The Nueces Master G ardeners were biz zy - bi z zy - dur in g Apr il Botanical Gardens BIG BLOOM 2016 - click any picture to enlarge - CLICK THIS for all of them

Driscoll Community Garden - click picture to enlarge - CLICK THIS for all of them

NMG helping KEDTV new studio grand opening - CLICK to enlarge

Ray High School green house still

working - CLICK THE PICTURE Below - At monthly meeting Beth Spirko makes her “Whats bugging your plants” presentation - CLICK PIC

Nueces Extension Agent Jason Ott and Nueces Master Gardener Joanne Salge made the rounds at the TV stations promoting the upcoming Rain Barrel sale. CLICK THE PICTURES below to see the telecasts.

Issue 5 – May 2016

L E A D E R S H I P President

Debra Martin Vice President

Thorunn Kelley Secretary

Beth Spirko Elect- Michelle Scott

Treasurer Theresa Stelzig Elect– Suzy Murray

Ex-officio Deborah Holliday

Members at Large Linda Lamprect Carlos Valdez Sandra Williams

State Directors Betty Rogers Huxley Smith Alt-Karen Easton Alt - Mary Lambert

Gazette Editor John Slusarz

Parliamentarian Carlos Valdez

Hours Coordinator Betty Rogers

Extension Office Lisa Martinez

I N T H I S I S S U E

P1 MG Officers 2016 P2 President’s Corner P2 Agent’s Notes P2 Self Watering Container P3 Botanical Garden Events P3 Volunteer Opportunities P3 Other Happenings P4 Comfrey P4 Bett Rogers Note P4 Extension Search P5 Minster Cookies P5 PicRoster P5 MG Apron & Hats P5 Birthdays P6 What is Garden Council P7 Powdery Mildew P9 Specialist Training P9 JMG Training

P9 Facebook P9 Suggestions P9 Editors Note P9 Disclaimers

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 2

Meeti n g w i th you r p eer s i s a good th in g!

This past week, I had the privilege of meeting with horti- culture agents from across the state in Fredericksburg. We had three days filled with excellent talks, tours and field trips; but what I enjoyed the most was the oppor- tunity to sit and talk to other agents to see what is hap- pening in the different parts of the state.

There are some terrific experts in the state and extension is working hard to add the horticultural expertise that is needed. We toured several wineries and vineyards and I was pleasantly surprised to learn that extension has hired new viticulture agents/specialists.

We also had an excellent presentation on fertilizers, where we learned that organic matter is very important when paired with fertilizer, whether organic or store bought. All in all it was an excellent experience and it makes me proud to know that Texas A&M AgriLife is working hard to keep up with the changes occurring in Texas in horticulture.

H o m e m a d e S e l f W a t e r i n g C o n t a i n e r The concept of a self watering planter/bucket has been around for some time and you can find many different vari- ations in many place. The most common process is simply a 5 gallon plastic bucket set in a identical plastic bucket, with specific modifications.

The modifications create a water reserve and wicking so that the container continually provides water to the plant and dramatically reduces the number of times water has to be added. These are most practical when there is not enough room within a standard garden area or when living in a condo or apartment that has only a small yard area or balcony space. Also, if you have a busy schedule the self watering container provides relief from having to consist- ently monitor container soil moisture and add water.

This picture provides a good example of how it works. The easiest process to make one, that I found, was from Baxter County Master Gar- dener Robert Dunston. To see what he created

CLICK THIS.

Another option is from University of Illinois Extension and includes the option of using

plastic bottles in lieu of the pipe - CLICK T HIS.

Howdy y-all,

Well, it’s May and we should all have our gardens planted and even started harvesting some of our vegetables. But for this gardener it looks like I will have to rely on the charity of others for my fresh veggies. I was too late planting and then the neighbors dogs thought they should dig up everything I put in the ground.

As sad as my vegetable garden is, my flower beds are coming along beautifully. Lots of lilies, vines, roses and hibiscus in bloom. Little surprises in every corner. Our house was vacant for over 10 years and much of the landscaping was over grown or non existing. So with a chance to start anew I did what I thought I should do. Bought a book on landscaping, Texas landscaping. Followed all the beautiful pictures to a Tee. Most of it died, but what did survive is strong.

Earlier this spring my front flower beds were all white. Just like clock work every plant that bloomed white bloomed at the same time. Amazing, then all the lilies started blooming. Orange, yellow, purple, blue and lovely greens. I love lilies. I love them because you can ignore them for years and then bam they are back as the star of the yard.

I really do not have a plan for my yard or gardens. I was talking to another Master gardener and I loved her description of her landscaping, she said it w as more of an experiment than a plan. That is an accurate accounting at my house, an experiment. If someone gives me a plant or seeds I will find a spot. These usually turn out to be wonderful blessings.

Right now I have firespikes on my kitchen counter in water hoping to root so I can add some more color around the water garden out back. Really it’s just an old bath tub with water lilies growing in it, but a girl can dream.

Talking about dreaming, we would love to see your gardens. Let’s have some social time and plan on vis- iting with our fellow masters gardeners at home this summer.

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 3

M A S T E R G A R D E N E R S M E E T I N G S Tuesday, May 17th, at Greely Garden Center

10:00am - Board of Directors Meeting 11:30am - Meet & Greet Over Lunch 12:00pm – Karen Smith and Pat Botkin will

present a program titled Birds and Plants of Blucher Park

12:30pm – General Meeting

Thanks to the volunteers for this meeting; Theresa Stel- zig, Sandra Davis, Jill Barris, Jessica Latimer, John & Va- lerie Balcar

May 7 and 8 - CLICK THIS FOR DETAILS

U P C O M I N G E V E N T S

Fri - Sun, M ay 6-8 - MOMS GET IN FREE Thur, May 5 - ORCHIDOLOGY CLASS 7PM Sat, May 21 - WHAT’S BUGGING YOU? 10-NOON

By Nueces Master Gardener Beth Spirko Sat, May 28 - MARVELS OF MOMMA MARTINS 10-NOON

NOTE - BLACKLOCK’S ADVANCED BIRD ID AND NATURAL HISTORY SERIES HAS MANY ACTIVITIES THROUGHT APRIL - SEE BG CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR DETAILS

For full details & registration information -

CLICK THIS

Check out the VMS Event Calendar for a complete listing of all available volunteer events

O N G O I N G P R O J E C T S COMMITTEE/PROJECT CONTACTS - C L I C K T H I S

R AY H IGH SCHOO L GREE NHO USE Tuesday MG Work- day 9:00-11:00 FO O D BANK PRO JECT “Outgrow Hunger” Tuesdays 7:30a.m. (Except MG meeting day then Wednesday) Contact: Mary Lambert 813-7596 or e-mail her at cwlmel@yahoo.com NAT UR E CO NSER VANC Y Mondays, 4:00pm & Blucher Park 5:00 pm until sundown (Behind the Main Library). Contact: Karen Smith 877-9723 CO URT YAR D AT T HE SEN IOR GAR DEN CENT ER , 1st Monday, 9:15 a.m. Contact: Betty Whitt 991-5375 BO T ANIC AL GAR DENS, Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m.

O T H E R H A P P E N I N G S (GC= Greely Garden Center)

Wed. May 4 Coastal Bend Cacti & Succulent Society, 7pm, GC, 687-6474 Thur. M ay 5 Orchidology Class, 7pm, BG, 854-7624 Fri.-Sun., May 6-8 ”Mothers’ Day Free Weekend / National Public Gardens Day” with free admission for moms. Say “moms love flowers” at the front desk, or go to nationalpublicgardensday.org or to the Bo- tanical Gardens website to download a coupon, BG, 852-2100 Sat. M ay 7 Rain barrel distribution, Tue. M ay 10 Garden Council, 10am, GC, 537-8231 Sat. M ay 14 ”Phillip’s Fun & Functional Outdoor Spac- es” seminar, 10am, Gills on Airline, 992-9674 ”Shore Bird Identification, Alternate Plumage” short course, 9am-12,VB 1-5 field trip, BG, 852-2100 Tue. M ay 17 Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardener Association, 10am, 892 Airport Rd., Rockport, 361- 790-0103 Wed. May 18 Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, 10am, 361-729-6037 Wed. May 25 Plumeria Society, 6:30pm, GC, 813- 9616 Thur. M ay 26 Bromeliad Society, 7pm, GC, 658-8650 Bonsai Society, 7pm, GC, 992-0009 Sat. M ay 28 ”Bring Home the Butterflies” seminar, 10am, Gills on Airline, 992-9674

For the B otanic al Gardens 2016 Full Calendar of Ev ents CLICK THIS

CLICK PICTURE TO ENLARGE

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 4

C o mf re y ( S y m p h y t u m o f f i c i n al e ) Submitted by Nueces Master Gardener Sandra Williams

Comfrey has been used as an herbal remedy for at least 2000 years. It was once used for a variety of ailments, both internally and externally. Such things as sprains, fractures and bruises were treated with comfrey poultices. It was also used to treat stomach problems. The ingredients in comfrey are no longer recommended for internal use, but might be used as an ointment on skin to reduce swelling and bruising for the short term. It contains allantoin, rosmarinic acid, and tannins. Allantoin is known to help cell growth. Comfrey also contains poisonous chemi- cals called pyrrolizidine alkaloids, which can lead to kidney failure and it’s important to know that those chemicals can be absorbed through the skin.

As a gardener, you might be pleased to know that comfrey has its uses in the garden as a mulch, as a fertilizer and as a compost activator. According to Rodale, the leaves have an N-P-K ratio of 1.8-0.5-5.3. Because it has a long taproot, it can draw upon chemicals, such as calcium, from deep in the soil. It thrives in c lay soil! Should it decline in the heat of our summers, it will return from the deep roots. It may be happier planted in partial shade.

Freshly chopped comfrey leaves can be chopped up and placed in planting holes. The whole leaves can be used as a mulch. If your compost doesn’t heat up, the comfrey leaves can be added with other material as an activator. A diluted compost tea made from the leaves and water can be used as either a foliar spray or a drench. As a spray, it may deter fungus. It is a smelly product, so be forewarned. For more information on garden use, go to http:// www .ro daleso rganiclife.com/ CLICK PICTURE TO

garden/comfrey-power. ENLARGE

More information on the historical uses of comfrey can be found in A Mo dern Herbal by Mrs. M. Grieve , Dover Pub- lishing, first published in 1931. Her writings about specific herbs can be found online. The University of Maryland Medical Center, [ http:/ / umm .edu/ health/m edical/ altm ed/ herb/ com frey ] has an up-to-date view of comfrey.

Additional CLICK THIS links - Co rnell Unive rsity Gardening and Missouri Botanical Garden

DI D YOU KNOW - The Cooperative Extensio n System has some excellent online tools that are available to Master Gar- deners. Two, the most useful, of the many resources they have available are the Search and the Ask an Expert. The Search function when asked a question, on virtually any horticulture subject, will retrieve answers from hundreds of Extension services across the US. If, on the unlikely chance, that doesn't work submit your question to Ask an Expert.

This service allows you to search the resources provided by your Coo perative Ext ensio n Serv ice using a Go o gle Custom Search Engine that includes many of the Cooperative Extension web sites provided by your Land-Grant institutions. To try it CLICK THIS or web site - https://search.extension.org/

Ask an Expert is a site where you can get expert answers and help from Cooperative Extension/University staff and volunteers from across the US. To try it CLICK THIS or web site - https://ask.extension.org/ask

In our thoughts and prayers Jackie Martin’s daughter, Lorinda Leah Kirk, recently passed away. Brenda Bishop’s mother recently passed away. Brenda has request that any donations be made to the Food Bank in her mothers name; Wanda Krause.

F R O M B E T T Y R O G E R S T I P S O N R E P O R T I N G Y O U R H O U R S

To earn CE credit, consider researching and writing an original article for the Gazette. It could be about one of your gardening passions or about a botanical garden you have visited on a trip. If you have other ideas, run them by us. FYI - the Gazette strongly recommends you doing this.

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 5

M o n s t e r C o o k i e s Submitted by Nueces Master Gardener Mary Lambert

This is for the cookies that were served at the April Meeting - and there were many request for this recipe. 3 eggs 1 1/4 c brown sugar 1 c sugar 1/2 t. salt 1/2 t. vanilla 12 oz. creamy peanut butter 1 stick butter, softened 1/2 c. M&M's 1/2 c. choc chips 1/4 c. raisins 2 t. soda 4 1/2 c quick oatmeal Oven 350. Mix eggs and sugars. Add salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Stir in M&M's, chips, raisins, soda, and oatmeal. Drop onto cookie sheet 2" apart. Bake about 12-

15 min. I baked even longer. Enjoy! P.S. There is NO flour.

Sorry to say that there were some omissions from the last Gazette issue that we need to correct:

Certified in 2015 - Michelle Scott Recertified in 2015 - Sandra Williams 1,000 hours Gold

You were also given a bad link to the listing for a CLICK THIS for the other links that were in previous issues of the Nueces Master Gardeners Gazette - here is the correct

CLICK THIS

P i c R o s t e r A 2016 Active Nueces Master Gardener Roster with pictures of Nueces Master Gardener has been created and for lack of a better name it is being called the PicRoster. The current non-picture roster will continue and both rosters will be maintained and kept up to date.

The pictures that are in the PicRoster have been col- lected from numerous sources, and sometimes of questionable quality, and might not reflect your very best side. If your photo is not included or if you would like the picture changed, send a photo of your prefer- ence to jmslusarz2@gmail.com and that will be done.

Both the 2016 Active Roster and the 2016 Active PicRoster, which will be finalized in the next couple of weeks, will be added to the VMS to allow for easy re- trieval when needed.

In the interim you can re- view and/or download the current PDF of the PicRoster by CLICKING THIS.

M A ST E R G A R D E N E R H A T S A N D A P R O N

They have finally arrived and they are looking good. The apron has the Master Gardener sewn on logo, three good size pockets and is fully adjustable. The hats with logo are available in the two colors shown and they are fully adjustable to fit all sizes. The hats are $20 and the apron is $25.

They will be available to purchase at the meetings on May 17 (cash, check, credit card). Or to pur- chase otherwise contact Deb Holliday (cash or check).

05-01 Botkin, Pat 15

05-06 Williams, Sandra T, 1999 05-09 Lamprecht, Linda 20 05-18 Baumgartner, DeAnna 16 05-20 Martin, Debra 23 05-21 Plank, Rosemary 26 05-23 Bishop, Michael 26 05-25 Stelzig, Theresa 20 05-28 Schmidt, Lisa 26

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 6

1949 Garden Book

1970 Garden Book

J u s t w h a t i s t h e G A R D E N C O U N C I L ? Submitted by Nueces Master Gardener and Garden Council President Huxley Smith

The Corpus Christi Area Garden Council was formed in the 1940’s by local gardeners with the objective to

conserve native plants and all natural resources, en- courage civic planting, and educate members and the general public in the growing and artistic use of plant material.

The Garden Council wanted to cre- ate a garden headquarter building on City land at Lindale where asso- ciated garden clubs could meet. The City instead suggested a new

building behind the new business zone which was named Cullen Mall. The new garden building was built

at 5325 Greely St., which is just be- hind the Cullen School.

The Garden Council raised the money to finance the

building which was constructed and belonged to the Garden Council. However, after a time the upkeep and other costs of the building became more than

the Garden Council could handle. In November 1963 the building ownership was trans-

Central Region of National Garden Clubs and District VII of the Texas Garden Clubs Inc.

The CC Area Garden Council provides the local Gar- den Clubs with a place to meet at no cost, Insurance for local conventions, plant shows and plant sales, financial grants for projects and conventions, a year

book to each Club and a website where they can post their information.

Currently (2016) the following Garden Clubs are members of the Garden Council: CC Bonsai Club, CC Bromeliad Society Inc., Cacti & Succulent Society,

Nueces Master Gardeners, Native Plant Society of Texas (South TX Chapter), Plumeria Society of S. Texas, CC

Rose Society, Bay Area Garden Guild, Ocean Drive Garden Club, Paisano Garden Club, Port

Aransas Garden Club and the Late Bloomers of Portland. Any other garden club can join the

Council for $25 annual dues.

Coastal Bend gardeners have ferred to the City Parks and Recre- 1992 Garden Book

always relied on the Garden ation Dept. It was agreed that the center would be available to the

Garden Council and all the mem- ber Garden Clubs able to meet at

no cost. This was good arrange- ment. The Council then raised

money for Jim Wright of Curries Nursery to develop the patio gar-

Books which are devoted to gardening in the Bay Ar- ea and is published by the Garden Council. The first

Garden Book that dealt with local conditions was published in 1949. The second was published in 1970

and the third which most of us grew up with was published in 1992.The Fourth Garden Book published

in 2015 is now available. th

den. On April 17-20 this year 2016, the Corpus Christi Area

In 1998 -1999 the center was upgraded with new doors, kitchen, appliances and rooms because the City wanted to set it up as a senior community cen- ter. During this time the Garden Council moved to the Lindale Center. When the Greely Building was finished, the Garden Council moved back in.

The Renovated Building was renamed as The Garden

Senior Center. It should be noted here that the one person mainly instrumental in all of this is Yvonne

Padilla who has been the heart and soul of gardening in the coastal bend for the last generation.

The Corpus Christ Area Garden Council maintains membership in the National Garden Clubs Inc., South

Garden Council participated with the District VII of the Texas Garden Clubs Inc., in hosting here in Corpus Christi the State Convention. Among other things we planted a Montezuma Bald Cyprus tree at Lexington Park in honor of the late Ted Turner Sr. The website for the Garden Council is -

htt p: //www .cor pusc hr i sti gar dencou ncil .c om/

The new Garden Book Published in 2015 is now the latest and best gardening tool for keen growers in the coastal bend Area. It is availa- ble on the Website or from Hux- ley Smith.

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 7

P o w d e r y M i l d e w o n O r n a m e n t a l s Extracts from this a rticle b y the University o f Califo rnia

Powdery mildew is a common disease on many types of plants and is prevalent under the diverse conditions found in many areas of California (and Texas). Different powdery mildew fungi cause disease on different plants. These fungi tend to infect either plants in the same fami- ly or only one species of plant. I DENTI FICAT I ON AND DAMAG E You can recognize this disease by the white, powdery mycelial and spore growth that forms on leaf surfaces and shoots and sometimes on flow- ers and fruits. Powdery mildews may infect new or old foliage. This disease can be serious on woody species such as rose, crape myrtle, and sycamore where it attacks new growth including buds, shoots, flowers, and leaves. New growth may be dwarfed, dis- torted, and covered with a white, powdery growth. In- fected leaves generally die and drop from the plant earli- er than healthy leaves. LI FE CYCLE All powdery mildew fungi require liv ing plant tissue to grow . On perennial hosts such as roses, powdery mildew survives from one season to the next as vegetative strands in buds or as spherical fruiting bodies, called chasmo thecia, on the bark of branches and stems. Most powdery mildew fungi grow as thin layers o f myce- lium on the surface of the affected plant parts. Spo res, which you can see with a hand lens, are part of the white, powdery appearance of this fungi and are pro- duced in chains on upper or lower leaf surfaces or on flowers, fruits, or herba- ceous stems. In contrast,

vary, all powdery mildew species can germinate and in- fect in the absence of free water. In fact, water on plant surfaces for extended periods inhibits germination and kills the spores of most powdery mildew fungi. Moder- ate temperatures of 60° to 80°F and shady conditions generally are the most favorable for powdery mildew development. Powdery mildew spores and mycelium are sensitive to extreme heat and sunlight, and leaf temper- atures above 95°F may kill the fungus. MAN AGEMENT The best method of control is prevention. Avoiding the most susceptible cultivars, placing plants in full sun, and following good cultural practices will adequately control powdery mildew in many situations. Some ornamentals do require protection with fungicide sprays if mildew conditions are more favorable, especially susceptible varieties of rose and crape myrtle (See Table 1. on web- site). For a list of other common ornamentals suscepti- ble to powdery mildew, (see Table 2 on website). CULTURAL PRACTICES Shade and moderate temperatures favor most powdery mildews. Locate plants in sunny areas as much as possi- ble, provide good air circulation, and avoid excess ferti- lizing or use a slow-release fertilizer. Overhead sprinkling actually may reduce the spread of powdery mildew, be- cause it washes spores off the plant. Also, if spores land in water, they die. The best time to irrigate is mid- morning, so plants dry rapidly, reducing the likelihood of infections by other fungi, such as ones that cause rust or black spot on roses. As new shoots begin to develop on perennial plants, watch closely for signs of powdery mil- dew. FUNGICIDE APPLICATIONS In some situations, especially when growing roses, you may need to use fungicides, which function as protect- ants, eradicants, or both. A protectant fungicide pre- vents new infections from occurring, whereas an eradi- cant can kill an existing infection. Apply protectant fungi- cides to highly susceptible plants before the disease ap-

do wny m ildew, another pears. Use eradicants at the earliest signs of the disease.

fungal disease that produc- es visible powdery growth, has spores that grow on branched stalks and look like tiny trees. Also, downy mil- dew spores occur mostly on the lower leaf surface. Envi- ronmental conditions that favor the growth of downy mildew are different from those that favor powdery mil- dew and include low temperatures of 50° to 70°F, a rela- tive humidity of 90% or higher, and free moisture. Wind carries powdery mildew spores to new hosts. Alt- hough relative humidity requirements for germination

Once mildew growth is extensive, controlling the situa- tion with any fungicide becomes more difficult. FUNGI CI DES Several least-toxic fungicides are available, including horticultural oils, neem oil, jojoba oil, sulfur, potassium bicarbonate, and the biological fungicide Serenade. With the exception of the oils, these materials are primarily preventive, although potassium bicarbonate has some eradicant activity. Oils work best as eradicants but also have some protectant activity.

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 8

FUNGI CI DES Several least-toxic fungicides are available, including hor- ticultural oils, neem oil, jojoba oil, sulfur, potassium bi- carbonate, and the biological fungicide Serenade. With the exception of the oils, these materials are primarily preventive, although potassium bicarbonate has some eradicant activity. Oils work best as eradicants but also have some protectant activity. OIL S To eradicate mild to heavy powdery mildew infections, use a horticultural oil such as JMS Stylet Oil, Saf-T-Side Spray Oil, Sunspray Ultra-Fine Spray Oil, or one of the plant-based oils such as neem oil (e.g., Powdery Mildew Killer) or jojoba oil (e.g., E-rase). Be careful, however, never to apply an oil spray within 2 weeks of a sulfur spray, or it may injure plants. Also, you never should ap- ply oils when temperatures are above 90°F or to water- stressed plants. Some plants may be more sensitive than others, and the interval required between sulfur and oil sprays may need to be even longer. Always consult the fungicide label for any special precautions. Of the horti- cultural oils, JMS Stylet Oil is the most highly refined and therefore the least likely to damage plants, but it may be more difficult to obtain than the others. SULFUR Sulfur products have been used to manage powdery mil- dew for centuries but are effective only when applied before the disease appears. The best sulfur products to use for powdery mildew control in gardens are wettable sulfurs that are specially formulated with surfactants similar to those in dishwashing detergent (e.g., Safer Garden Fungicide). However, you shouldn’t use dish- washing detergent with sulfur. Additionally, sulfur can damage some ornamental cultivars. To avoid injuring any plant, do not apply sulfur when the temperature is near

or higher than 90°F, and do not apply it within 2 weeks of an oil spray. Other sulfur products, such as liquid lime sulfur or sulfur dust, are much more difficult to use, irri- tate skin and eyes, and are limited in the types plants you safely can use them on. BICARBONAT ES Also available to licensed applicators only is a fungicide containing potassium bicarbonate (e.g., Kaligreen). Sprays of potassium bicarbonate can injure the plant, so use these products with caution. Biological Fungicides Biological fungicides (e.g., Serenade) are commercially available beneficial microorganisms formulated into a product that, when sprayed on the plant, destroys fungal pathogens. The active ingredient in Serenade is a bacte- rium, Bacillus subtilis, that helps prevent the powdery mildew from infecting the plant. These products have some effect in killing the powdery mildew organism but are not as effective as the oils or sulfur in controlling it. SYN T HETI C FUNGICI DES Myclobutanil (Immunox) also is available to the home gardener and functions as an eradicant and protectant against both powdery mildew and rust. HOW T O USE Apply protectant fungicides to susceptible plants before or in the earliest stages of disease development. Once mildew growth is mild to moderate, it generally is too late for effec- tive control with protectant fungicides. These are effective only on contact, so applications must thoroughly cover all susceptible plant parts. As plants grow and produce new tissue, additional applications may be necessary at 7- to 10- day intervals as long as conditions favor disease growth. If mild to moderate powdery mildew is present, you can use

horticultural and plant-based oils such as neem or jojoba oil.

Table 2. Common Ornamentals Susceptible to Powdery Mildew.

aster crap e myrtle oak

azalea (deciduous) dah lia pansy

begonia (tuberous) delphinium phlox

calendula eu o n y mu s ranunculus

California poppy forget-me-not ro se

China aster (Callistephus) gaillardia rhododendron

chrysanthemum hydrangea rudbeckia

Clarkia lilac snapdragons

columbine London p lan e tree sweet pea

coral bells (Heuchera) lupine verbena

corn flower mint vinca

cosmos monarda zinnia

MASTER GARDENER GAZE TTE NUECES COUNTY, TX PAGE 9

O u r F a c e b oo k And don’t forget that the Nueces Master Gardeners have their own Facebook page. Take the time to see what it is about - click the logo below.

M a s t e r G a r d e n e r C o m p o s t e r S p e c i a l i s t T r a i n i n g

In an effort to provide training, the Master Gardener Composter Specialist Training was created as an intensive multi-day training that will empower certified Master Gardeners throughout the State with knowledge and skills required to effectively support and multiply Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service efforts in Earth-Kind® educational programs. The class focuses on composting for the home gardener with insight to commercial compost production and recycling. The training will be in Bexar County – San Antonio, TX June 22-24, 2016. For more information - CLICK THIS and for an applica- tion - CLICK THIS.

2 0 1 6 J u n i o r M a s t e r G a r d e n e r ( J M G ) A d u l t L e a d e r T r a i n i n g

This training is designed for teachers, educators, and volunteers from throughout the state in support of Youth Gardening. Educators will learn about "hands-on" group and individual learning experiences that will provide an appreciation for the environment and cultivate the minds of children. Beginning July 27, 2016 thru July 29, 2016 at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 3355 Cherry Ridge, Suite 208, San Antonio, TX 78230. For more information - CLICK THIS and for an appli-

cation - CLICK THIS. Note - this course is not Master Gardener Specialist Training.

C o m m u n i t y G a r d e n s F a c e b o o k

The Nueces Master Gardeners have contributed a lot of time and effort into the Growing and Nourishing Healthy Communities project - or as we commonly refer to this at Community Gardens. Well, they now have created a Facebook and it includes a lot of good pictures of all the activities involving Nueces Master Gardeners. Take some time to check it out and be- come a friend on Facebook - CLICK THIS to go to their Facebook.

Kevin O . Gib bs, CE A -Ho rticulture—E dito r: Jo hn M. Slu sarz Disclaimer— the information herein is for informational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the un- derstanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by the Master Gardeners is implied. Educational programs of the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating.

In the event of a name, address or phone number change please con- tact the office at:

Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service ATTN: Horticulture Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service 710 E. Main, Suite 1, Attn: Horticulture Robstown, Texas 78380 (361) 767-5217

Individuals with disabilities who require auxiliary aid, service, or accommodation in order to participate in any extension event are encouraged to contact their County Extension Office at 361-767-5217 at least one week in advance of the program in order for proper arrange- ments to be made.

A N o t e F r o m Y o u r M a s t e r G a r d e n e r G a z e t t e E d i t o r

A Communications Committee has gotten off the ground and recently held the first meeting. It’s objective is to improve some of the methods that information concerning the Nueces Master Gardeners is presented to the public. As an of example of things that can be made better, check out the NMG official web site - CLICK THIS. You should have no- ticed that it is missing a lot of basic information. To be involved with this committee you don’t have to be a nerd or computer whiz - you just want to help get the word out

of all the good things that the Nueces Master Gardeners are always doing. You will be hearing more about this soon. Editor: John M. Slusarz Phone: 361-939-0505 E-mail: jmslusarz2@gmail.com