Beauty Is In The Eye of The Beholder Neal Mayshome.bentoncountygardening.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/2015… · Beauty Is In The Eye of The Beholder TRIVIA Tootsie Roll Industries

Last summer a farmer called and asked if I could come to his place to identify a “swamp weed” that was taking over one of his pastures. The weed was blue vervain. It is a pro-lific seed producer, has a rhi-zomatous growth habit (like bermudagrass), and was indeed becoming an aggressive weed in a low-lying part of his farm. So we selected an herbicide that would clean it from his fields.

Well, come to find out, this vervain is a native prairie plant. According to the Missouri Bo-tanical Garden it is a rare find in the Ozarks Highlands. The USDA recommends it for wet-land reclamation projects, and it is an important food source for a variety of pollinators and birds. In this situation, it’s too bad this plant was interfering with forage growth and needed to be removed.

A similar situation occurred this morning. Johnny was out on a farm visit yesterday and a fel-low asked for help identifying a weed. Turned out this one was cornflower or bachelor's button, and another example of differ-ent perspectives. What this farmer considered a weed is viewed by thousands of garden-ers across the country as a desir-able native wildflower.

A book I keep within reach of my desk, titled Weeds of the South (Bryson,Charles T., & DeFelice, Michael S. (eds.),

(2009)), is a fine key for identify-ing many herba-ceous plants. It is published by the University of Georgia Press and lists several natives as weeds, as well as a host of spe-

cies both farmers and gardeners would purge from their property in a heartbeat. Nonetheless oth-er “weeds” listed in this text include common milkweed, oxeye daisy, plains coreopsis, passionflower, and trumpetvine. Some of you are already experi-encing a change in your blood pressure by calling these natives weeds!

So whose perspective is cor-rect? There is certainly a move among naturalists and the gar-dening community to use native plants whenever and wherever possible, and for good reason. These are important species from an ecological standpoint, and they are often easy keepers in the garden.

I wouldn’t propose farmers or other groups of agriculturalists are always wrong for wanting to eliminate natives from their fields. Many of these folks don’t have jobs in town. Their livelihood depends on providing commodities whose production just doesn’t fit a native prairie ecosystem. For example, try selling a load of prairie hay to a horse breeder. And, lest we forget, the farming community makes possible our easy way of life.

According to the 2010 U.S. census, the nation’s urban popu-lation grew by 12.1% between 2000 and 2010. Urban areas are home to 80.7% of the U.S. pop-ulation. Some 73 million acres of farmland were lost to urban development between the years of 1990 and 2012. In fact, you may be living on land that was home to livestock, wildlife, and perhaps native plants less than 10 years ago. I see no evidence this trend will decline in future years. It is imperative that natu-ral areas are dedicated as cities continue to crawl into the coun-tryside.

As is so often the case, land use is an issue of balance and com-promise. To feed and clothe a growing global population, cur-rent ag technology, and that yet

to be developed, will continue to expand the limits of what can be grown on an acre of land. Cities will continue to grow. I suggest groups like Master Gar-deners and Master Naturalists are vitally important in educat-ing the public (urban, rural, and yes, farmers) on how and where to introduce, culture, or main-tain native plant populations. They are a natural fit, at least in part, in nearly any landscape.

Beauty Is In The Eye of The Beholder

TRIVIA

Tootsie Roll Industries produces 16 million Tootsie Pops each day. A Purdue university study finally answered the age-old question: It takes an average of 252 licks to get to the center.

The word “cliché” originated in the day of movea-

ble type. Each letter was set by hand into a frame-

work before printing. Commonly used phrases were

kept, pre-set in clamps, or clichés.

Leon Willis, President (479) 586-8140

Beck Elliot, VP/President Elect (479) 936-0598

Nancy Hutchison, Secretary (479) 273-5863

Beth Kastl, Treasurer (479) 855-0169

Neal Mays, CEA-Agriculture (479) 271-1060(

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Volume 19, Issue 1

June 2015

Neal Mays

"The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin,

religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer."

Bachelor’s Button

Blue vervain

It’s hard to believe the year is almost half over! Where has the time gone? 2015 has been an exciting year so far for our Master Gar-dener program.

The excitement started with our “New Member Training Class” in January, which was the first time Benton County Master Gardeners have collaborated with Washington Master Gardeners to jointly offer a combined training class. The class was a one-week event held in Elm Springs and was a huge success. There were 32 trainees who successfully com-pleted the training bringing our total membership to over 200 for the first time in Benton County Master Gardener histo-ry!

Our second annual Lawn & Garden Ex-po, led by Becky Elliott along with her outstanding committee, exceeded all ex-pectations. In addition to the plant sale, there was an “All Things Garden” yard sale, and several garden demonstrations. To top it off, Janet Carson was our main speaker for the event. Almost 70 of our Master Gardeners participated in some way to make the Expo so successful! Profits from the plant and yard sales came to about $3,800!

We are now looking forward to our June meeting which is a Potluck Picnic on the grounds of the Peel Mansion. Prizes will be awarded for the decorating of the ta-bles! It will be a fun evening with friends, food, and fellowship. See you there!

Leon Willis

Then one day the BIG DEVELOPERS came. They cut down the 100 year old oak trees and took away two old histori-cal houses. Months later the trucks ar-rived with concrete and steel. A three story ten unit building now lurks down upon the neighbors.

But………Ollie is gone.

The neighborhood is not the same.

But……..the Herb Lady keeps smiling,

The Herb Lady is back from 2013-2014 publi-cations.

But……… Ollie is gone.

Ollie was a daily com-panion to the Herb Lady. She hung out in the downtown Bentonville neighborhood. She visited the gardens, rolled in the cat-nip and slept next to the fence on a bed of wheat straw.

growing herbs and edible flowers. She waves to the workers looking down on her gardens.

New friends and a new culture has ar-rived

It’s OK, she is beginning to enjoy the excitement of new restaurants, shops and funky folks walking by.

But………Ollie is gone.

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From the President

The Herb Lady and Ollie… but different

T HE GRE E N T HU MB PRI NT

Why Some People Should Not Be Allowed On Facebook

V OLU ME 1 9, ISSU E 1 Page 3

Over the Garden Gate

June 2 BCMG Picnic @ Peel Mansion (Becky Glidden)

June 4-6 State MG Conference, Benton (Leon Willis)

June 6 Market Masters @ Bentonville (JB Portillo)

June 13 Market Masters @ Siloam Springs (Vicki Halley)

July 4 Market Masters @ Bentonville (JB Portillo)

July 11 Market Masters @ Siloam Springs (Vicki Halley)

Aug 1 Market Masters @ Bentonville (JB Portillo)

Aug 8 Market Masters @ Siloam Springs (Vicki Halley)

Aug 15 Secchi Day @ Beaver Lake (Nancy Cunningham)

Aug 13-16 Benton County Fair (Hope, Kennedy, Mays, Oliphant, Waters)

Sept 5 Market Masters @ Bentonville (JB Portillo)

Sept 12 Market Masters @ Siloam Springs (Vicki Halley)

Sept 11-12 NWA Emergency Preparedness Fair (Mechel Wall)

Oct 3 Market Masters @ Bentonville (JB Portillo)

Oct 10 Market Masters @ Siloam Springs (Vicki Halley)

Oct 19-20 PNG Conference (Leon Willis)

Oct 29-30 Advanced MG Training @ Bentonville (Chari Cross)

Dec 1 Christmas Dinner (Becky Glidden)

Several of the local nurseries and garden cen-ters offer discounts to Master Gardeners. Typi-cally ... a 10% discount. ... to receive the dis-count, you must show proof of membership. ... either be your BCMG name badge or the Mas-ter Gardener ID Card ... (If you don’t yet have an ID card, you can pick one up from Neal Mays at the Extension Office.) The businesses I am specifically aware of that offer discounts are:

Bradford Nursery, Rogers

Garden City Nursery, Bentonville

Nitron Industries, Johnson

The Potting Shed, Bella Vista

White River Nursery, Fayetteville

Leon Willis

I am changing the day of the workday at the daylily gar-den. Since our day conflicts with the market masters meet-ing on the third Wednesday of each month I am changing our workday to the third THURSDAY of each month. So we will not be having a workday this Wednesday but Thursday May 21, at 10:00 a.m. We will need to weed and cut back the daffodils. Please bring your favorite tools for this task and water to drink. It is starting to heat up out there. I hope to see you there.

If anyone would like to work in the garden but the work-days are in conflict with your schedule please email and let me know. [email protected] or 479-200-2309.

2. Is anyone interested in the Tulsa Audubon Society back-yard habitat tour May30th? Please email me by May 25th if you are interested in going. I can drive my truck it can haul 4 people and a lot of plants. We can carpool as a group. Vicki Halley

False ladybugs, known as Asian beetles, imitate real ladybugs as a camouflage. They invade homes and gardens each spring and fall searching for food and/or a place to hibernate. They BITE, too

Will the real ladybug please

stand up?

Real ladybugs are red: Asian beetles are orangish.

Fun Facts About Ladybugs

Interesting facts : Aloe Vera has over 250 varieties and

is thought to originate from Africa

Has been grown and used medicinal-ly for thousands of years (burns, cuts, rashes)

Humming birds love the nectar of the plant

Older plants may bloom with coral flowers on a long stock

Climate Zone: Can only grow outside in

zones 8-11, and is intolerant of snow and frost

In other zones keep it as a house plant

In the summer, move outsider when all risk of frost is gone

Planting & Watering: When planting aloe, use

loose, well-draining potting soil

When re-potting aloe, place it in a pot three times the width of the cur-rent pot… roots spread out not down

Keep aloe in a sunny window, kitch-en for first aid

Water aloe until the water starts to flow out of the bottom of the pot, then don’t water again until 1-2” of soil is dry

During the winter, want to water the plant much less

Fertilize with phosphorous heavy, diluted fertilizer during the growing season

Propagating: Babies will sprout out of the main plant,.

Detach from the moth-er trying not to harm the roots. Put the baby in a dry area for a few days and allow the cuts to callous before potting

A new plant may still be made even if the baby doesn’t have roots by plac-ing the baby cut side down on the soil, spray every few days until there are hair-like roots then plant it.

Things to watch for: Aloe is prone to root rot, be sure to

not over water them

Mealy bugs

Scale

Fungal stem

Leaf rot

Sources http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aloe_vera

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/aloe~vera.html http://www.almanac.com/plant/aloe-vera

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-Your-Aloe-Vera-Plant

http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/aloe-vera/aloe-vera-plant-care.htm

Page 4

What I Didn’t Know About the Aloe Plant by Chris Bridges

T HE GRE E N T HU MB PRI NT

A threatened ladybug may both play dead and secrete an unappetizing substance to

protect itself

Ladybug adults and larvae can eat up to 50 aphids a day

Ladybugs smell with their feet and antennae

Ladybugs have a shell, called the Elytra, that protects their wings which are under-

neath

The Elytra is exactly the same on the right side as it is on the left, they are a mirror

image to one another

A ladybug’s jaws chew side to side instead of up and down like our jaws

When a ladybug flies, its wings beat 85 times every second

Ladybug adults hibernate in winter

V OLU ME 1 9, ISSU E 1

Catnip/Catmint Nepeta cataria

Mint family

Catnip was first cultivated in the Roman town of Nepeti. It was highly valued for the seasoning and medicinal properties. In less favorable times the dry leaves were smoked for the hallucinogenic abil-ity to relieve the pressures of life.

Set in a border, catnip can be a pretty plant, with whorls of lavender or white flowers, attracting bees.

Leaves are coarsely toothed, heart shaped, gray green with a downy under-side. Leaves grow in pairs, opposite each other. The dried leaves develop a sharp balsam like taste used for making tea and medicinal infusions.

The stems are tall, hairy, ridged, square and branching.

The scent released by any bruised leaf or

root will at-tract cats. A feline favorite. The plant can be damaged by a cat that will lie in the cen-ter, rubbing the leaves in a

state of sheer bliss, giving the plant its common name.

The smaller Catmint N. mussinii makes a good garden edging plant with mildly fragrant spikes of lavender flowers.

Catnip is an herbaceous perennial, growing 2-3 feet tall. She is happy in full sun – part shade in well-drained soil. Propa-gate by cuttings, division or layering. Catnip will

self-sow and is easily shared with friends.

Uses:

Stuff cloth “mice” with dried leaves as toys for cats.

Flowers are long lasting in bouquets.

Infusion of leaves is used internally to relieve colds, flu, fevers, insomnia, nerv-ous tension, indigestion, and flatulence.

Externally, catnip leaves are used in an infusion to relieve scalp irritations.

A poultice of damp catnip leaves and flowers is used for garden bumps and bruises.

Plant catnip near vegetables to deter insects.

Grow and enjoy catnip for her beauty and humor in the gar-den.

Page 5

Catnip/Catmint by The Herb Lady

Insectary “A garden 'mini' insectary is a small garden plot of flowering plants de-signed to attract and harbor benefi-cial insects.

These 'good' insects prey on many common garden insect pests and offer the gardener a safer, natural alternative to pesticides.

A garden insectary is a form of "companion planting", based on the positive effects plants can share as a method of deterring pests, acquir-ing nutrients or attracting natural predators. By becoming more di-verse with plantings, habitat, shelter and alternative food sources, such as pollen and nectar, are provided, something many predators need as part of their diet.

Aphid predators such as aphidius, a parasitic wasp, need the pests to be present in order to reproduce. The idea of inviting the pests in may seem alarming, but remember, the insectary will encourage host spe-cific pests. These pests will remain on the desired plant in the mini

insectary yet provide an ideal breeding ground for the associated predators and parasites.

The plot does not have to be large, just big enough to hold 6-7 varieties of plants which attract insects. Once the garden has matured, watch the personal insect security force do the work.” (Excerpt from: eartheasy.com. See full article at: http://eartheasy.com/grow_garden_insectary.htm)

Plant Some of These...

Achillea filipendulina, Alyssum, An-ethum graveolens (Dill), Angelica gigas, Convolvulus minor, Coreop-sis, Cosmos bipinnatus, Helianthus annulus, Limonium latifolium (Statice), Lupin, Melissa officinalis (Lemon balm), Petroselinum cris-pum (Parsley), Scabiosa (Pincushion flower), Shasta Daisy, Tanacetum vulgare (Tansy), Yarrow

To Attract These Guys…

Lacewings, aphidius (aphid wasp), ladybugs, hoverflies, Tachnid flies, parasitic wasps, Damsel bugs, pirate bugs, beneficial mites , Dicyphus ,(mirid bug)

To Attack These Guys…

Aphids, thrips, spider mites, fungus gnats, whiteflies, eggs of many pest insects,

Slugs, small caterpillars and grubs , mealybugs, scale, mites, soft bodied insects , and larvae of flies, beetles, moths, whiteflies, and caterpillars.

Green lacewing

Deadly to almost any soft-bodied insect pest and its eggs. In its adult stage, it lives up to its name, feeding only on nec-tar and pollen. In its larval stage — when it’s known as the “aphid lion” or “aphid wolf” — it’s a voracious consumer of problem insects, known to devour over 200 aphids in a week

Lady bug

Eats mites, aphids, other soft-bodied bugs and all the insect eggs they can find.

Praying mantis

Eats just about any insect, bad and good, including wasps and bees.

Trichogramma wasp

An efficient killer of some 200 unde-sirable insects; armyworm, bag-worm, European corn borer, peach borer, squash bor-er, cankerworm,

alfalfa caterpillar, cutworm, corn ear-worm, wax moth, tomato hornworm, cabbage looper, and codling moth (wingspan approx. 1/50 of an inch)

Soldier bug

Attacks grubs, caterpillars and soft-bodied insect pests including the Euro-

pean corn borer and corn earworm, Gyp-sy moth caterpillars, the cabbage looper and cabbage worm, flea beetles and Colo-

rado potato beetles, fall armyworms and beet army worms, the diamond back moth, the cotton boll worm, and the Mex-ican bean beetle

Wheel bug (assassin bug)

Predators of soft-

bodied insects such as caterpillars, Japa-nese beetles, etc. Will also sting/stab humans if handled. As most of their prey are pests, wheel bugs are considered as beneficial to the garden as ladybugs. They are also known for eating stinkbugs.

Don’t send a boy to do man’s job, right? Same is true in the bug world. Select the right predators/parasites for the job. For example, the tiny trichogramma wasp will attack and lay its eggs in more than 200 different species of moth and butterfly eggs. This prevents caterpillars (larvae) from hatching and eating plant leaves. Once a caterpillar hatches, a host of general feeders and parasites will go after it, but the trichogramma wasp is your first line of defense because it specifically targets the eggs.

Sources:

planetnatural.com

Eartheasy.com

Page 6

Good Bugs

T HE GRE E N T HU MB PRI NT

Phun Photos

Floating on air Escape artist

V OLU ME 1 9, ISSU E 1

Aphids

On Guard: In clusters, under leaves, and on new plant growth of indoor and outdoor gar-dens

Controls: ladybugs; lacewings; DE (diatomaceous Earth); Neem; citrus/orange spray

Armyworms

On Guard: Active at night on the leaves of lettuce, cole crops, beans, tomatoes and corn

Controls: Trichogramma wasps; Bt

Cabbage looper

Food: Leaves of cab-bage or cole crops (broccoli, cauliflower, kale and turnip).

Controls: Trichogram-ma wasp; Spinosad or

BtK (Bt kurstaki)Some herbs attract the kinds of insects that prey on worms—parsley, dill, fennel, coriander and sweet alyssum,.

Cabbage worms

Food: , Leaves of cab-bage and cole crops

Controls: trichogramma wasps;green lacewings; BtK, spiders, birds.

Corn earworm

On Guard: One of the most destruc-tive in-sect pests

attacking corn. Also found on tomatoes (known as the tomato fruitworm)

Controls: integrated (deal with all stages) nematodes; trichogramma wasps, lace-wings, damsel bugs, Bt

Cucumber beetle

On Guard: Leaves, flowers and fruits of cucumbers, squash, pumpkins, melons, beans, corn and pota-toes

Controls: nematodes, ladybugs, lacewings, soldier bug

Cutworms

On Guard: At night, cutworms clip off seedling stems near

or just below the soil surface

Controls: nematodes; trichogramma wasps, DE, BtK

Squash bugs

On Guard: Throughout North America on the leaves and stems of squash and pump-kins (give off an unpleasant odor in large numbers or when crushed)

Controls: DE or organic insecticide

Tomato hornworm

On Guard: The most destruc-tive and widely distribut-ed pest of

tobacco and tomato plants

Controls: handpicking, lacewings, trichogramma wasps, ladybugs, Bt

Grasshoppers

On Guard: One of the most destructive insect pests attacking small trees, shrubs and gardens (study showed that 6-7 adults per square yard on 10 acres of

pasture ate as much as a cow)

Controls: birds and poultry, row covers, botanical insecticides (neem), Organic Semaspore Bait (Nosema locustae), Eco-Bran (PlanetNatural.com)

Japanese Beetle

Damage: may be a prob-lem in lawns, gardens, nurseries, parks, golf courses, fruit trees, and ornamental trees and shrubs (In its native Ja-

pan, where there is little turf grass availa-ble for grub feeding and a large number of natural enemies, this insect is not a serious plant pest)

Controls: row covers, nematodes, milky spore, neem,

Snail and Slugs

Found: In damp, shady locations feeding on live and decaying plant material. Most active at night

Controls: handpicking, slug traps, DE

Sources:

Planetnatural.com

Wikipedia.com

Eartheasy.com

Motherearchnews.com

Page 7

Bad Bugs One bug does not make a problem! There will always be garden pests and... not all pest damage is significant enough to warrant action. As garden-ers, we must each consider the level of pest activity that we are willing to tolerate. The best way to maintain a healthy garden is to educate yourself and learn to identify common “bad bugs.” The sooner a pest is identified the easier it will be to manage using earth-friendly methods.

How do you kill or deter them

The best time to kill them is early spring right after they have hatched and are eating a lot

There are three ways to kill or deter them…chemical, biological and environmental

Chemical - two types: curative & preventative. Be sure before using chemicals to have the soil tested for grub presence

Curative chemicals - triclorfon (Dylox®).

Problems with curative: may not get all the grubs; mature grubs may need more chemicals

Preventative chemicals:

apply in late June or early July; be sure to read the label and follow all recommendations

Biological -

purchase nematodes

Bacterial Milky disease

Steinernema carpocapsae

What are they and

what is their lifecy-

cle:

Grubs are the larval stage of many differ-ent kinds of beetles

During the mid-late summer they are most destructive, however, the dam-age may not be noticed until Sep-tember or October

Why are they bad

White grubs will attack and eat the roots of plants, and grass

They hit lawns hard, and the prob-lem may not be evident until brown spots appear in the middle of a nice green lawn

They also eat the roots of ornamen-tals and veggies.

They cause slow growth and produc-tion of the veggies

Since they are a tasty treat for ani-mals, there may be damage from animals digging for the grubs (armadillo love them!)

(Biosafe, Biovector, Exhibit, Scanmask)

Preparations containing Heterorhab-ditis spp.

Environmental - choose a resistant grass The links below have more detail on grubs and how to control them.

http://turf.uark.edu/turfhelp/archives/070109%20Japanese%20beetles.html

http://www.american-lawns.com/insects/grubs.html

http://www.buglogical.com/beneficial-nematodes/

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/grubs-bad-vegetable-plants-66555.html

http://www.ladybug.uconn.edu/WhiteGru

Grubs and Their Life Cycle by Chris Bridges

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

2301 South University Ave.

Little Rock, AR 72204

OFFICIAL BUSINESS

Benton County Extension Office

1204 S.W. 14th Street, Ste 2

Bentonville, AR 72712

Phone: 479-271-1060

Fax: 479-271-5713

Neal Mays

CEA - Agriculture

www.uaex.edu