bringitwithyoutothe

meeting.

Master Gardener Meeting information: Wednesday,June5,2013startingat7pm

ZilkerBotanicalGarden

MasterGardenermeetingsareopentocertifiedMaster Gardeners and trainees.

June Speaker - Mike Quinn

CoverPhotoby:BruceLeander Squirrels that pilfer tomatoes areoftenseekingmoisture;tryquenchingtheirthirstwithafewsaucersofwaterplacednearyourplants. Right: Patio Squash Photoby:LiathAppleton

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Junebringsthelong-awaitedharvestoftomatoesalongwithsquash,greenbeans,cucumbers,peppers,eggplantandokra.Waterrequirementswillincreaseasplantsgrowlargeranddaysgrow hotter, so pay attention to your plant’s cues, and adjust watering times to sustainhealthygrowthandproduction.Sidedressplantsevery3-4weekswithacompletefertilizer;approximaterateforgranularorganicfertilizer(suchasan8-2-4or6-2-2formulation)is1/2cupper10feetofrow.Syntheticfertilizers,thekindwemightuseforlawns(like15-5-10formulation),arealsosuitableforvegetablegardens.Sincethesecontainhigheramountsofnitrogen,useonly¼cupper10footrow.Tosidedressvegetableplants,pullbackthemulchanddistributethefertilizeralongtherow,severalinchesfromthecenteroftheplant.Scratchthefertilizerintothesurfaceofthesoil,waterwellandreplacemulch.

Keep up with the harvest so you can enjoy your home-grown vegetables at their peak.Overgrownvegetablescantastebitter,fibrousand/ortough,andoverripevegetablesleftontheplantwilldivertenergyintoseedproductionratherthanfruitproduction.Squashshouldbecutwhen4-6” long, cucumbersshouldbepickedbefore theystart toyellow,eggplantshouldhaveashinyskin,andokrashouldbepickedwhenitisonly3-4”long.

Despiteourbestefforts,someplantswillsuccumbtoheat,pestsand/ordisease.It’snormalforbushbeanstofizzleoutafterabout3weeks,andfortomatoestoshutdownoncethenighttime temperatures surpass the mid-seventies. With water at a premium it’s sometimes besttogoaheadandpullupplantsthatareindeclineratherthansprayingandfrettingoverailingplantsthatwillstruggletorecoveroncetheblisteringheatofsummerarrives.Oncespentplantsareremoved,givethesoilarest,andbesuretospreadalayerofmulch,suchasshreddedbark,roughcompost,leavesorhaytoprotectthesoiluntilfallplantingtimerollsaround.

Ifyouareadie-hardgardenerwhoenjoysthechallengeofsummervegetablecultivation,thenanyofthefollowingvegetablesareworthyofyoureffort:okra,cowpeas,sweetpotatoes,hotpeppersandeggplant.Thoughtheseheatanddrought-tolerantplantsareknownforbeingTexastough,theystillmusthavearegulardrinkofwatertothrivethroughoutthesummermonths.Forthoselessinclinedtobeoutintheheat,earlytomid-JuneisanappropriatetimetostarttomatoseedsundergrowlightsinordertohavetransplantsreadyforplantinginJulyor August.

Lookingforatrulydrought-tolerantvegetabletogrow?Tryournativechilepequín!Hereitgrowsthroughacrackinastonewallwhereitcomesbackeveryyear.Thesmall,fierypeppersaddziptomanydishesandbirds,especiallymockingbirds,willappreciateallyourleftovers.

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Manygardenersliveforthosethick,juicyslicesofsun-drenched,fresh-from-the-gardentomatoes,butiftheycomeonalittletoofast,hereareacoupleofrecipesforusingupanysurplus:Fried Green TomatoesThis is a non-traditional take on a Southern classic from the folks at Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company.

6largegreentomatoes,sliced¼”thickOil

Batter1pkgMoriNufirmsilkentofu2-3 Tbsp water Crumbletofuinblenderandblend,addingwatergraduallyuntilthemixturebecomescreamy.Pourbatterintopieplateandsetaside.

Breading1cuppankobreadcrumbs½cupcornmeal2tbspnutritionalyeastflakes1 tbsp onion powder1tbspgarlicpowder1tbspturmeric½tspcayenne½ tsp saltParsleyflakes

Stir all ingredients together and transfer to a shallow pan. Diptomatoesinbatter,thenintopankomixture,pattingthebreadingontotomatoessoitadhereswell.Heatabout¼”ofoilinacastironskillet,andfrytomatoesonbothsidesuntilbrowned.Servewarm.

In the Vegetable Garden Continued...

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Roasted Whole Cherry Tomatoes

Ilikethedeep,concentratedtomatoflavorthatcomesfromroasting,especiallywhenslightlycharred.Theymakeasavorysnackorcanbeusedinsauces,pasta,salsaorsandwiches.Tosswholecherrytomatoesgenerouslyinoliveoil,seasonwithsaltandpepper,androast4-6hoursat300°.Watchcarefullytobesuretheydon’tburnandadjusttemperatureortimeifnecessary.Theseroastedtomatoesmaybestored1-2weeksintherefrigerator.

In the Vegetable Garden Continued...

avarietyofcherrytomatoesreadyforovenroasting

Theprocessofroastinggiveseachtomatoaburstofconcentratedflavor

Photos:BruceandPattyLeander

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Didyouknowthatsomecaterpillarsareable to inflictapainfulsting?Variouscaterpillarshaveurticatinghairsorspinesthatareconnectedtoapoisongland.Whensomething,suchasyourarm,brushes against the hairs, the hairs stick in the skin, injectingvenomandsometimescausingarash.

There are several caterpillars in central Texas that can sting,including the Iomoth caterpillar, the buckmoth caterpillar, thesaddlebackcaterpillar,andtheasporpusscaterpillar.

Buckmothcaterpillarsarebrownish-black,butcanalsobelighterin color. These caterpillarshave long,multi-branched spines inrowsalongthebody.

Iomothcaterpillarsareyellowishtogreenwithapinkish-redlinealongthesideofthebody.Thesecaterpillarsalsohaveclustersofyelloworgreenspinesinrowsalongthebody.

Stinging Caterpillars

by Wizzy Brown

Buckmothcaterpillar.PhotobyGeraldLenhard

Iomothcaterpillar.PhotobySturgisMcKeever

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Saddleback caterpillars have a slug-like body with two largetuberclesoneachendof thebody. Saddlebackcaterpillarsaregreenwithbrownends(includingthetubercles)andhaveabrownspotinthecenterofthebodythatisringedwithwhite(itlookssimilartoasaddle).

Aspsareaboutaninchandahalflongwhenfullygrown,teardrop-shapedwithlong,silkyhair.Theyareusuallytan,butcanbeavarietyofcolors.Aspcaterpillarsaretypicallyfoundontreesandshrubsaroundhomes,andgenerallydonotharmtheplants.

Ifstung,painwillimmediatelybefeltandblood-coloredspotsmayformatthesiteofthesting.Othersymptomsthatmayoccurarenausea,headache,vomitingorevenrespiratorydistress.Coverthestingareawithtape.Removetaperepeatedlytoremovespinesfromtheskin.Applyinganicepacktothestingareamayhelptosooththeskin.Anoralantihistaminemayalsobetakentorelieveitching.Ifrespiratorydistressoccurs,seekmedicalattention.

Stinging Caterpillars Continued...

Saddlebackcaterpillar.PhotobyJoePase

Asporpusscaterpillar.PhotobyLacyHyche

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There aremany dangerous-looking caterpillars that are safe tohandle,butunlessyouaresuretheydonotsting,Iwouldadvisenottotouch!

If thecaterpillarsneedtobemanaged,tryproductswithactiveingredientssuchasBacillusthruingiensisvar.kurstaki,spinosad,azadirachtinorapyrethroid.

Formore information or helpwith identification, contactWizzieBrown,TexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionServiceProgramSpecialistat512.854.9600.

Stinging Caterpillars Continued...

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Since last fall, my husband and I have been taking a long sojourn traveling around the world and the United States. One of the sweetest pleasures has been discovering and exploring public gardens on our journey. I wanted to share with you some of the special places so that you too might appreciate a new place or add it to your travel wish list. Warmly, Heidi Roure

Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden, Chiangmai ThailandBesidesspendingadaywiththeelephants,discoveringtheQueenSirikitBotanicalGardeninthemountainsofChiangMaiwasoneofthehighlightsofourthreeweektripinAsia.Holdinganabundanceofnative,exoticandrarenorthernAsiaticplants,thisgardenwasestablishedbytheThaigovernmentinresponsetodeforestationandthelossofnativespecies.Todayitservesasacenterforresearch,andplaceofnaturalbeautyforthepublic.Nestledinthenorthernmountains,onemustreachitthroughawinding,narrowroad.Asyounearthisbeautifulspot,thegardenunfoldswithmanysurprises.Enteringthegarden,youcrossabeautifulriverflowingoverdarkbrownboulders.Onceinside,youseeahillsideofbeauty.GorgeousfountainsandTheTropicalRainforestHouse,alargeglassarchitecturalstructure,immediatelycapturesyourattention;asdothesmallergreenhouses,eachwiththeirownspecialty:theOrchidandFernHouse,theWaterLilyhouse,theAridHouse,oneforBromeliadandBegonias,andoneforMedicinalplants.Outside,everycolorroseyoucanimaginelinesthehillside.Trailsleadyouthroughthegardenswhereyouseebreathtakingpanoramicviewsofthemountainsand the garden itself. Continue walking to the Arboretum and rest among some of the tallest native treesinThailandasyoupinchyourselftobelieveyouarehere.

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Lawn Gone! ...a Book Review

by Frankie Hart

Popular Austin garden blogger, Pam Penick, has written a book, Lawn Gone! Low-Maintenance, Sustainable, Attractive Alternatives for Your Yard.Theideaofnolawn,oratleastreducingtraditionallawns,iscertainlyacurrenttopicintheAustin/CentralTexasarea.Yes,we’veactuallyhadsomerainfallthisspring,butweallknow,andtheexpertopinionis,thatthisdoesnotmeanour3-yeardroughthasended.Thecontinueddroughthascausedmostgardenersandhomeownerstothinkaboutwaterconservationasneverbefore,andthisbookisanexcellentresource.

Thefirsttwosectionsofthebookcoverideasandhow-tos.Therearemanybeautifulcolorphotoswhichfurtherhelpinvisualizingideasdiscussedinthebook.Ifoundthepicturesanddescriptionsofactuallawn-replacementprojectsvery interesting,andthebook includedseveraldifferentoptionsforeasycareandreducingmaintenance,oratleastshrinkinglawnsize.Therearemanysuggestionsofvariouslawnalternatives, includingornamentalgrasses,groundcovers,hardscaping,andevenachapteronartificialturf.

AnideaIparticularlylikedistheuseofsedgesforashadyyardwheretraditionalgrassstruggles.Manytypesofsedgeactuallydobetterintheshade,andcanwithstandlightfoottraffic.Lilyturf(Liriope)isanothersuggestedalternativeforthoseshadyareas.

Howaboutreducinglawnsize?Asmallerlawnwillresultinreducedwateruseandlessmaintenance.Again,Penicksuggestswaystoaccomplishthis,andtherearephotostoillustratetheseideas.

Thehow-tosectionexplainsthedifferentmethodsofgrassremoval–diggingitup,solarizing,sheetmulch,vinegarspray,aswellastheuseofchemicals.Eachtopicliststheprosandconsandhow-tos.Thissectionalsocovershowtodesignandinstallahardscape,aswellasbedpreparationandplanting.

Part3givesideasonhowtodealwithhomeownersassociations,citycodes,andtheneighbors.Ifyouliveinaconservativeneighborhood,thesuggestion is thatyoumakegradualchanges. Rippingout theentire front lawnallatonce isprobablynotagood idea insomeneighborhoods.Youcanconvertonlytheleastvisibleareas,andthatisastart.Ifyoudohavelawn-lessareasthatarevisible,keepthosewellgroomed.Thissectionalsoincludesachapteronfireresistantlandscaping;anotherimportanttopicforourarea.Finally,thereareRegionalPlantRecommendationsbyregionalgardeningexperts.ElevenhorticulturalregionsoftheUSarecoveredhere.Eachplantislistedbycommonname,withthebotanicalnameanddescriptionalsoincluded.Colorphotosofeachplantareincludedaswell.

IrecommendLawn Gone!asavaluableresourceforanyonewhowantstoberidof(oratleastreduce)theirlawn,butisn’tsurewheretostart.Evenifyouhavestartedtheprocessoflawnremoval,you’llfindthisbookavaluableguideforfutureprojects.

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Austin Pond Society Pond TourSaturday and Sunday, June 8-9

NorthpondsareonSaturday,andSouth/CentralpondsonSun-day.Theshiftsare8:30am-1:00pmand12:30to5:00pm.There’salsoanightshiftSaturdaynight,7:30to10:30pm.

Thisyearisthe19thannualtour,featuring21ponds.Therewillbe a wide assortment of large and small ponds, both pro-built and

DIY.Tickets$20,orinadvancefor$5

More info at www.austinpondsociety.org

Green Thumb Series: What’s Eating My Plants

Thursday, June 1310am-12pm

TravisCountyAgriLifeExtensionOffice1600 B Smith Rd.

Austin TX

Yikes!Whatiseatingmyplant?WizzieBrown,TexasA&MAgriL-ifeExtensionServiceentomologist,willteachyoudetectiveskillsneededforcorrectlyidentifyinginsects.Knowingexactlywho

arethe“goodbugs”andthe“badbugs”isimportantbecausethemajorityofinsectsarenot“bad”!

Armedwithknowledgeofinsectmouthpartsandbiology,youcanfigureoutwhatmaybecausingdamagetoplantsevenwhenthereisnotaninsectinsight.Thinkaboutwhatkindofmouthpartcouldhavedonethedamage?Arethereholesintheplant?Are the holes small or are entire leaves eaten? Does the plant haveyellowingandcurlingonthefoliage?Knowingthetypesofdamageinsectscancausetoplantscanhelprevealwhatpestyouaredealingwithandhelptomakemanagementdecision.Identificationofcommoninsectswillalsobecoveredalongwithintegratedpestmanagementpracticestohelpreducepesticideuse. Integrated pest management programs start with non-

chemicalapproachesfirstandwhilechemicalsareincludedintheprogram,theyarealastresortstrategy.

ThisclassispartofTheGreenThumbseries.Mustregisterat:https://agriliferegister.tamu.eduorbyphone979-845-2604.Oneclassis$15,withpricediscountsforsigningupfor3ormoreclassesatthesametime.Classislimitedto40people.

Austin Area Garden Events

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Composting and Soil HealthSaturday, June 159:30am - 3:40pm

AustinCommunityCollegeSouth Campus, Rm 1130

1820StassneyLane,AustinTX

Learnaboutcompostpositiveimpactonsoilhealthwithanin-credibleprogrampackedwithinformationandhow-totopics.

Thisiseverythingyouneedtoknowtotreatyourgardenbyem-bracingcomposting.Topicsincludeanoverviewofcomposting,equipmentneededforsuccess,anoverviewoftheGroundtoGroundprograminAustin,vermicomposting,composttea,and

AustinResourceRecovery.

$35registrationfeeincludesboxlunch,water,andsnacks.At-tendees must register at https://agriliferegister.tamu.eduorbyphoneat(979)845-2604.ThiseventispresentedbytheTra-visCountyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasA&MAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.www.tcmastergar-

deners.org.Forinformation,call(512)854-9600.Itisnotspon-soredbyAustinCommunityCollege.

Austin Area Garden Events

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Joe Posern, PresidentJackieJohnson,ImmediatePastPresidentJaNetBarkley-Booher,Vice-PresidentforPrograms ChristinaJeskey,Vice-PresidentforEducationRosalie Russell, Volunteer Coordinator forProjectsLiath Appleton, Volunteer Coordinator for TraineesSusanJung,SecretaryMaryLouBell,Co-TreasurerTina Landers, Co-TreasurerSusanGoodrich,MembershipDirectorPatMokry,GreenhouseManagerMaryAnnNeely,AustinAreaGardenCouncilRepresentativeMargarineBeaman,StateCouncilRepresentative MaryKastl,StateCouncilRepresentative

Past Presidents (Non-voting):

Bill BaldwinBillBoytimSusan CashinTommieClaytonSusanDeckerDonFreemanManda RashPeggyStewartBeckyWaakWill Walker CarolynWilliams

Ex Officio Member of the Board (Non-voting):

TexasAgriLifeExtensionTravisCounty HorticultureAgentDaphneRichards1600-BSmithRoad,Austin,Texas78721512-854-9600drichards@ag.tamu.edu

TRAVIS CounTy MASTER GARdEnER ASSoCIATIon 2013 ExECuTIVE BoARd

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ThisissueoftheCompostBinhasbeenpublishedthankstothecontributionsofthefollowingTravisCountyMasterGardenersandWizzieBrown—TexasAgriLifeExtensionPhotographers:Liath Appleton BruceLeander Contributing Writers:JaNetBarkely-Booher WizzyBrown FrankieHart PattyLeander HeidiRoure

© 2013TravisCountyMasterGardenersAssociationwww.tcmastergardeners.orghttp://travis-tx.tamu.edu512-854-9600

Editor and Layout:Liath Appleton Webmaster:Paula Middleton

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