the compost bin - aggie horticulture€¦ · native texas gardens: maximum beauty minimum upkeep...

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

December 2010The Compost Bin

In this issue ... In the Vegetable GardenPoinsettias - Symbols of the Holiday SeasonBagwormsPresident’s Message

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The Compost Bin December 2010

Inside this Issue ...

• ThePresident’sMessage• IntheVegetableGarden• Bagworms• Poinsettias—SymbolsoftheHolidaySeason

• 2010TCMGABoard

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Master Gardener Christmas Party: Wednesday, December 1st, 2010 starting at 7 pm. Zilker Botanical GardenPlease try to car pool.

TothefollowingExecutiveBoardmemberswhoaresteppingdown,Ijustwishtosay“ThankYou”forallyourhardworkandcontinuedsupportthispastyear.YourdedicationtoTCMGAismuchappreciated!Carolyn

Thankyouto:MartyBerdanVickiBlachman

JoKautzBonnieMartinSherrillNilsonBeckyWaak


Hello Master Gardeners:

A Message From Your President

A Gardener’s Wish List for Santa

Insteadoftryingtocomeupwithmyowngardeninggiftideasfortheupcomingholidayseason,Idecidedtoletmanyofyousavvygardenersgivemesome“helperhints”regardingyourfavoritegardeningtool,bookandblog.Hopefully,thiswillhelpallofyouwithsomeideasaboutwhattogiveafellowgardenerorwhattohinttoyourownSantaaboutwhatmightbenicetofindunderyourtree!And,ifyoufindyourselfwithsomefreetime,thefollowinggardeningblogsarereallygood.Perfectforwinterreadingwithacupofcoffeeorhotchocolate!

Tool Suggestions to Put Under the Christmas TreeTitaniumcoatedratchet-styleprunersFelcopruners(severalvotesforthese)TrowelsJapanesepullsawsforpruningAll-purposemixingtub(flat,rectangularandplastic)Fireman’shosenozzleGreenhandledergonomictrowelGardenforkwithmetalshaftand“D”handle(shortandtoughenoughfortightspaces)Shorthandled26”shovelwithmetalshaft&“D”handleFloatingrowcoverAtlas,SunGriporleathergardeningglovesSturdywheelbarrowJoyceChenscissorsLightweight,loose-fittingpairofmen’spajamapantsw/pocketsHandheldbugzapperGardenbenchwithsoftpaddingSharpshooterspadeRadiusProstainlesssteeltransplanter&weeder


A Message From Your President Continued...

A Wish List of Gardening Books

The Passion for Gardening—KenDrusePlant-Driven Design: Creating Gardens That Honor Plants, Place, and Spirit — Scott Ogden & Lauren Springer Ogden(severalvotes)Designing with Succulents—DebraLeeBaldwinThe Education of a Gardener—RussellPageGardening Success with Difficult Soils: Limestone, Alkaline Clay and Caliche Soils—ScottOgdenGarden Bulbs for the South—ScottOgdenTCMGAGarden GuideTexasGardener’sAnnualPlantingGuide&CalendarOrtho Problem SolverRemarkable Plants of Texas—MattTurnerWhat’s Wrong with My Plant — David Dearorff & KathrynWadsworthAnimal, Vegetable, Miracle—BarbaraKingsolverElements of Garden Design—JoeEckMen and Gardens: A Delightful Tour through Gardens & Garden Writing Of The Past —NanFairbrotherA Gentle Plea for Chaos: Reflections from an English Garden —MirabelOslerPark’s Success with Seeds—AnnReillyThe Complete Compost Gardening Guide —BarbaraPleasant&DeborahMartin

Favorite Gardening Blogs to Visit Frequently

Vert—SuzanneHurley(http://vertaustin.blogspot.com)EastSidePatch—PhilipLeveridge(www.eastsidepatch.com)GreatStems—Meredith(www.greatstems.com)GardenAustin—MarcOpperman(http://gardenaustin.com)CentralTexasGardener—LindaLehmusvirta(www.klru.org/ctg/blog)Renee’sRoots—ReneeStudebaker(www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/gardening/index.html)Playin’Outside—VickiBlachman(http://playinoutside.blogspot.com)Digging—PamPenick(www.penick.net/digging)ConsciousGardening—CherylGoveia(http://consciousgardening.blogspot.com)


Asformyself,IreallylikemyownFelcopruners,butmyalltimefavoritehelperismylittleRadioFlyer9Awagon.Justtherightsizetomaneuverinandoutofsmallplacesandstillcarryaheftyload.Itisnowconsidered“vintage”,butthenagain,soamI.Webelongtogether!!

Myfavoritegardeningbooksare:The Organic Rose Garden—LizDruittThe Southern Heirloom Garden—WilliamC.Welch&GregGrantNative Texas Gardens: Maximum Beauty Minimum Upkeep—Sally&AndyWasowskiand(anoldfavorite),Mrs. Whaley and her Charleston Garden—EmilyWhaley&WilliamBaldwin.Ofcourse,IusemyTCMGAGardenGuideconstantly!

Hope you find some enjoyment out of what your fellowgardeners find usefuland entertaining.Hopeeachandeveryoneofyouwillalwayscontinueyourloveofgardeningand….Hope you have awonderful HolidaySeason!!Hoe...Hoe...Hoe!!Carolyn

A Message From Your President Continued...


ItmaybeDecemberbutIamalreadythinkingabouttomatoesandwhichvarietiestostartinJanuaryfortransplantinginspring.Newtomylistthisyearare‘Pineapple,’alarge,yellowheirloomthatwaspopularattheAustinFarmers’Marketthispastsummer,‘JTO-99197,’aredhybridfromJohnny’sSeed,boastingresistancetoearlyblightand‘BlackCherry,’adark,sweetcherrywithanheirloomtaste.Returningforarepeatperformanceare‘VivaItalia,’adeterminatepastetomato,and‘JuaneFlammé,’anorangeFrenchheirloomwithasweet taste.CheckoutJohnny’sSeed(www.johnnyseed.com),TerritorialSeed(www.territorialseed.com)andTomatoGrower’sSupplyCompany(www.tomatogrowers.com)fortheseandotherselections.

Making a simple sketch of your garden beds will help you visualize your space and determine howmany plants you canaccommodate.Seedcatalogs,suchasJohnny’s(www.johnnyseeds.com)andSouthernExposure(www.southernexposure.com)aregoodsourcesofinformationonplantspacingandgrowthrequirements.AnothergoodsourceofvegetablegardeninformationistheEasyGardeningseriesfromAggieHorticulture:http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/publications/guides/E-502_home_vegetable_guide.pdf.

In The Vegetable Garden

By Patty Leander

Above:‘VivaItalia’TomatoesLeft:Patty’sVegetableGardenPlanPhotosbyBruceLeander


Andsincewearetalkingaboutvegetables,Ihaveafunweblinkforyou.It’sashortvideothatintroducesyoutotheVegetableOrchestra, a remarkable group of creativemusicians fromViennawhomakemusic out of, you guessed it— vegetables!Entertainingtowatch,evenifyouaren’tavegetableaficionado:www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpfYt7vRHuY

Repetitivegardeningtaskspresentaperfectopportunityforcontemplation,andthatoftenleadsmetoreflectupongardensandgardenersinmylife,past,presentandfuture.Iambynomeansapoet,butrhymesareeasytocomeupwithasItoilinthevegetablegarden,andonedayIputmyrhymestopaper.Ihopeyouenjoythis“poeticinterlude,”andthatyoufindinspirationfromyourowngardenexperiencesandrecollections.Bestwishesforabountiful2011!

Trials and Treasures in a Vegetable GardenPattyGlennLeander(aka“VeggieWoman”)

Theseason’sfirstfreezemarchedtowardthisgreatstate,Gardenerswerehustling,beforeitgotlate;Cropsmustbeprotected,theycannotwithstandTheTexasBlueNorthertosoonbeathand.

Weknewcoldwascoming,whydidwedelay?Couldhavedoneallthisworkonabright,sunnydayInsteadwewearcoatsaswecoverourcropsBattlingdarknessandwindasthetemperaturedrops.

TherowcoverhasholesandIdon’thaveenough,Thewindgustsarefierce,it’sgonnaberough.TempsinthetwentiesnotgoodformypeasLet’shopeit’senoughtokillthemitesandthefleas.

Goodbyemightyokra,mykingoftherow,Noneedtobebrave,it’stimetoletgo,

In The Vegetable Garden Continued...

‘JuaneFlammé’TomatoesPhotobyBruceLeander


ButcomebacknextsummerforanothergreatshowOnthegrill,dippedincornmealandinthegumbo.

Adioscucumbers,squash,greenbeans,andpotatoesWe’llseeyounextyear,alongwithtomatoes.PeppersandmelonswilladdtothefunAhome-grownharvesttopleaseeveryone.

Thankgoodnessforcollards,turnipsandbeets,Theyscoffatcoldweather;makemightygoodeats.Broccoli,cauliflower,spinach,lettuceandpeas,ForthesecoldhardyplantsIgivethanksonmyknees.

Theykeepusgoingthroughwinter,andnourishourbonesAstheycookonthestovetoptheywarmupourhomes.MyGrandmaandPopPoplovedgreenswithpotlikkerYoushouldeatthese,theysaid,they’regoodfortheticker.

Trueenough,Iwastaughtit’saSoutherner’streatTofortifyveggieswithalittlepigmeatAndtoeatblack-eyedpeasoneachNewYear’sDayFortheyhavethepowertobringfavorourway.

TheloveofagardenpasseddownyeartoyearTheessenceofcultureandfoodweholddear.OnedaymygardeningonearthwillbedoneButthetreasuresremain,intheheartsoftheyoung.

In The Vegetable Garden Continued...

There’llbemusicandjoyasIenterthegate,Comein,Hewillsay;donothesitate.Yourkinfolkarehere,yourdad’sinthechairreadin’,Therestareoutback,intheGardenofEden.

VeggieWomanPhotobyBruceLeander


Bagworms

by Wizzie Brown

Tistheseason….forbagworms?I thoughtthis topicmightbeappropriatesincesomeofyoumayventureouttogetaChristmastreesoon.

Bagwormsareatypeofmoth.Theyformsmallcasesthatholdlarvae,pupaeorfemaleadultsandeggs.Thesecasesareoftenfoundonevergreentreesandshrubssuchascedar,juniper,cy-pressorpine.Thebagsmayalsobefoundonbroadleafedtreessuch as elm, apple, boxelder, maple, persimmon,sycamore,willowandothers.

Thecasesareconstructedfromsilkandplantmaterial.Plantmaterialisgenerallylaiddownsimilartoshinglesonahouse,overlapping plantmaterial in layers. Different species ofbagwormsutilizedifferentplantmaterialtocreatethebag.

Newly hatched larvae spin a silken thread and either arecarriedtoanewplantbywindorattachthemselvestotheplanttheyareonandbegintobuildtheirownsilkenbag.Thebagsbecomelongerasthelarvaeinsidegrows.Bagsaretransport-able;thelarvaewillcarrythemalongwiththemastheymovealongtheplant.

Asimplewaytomanagebagworms istohandpickthebagsoff thetree,doublebaganddisposeofthem.If thismeth-od is impracticalduetotreesize, insecticidecanbeused.Chooseaproduct labeledfortrees. Possibleactive ingredi-entsincludethingssuchasBacillus thuringiensisvar.kurstaki,spinosad, insecticidalsoap,neem(azadirachtin),pyrethrins,pyrethroidsorcarbaryl.Ifthetreeistoolargeforyoutotreatwithinsecticides,hireaprofessionalwithproperequipment.

Hereisalinktomoreinformationorimages:http://landscapeipm.tamu.edu/ornamentals/trees_shrubs/bag-worms.html

TopBagwormemergingfromitscaseBottomBagwormattachedtoplantPhotoscourtesyofWikipedia.


It just wouldn’t be Christmas without thepoinsettia. And in case you have forgottenyourpoinsettiafactssincelastyearhere’sarefresher onwhat you need to know aboutthisfestiveplant.

Whether poinsettias are in the traditionalvelvetyredcolororanyofthenewstreaked,spotted or dyed forms of plum, peach,blueberry,orangeorcranberrycolors,theseplantshelpsetthestageforagreatholidaycelebration.

Forallthecheerthatpoinsettiasbring,thereare still some people that look upon thisfestiveplantaspoison. Stop, let itbesaidup front — poinsettias are not poisonous!This myth started almost ninety years agoin Hawaii and amazingly still continues tothisday. ApparentlyanArmyofficer’stwo-year-oldchilddiedaftersupposedlyeatingapoinsettialeaf.ThePhysicianwhomadethediagnosislaterrealizedhehadidentifiedthewrong plant. He had planned to return tothe mainland to correct his error when hesuddenlydied(unrelatedtopoinsettias)andthe story spread and spread. Although itwaslaterdeterminedtobeacaseofincorrectplantidentification,manypeoplestillbelievedthatpoinsettiasarepoisonous.

As recently as 1995, sixty-six percent ofpeoplesurveyedbytheSocietyofAmericanFlorists believed that poinsettias werepoisonous even though there was a lot ofevidencetodisprovethismyth.ResearchersatOhioStateUniversitytestedtheeffectsofingestinghighdosesofleaves,stemsandsapandfoundtheplantnon-toxic.

Poinsettias — Symbols of the Holiday Season

By Anne Van Nest

RightTop:StrawberriesN’CreamMiddle:WinterRoseRightBottom:VisionsofGrandeurLeftTop:RedGlitter(NEW)LeftBottom:JubileeRed(NEW)PhotoscourtesyofEckePlants.


In the United States, the POISINDEXdatabase has extrapolated evidence fromexperiments done on animals that suggestthat a fifty-pound child could eat 500 ormore poinsettia leaves with no ill effects.Thiswasthelimitoftheirtesting.Asurveyof United States poison control centers in1995resultedinnoreportsoftoxicreactionsinvolving poinsettias. This seems like anoverwhelmingamountofevidencetosupportthenon-toxicnatureofthepoinsettia.

Many familieswithsmallchildrenstill shunthis plant because of the advice passeddownthroughthegenerations fromfriendsorrelatives.Perhapsitisbecausethename“poinsettia”soundsalotlike“poison”.Theplantisnotentirelyharmless,though.Somepeopledeveloparashifthemilkysapcomesin contactwith their skin. On thepositiveside,poinsettiashavebeenincludedonalistofplantsthatcleanindoorair.

Even with the myth about poisonouspoinsettias, they are a $200 million peryear business in the United States. Ofthemillionsofplantssold, red is themostfavorite poinsettia color. A whoppingseventy-fourpercentofpoinsettiasaresoldinthis traditionalholidaycolor. Thisfigurehas actually gone up recently (but is stilldown froma high of 80%). Trailing at avery distant second is the color white. Itis followedbypink,marbleandthen jinglebells(pinkwithwhitesplashes).

Poinsettias are named after Joel RobertsPoinsett,whowasanavidbotanistandalsothefirstUnitedStatesAmbassadortoMexicoin the late 1820’s. Most people believe

that Poinsett discovered the poinsettiawhentravellingonChristmasDaynear theSouthernMexico city of Taxco. Thebrightredplantwasbelievedtobedecoratingthenativitysceneinachurchhevisited.

In 1828, Ambassador Poinsett exportedthe bright red holiday plant to his owngreenhouses in Greenville, South Carolinawheretheywerepropagatedanddistributedtohishorticulturalfriends.Theplantsteadilygained popularity. Today, over fifty-twomillion poinsettia plants (of 100 differenttypes) are sold in the United States. Thisexceedstheannualsalesofallotherfloweringpottedplantscombined.Poinsettiasmakeaverygoodlandscapeplantinfrost-freeareasandcanbeusedasaninterestingcutflower.

The poinsettia was first called Euphorbia pulcherrima in the botanical world. It wasnamed by a German taxonomist in 1833.Literally, the botanical name means “themost beautiful Euphorbia.” In Florida thisplantgrowsuptofivefeettallandnaturallyblooms every December. It is hardy tozone9andwillonlygrowoutsideyear-roundin themostsouthernregionsof theUnitedStates.

Interestingly, it isnot thepoinsettiaflowerthat is so colorful. The flowers are thesmallyellow“buds”attheverycenteroftheplant.Ayoungplantstillhastheseflowersintact.Thefamouspoinsettiacolorisreallyfrompetal-likebracts thatarebeneath theflowers.Bractsaremodifiedleavesthatareassociatedwithaplant’sflower.Thebractschangefromgreentothebrilliantcolors inresponsetotemperatureanddaylength.

Whatdoesahealthypoinsettialooklike?Itshouldhavehealthy leavesdown thestemto the soil. Poinsettias drop their leaveswhen they have been shocked by a colddraft. A thick, sturdy stem is another signof a well-grown plant. The bracts shouldbe a deep, rich, intense color that is notgreenish or faded. Finally, look under theleaves forwhite flies. These small insectsare a prevalent problem and are attractedto poinsettias (among other plants) like amagnet.

Thenumberonetiptocareforpoinsettiasisto avoid extremes! This includes providing

Poinsettias — Symbols of the Holiday Season Continued ...


protection when taking your plant home.Once home, keep your plants away fromextremesofhotandcoldtemperatures.Theright temperature for a poinsettia is alsoa comfortable one for humans including ahumidity level that is about 30%. Bright,indirectsunlightisbestbecauseastrongsunonthebractscouldfadetheircolor. Whenwatering, keep the soil moist but not toowetortoodry.Letthesoildryoutbetweenwateringso that it feels slightlydry to thetouch.Thenewervarietiesofpoinsettiasaremuchmoredurableandarefarlessfinicky.Prestige is a deep red poinsettia that isreputedtobethetoughestpoinsettiaofferedbyNorthAmerica’slargestpoinsettiagrower.Thisonewillprobablybearound longpasttheholidays.

What’savailablebesidered,whiteandpinkpoinsettias? If you are not a traditionalpoinsettia lover or want to try a differentcolor this year, look for cream (plus roseand pink colors), peach, striped, marbled,purple,variegatedfoliage,pepperminttwist,eggnog and winter rose (twisted bractsnow in marble, pink, deep pink and darkredcolors)orspotted(suchasShimmerorJingleBells)plants. New is thePolarBearpoinsettia from the Ecke people who aredonating5%ofthenetsalesrevenuetoPolarBear International. The light creamywhitecolorofthepoinsettiamatchesthemajestic

polarbear.And if you likeyourpoinsettiasshockinglynon-traditional,trythedyedandglittered blue, orange, purple or pink. Theadvantageofhavingnon-redpoinsettias inthehouseisthattheydon’tlookquitesooutofplaceatEaster.

What’s new for next year? With growersmaking plans for next year’s crops, thenewsisoutthatyourpoinsettiafuturemightinclude Red Glitter (deep red bracts withwhitestreaksandglitter).

December12thisaspecialdayforpoinsettiafanciers. It has been declared NationalPoinsettia Day. This day is to honor JoelRobertsPoinsett,themanwhostarteditall.Decorateyourhousewithcolorthisholidayseasonandbringhomepoinsettias.

Myfavorite?IhavelonghadafondnessforMonetTwilight(below).Itisauniquemulti-coloredpoinsettiawithcream,roseandpinkbracts.

Poinsettias — Symbols of the Holiday Season Continued...

Above:ChristmasTreephotocourtesyofWikipedia.

Left:MonetTwilightphotocourtesyofEckePlants.


CarolynWilliams,PresidentMandaRash,ImmediatePastPresidentRosalieRussell,VicePresidentforProgramsVickiBlachman,Co-VicePresidentforEducationBonnieMartin,Co-VicePresidentforEducationVacant,VolunteerCoordinatorforProjectsSherrillNilson,Co-VolunteerCoordinatorforTraineesPatMokry,Co-VolunteerCoordinatorforTraineesSusanJung,SecretaryMartyBerdan,TreasurerBeckyWaak,MembershipDirectorDorothyAkin,GreenhouseManagerChrisGiaraffa,GreenhouseManagerVickiOlson,GreenhouseManagerJoePosern,AustinAreaGardenCouncilRepresentativeJoKautz,StateCouncilRepresentativeTommieClayton,StateCouncilRepresentativeVacant,DirectorofPublications

PastPresidents(Non-voting):

BillBaldwinBillBoytimSusanCashinTommieClaytonSusanDeckerDonFreemanMandaRashPeggyStewartBeckyWaakWillWalker

ExOfficioMemberoftheBoard(Non-voting):

TexasAgriLifeExtensionTravisCountyHorticultureAgentDaphneRichards1600-BSmithRoad,Austin,[email protected]

TrAVIS CouNTY MASTer GArDeNer ASSoCIATIoN

2010 exeCuTIVe BoArD


Issuesofthe2010CompostBinshavebeenpublishedthankstothecontributionsofWizzieBrownandLisaAnhaiser—TexasAgriLifeExtension.

© 2010 Travis County Master Gardeners Association

512-854-9600

Visit the websites: www.tcmastergardeners.org and

http://travis-tx.tamu.edu

EditorandLayout:AnneVanNest

Webmaster:PaulaMiddleton

AndthankstothefollowingMasterGardenerswhocontributedarticlesforthe2010issuesofTheCompostBin:

MarkBerthiaume

BobBeyer

LizCaskey

TommyClayton

LinkDavidson

SusanDecker

ElaineDill

ChrisGiaraffa

FrankieHart

PattyLeander

MandaRash

RosalieRussell

AnneVanNest

BeckyWaak

CarolynWilliams

AllphotosinthisissueofTheCompostBin,notattributedotherwiseweretakenbyAnneVanNestatLongwoodGar-dens,KennettSquare,Pennsylvania.December,2006

the compost bin - aggie horticulture€¦ · native texas gardens: maximum beauty minimum upkeep...

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