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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.
LOOSELEAF
A Publication of the University of Maryland Extension Howard County Master Gardeners
3300 NORTH RIDGE ROAD, SUITE 240 • ELLICOTT CITY, MD 21043 (410)313-2707 • FAX (410)313-2712
http://www.extension.umd.edu/mg/locations/howard-county-master-gardeners
AUGUST 2017 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
FROM GEORGIA'S DESK ... Information regarding the use of vinegar as a pesticide!
A message from Stanton Gill, UME Entomologist:
A nursery recently had a visit from the MDA Pesticide Regulation Division. The nursery was using off-the-shelf vinegar (8%) to control weeds. MDA cited the misuse of this material. The nursery manager contacted Stanton with a copy of the 2005 EPA document that listed active ingredients eligible for Minimum Risk Pesticide products. The EPA listed active ingredients that are exempt and vinegar was on the list. So, Stanton followed up by contacting a former MDA employee.
Even though vinegar is on the list, a company still has to register with EPA if the company is using it as a pesticide. It would need an EPA registration number, directions for use and safety information. A company selling vinegar for food use is one thing, but when you start using it as herbicide it needs to be registered with EPA and one must follow the safety rules and precautions. In the state of MD all materials used as pesticide must be registered with the state chemist. You can visit the MDA website for the state chemist and see which materials are registered in MD. Our UMD article, “Vinegar: An Alternative to Glyphosate” has been updated to emphasize the need for registration in the state to use vinegar as a pesticide. Fleischman Company has labeled a 20% vinegar with an EPA label and MD State Chemist registration sold under the name Vina-Green. The label recommends wearing eye protection and covering the skin since this is an acid. They also have directions for proper use on the label".
Please add to your calendar:
Tuesday, September 12: Continuing Education: Tour of Howard County Conservancy, 9:30-11:00 followed by MG Annual Luncheon/meeting.
Tuesday. December 12: Holiday Luncheon: hostess MG Pat Greenwald!
Hope you're enjoying the harvest from your gardens and taking time to enjoy the season—especially those cooler days,
—Georgia Eacker, MG Coordinator, WSA Liaison, 410-313-1913, [email protected]
INSIDE —
2 Grow It, Eat It News & Turtle Discovery
3 Calendar Highlights & Mt. Pleasant News
4 Highlights from 2017 Intn'l MG Conference
5 Continuing Education Series
6 Latin for Gardeners: Coreopsis
7 An Unusual Find
8 Book Review from Smithsonian Library
LooseLeaf • August 2017 • page 2
GROW IT, EAT IT NEWS July was busy with the Howard County Film Feastiville at Elioak Farm and Ask a Master Vegetable Gardener session at Long Reach. The Feastiville is always fun since it kicks off Howard County Restaurant Week and there is food to taste from local restaurants, and vegetables and fruit to buy from local farms. We had a GIEI table at the Feastiville to answer gardening questions.
The GIEI team also participated in the MG Day at Miller Library’s Enchanted Garden, where we answered both summer and fall vegetable gardening questions. There was a state GIEI meeting on July 27 in Carroll County, which included a potluck of many great dishes.
The other major event in July was the International Master Gardener Conference in Portland Oregon. Look for my separate article on the conference in this issue on p. 4—it includes some useful information I collected.
Being in Oregon for four weeks, I returned home to a garden full of weeds. However, the tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, etc. all appear to be doing well. While my concentration for the next several weeks will be on weeding, I’ll also start planning the fall garden. Fall vegetables like Brussels
sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower and kale can be planted early to mid-August. Check the GIEI publication GE 007 for time frames to plant various fall vegetables.
August also brings us to the height of the tomato season. This season I am growing my usual favorite cherry tomato (Sun Gold), a number of heirlooms (pink Brandywine, Big Rainbow, Chief’s Choice and Cherokee Purple), and a large roma called Big Mama, and Beefsteak, which my grandson started from seed. If you have a favorite tomato, let me know, as I love to try new tomatoes.
On Saturday, August 26 at 9:00 am, members of the GIEI team will answer questions at the West Side Community Garden. Come join the fun and see what other HC gardeners are growing. You might get some interesting ideas for next year. All upcoming GIEI events can be found on the HC GIEI calendar which is on the GIEI website under “Take a class.”
—Kent Phillips, MG 2009, [email protected]
A NESTING TURTLE IN MY BACKYARD! Shortly after some much needed rain fell in early July, I made an interesting discovery in my backyard: a nesting eastern box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)!
I recognized the rocking motion of a nesting turtle and was pleasantly surprised my instincts were correct. I snapped a picture of her digging her nest but couldn't stay to count eggs, so I marked the site with the hope of protecting it from predators. I will be watching for signs of hatchlings in late August, early September.
Did you know that female box turtles can store sperm for up to four years, producing viable eggs throughout the entire period?
—Darcy Bellido de Luna, MG 2013, [email protected]
LooseLeaf • August 2017 • page 3
HOWARD CO CONSERVANCY AT MT PLEASANT UPDATE
What hasn't been eaten in the garden continues to flourish. We regularly devise new methods of
fencing around the crops since we seem to have a new critter who has been eating all the small
seedlings. Our solution has been to put fencing around individual inner garden beds. This
appears to be working although it will require more effort when planting and harvesting. We are
starting to harvest tomatoes and peppers as well as the earlier cool weather crops. So far we
have taken 124.5 pounds of produce to the Food Bank.
During August we will continue to have regular workdays every Friday morning from 8:00
to 10:00 am, weather permitting. Come join us in the garden whenever you can. Occasional
drop-in help is always welcome.
—Jo Ann Russo, MG 1997, [email protected]
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! View the MG electronic calendar in your preferred format: Month, Week or Agenda. Click here for the calendar. You will find times, locations, and contact info for these events in August.
HIGHLIGHTS FOR AUGUST: 5-12 Howard County Fair
7 Bay-Wise meeting
8 Continuing Education at UME
20 LooseLeaf Deadline!
WORK DAYS— Enchanted Garden (Miller Library) every Tues & Wed, plus
alternating Fridays & Saturdays • Whipps every Thursday HC Conservancy every Friday
ASK A MASTER GARDENER—Volunteer for a session or two
at Miller (Saturdays & Mondays), or Glenwood (Saturdays)
LooseLeaf • August 2017 • page 4
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE 2017 INTERNATIONAL MASTER GARDENER CONFERENCE
The four-day conference began with remarks from
a USDA representative and a presentation of
exemplary MG programs. The first breakout
session I chose was “Bountiful Berries: How to grow
in containers and raised beds for limited space or
poor soils.” It focused on how to grow blueberries,
raspberries, etc. in larger containers and stressed
the need to provide the proper growing media,
nutrition and moisture levels. Another session was
“Garden Smarts: Beating the Aches and Pains,”
which explained how to adapt to your physical
abilities, safety and stretching before and after
gardening. The speaker demonstrated ergonomic
tools for stand-up weeding, and easing back and
wrist strain. My third class was about teaching with
demonstration gardens. It stressed the importance of
soil moisture levels, plant nutritional requirements
and plant size in gardens.
John Marzluff, professor of Wildlife Science at the
Univ of Washington, was the keynote speaker for
the general session on day two. He talked about his
book, “Welcome to Subirdia,” and a study showing
how bird habitats change with new housing
developments. The good news is birds adapt. Given
the Howard County deer and goose population, I
found this to be a big duh! Marzluff also reviewed a
study of crows where he and assistants wore fright
masks to catch and band crows. Years later, the
crows remembered the masks and tried to dive
bomb them.
I also attended “How to prune and renovate the
overgrown garden,” which focused on selective
pruning and division of perennials. Another class
“Honey Bee Health Status: a decade after CCD
(colony collapse disorder) reports” focused on varroa
mites, nosema and honey bee stress from continued
movement between pollination sites and the lack of
diversity in their diets. Beekeepers in the mid-Atlantic
have to remain vigilant for mite infestation and
disease.
Thursday’s keynote was Dan Hinkley, who talked
about elements of design (texture, movement,
fragrance) using photos of his gardens in
Washington state. I also attended a session on IPM
for fruit trees. It stressed monitoring, traps
(pheromone, mechanical and baited) and, as a last
resort, organic chemicals. For instance, tanglefoot
was recommended for scale to trap ants. Hinkley
urged the removal of dropped and rotting fruit, the
need to keep trees in an unstressed condition, and
the use of row cover or fruit tree screen material to
preclude pests. Fungal diseases are affected by
regional moisture levels, and fire blight and peach
curl were covered.
I especially enjoyed two sessions: harvest
pruning of fruit trees and soil. Wide structure and
espalier pruning as well as both winter and summer
pruning will help to keep fruit within arm’s length. A
summer prune (at solstice) is made to pare summer
growth to half, which decreases growth. Winter
prunes are made to create structure. This pruning
style is gaining popularity on the west coast,
especially for backyard growers. The second
speaker, James Cassidy (Sr. Instructor at Oregon
State), contended that soil is the basis for life on
earth. Two takeaways: compost (organic matter or
OM) can be used to increase the productivity of any
soil regardless of texture, and that clay soils with lots
of OM had high cat-ion exchange capacity which
permitted the soil to hold many positively charged
nutrients like nh4+, Ca++, Mg++, K+, Na+.
During a mixer with MGs from the northeastern
states, I learned the next Conference will be in
Valley Forge, PA. I look forward to attending based
on the productive sessions in Oregon. I hope you
can too! Please let me know if you want details on
any topics I've covered.
—Kent Phillips, MG 2009, [email protected]
LooseLeaf • August 2017 • page 5
2017 CONTINUING EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES MGs, Watershed Stewards, Master Naturalists and their guests are welcome to attend. All sessions will be held
at the UME office, except for the field trip on September 12. Check the MG electronic calendar for updates.
For questions, contact: Karin DeLaitsch [email protected], or Joanna Cumbie [email protected]
We will be holding the MG annual meeting/luncheon at the Howard County Conservancy immediately
following the tour of the Conservancy’s gardens on Tuesday, September 12th
. This is an opportunity for
MG program coordinators to report on accomplishments and plans for the upcoming year. The event
includes a catered lunch. MGs are asked to bring desserts (which is a real treat). Please join us for this
social event. If you cannot participate in the Conservancy garden tours, please plan to arrive around
11:00 am. In the event of rain, we will postpone the tour but still have the annual meeting/luncheon.
AUGUST 8
9:30 - 11:00 am
Basket of Flowers
Marilyn Rogers, MG
The presentation will discuss 5 basic elements of design as well as the care and handling of cut flowers and tools needed to create the project. The demo will show step-by-step how to easily assemble a colorful basket of flowers suitable for gift giving or for your own personal enjoyment.
SEPTEMBER 12
9:30 - 11:00 am
MG Annual Meeting & Luncheon to follow
Field trip to Howard County Conservancy Gardens
Explore the Honors Garden, Master Gardeners Demonstration Garden, and surrounding trails and natural spaces
OCTOBER 10
9:30 - 11:00 am
Diagnostics for Annuals and Perennials
Stanton Gill, Principal Agent, Central MD Research and Education Center
Learn the diagnostic skills in recognizing the good and bad insects that visit herbaceous plants and the least toxic control measures for the problematic insects.
NOVEMBER 14
9:30 - 11:00 am
More Than a Pretty Garden, Using Citizen Science to Guide Your Gardening Practices
Ann Coren, MG
There are dozens of Citizen Science projects begging for your data. How can you use the data you collect to improve your garden, as well as benefit science. We will discuss programs such as Project Bud Burst, Project Feeder Watch, Monarch Watch, and Million Pollinator Gardens, among others
Did You Know? The avocado fruit is a drupe, basically a one-seeded berry. Starting with the Nahua people (Aztecs), the fruit has been genetically altered over time to enlarge the fleshy part.
Did You Know? Cashews are extremely poisonous if eaten raw. They must be carefully harvested and processed to make them safe.
Did You Know? Parsley seeds are so hard to germinate that, in past times, those who could plant them successfully ran the risk of being considered witches. Today we just soak them before planting.
LooseLeaf • August 2017 • page 6
LATIN FOR GARDENERS
August’s Native Maryland Plant
Coreopsis verticillata L. (kor-ee-OP-sis ver-tiss-ill-LAY-tah)
Common Name: Whorled Tickseed
We’ve all heard of tick season but have you heard of tickseed? You should definitely
get to know this plant! Coreopsis verticillata is my kind of plant; it grows in dry, hot
sun and tolerates neglect which means I can spend more time weeding or just
relaxing in my garden looking at its lovely flowers and all the pollinators it attracts.
The common name refers to its seed which resembles a tick. This plant is in the
Asteraceae (daisy) Family; the Genus Coreopsis is derived from two Greek words:
koris meaning “bedbug” and -opsis meaning “resembling in appearance.” The
specific epithet, verticillata is from Latin and means “a whorl” which refers to the leaf
arrangement of this species.
I use this plant as a filler plant; it occupies spaces between the Asclepias tuberosa
(butterflyweed), and the Eupatorium maculatum (spotted Joe-Pye-weed) and its
delicate, airy habit helps it remain disease free. Coreopsis spp. provides both nectar
and pollen for bees and butterflies, and the seed heads are eaten by the birds,
especially goldfinch which blend in beautifully with the plant — maybe not
coincidentally?
LooseLeaf • August 2017 • page 7
This plant spreads by rhizomes which can be divided every 3-4 years. In mid-
summer you can shear the seed heads to get a second bloom; I choose to shear
only some of the heads, leaving the other half for the birds.
You can’t go wrong with a plant whose name, Coreopsis, in The Language of
Flowers* means “always cheerful”. _____________ *sometimes called floriography, is a means of cryptological communication through the use or arrangement of flowers
—Alison Milligan, MG 2013, [email protected]
AN UNUSUAL FIND IN THE ENCHANTED GARDEN
This morning I discovered a new and unusual vegetable growing in the Enchanted Garden at Miller Library and it was fortunate that Ann Hackling was in the garden to answer my questions.
What I and other MGs were intrigued by were heirloom lemon cucumbers – Cucumis sativus ‘Lemon’ – spherical, pale yellow cucumbers about the size of tennis balls. We washed and sliced one up on Ann’s workbench for a taste and experienced a very mild flavor with a crisp texture. Some thought they tasted a hint of citrus but at-home research insists there is none. The name derives from its lemon-like color and shape.
Often grown as a novelty plant, the lemon cucumber hails from the Middle East. It is less acidic than traditional green cucumbers and is commonly eaten raw, although it can be pickled.
Like all cucumber plants, it requires full sunlight, well-drained soil, and is susceptible to powdery mildew (always
water cucumbers at the base of the plant to avoid wet foliage). Lemon cucumbers should be picked when they begin to transition from green to yellow skin color. Bright yellow cucumbers are over mature and tend toward tougher skin and seeds. As one who ate a very yellow cucumber, I can attest that the skin and seeds were not unpleasant.
A concluding shout-out to Bob Doyle, one of this year’s interns, who built the sturdy bamboo frame currently supporting the Enchanted Garden’s multiple cucumber vines. The frame has been receiving a lot of positive attention from MGs and visitors alike. Thank you, Bob!
—Darcy Bellido de Luna, MG 2013, [email protected]
LooseLeaf • August 2017 • page 8
BOOK REVIEW: CULTIVATING AMERICA'S GARDENS
This month I am taking you through a luscious digital book from the Smithsonian Libraries: Cultivating America’s Gardens. This online book collection, mostly archival in nature, gives a vivid snapshot of garden trends in the U.S. It is a neat blend of history and culture. Gardening for prestige, beauty, food, for scientific knowledge has been an essential part of our history, loved and cultivated by gardeners of every ilk. Stand-alone sections structure the book/exhibit, each both informational and enchanting reading. Gardening for Science provides a panorama of botany in the U.S. In Rolling Out the Green Carpet, American’s fascination and search for the perfect lawn, beginning with the advent of suburbia. Gardening to Impress highlights our avid desire to impress via the garden. Lavish displays and hot
houses teeming with vegetation were a hallmark of the Gilded Age.
Gardening for the Common Good arose from the social need to contribute to efforts during World War I. Eleanor Roosevelt joined with millions of patriots planting a Victory Garden on the White House Lawn during WWII. A distinctive American garden flourished in the mid-1800s through the 1920s: The Colonial Garden. These were imaginative and yet constrained versions of what a garden should be. Rigid symmetry coupled with a wealth of old-fashioned flowers (e.g. roses, lilacs, hollyhocks) spawned the emergence of formal garden tours and garden clubs in the 1930s. The final sections, Gardening as Enterprise and Silent Spring bring us up to our present, with a focus on gardening as an industry sector, and the attention to organic or sustainable gardening of today. I particularly enjoyed this last chapter as it presented a graphic history of the emergence and evolution of gardening books. This digital archive is replete with illustrative period photos. These make for a value-added display. If you are looking for an exclusive and educational way to avoid the summer heat, take yourself down to the Smithsonian Museum of American History this month and enjoy a pictorial record of our garden past. This Exhibition runs through August, 2018, 10:00a - 5:30p. Or enjoy online at
http://library.si.edu/exhibition/cultivating-americas-gardens/gardening-for-the-environment
—Pattee Fletcher, MG 2014, [email protected]
A REMINDER …
> A mention of specific products or businesses in LooseLeaf does not imply or constitute endorsement by UME.
> You’ll want to earn 10 continuing education hours during 2017 to remain certified. Ideas: Go to an MG presentation at the library, attend a UME workshop,
read a book on your favorite gardening topic, or go to the Continuing Education sessions.
> On presentation slides, fliers, posters, brochures, signs, news releases, etc., always use our full name: University of Maryland Extension Howard County Master Gardeners. This request comes from the University to support branding efforts of the MG program.
Blue Garden at Beacon Hill, Newport, RI, 1920s
