the compost bin - aggie horticulture · harvest. however, back in my own garden the squash vine...

A Publication of the Travis County Master Gardeners - A volunteer program of Texas AgriLife Extnsion

The Compost Bin

The Compost Bin May 2011

Inside this Issue....

• MayMeetingSpeaker-BobRose• ThePresident’sMessage• IntheVegetableGarden• WinterAftermathSurprises• Drought-ResistantGardenBook

• Help,I’mAPlantNerd!• GardeningwithBambi• GardenPlantExchange• SpiderIdentification• ComingEvents

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Williteveryrainagain?When?Areweheadingintoanothersuperhotsummer?Gardenersarealwaysconcernedabouttheweath-er. Analyzingandpredicting theweather ismeteorologistBobRose’sjob!Bob,thechiefmeteorologistatLCRA,willtouchonthereasonsfortheunusualweatherinCentralTexasbutwillconcentrateonthetypicalweatherweexperience includingextremeswehaveexperienced.Hewillpresentinformationabouttheclimateandwhyitappearstobechanging.

Mr.RosegraduatedfromTexasA&Min1979withaBachelorofSciencedegree inMeteorology. BeforeBobgraduated,hewasemployedasWeekendMeteorologist,KBTX-TV,Bryan,Texas(ABC/CBS). Hewasresponsible for the forecasting,preparationandpresentationof10PMweekendweathercasts.InSeptember1980hewaspromotedtoPromotionManagerandPublicServiceDirectoratthestation.

InFeb.1988BobbecameMeteorologist,KVUE-TV(ABC),Austin,Texas.Inthispositionhewasresponsibleformorningandmiddaynewscastsfor4years.Hewasresponsibleforweekendnewscastsfor3years.BobpreparedaweeklyastronomicalreportcalledSkywatch,anddidoccasionalscienceandenvironmentalreporting.From Jan. 1995 to the present Bob Rose has been the ChiefMeteorologist for theLowerColoradoRiverAuthority. He isre-

sponsible fordaily forecastofweatherconditionsaffectingLowerColoradoRiverBasinandElectricalServiceArea.Heworkswithareaemergency management officials along with city and stateagencies.EachdayheproducesawrittenforecastandblogaboutCentral Texasweather that appears in LCRA’swebsite and theAustin-AmericanStatesman.

Bob’sprofessionalmembershipsincludetheAmericanMeteorologi-calSociety(TVSeal#501). He ispastpresidentof theCentralTexasChapter,AmericanMeteorologicalSociety. HealsoservesontheBoard forPrivateSectorMeteorologywiththeAmericanMeteorologicalSociety.

Mr.RoseregularlycontributesreportstotheNationalDroughtMonitor.HeisamemberoftheSouthernClimateImpactsPlanningProgram(SCIPP)aswellasCoCoRaHScoordinatorforTravisandWilliamsonCounty.

MasterGardenerMeetinginformation:Wednesday,May4th,2011startingat7pm.

ZilkerBotanicalGarden

May Meeting Speaker — Bob Rose


Hello Master Gardeners:A Message From Your President

WhoHasSeenTheWind?

Whohasseenthewind?NeitherInoryou.Butwhentheleaveshangtrembling,Thewindispassingthrough.

Whohasseenthewind?NeitheryounorI.Butwhenthetreesbowdowntheirheads,Thewindispassingby.

ChristinaRossetti“TheGoldenBookofPoetry”(1947)

Weareinthemiddleofabadnightmare,springwithnorain,highwinds thatshouldbecontained inWestTexasand theriskofwildfireoutbreakseverywhere.Notanidealspring,buthereweareandhereweonwardgarden!

Ihaveanabsoluteplethoraofbirdnests.Babybirdshoppinginsideofbirdhouses,inmy‘Mrs.B.R.Cant’rose,inmyrosearbor and even one little momma bird patiently sitting onsixtinyeggsinanabandonedpotinsidemygardencottage.Theyareeverywhere!Springissuchajoywhenitcomestowatchingnaturerenewitself…evenifIamonconstantalertwatching the fragilenests swingbackand forth ingustsofwind.Neitherofusstopourpursuit,theywithfeedingtheirlittleonesorhangingoninsidetheirnestofpreciouseggsandIwithmyhoeorpitchfork.

Tomatoes are beginning to produce little green ones. Thisyear’s cropwill come from ‘BlackCherry’, ‘BlackKrim’, ‘BigBeef’,‘CherokeePurple’,‘CrimsonCarmello’,‘Juliet’and‘SunGold’.Surelythatwillprovideenoughforthetwoofus.Basilisgrowingnearbyinthenewherbarea…ifonlyMichaelwouldletmebuyagoat!Dinnercouldbeservedsoeasily!

Ihavesquash,zucchini,chard,onions,cucumbersandlovingto travel, have both Italian and Frenchgreenbeans. Let’shopehalfofthemmakeittoourdinnertable.I’llkeepyoupostedonprogress.

Mybloomersarebloomingandmakemehappywiththeirwildarrayofcolor.Theyaremylove;myroses,iris,wildflowers,etc.Evenwithabadbackandagardenfullofrocks,Ipushonward to create the garden that I envision. Perhaps it isthequestthatkeepsmegoing.Whoknows!Butagardenerunderstandsand,withthisinmind,IamverymuchlookingforwardtoourupcomingInsideAustinGardenTouronMay14th. If you have not yet volunteered andwish to do so,pleasecontactLinkDavidsonasheisinchargeofthisyear’sevent“WaterWiseGardening.”Aperfectthemeforthisyearofnorain!Comeout,tourthegardensandlearnmoreaboutthisimportantsubject.

Happywindygardening!CarolynWilliams

Aboveleft:Mommabirdfeedinghernestfullofbabies.Aboveright:Acosynestinanoldflowerpot.PhotosbyCarolynWilliams.


Andnowwewait!Theseedhasbeensown,theplantshavebeentendedandnowwewait for thatfirstcucumber,potato,squashor tomato.GamblerswhoplantedinFebruaryorearlyMarchmayhavealreadygottenanearlyrewardofaquick-maturingsquashorcucumber.IattendedLinkDavidson’sexcellentpresentationonIntegratedPestManagementat theHomewoodHeightsCommunityGardenonApril9andafterwardswentonasearchforsquashvineborereggswithseveral other attendees.We could not find a one, but we did findsomebeautifulsummersquash,seededinFebruary,perfectlyripeforharvest.However,backinmyowngardenthesquashvineborermothhasbeenveryactiveasIamfindingeggsonafewsquashthatIdidnotprotectwithrowcover.Thefemalemothisquickmoving,butIamperseveringandsofarhavebeenabletodispatchatleastthreemothswithmylow-tech,hard-workingflyswatter.Theleaf-footedbugsaregraduallystartingtoappear,soIamonthelookoutfortheeggcases,hopingtoeliminateseveralwould-beadultsatonce.

Ifyouplantedpotatoes inFebruaryyourplantsshouldbe largeandvigorous bynow. Potatoes are edible at any stage of developmentso try digging a few new potatoes late in themonth. Strawberrieshave probably seen their best days, so once your plants beginto wane it is time to pull them out. We tend to have better luckgrowingthemasannualsfromfallthroughspringthantryingtonursethemthroughahellacioussummer.

Heatloverslikeokra,sweetpotatoesandSouthernpeascanbeplantedanytimethismonth,butthesoonertheygetestablishedthebettertheywillbeabletowithstandtheheatthatistocome.

In The Vegetable Garden

by Patty Leander

Left:Leaf-footedbugnymphsandeggcases.AboveRight:QuickandeasyIPMtool.MiddleRight:SquashVineboreradultLowerRight:NewpotatoesreadyfortheskilletPhotosbyBruceLeander.


It iscritical tomulcheverythinggrowing inyourgardentohelpconservemoistureandregulatesoil temperature.Overthesummer,themulchwillgraduallybreakdownandenrichthesoilforfutureplantings.Tokeepvegetablesgrowingvigorouslyfertilizelightlywhenthefirstfruitappearandagain3-4weekslater.Ageneralrecommendationis1cupoforganicfertilizerper10’ofrow.Ifyouhaveasmallgardenwithonlyafewplants,workin1-2tablespoonsoffertilizerperplant.

Thisspring’sseverelackofrainhaszappedsomeoftheenjoymentfromgardening,butthis,too,shallpass.IsolatedstormsarepredictedasIwrite,soperhapsreliefisinsight.Considerarainwatercollectionsystem,nomatterhowsmall,andconservewaterbyusingdripirrigationratherthanoverheadsprinklers.Andremembertowaterthesoil,nottheplant.

In The Vegetable Garden Continued...

Left:Nootherstastebetterthangrowingyourownstrawberries!Right:Oneofthegoodguys—aladybuglarvae.Below:Ripetomatoesandcucumbersareontheway.PhotosbyBruceLeander.


Eventhoughmonthshavegoneby,Istillcan’tsaygoodbyetosomeoftheplantsIlostduringournastywinterfreezeandhopethatagardeningmiraclewillhappenandmyLoquat,Bougainvilleas,Plumbago,Cycadswillspringtolife(evenahintoflifewouldbeawelcomesign).BelowthesadremainsofayoungLoquat.

Buttomysurprise,it’snotallbadnewsinthegardenafterwinter’sbrutalblast!

Herearesomeofmywintersurprises:

A bumper crop of self-seeded (left) edible purple lambsquarters/tree spinach (Chenopodium giganteum) and some (middle) variegated ornamental peppers and (right) native sunflowers(Helianthuspetiolaris?).

Winter Aftermath Surprises

by Anne Van Nest


Andsomeperennialsandshrubsthatlovetohavecoldwintertemperaturesarebloomingmuchbetterthantheyeverhave:Achillea ‘PeachySeduction’ (left), Penstemon ‘Prairie Twilight’ (right) anda variegated roseofSharon ‘SugarTip’ (Hibiscus syriacus‘SugarTip’)(middle).

And lastly, the poor prickly pearcactus that collapsedandfloppedall over the front walk from theexcessive cold has recoveredand sent out a ton of new pads(shownherewiththeeverreliableJerusalemsage(Phlomis fruticosa)ontheright).Andbloomingbetterthan usual is a Verbena hybridcalled ‘Princess Dark Lavender’(right).

Winter Aftermath Surprises Continued...

PhotosbyAnneVanNest


Announcingtheupcomingreleaseof...

CreatingaDrought-ResistantGardeninCentralTexas

NewlyupdatedbyTravisCountyMasterGardener’s

LaunchingMay14thattheInsideAustinGardensTour.$24.95(245pages)

WithcontributionsfromDaphneRichards,TexasAgriLifeExtensionService,CountyExtensionAgent—Horticulture.TravisCountyMasterGardener’s:VickiBlachman,SusanDecker,CherylHarrison,SherillNilson,HollyPlotner,MandaRash,SteveReynolds,MarianStasney,DonTelge,AnneVanNest,BeckyWaak,andCarolynWilliams.

PhotographsbyBobBeyer,DebbieHyde,BruceLeander,PattyLeander,MikeMcGiffin,MarianStasney,AnneVanNest,andCarolynWilliams

ThankstoVickiBlachmanandJaNetBarkley-Booherfortheirtitlesuggestions.

CentralTexasisawonderfulplacetoliveandgarden.Italsocanbeachallengetokeepplantshealthyandhappywhentheweatherturnshotanddry.

TheTravisCountyMasterGardenersAssociationhasharvestedabountyofadvice,facts,listsandtipsspecificallyforgardenerswhoaredealingwiththechallengesofdroughtanddryweather.Itispossibletocreateabeautifulgardenwhilesavingapreciousnaturalresource—onedropofwateratatime.

Filledwithcollectivewisdomfromlocalgardeningexperts,Creating a Drought-Resistant Garden in CentralTexasisaboutsurvivingandthrivingwhenMotherNaturebringsdryweather.Includedarewaystoconservewaterinthegardenwithoutsacrificingtheentireareatoano-water”zero-scape“areaofstone,desertcactiorsun-witheredsucculents.Theprinciplesandtipsoutlinedinthisbookareimportant,notonlyforthedrought-proneregionofCentralTexas,whereoutdoorwaterrestrictionsareongoing,butalsoforanywheregardenerswanttobemorewater-conscious.

Drought-Resistant GardenDrought-Resistant Garden

The Travis County Master Gardeners Association

Creating a

in Central Texas

The Drought-Resistant Garden Book

Creating a Drought- Resistant Garden in Central Texas includes:

•Planning and Design• Improving the Health of Soil•Selecting Appropriate Plants (with numerous plant lists) •Creating Practical Lawn Areas•UsingEfficientIrrigation•Applying Mulches•Watering Appropriately


Help I’m a Plant Nerd!

by Felder Rushing

FromthegardenexperienceofFelderRushing.

Ithitmetheotherdayand,goingintowashup,foundasprigofrose-marysoakinginawaterglassonthekitchensink.Ihadslippeditintomyshirtpocketafeweveningsearlierduringa“date”withdaughterZoeatanupscalerestaurant,promisingtorootitforherwhenwegothome.Somebodyhelpme!

Haveyoueverboughtplantsyoudidn’tneed,orreallyevenwant,butjustcouldn’tresist?Ihavesetpotsandevenentireflatsofflow-ersonthedriveway,andwateredthemforweeksandmonthsuntiltheyeventuallyjustmeltedaway,becausetheresimplywasnoplacetoplantthem.

I supposeoutsiders could seeourpassionas tamewhen com-paredsuperficiallywith,say,indoorsoccer(“dryhockey”)orNascarracing.ButIdon’thavetoexplaintorealgardenershowfastaheartratecangetfromafewpullsonthestarterropeonarecalcitrantgasengine,orhowsweatdripsfromoureyebrowsaswetossbulbsandmulchintofreshly-preparedsoil,orhowitchyfireantstings(andevenpoisonivy)canbe,betweentoesandfingers.Orhowourheartssingwhenwediscoveradelicatedetail,flavor,fragrance,orotherbonusinanewfoundplant.

Andgardening isaddictive.WecouldevencomposeaGardenersAnonymousTwelveStepProgram.Icanhearitnow:“Hi,mynameisFelder,andIamagardener...”(Inunison,theothergardenersinthegroupreply“Welcome,Felder,wearegladyouarehere.Comebackoften.”)

“Igardenedjustthismorning.(“Amen.”)Pulledafewweedsonthewaydowntopickupthemorningpaper,andbeforeIknewit,foundmyselfdividingdayliliesandrepaintingafencepost.ComingtothisGAmeeting,Ifoundamailordercatalogundermycarseat,andpeoplebehindmeatthestoplighthadtohonktogetmyattentionbackontheroad.”

“Ineedhelpwithmygardening.Ican’tstoponmyown.AndIamsorryformyfamilythat,eventhoughIdon’townabassboatorbelongtoagolfclub,Ididspendmylastpaycheckonshrubbery,anewgreenhousedoor,andabigbucketofMiracleGrow...”

Soundclosetohome?Here’sasimpletesttoseeifyouareagardennerd:

• Yougrowtenormoredifferentkindsofthesameplant(rose,daylily,daffodil,iris,Africanviolet,camellia,tomato,whatever),andknowtheirnames(extrapointsifthey’relabeled).

• Yousubscribetothreeormoregardenmagazines,andkeepasmallshovelinyourcartrunk.Turnyourcompostweekly.Buybirdseedbythefiftypoundsack.OwnapairofFelcopruningshears(bonuspointsfortheclip-onleatherscabbard).

• Vegetablesaregrowinginyourflowerbeds.Youmowaroundaweedbecauseithasprettyflowers,ortosaveaplacetohideEastereggslater.

• Haveyoueverwillinglytakenatourofagardenbyflash-light?Doublebonuspointsforluringguestsoutsideafterdark(“Hey,wannaseesomethingreallyneat?”).Doweneedtosearchyourpurseorcameracaseforpurloinedseeds,afteravisittoabotanicalgarden?

• Extrapointsifyourcuticlesaredirtyrightnow.Andlast,butnot least, triplepointsofyouwouldappreciateaspecialsomeonesendingyoualoadofmanureforananniversary...

I’mnotsuggestingwegardenersshouldquit—thoughweallclaimwecan,anytime.ButmaybeourmottoshouldbeEasyGrowIt,orsimplyOneFloweratATime!

ThankstoLizCaskeyforthesuggestiontoreprintthisarticlefromFelderRushingthatwasintheSeptember2008CompostBin.


Gardening with Bambi

by Bob BeyerGardeningwithdeerisalove/haterelationship.Welovelivingamongandseeingwildlife,butwitha“stayoutofmygarden”rule.Whyaredeersuchaproblemtogardeners?Destructionoftheirnaturalhabitat has led to their adaptation to our suburban environment.Vehiclesdomoretocontroldeerpopulationthannaturalpredators.Whenoverpopulationresults,deerwilleatanythingwhentheyarehungryenough.Inaddition,maledeerantlerrubbingdamagesandcankillyoungtrees.

Understandingdeerispartoftheresolutiontothisproblem.Theirprimaryfood istenderbroadleafplant leaves,twigs,andbranches— but not grasses. They are territorial and have habitual trafficpatternsthattheyfollowwithintheirarea.Thehungrieradeergets,themoredifficultitistocontrol.Summerandearlyfalltendtobeaperiodoffoodshortagesanddeerarenaturallycurioustosamplenewplantings.

Someotherthingsforthegardenertoconsider isthatornamentalplantsmay lose theirdeer resistancecharacteristics throughplantbreeding. For example, the Lantana you buy at a nursery maybe hybridized and not as resistant to deer as the smellier nativeLantana.Sometimesnewgrowthmaybenippedbuttherestoftheplantuntouchedsincetheyfavortendernewgrowth.Deerexposureto human presence and their comfort level with being aroundhumansmakesitmoredifficulttowardthemoff.Neverfeeddeer.Unestablishedplantswithtendergrowthpullupeasilyifnippedsomay need temporary protection until the roots “dig in.” And didyouknowthatdeerareStateofTexasproperty(TPWD)?Assuch,itisillegaltokill,trapandrelocateorinjuretheseanimalswithoutexpresspermitfromtheTexasParksandWildlifeDept.

Allthisbegsthequestion,“Howdowemanagedeer”?Therearefourmainmethods.1.Useofnon-preferredlandscapeplants—theleastexpensiveandmosteffectiveway.2.Tall(8ft.)physicalbarriers&fencing—themostexpensivebutaneffectivemethod.

3.Motion-activatedscaredevices.Thesearegoodinvestmentsandfairlyeffective.4. Scent-based repellants. Themost expensive and least effectivewaytorepeldeersincetheyrequirecontinuousreapplication.

Let’sfirst focusontheplantsdeerdonotprefer. Thesehavefivecharacteristics:astrong,unpleasantodor;bitter,disagreeabletaste;prickly,stiff-texturedfoliage;fuzzy(pubescent)foliage;haveamilkysapwhichiscaustic&/orsticky.Someexamplesfollowbutrememberthatthisisjustaverysmallsamplingofdeer-resistantplants.

Deer-resistant plants with unpleasant scents include: Rosemary,Mexican Oregano, Copper Canyon Daisy, Mexican Mint Marigold,Sanolina,Lantana,WaxMyrtle,Sumac,oranystrongscentedherbs.


Gardening with Bambi Continued...Plantswithunpleasanttastesinclude:TexasMountainLaurel,FlameAcanthus,Thryallis,BlackfootDaisy,Esperanza,Plumbago,ShrimpPlant,TexasBetony,DesertWillow,RockRose,Skullcap,Columbine,Coreopsis,Eleagnus,MockOrange,Sage,andFloweringSenna.

Plantswithpricklyortoughfoliageinclude:Agarita,BasketGrass,Fragrant Mimosa, Fan Palms, Cacti, Yucca, Pomegranate, Holly,Agave,andSagoPalm(reallyaCycad).

Plants with fuzzy foliage include: Artemisia, Black-eyed Susan,Lamb’s Ear, Coneflower, Wooly Butterfly Bush, Wooly Stemodia,TexasSage,andGermander.

Plants with sticky, caustic sap include: Oleander, ConfederateJasmine,Euphorbiafamily,andArizonaCypress.


Whenlookingatlistsofdeer-resistantplant,therearenoguaranteesthattheyaredeer-proof—rememberdeerwilleatanythingifhungryenough. You should placewire fencingup to 8’ to protect youngtreesuntiltheyreachatleast6”diameterorputbarriersaroundnewplantingsuntilestablished.Considercostvs.benefitinthechoiceofthemethodyouuse.Italldependsonyourindividualcircumstances.Learntolivewithandenjoywildlife.Thegoalistominimizedamage,noteliminateit.Becomefamiliarwithdeerpopulationhabits.Assessyourneedsforplantprotection—haveaplan.

Somegoodresourcestohelpyougardenwithdeerinclude:

1.TheCityofAustin“GrowGreen”book,52pages,freeatgardencenterswithinAustin.

2.GrowGreenProgram:DeerResistantDesignPhamplet—freeatgardencenterswithinAustinorpostedontheGrowGreenwebsite.

3.Website: CityofAustinGrowGreenProgram—www.ci.austin.tx.us/growgreen

4.TexasCooperativeExtensionArticle“GardeninginDeerCountry”

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/travis/docs/gardening_in_deer_country.pdf

Enjoyournativewildlifeandhaveabeautifulgardenat thesametime.Itispossible!

UsedwithpermissionfromtheGardeningInCentralTexasblogwww.centraltexasgardening.blogspot.com

Gardening with Bambi Continued...

GardentoGardenPlantExchangeScheduledforMayMeeting

Iknowit’shotanddry,butit’stimetogetreadyfortheplantexchangeaftertheMaymeeting.Andasyoucleanupyourgardensforthespring,potupthoseextraplantsthatwouldmakeyourgardeningfriendshappy.Inaddition,plantobringthoseextrasseeds,gardenmagazines,potsandothergardeningsuppliesthatyou’dliketoshare.Don’tforgettolabelyourplantsandplease,nomuddymesses.Also,doplantotakehomeanyofyourplantsoritemsthatdon’tfindahome.Inordertogetabetterselectionofplants,prizeswillonceagainbeawardedforthemostcovetedplantandthebestlabeledplant!Ifyoucanhelpout,eitherbeforethemeetingand/oraftertheexchange,pleaseletmeknow,[email protected]

LizCaskeyandFrankieHart

Above:Abountifularrayofbloomsincludingpoppies,larkspurandLouisianaIrisaresweetseasonalrewardsinCarolyn’sgarden.PhotosbyCarolynWilliams.


Spider Identification

by Wizzie Brown

Spidersarearachnidsandcanbedistinguishedfrominsectsbycountingbodyregionsandlegs.Spidershavetwobodyregionsandeightlegswhereasinsectshavethreebodyregionsandsixlegs.

Allspidershavefangsandvenom,butthemajorityofspidervenomdoesnotreactwithourbodychemistryinanegativeway.Itisgoodtothinkofspidersasbeneficialorganismsthathelpreducepestpopulationswithintheenvironment.

Here’sabreakdownofsomecommonspidersthatyoumayfindinyourbackyard.

Wolfspiders(Fig.1.)arelargespiderswithbrown,blackorgreycoloring.Thesespidersoftenhavestripesonthebody.Wolfspidersareoftenfoundonthegroundandaresolitaryspidersthatprefertohuntatnight.Femalescarrytheeggsacundertheabdomenuntiltheeggshatch.Spiderlingsclimbonthemother’sabdomenforashortperiodafterhatchingfromtheegg.Webbingisspuntoprovidedaytimeshelter,nottocaptureprey.

Greenlynxspiders(Fig.2.)arelarge,brightgreenspiderswithspinesontheirlegs.Abdomensaresometimesanelongatedovalshape.Theyarehuntersthatarefoundonshrubsandotherlow-lyingvegetation.Thesespidersdonotuseawebtocapturepreybutwilltrailadraglinewhenjumping.

Right:Wolfspider(figure1)Left:Greenlynxspider(figure2)


Spider Identification Continued...

Jumpingspiders(Fig.3.)comeinavarietyofsizesandcolors.Manyarestockyinbuildwithbrightcontrastingcolors.Thesespidersaredaytimehunterswithgoodeyesight.Theywilltrailadraglinewhenjumpingandmaybeseendanglingfromthedraglinewhentheymisstheirtarget.

Thomisidcrabspiders(Fig.4.)haveasomewhatflattenedshapeandthefronttwopairoflegsareelongated.Thespideroftenholdsthefronttwopairsoflegsoutandslightlyraised,similartothewayacrabholdsitsclaws(hencetheirname).Colorcanvaryfromdrabcolorstoverybrightcolors.Mostcrabspidersdonotrelyonawebtocaptureprey.Theyareambushersandwillwaitmotionlessonflowersforpreytocometothem.Crabspiderscanwalkforwards,backwardsortothesidewithease.

Orbweavers(Fig.5.)comeinavarietyofsizes,colorsandshapes.Orb-weavingspidersproducethewell-knownflatornatewebthatcomestomindwhensomeonesays“spiderweb.”Thewebiswellorganizedandofteninaroughcirculargridpattern.Thesespidersneeduprightstructures-fences,trees,shrubs,etc.—tobuildtheirwebs.Orbwearvershavepoorvisionandrelyontheirwebtocaptureprey.

AboveRight:Jumpingspider(figure3)Left:Thomisidcrabspider(figure4)BelowRight:Yellowgardenspider(figure5)


Spider Identification Continued...

Cobwebspiders(Fig.6.)aresmalltomediumsizedandcomeinavarietyofcolors.Theseareoftenmistakenwithsomeorbweavers,andoftenit’sbesttolookatthespider’swebtotellthedifferencebetweenandorbweaverandcobwebspider.Cobwebspiderscreateawebthatappearsmessyanddisorganized.Theabdomenofcobwebspidersisusuallylargerandmoresphericalthanorbweaverabdomens.Thesespidersarepredatorsthatusetheirwebtocaptureprey.

Tarantulas(Fig.7.)areverylarge,hairyspidersoftenmorethan3incheslong.Texastarantulasareusuallybrownorblackincolor.Tarantulashideduringthedayunderrocks,burrowsorothershelteredareasandemergeatnighttohunt.Webbingmaybeusedtolinetheburrow.

Reclusespiders(Fig.8.)areaboutthesizeofaquarter(includinglegs)andtantodarkbrownincolor.Theyhaveaviolinorfiddleshapedmarkingontheirback.Theeyepatternisverydistinct—threepairsofeyesinasemicircleatthefrontofthehead.Thesespiderspreferdark,secludedareasandusuallyhideduringthedayandhuntatnight.

Toavoidbeingbittenbyspiderswhileworkinginthegarden,itisrecommendedthatyouweargloves.

Above Right: Black widow spider (a type of cob webspider)inwebwithcapturedgrasshopper.(figure6)Left: Texas brown tarantula molting (shedding itsexoskeleton).(figure7)BelowRight:Reclusespider(figure8)


Gardening in Deer Country

Saturday, April 30, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

SteinerRanchBellaMarCommunityCenter

12401BellaMarTrail,Austin,Texas78732

DeerpopulationsinCentralTexasareagrow-ing problem as suburban neighborhoodssprawlintoournaturalareas.Asdeergrowaccustomedto livingaroundpeople, theydomoredamagetogardensandlandscap-ing.Inthisseminaryouwilllearnaboutdeerbehaviorandhowtomanagetheminyourenvironment.

MasterGardenerSueNazarwillequipyouwithinformationaboutnon-preferredplants,chemicalrepellants,scaretechniquesandde-vicestohelpyoudeviseastrategyforyourownproperty.

Thisseminar is freeandopentothepub-lic. It is presented by the Travis Coun-ty Master Gardeners, a volunteer armof the Texas AgriLife Extension Servicein Travis County. www.tcmastergarden-ers.org. Formore information see www.tcmastergardeners.orgor call theMasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.

Austin Community Garden Tour

Sunday, May 1, 2011, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

ThroughoutAustin,Texas

Please join the Coalition of Aus-tin Community Gardens and Sustain-able Food Center for the Second AnnualAustinCommunityGardenTour,onMay1st.TheCommunityGardenTourisafree,openhouse-styletourprovidingtheopportunitytovisiteachoftheseuniqueplaces,talktothegardenersthere,learnhowtogetinvolved,andmaybeevenstartyourown.Wehopeyou’ll joinus incelebrationof thesecom-munityspacesfor locallygrown(andself-grown!)foodinAustin.Adownloadablemapofparticipatingcommunitygardenswillbeavailableherehttp://communitygardensau-stin.orgsoon.

CloseoutthetourwithaPanelandPotluckfrom6-8:30p.m.at5604Manor(homeoftheWorkersDefenseProjectandThirdCoastActivistResourceCenter).Speakerswillshareinformationaboutthecurrent landscapeofcommunitygardeninginAustin.Bringadishmadewithlocallygrownfood!Spaceislim-ited,ifyou’dliketoattendthePanelandPot-luck,visitwww.facebook.com/home.php#!/event.php?eid=170433056342051toRSVP.Formore informationcontactSariAlbornozatsari@sutainablefoodcenter.orgofcall236-0074.

Inside Austin Gardens Tour Saturday, May 14, 2011, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Throughout Austin, Texas

TheTravisCountyMasterGardenersAssocia-tion, incooperationwiththeTexasAgriLifeExtension Service of Travis County, willhosttheInsideAustinGardensTour2011onSaturday,May14,2011, from9:00amto4:00pm.Thisyear,thetourfocusesonwater-wisegardening. GardeningthroughaCentralTexassummercanbetrying.Atthesametime,escalatingwaterratesandmandatory restrictionshavemadeawa-ter-sappingplantpaletteoragrass lawna luxury or an impossibility for many.Increasingly,CentralTexasgardenersareturningtowater-wisetechniques,nativeandadaptedplantselections,andvariousprinci-plesofxeriscaping.TheInsideAustinGardensTour2011will includegardensthatfeaturerain-watercollectionsystems,dripirrigation,xericandnativeplantselections,raingardens,shadegardens,andwater-conservingprac-tices.Eachgardenwill featureeducationalsessionsthroughouttheday.

Ticketscanbepurchasedateachgardenontheeventdateat$10fortheentiretourticketor$5forasinglegardenentry.Please,nodogs.Consultwww.tcmastergardeners.org/what/gardentour.html for information.Savethedateforaday-longlookatwhatothergar-denersaredoingtoweathertheheatandconservewater.You’llbegladyoudid.

Coming Events


ComingEvents Continued...

How To Read a PlantSaturday, May 21, 2011,

1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ReaganCommunityGarden(atReaganHighSchool)

7104BerkmanDrive,Austin,Texas78752

Discover the needs of your vegetables byobservingthephysicalconditionoftheplant.Need water, has a disease, infested withpests?Manypractical tipswillbesharedbyMasterGardenerstoimproveplanthealthandvegetableproduction. ParkatNelsonFieldStadiumandentertheReaganHighSchoolgrounds from the St. Johns Avenue fenceopening and proceed to the garden (neartheBerkmanandSt.JohnsAvenuesideofcampus).

This seminar is freeandopen to thepub-lic. It is presented by the Travis Coun-ty Master Gardeners, a volunteer arm ofthe Texas AgriLife Extension Service inTravisCounty.Formoreinformationseewww.tcmastergardeners.org or call the MasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.

Propagate Your Own PlantsMay 21, 2011,

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

SunsetValleyCityHall

3205JonesRd.,SunsetValleyTX78745

Learninghowtopropagatefromexistingplantsisagreatwaytofillyourgardenorpassalongfavoritestoyourfriends.JoinMasterGarden-ersTommieClaytonandSusanJungwhowillteachyouhowtomakecuttingsanddivisionsandsuccessfulstrategies forstartingplantsfromseed.You’llalsogettipsonhowtotrans-plantandcareforyournewplantstogetthemofftoagoodstartwhenplacedinthegarden.

Thisseminar is freeandopentothepublic.It ispresentedbytheTravisCountyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.www.tcmastergardeners.org

Plant Propagation

Friday, June 3, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

TravisCountyAgriLifeExtensionOffice

1600-BSmithRd.,Austin,Texas

Plantshavedevelopedmanymethodstoensuresurvival.Learnpropagationtechniqueswhichtakeadvantageofsomeofthesemethodstocreatemultipleplantsfromasingleplant.Dis-covertheimportanceofthepropagationmedia,moisture,light,humidity,temperature,rootinghormoneswhichensuresuccess.Examplesofpropagationbyseeds,leafandstemcuttingswillbecovered.

This freeseminar ispresentedbytheTravisCountyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.

Formore informationseewww.tcmastergar-deners.orgorcalltheMasterGardenerPublicGardeningHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.


Rain Gardens

Saturday, June 18, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

ZilkerBotanicalGarden

2220BartonSpringsRoad,Austin,Texas78746

Excessstormwatercarriesurban landscapecontaminantsintostormdrainsandsoilerosioncausessedimentstoaccumulateinourwaterresources.Dr.DottyWoodson,WaterResourcesSpecialistwithTexasAgrilifeExtension,willtellushowtoprotectstreams,riversandlakesbybuildingaraingarden.

Theselovelygardensareattractivelandscapefeaturesplantedwithperennialnativeplantsdesignedtoabsorbstormwaterwhichfiltersit throughplantrootsandsoilmicroorgan-isms.Attendthisfreepresentationandyou’llbereadytomakeyourownbeautifulsolution.

Thisseminarisfreeandopentothepublic.ItispresentedbytheTravisCountyMasterGarden-ers,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExten-sionServiceinTravisCounty.www.tcmaster-gardeners.org.Formoreinformationseewww.tcmastergardeners.org or call the MasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600

The Joys of Container Gardening

Friday, July 15, 2011, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

TexasAgriLifeExtensionOffice,

1600-BSmithRd,AustinTX

Bloomingflowersandvegetablescanthriveinacontainer!Thisgardeningmethodises-peciallyusefulifspaceislimited.Contain-ersmayalsoserveasaccentpointsonthepatioorinthegarden.Learnhowtoselectacontainerandtherightsoil,discoveridealcontainerplants,andwitnessarrangingtech-niquesyoucanreplicatetocreateyourownmini-garden.

Thisseminarisfreeandopentothepublic.ItispresentedbytheTravisCoun-tyMasterGardeners,avolunteerarmoftheTexasAgriLifeExtensionServiceinTravisCounty.Formoreinformationseewww.tc-mastergardeners.orgorcalltheMasterGardenerHelpDeskat(512)854-9600.

ComingEvents Continued...


CarolynWilliams,PresidentMandaRash,ImmediatePastPresidentRosalieRussell,VicePresidentforProgramsCherGroody,VicePresidentforEducationMargarineBeaman,VolunteerCoordinatorforProjectsRichardMoline,Co-VolunteerCoordinatorforTraineesPatMokry,Co-VolunteerCoordinatorforTraineesSusanJung,SecretaryMaryLouBell,Co-TreasurerFerneMizell,Co-TreasurerBarbPowell,MembershipDirectorDorothyAkin,GreenhouseManagerChrisGiaraffa,GreenhouseManagerVickiOlson,GreenhouseManagerJoePosern,AustinAreaGardenCouncilRepresentativeJackieJohnson,StateCouncilRepresentativeTommieClayton,StateCouncilRepresentativeVacant,DirectorofPublications

PastPresidents(Non-voting):

BillBaldwinBillBoytimSusanCashinTommieClaytonSusanDeckerDonFreemanMandaRashPeggyStewartBeckyWaakWillWalker

ExOfficioMemberoftheBoard(Non-voting):

TexasAgriLifeExtensionTravisCountyHorticultureAgentDaphneRichards1600-BSmithRoad,Austin,[email protected]

TRAVIS CouNTY MASTER GARDENER ASSoCIATIoN 2011 ExECuTIVE BoARD


ThisissueoftheCompostBinhasbeenpublishedthankstothecontributionsofthefollowingTravisCountyMasterGardenersandWizzieBrown—TexasAgriLifeExtension:

ContributingWriters:

© 2011 Travis County Master Gardeners Association 512-854-9600 Visit the websites: www.tcmastergardeners.org and http://travis-tx.tamu.edu

EditorandLayout:AnneVanNest

Webmaster:PaulaMiddleton

BobBeyerLizCaskeyFrankieHartPattyLeanderRosalieRussellAnneVanNestCarolynWilliams

The End... Time for a Rain Dance!

the compost bin - aggie horticulture · harvest. however, back in my own garden the squash vine...

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