1

The Garden Fence

Harford County

Master Gardeners Monthly Newsletter

September 2018

I got recruited for a new job last August at Eden Mill – for the next few weeks, I will be counting monarch butterfly caterpillars and milkweed plants near the Eden Mill Nature Center Butterfly Garden. I’ve learned much about the monarch – information seems to bump into me, available from Park Ranger talks at various locations and from publications. This seems to be the season of the monarch, a milkweed butterfly in the family Nymphalidae, subfamily Danainae. Here are some facts I gathered about the monarch that you may not know and I realize MG’s are a knowledgeable group! Other common monarch names, depending on the region, include Milkweed, common tiger, wanderer and black-veined brown butterfly. The name "monarch" may be in honor of King William III of England. Monarch flight has been described as "slow and sailing”. Monarch flight speed has been estimated by a number of researchers as being approximately 5 mph. For comparison, the average human jogs at a rate of 6–8 mph +.

The monarch can actually be found world-wide. In the Americas, the monarch ranges from southern Canada through northern South America. It has also been found in Bermuda, Cook Islands, Hawaii, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands, in the Solomon Islands, New

Inside this Issue

President’s Message 1

Garden Book Ideas 2

Passionflower Vine 3

Cover Crops 5

Movie:

Hometown Habitat 7

Calendar of Events 11

Officers

Ellen Haas

President

Anne Spelman

Vice President

Wendy Doring

Carol Linthicum

Secretary

Greg Murray

Treasurer

Quick Links Harford County Extension

Office

Home & Garden Info

Center

MG Hours Online

President’s Message

2

Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Australia, the Azores, the Canary Islands, Gibraltar, the Philippines, and North Africa. It has even appeared in the United Kingdom as an accidental migrant. The monarch even traveled to space - monarchs were transported to the International Space Station and were bred there.

One variation of the monarch is pure white, and is called (not surprisingly) the “white monarch,” and is known to lepidopterists as nivosus. This version is grayish white in all areas of its wings that are normally orange. The white monarch has been observed in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the United States, where it is only about 1% or less of all monarchs. However, in Oahu, Hawaii, it is found in quantities as high as 10% of all monarch butterflies at that location. So why the high numbers of white monarchs in Oahu? Two clever researchers (Stimson and Myers) hypothesized in 1984 that the main monarch predator in Oahu, the bulbul birds (Pycnonotus jacosus and Pycnonotus cafers), can’t see the white monarch as easily as it can see the orange version. This interpretation is supported by observations from other Hawaiian Islands where the white form occurs at a relatively low frequency or is lacking on islands without bulbuls. Now that you know these monarch butterfly facts, please enjoy the remaining part of September!

Usually, I read a lot in the winter. This year’s rain, rain, and RAIN, and constant repetition of TV programming, have given me more time to read. I find out about interesting new reads while driving and listening to NPR, 88.1. I have a “chicken scratch” list in my notebook and go looking for these titles at the library. It brings me great satisfaction to when I find one of them and mark it off the list. It makes a game of it!

One from my “chicken scratch” list was also published as a movie “Prince of Tides”. I could not find the book. Years later I heard a repeat interview with the author, Pat Conroy and finally went searching for the book and found it in paperback. I would rather have a Large Print hardback! But I am so glad I read it. The fiction book is very dark in places, but full of well- researched facts about nature as well.

On my current Christmas list is “The Living Landscape” by Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy. It is a wonderful “how to” guide to layering our landscapes for plant diversity and interesting wildlife. The book jacket publicizes the theme as “designing for beauty and biodiversity in the home garden”. It is a beautifully laid out “go to” book for us all. Some examples include:

Chapter two – The Community of living Organisms: Why inter-relationships matter more than numbers.

Chapter four: The art of observation

Chapter Five includes applying layers in the home garden and also includes a list of plants for our mid-Atlantic region.

I have read both of these garden author’s before, but this great collaborative book was released in 2014 by Timber Press. We are fortunate to have Professor Doug Tallamy many times at our Master Gardener Advanced Training Programs. He is such an inspirational speaker. I credit his lectures with quadrupling the bird population in my landscape.

Another enjoyable garden book author is Felder Rushing.He is a Southern gardener with an enjoyment-based approach.

Ideas for new garden books

3

I do not remember how I came to own his book “Tough Plants for Southern Gardens” originally published in 2003, the same year I began my journey with Master Gardeners. Reading this book intensified my love for cobalt blue bottles.

Rushing’s newest release is titled, “Slow Gardening” A No-stress Philosophy for all Senses and Seasons.” The forward is written by Roger Swain of “Victory Garden” fame. It is full of quotes from other gardeners. Some quotes that I enjoy are “Every garden is a chore sometimes, but no real garden is nothing but a chore.” - Nancy Grasby and “Gardening is the purest of human pleasure.” – Francis Bacon.

Or try Felder Rushing’s Gardening Southern Style which reflects his down-home manner. You probably won’t agree with everything he says, but will enjoy a chuckle along the way.

And finally...

“Why is it that so many of us persist in thinking that autumn is a sad season?

Nature has merely fallen asleep, and her dreams must be beautiful if we are to judge by her countenance.” – Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Submitted by Melody Karbley ‘03

While at Bethany Beach I hiked a wildflower meadow at the James Farm Ecological Preserve only to find this native gem climbing over the native grass and wildflowers. The showy 2-3” flowers display themselves like plates of delicious tropical fruit! You can detect the fragrance while walking past. The flowers are loved by pollinators and depend on the insects for their seed production. This plant is a valuable addition to a wildlife garden. In Maryland the plant will host the Variegated Fritillary butterfly, Euptoieta claudia. In southern states the plant will host numerous other species of butterflies. Purple passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) is a native vine found as far north as upstate New York and south to Florida. Hardiness zone 5-9. It is a fast growing perennial vine with gorgeous frilly, unique, purple flowers. Flowers appear throughout the summer and last only a short time. References say the flower lasts one day.

The Passionflower vine is vigorous but only marginally hardy here in Harford County. Judging by the numerous vines in the field near Bethany Beach it is obviously hardy at their site. If you choose to grow it, provide a sheltered site for overwintering the root system. The compound leaves will die

Passionflower Vine

4

back to the ground each year (herbaceous) in our climate. Or as MG Linda Baker does every year, bring it indoors to overwinter. The 1” seed pods look like seed balls and will pop when crushed. Thus the nickname of the plant is Maypop! The fruits turn yellow when mature and are edible! Owners in southern regions comment on the vine’s resiliency and ability to ‘pop up’ everywhere. Ripened maypops can be eaten fresh off the vine or made into jelly. One species of the passionflower is used to make passionfruit juices (Passiflora edulis flavicarpa).

Growing the vine is easy due to its flexibility adjusting to full sun, part shade dry or wet soil. Provide a trellis for the clinging, twisting tendrils. In the field we observed the vines using the nearby milkweed plants and wildflowers for trellising! The plant can reach 8’ in length and the glossy 3-lobed, green leaves are easily propagated by tip cuttings. The plant is also easily seed propagated. Seldom does the plant experience disease or insect infestations. One reference said the foliage is protected from insect feeding by its internal chemical warfare system (cyanogenic glycosides). The complexity of the flower morphology is easily viewed in the photos. The floral bracts contain adhesive glands in which tiny insects may get stuck. The science reasoning for this is unknown. Many of you are probably acquainted with the Christian symbolism associated with the flower In the late 1500’s Roman Catholic priests believed that several parts of the complex flower symbolized the passion of Christ. For example the circle of hair like rays above the petals suggested Jesus’ crown of thorns.

If you want to find some free passionflower seeds, I am sure one of our Master Gardeners can help you! Submitted by Joyce Browning

Harford County Master Gardeners are currently collecting garden related items for a fall auction fundraiser. We typically do this at the Holiday meeting but due to space problems we are trying something new! Please take your slightly used, but resalable items, to the Extension Office or directly to the home of Susan Schluederberg. Find her address in your directory. Email Susan with your questions. sschlueder@aol.com

The fundraising auction will occur at the October monthly meeting 7 pm.

Octoberfest Master Gardener Fundraising Auction

5

Print: (PDF) GE006 Improving Your Soil with Cover Crops

Farmers around the world grow cover crops to increase crop yields. Cover crops, also known as green manures, are an excellent tool for vegetable gardeners, especially where manures and compost are unavailable. They lessen soil erosion during the winter, add organic material when turned under in the spring, improve soil quality, and add valuable nutrients.

Popular fall-planted cover crops include oats, winter rye, winter wheat, crimson clover and hairy vetch (see the chart at the end of this fact sheet). The latter two crops are legumes- plants that can add a lot of nitrogen to your soil after they decompose. These crops are typically planted as early as August 15, but no later than October 10. They should make some growth before the first hard frost. Some cover crops (oats and daikon radish) are killed by cold winter temperature, but most go dormant and resume growth in the spring. Cover crop roots grow deeply into the soil pulling up nutrients that might otherwise leach out of the soil. The crops are turned into the soil before going to seed, usually sometime in late April or early May. Other cover crops, like buckwheat and Dutch white clover, are sown in the spring or summer to cover and improve bare soil.

Cover Crops – Protect and Improve Your Soil

Woodland Education Course @ HCC

6

Winter wheat seeds planted in the

walkway. Asian greens planted on the

raised beds.

Early November. Cover crop and edible

crop growing together. Winter wheat can

tolerate some foot traffic.

Mature Asian mustard greens ready

to harvest. The winter wheat cover

crop will prevent erosion and improve the

soil when it is turned under in the spring.

These are some suggested steps for experimenting with cover crops this fall:

Decide which cover crops to plant. Combine legumes and non-legumes when possible. Sow oats if this is your first time trying a cover crop or if you want to be able to plant early spring vegetables. Oats are killed by the first hard freeze, leaving a brown decomposing mat in spring.

Purchase seed locally if possible from a farm supply store or garden center. You can also order cover crop seeds from most retail seed companies. (See the end of HG# 70 “Recommended Vegetable Cultivars for Maryland”.)

To sow a cover crop over an entire bed: Prepare the soil by tilling under or removing plant

wastes and mulch from the summer. Then rake the area smooth. To sow a cover crop while vegetable crops are still producing: Remove mulch from around

plants and rake the area smooth. Your cover crop will get a good start but will not interfere with vegetable plant growth.

Now let’s plant: The seed must directly contact soil to germinate. Use the amount of seed shown in the chart. Broadcast the seed by hand or with a hand-held broadcast seeder, preferably before a rain, and gently rake seeds evenly into the soil. Then walk on the seeds to press them into the soil. Mixing seeds with soil or compost will make it easier to distribute the cover crop seeds evenly by hand.

Winter wheat and winter rye will produce massive root systems- great for breaking up tight, clay soil. They are also difficult to turn under in the spring unless you have access to a tiller.

Remember that spring planting may be delayed somewhat by a cover crop (except for oats and daikon radish), since you must allow about 2 weeks for the plants to break down.

Be a good steward of the earth by planting a cover crop this fall.

7

.

Sara Hendrickson from North Harford High School was awarded $1000 from the Harford County Master Gardeners. This young lady is a go-getter with her many interests in all areas of environmental science! Sara’s capstone school project involved forestry research, she earned her certification as a Professional Horticulturist with the Maryland Department of Agriculture and her excellent grades made her well deserving of our assistance.

Renowned entomologist Doug Tallamy is featured in this film which raises awareness about the critical role native plants play in the survival and vitality of local ecosystems. The 90 minute video shows inspiring stories of community commitment to conservation landscaping. These gardens illustrate Tallamy’s vision by showing how people and nature can co-exist with mutual benefits. Location: Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Street MD 21154 4603 Rocks Rd. (2 miles north of the Rocks) Date: Thursday, September 13, 2018 Time: 7-8:30 pm Open to the public and free admission. “Pot luck” refreshments appreciated This program counts toward Master Gardener Continuing Ed. Sponsored by Sam Jones avid botanist and community horticultural activist.

September 8 & 15, 2 sessions 10 am– 2:30 pm

Plant Disease Management, Mt. Cuba Center Gardening with nature requires knowledge of the various pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and viruses that affect native plants and the environmental conditions that lead to infection. Become your own plant health detective and learn the signs and symptoms of the most common plant diseases in our landscapes. Study disease life cycles and discuss management strategies for prevention and control, then implement them in your garden. This class qualifies for the following professional credits: 7.5 APLD, 7 DE Pest Credits, 2 CNP credits with DNLA, ISA, PA Pest Credits, and PLNA. Bring your lunch. Click here to register. Fee: $130.00

Training Opportunities

Movie Showing: Hometown Habitat –Stories of Bringing Nature Home

Andrea Case MG Scholarship Recipient 2018

8

Opens September 10 - 6-week online course

Trees, Shrubs, and Conifers

Longwood Gardens is partnering with North Carolina State University to provide a unique fully online survey of plants. These courses will expose you to plants that can be grown throughout the nation. The use and key identifying characteristics of these plants are shared through photo stories, presentations, online fact pages, and beautiful images. Each course includes 4-month access to the living collection at Longwood Gardens. Bring proof of course registration for admission and get the opportunity to view these plants in our seasonal displays and permanent collections.. 610-

388-5454 or click here Fee: $179 September 11 9:00 am

In The Garden Series: Turf Management, Ladew Gardens Learn advanced gardening skills directly from the professional gardeners who keep Ladew looking beautiful in these “behind the scenes” gardening demonstrations.410-557-9570. Fee: Members: $10 Non-members: $25 September 11 10:00 am

Fall Lecture Series: The Unexpected Houseplant, with Tovah Martin (with book sale), Ladew Gardens Get ready for the Houseplant Revolution. What the world needs now is more green close by – and houseplants are the answer. These aren’t your grandmother’s dowdy, dusty versions... these are houseplants with panache! Tovah Martin is an accredited Organic Land Care Professional through NOFA, an honorary member of the Garden Club of America and the recipient of their medal for outstanding literary achievement. Reservations should be made in advance and accompanied by payment. 410-557-9570. Fee: Members: $25 Non-members: $35 (Optional lunch $15, by reservation) September 27 10:00 am

Fall Lecture Series: Heroes of Horticulture: Americans Who Transformed the Landscape, with Barbara Paul Robinson (with book sale), Ladew Gardens Here are the vibrant stories of eighteen contemporary heroes of horticulture – institution builders, plant explorers and garden creators who have all had a major impact on the American landscape. Over the course of their careers, these heroes have worked to preserve and enhance our public spaces, setting new standards for aesthetics and encouraging wider public participation. Reservations should be made in advance and accompanied by payment. 410-557-9570. Fee: Members: $25 Non-members: $35 (Optional lunch $15, by reservation)

9

September 27 5:00 Dinner, 6:30 Lecture

Fall Lecture Series: Invite the Hidden Kingdom of Native Bees to your Property, with Sam Droege, Ladew Gardens We know so little about the 'minor nation' of insects, as Emily Dickinson aptly observed; it is a vastly unexplored universe we walk by daily. Wild bees occupy that universe to the tune over 400 species in Maryland. Come and look into their world through extreme macro photographs, crazy details of their lives, and learn the simple tricks it takes to invite these bees to your garden. Sam Droege has spent most of his career studying wildlife at USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. He has coordinated the North American Breeding Bird Survey Program, developed the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program, the Bioblitz, Cricket Crawl, and FrogwatchUSA programs and worked on the design and evaluation of monitoring programs. He is currently developing an inventory and monitoring program for native bees and online identification guides for North American bees at www.discoverlife.org. Reservations should be made in advance and accompanied by payment. 410-557-9570. Fee: Members: $40 Non-members: $50 September 1 - December 15

Becoming a Steward of the Land Online or Paper Course, UME Forestry Certification Course This is a non-credit course with no formal classes – work from the comfort of your home using your own woodlot, a friend’s or a public forest. The course covers how to protect your trees from insects, diseases, and fire; step-by-step procedures walk you through a forest inventory and stand analysis; and the details of the forestry business are presented, including tax nuances and the sale and harvest of forest products. Ultimately, the course exercises help you develop the framework for a stewardship plan for your forest. To learn more about the course and/or to register, go to extension.umd.edu/forestry-course. There you can read a lesson from the text, view an interactive exercise, read through detailed course information and FAQs. For more information contact Nancy Stewart at 410-827-8056 x 107, or email at nstewar1@umd.edu. Fee: $150 September 5 - November 20

The Woods in Your Backyard Online Course, UME Woodland Stewardship Education The self-paced, non-credit course will help landowners convert lawn to natural areas and enhance stewardship of existing natural areas. Based on the guide of the same name, the course provides strategies to landowners and managers of small parcels of land that improve the stewardship of their property for personal enjoyment and environmental quality. It uses a hands-on learning approach to help participants develop and implement a plan for their property. Activities include how to map habitat areas, understand basic ecological principles about woodland and wildlife, choose and implement a few habitat management projects, and how to set a timetable and record your progress. Online discussion groups will allow participants to interact with others taking the course. A certificate of completion is awarded when all assignments are completed. includes the 108-page “Woods In Your Backyard” guide, workbook, and a tree identification guide. For more information, go to https://extension.umd.edu/woodland/woods-your-backyard/online-course. Registration opened July 30, 2018 and is limited to 25 participants. Fee: $85.00 October 4 6:30 pm

Pollinator Garden Workshop Series: Why Natives & Sheet Mulching Penn State Extension, York Participants will learn why native plants are vital for pollinators. We will cover sheet mulching and walk participants through the simple, no pesticide, no till steps for preparing the planting area. Master Gardeners will be available for individual assistance in assessing your future garden site. Soil test kits are suggested, but not required, and may be purchased during class. Call 1-877-345-0691 to register. Fee: $25.00

10

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Cookies Summer often brings more zucchini than you can use right? And sometimes, you just "need" a good old-fashioned chocolate chip cookie. This will certainly fill that need while using up some garden bounty. This recipe credit goes to the I Am Baker blog. Servings 4 dozen Ingredients 1 cup Butter, room temperature 2 cups Granulated sugar 2 Eggs, beaten 4 cups All-purpose flour 2 tsp. Baking soda 1 tsp. Salt 2 cups Grated zucchini 2 cups Chocolate chips (semi-sweet or dark) Instructions 1. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. 2. With the mixer on low, add eggs one at a time until incorporated. 3. Gradually add flour, baking soda and salt into butter mixture. Mix well. (Note: this dough is quite dry before you add the zucchini, which is how it should be) 4. Squeeze excess water from zucchini with a paper towel but do not drain entirely. Stir into the dough. 5. Fold in chocolate chips (Note: I like a LOT of chocolate chips so I usually use closer to 3 cups) 6. Chill dough 1-2 2 hours. (Note: I chilled the dough, covered with plastic, overnight and it worked out perfectly) 7. Heat over to 350 degrees F. 8. Using a small ice cream scoop, drop cooking onto a parchment lined cookie sheet two inches apart. 9. Bake 10-13 minutes until golden around the edges. (Note: baking time depends on the size of your dough balls and how chewy or crumbly you prefer your cookies) DO NOT overbake! 10. Let cook 2-3 minutes then remove and place on rack or towel to cool completely.

2018 4-H Horticulture Judging Team at the MD State Fair

More Squash than 1 man can use?

11

Joyce Browning | Urban Horticulturist

Master Gardener Coordinator | Harford County Office

The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic

information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

Calendar of Events

Sept 15 10:15 am – 12 pm Garden Series: Bulbs BA Library

Sept 15 10 am – 12 pm Ask a MG Plant Clinic Abingdon Library

Sept 16 1-5 pm Farm Visitation Day Clear Meadows Farm

Sept 18 9-9:30 am Weed Warriors Eden Mill

Sept 19 1 pm MG Study Group: Book Discussion

RSVP only Ag Center

Sept 22 2:30-4:30 pm Invasinators Anita Leight

Sept 27 11 am-1 pm Wellness Fair HCC

Sept 27 10 am Steering Committee Ag Center

Oct 2 1:30-230 pm Brightview Brightview Assisted

Living

October 4 7 pm Evening Monthly Meeting and

Fall MG Auction Ag Center