nl june 14

11
1 ...for discerning weeders June/July, 2014 An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication CHANGES by Webmaster Change is inevitable. A pain to deal with at times but hopefully the end result is worth the aggravation. Our current Blog is no longer being hosted at its previous location. That meant a scram- ble to find a suitable home and with the goal of not losing any of the previous posts. We are happy to report that the new address for our Blog is http://ocmga.wordpress.com/. We saved all the archived postings so fortu- nately all that information is still there. You can follow the Blog and always get Larry’s arti- cles (published in the Daily News) as well as other items that we are able to post. This month we introduce Coordinator’s Cor- ner! This will be (hopefully) a monthly update directly from our Master Gardener Coordinator Larry Williams. We intend for this to help in- crease communication and provide pertinent information to our group. In the meantime, our web sites are still under- going some issues. Most of which are computer issues that seem to have been resolved. That being said, we are stream-lining the appearance of both sites in an effort to make them less clut- tered and more user friendly. There will be a full calendar on the member’s site that will allow our membership to keep abreast of events and happenings. The member roster page will mirror that of your handbook. During this period of transition, if you have any suggestions or ideas—please forward them to our editor/web master by email. As always, we are happy to get pictures from our members of their gardens and places they’ve been. Just make sure that you provide a short description with what the picture is! Articles are always wel- come. Whenever possible please send pictures as a .jpeg. We hope that you enjoy the changes and hope- fully the computer gremlins will remain else- where for quite some time. INSIDE THIS ISSUE Coordinator’s Corner 2 President’s Message 3 Trash or Treasure? 4 Correction 4 Events 5-6 The Good, The Bad, The Invasives 7 Wildlife Happenings 8 Book Review 8 Updates and Info 9 Head Start 10 Last Word 11 Gloriosa Lily courtesy of D. Hickenbotham Cereus in full bloom courtesy of D. Hickenbotham

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Changes to our web sites and blog are covered. Invasives: mimosa and coral berry. Coordinator's corner has been added. Scrounging--trash or treasure?

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Nl june 14

11

for discerning weeders

JuneJuly 2014 An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

CHANGES by Webmaster

Change is inevitable A pain to deal with at

times but hopefully the end result is worth

the aggravation

Our current Blog is no longer being hosted

at its previous location That meant a scram-

ble to find a suitable home and with the goal

of not losing any of the previous posts We

are happy to report that the new address for

our Blog is httpocmgawordpresscom

We saved all the archived postings so fortu-

nately all that information is still there You

can follow the Blog and always get Larryrsquos arti-

cles (published in the Daily News) as well as

other items that we are able to post

This month we introduce Coordinatorrsquos Cor-

ner This will be (hopefully) a monthly update

directly from our Master Gardener Coordinator

Larry Williams We intend for this to help in-

crease communication and provide pertinent

information to our group

In the meantime our web sites are still under-

going some issues Most of which are computer

issues that seem to have been resolved That

being said we are stream-lining the appearance

of both sites in an effort to make them less clut-

tered and more user friendly

There will be a full calendar on the memberrsquos

site that will allow our membership to keep

abreast of events and happenings The member

roster page will mirror that of your handbook

During this period of transition if you have

any suggestions or ideasmdashplease forward them

to our editorweb master by email As always

we are happy to get pictures from our members

of their gardens and places theyrsquove been Just

make sure that you provide a short description

with what the picture is Articles are always wel-

come Whenever possible please send pictures

as a jpeg

We hope that you enjoy the changes and hope-

fully the computer gremlins will remain else-

where for quite some time

INSIDE THIS

ISSUE

Coordinatorrsquos

Corner

2

Presidentrsquos

Message

3

Trash or

Treasure

4

Correction 4

Events 5-6

The Good The

Bad The

Invasives

7

Wildlife

Happenings

8

Book Review 8

Updates and

Info

9

Head Start 10

Last Word 11 Glo

riosa L

ily cou

rtesy of D

Hicken

bo

tham

Cereu

s in fu

ll blo

om

courtesy o

f D H

ickenb

oth

am

22

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

COORDINATORrsquoS CORNER by L Williams

JuneJuly 2014

It has not been business

as usual lately Below

are updates on a num-

ber of items related to

the Okaloosa County

Extension Office

Office Staff amp Faculty

With the retirement of

Elaine Courtney (FCS

Agent) and Ann Moss

(Extension Technician) and with Haley Worley (4-H Agent) re-

signing and relocating due to a military move for her and her

husband we are short staffed In 2008 our office went through

a comprehensive review by a team from the University of Flori-

da One of the items the team identified was the longevity of our

employees and the fact that in the near future we would be los-

ing a number of those employees I am dealing with the reality of

this now I have been busy attempting to fill these vacant posi-

tions

Annrsquos replacement began work at our office on June 23 Her

name is Joanna Sims She was an internal applicant coming to

our office from the County HR Dept Please join me in welcom-

ing Joanna to our Extension team

It will take longer to fill the FCS and 4-H faculty positions I am

working on this through the University of Florida and am hope-

ful that the 4-H position will be posted soon with the FCS posi-

tion being posted shortly thereafter It probably will be late sum-

mer or fall before these positions are filled

Extension Annex and Nursery

As you know the Extension Annex was flooded As a result I

saw an opportunity to have some work done to that facility The

County Facility Maintenance employees have been busy in mak-

ing a number of needed improvements to that building Please

have patience as this work is in progress Irsquom hopeful that the

work will be completed by the end of this month or the first of

July Work on the nursery floor has been delayed due to the

Countyrsquos Public Works Dept having to respond to an over-

whelming number of flooded properties roadshellip and continued

heavy rains Again please have patience with this We will even-

tually get this project accomplished

Upcoming Events

Donrsquot miss the ldquoMonth-by-Monthrdquo (A NGC Tri-refresher and

Advanced Master Gardener Training) on August 14 amp 15 in Mil-

ton This will count toward your MG recertification hours De-

tails are available at httpwfrecifasufleduevents including

the registration form

Instead of having the Master Gardener State Conference this

year we will have District Conferences Our District Master Gar-

dener Conference will be held in Milton on Friday October 10

with a preconference tour being held the day before (October 9)

There are limited details at this point but please put this on your

calendar The idea is to have a statewide conference on odd years

and local district conferences on even years

The Extension Office will be closed on Friday July 4th for Inde-

pendence Day I hope you find time to enjoy quality time off this

summer

Annex in the

first stages of

repair after the

flooding

33

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Presidentrsquos Message by S Taylor

Itrsquos been a long time since Irsquove been here in the Compost Pile ndash 5

years to be exact Irsquod like to start out by saying that I am hum-

bled by the opportunity to stand at the front of the room again

First time around I accepted the job to prove to myself (and to

my kids that) I could do it This time around itrsquos an opportunity

to learn more about myself and all of you If nothing else the

OCMGA offers opportunities ndash itrsquos up to you to figure out how to

best take advantage of them

Wersquove been busy certifying our newest class Congratulations to

those of you that have completed your training (The rest of you

are not far behind) You are now able to make the most of the

opportunities offered to MGs Like to talk to people Work in

the CV office or at the annex present a program to a garden

club Prefer getting your hands dirty The people at the annex

love to play in the dirt and the CV landscape ALWAYS needs

weeding Neither of those apply Figure out what you want to

do and see if you can come up with a way to implement it Make

your own opportunity The sky is the limit here (well actually

Larry is but he is pretty accommodating)

Veterans (or as Ed Smith calls youhellipvintage MGs) you too can

make the most of those opportunities So you have given pro-

grams or worked at the nursery and are burned out Go a totally

different direction Volunteer for a standing chair position or

become an intern training coordinator Figure out what attract-

ed you to the OCMGA way back when and see if you can recap-

ture that zeal

Two surveys have been sent out Why You ask Because we are

76 members strong yet only about half of that number are truly

active Please take the survey and help us see what we are doing

right as well as what we are doing wrong Let us know what op-

portunities you want to have and how we can encourage you to

take advantage of the opportunities that are out there

We all started our MG careers with a desire to learn and help others The opportunities are out there ndash which ones will you

choose

In spite of flood damage to

the annex building our

nursery is still going

Amenities are severely

limited but our dedicated

volunteers are working

hard

Fridayrsquos are nursery day

(unless otherwise noted)

Come on out

44

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

SCROUNGINGmdashTRASH OR TREASURE by B Buckellew

People throw away the neatest things In Niceville the ldquoclawrdquo comes around once a week to pick up the trash discarded by residents Usually itrsquos just that ndash trash but there are treasures to be found as well Hal put me onto this he has put a lot of it into his landscape and some of it is actually good (Sorry Sandie) Along with lots of good free oak firewood I have col-lected a smoker a park bench a fire pit (converted into a plant-er) a lawn ornament numerous planting pots bricks landscape stepping stones plants bottles for the tree buckets for veggie growing and more After each weekend drive around and see what your neighbors have considered to be junk You may be surprised (and donrsquot worry about being thought of as Sanford and Son) Folks actually tossed this stuff Now itrsquos mine

Asclepias tuberosa is commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two

colors yellow and red with yellow high-lights should have read Asclepias tuberosa is

commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two colors yellow and

orange

There is a tropical variety of Asclepias Asclepias curvassavica which is considered in-

vasive It overwinters primarily in south Florida although it may survive north Florida

winters in mild years This variety has red flowers with yellow interiors and is also a

favorable food source for monarch butterflies and their young

Correction to MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS from the May Com-

post Pile

Donrsquot forget those yard and garage sales There

are lots of garden tools and other items you

would be able to convert to garden use

Keep an eye out for moving days as well When

folks are moving out you would be amazed at

what they leave out by the curb when they are

done

Recycling at its best

55

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

66

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Next general membership meeting will be

on July 30th

at the Crestview Extension Office

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

Limited Pesticide Training and Exam

Friday July 25th

1030ammdashnoon

Shade Gardening

Located at the Tryon Library

Pre-register by email bbollesufledu or call

(850)595-3460

District Master Gardener Conference

October 9th

(pre-conference tour)

October 10th

conference

Milton FL

More information will be posted as it be-

comes available

IMPORTANT

Due to the recent flooding the Extension Annex Ft

Walton Beach will be closed until further notice

The Nursery is still in operation and workers are needed

Nursery is open on Friday from 9 to noon

77

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of

names such as Australian holly coral ardisia coral bush coral-

berry tree hens-eyes Christmas berry and spiceberry This in-

vasive species was introduced to the United States in the early

twentieth century as an ornamental

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant It

is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the

horticulture industry as an ornamental plant Ardisiarsquos native

range includes areas of Japan and northern India Ardisia es-

caped cultivation in 1982 spreading into wooded areas Current-

ly Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and cen-

tral Florida In the landscape Ardisia is known and grown for its

persistent red berries glossy foliage and low maintenance

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida

such as hardwood hammocks becoming a significant pest

httpplantsifasufledunode42

Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and

Wild coffee Chinese holly is a non-native non-invasive substi-

tute as well

Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

(a non-governmental organization) as a category I species de-

fined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting

native plant communities in Florida In many areas Ardisia cre-

nata has become a significant pest

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaardis_ccfm

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia

julibrissin) can been seen in

an array of unusual loca-

tions throughout our area

Originally imported from

China the tree has been

cultivated since the 18th

century Mimosa is a mem-

ber of the legume family

and therefore capable of

fixing nitrogen It reproduc-

es both vegetatively and by

seed It is considered short

lived and extremely messy

The tree produces flowers

and seed pods which re-

quire cleaning up during the growth season There are over a

hundred species of Albizia all native to Asia Africa or Australia

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

It is easily grown in average medium well-drained soils in full

sun to light shade Best flowering in full sun The tree prefers

rich light soils but will live in a wide range of soils including

poor ones It will tolerate drought but best growth occurs with

regular watering It also thrives in high summer heat It is con-

sidered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it It can be

spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of

water and water movement

The best method for control is not to plant however it is used

extensively for landscaping Cutting is an initial control measure

best done prior to seed set and usually requires follow-up cut-

tings in combination with herbicide treatments due to re-

sprouts Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are

effective httpwwwnpsgovplantsalienpubsmidatlantic

aljuhtm

Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia Redbud and Fringe

tree httpedisifasufleduep468

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant

Council as a Category I species defined as an invasive exotic

plant that is disrupting native plant communities http

wwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

I want to end with the following

Of the more than 4000 known plant species growing in Florida

approximately 30 are not native to Florida or the Southeast

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificial-

ly in locations beyond their known historical native ranges

httpedisifasufledufr133

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

THE GOOD THE BAD THE INVASIVES by D Stevers

A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communi-

ties by displacing native species changing community struc-

tures or ecological functions or hybridizing with natives This

definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic

range of the problem but on the documented ecological dam-

age caused Category II invasive exotics have increased in

abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant

communities to the extent shown by Category I species They

may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated

(FLEPPC definition)

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 2: Nl june 14

22

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication

COORDINATORrsquoS CORNER by L Williams

JuneJuly 2014

It has not been business

as usual lately Below

are updates on a num-

ber of items related to

the Okaloosa County

Extension Office

Office Staff amp Faculty

With the retirement of

Elaine Courtney (FCS

Agent) and Ann Moss

(Extension Technician) and with Haley Worley (4-H Agent) re-

signing and relocating due to a military move for her and her

husband we are short staffed In 2008 our office went through

a comprehensive review by a team from the University of Flori-

da One of the items the team identified was the longevity of our

employees and the fact that in the near future we would be los-

ing a number of those employees I am dealing with the reality of

this now I have been busy attempting to fill these vacant posi-

tions

Annrsquos replacement began work at our office on June 23 Her

name is Joanna Sims She was an internal applicant coming to

our office from the County HR Dept Please join me in welcom-

ing Joanna to our Extension team

It will take longer to fill the FCS and 4-H faculty positions I am

working on this through the University of Florida and am hope-

ful that the 4-H position will be posted soon with the FCS posi-

tion being posted shortly thereafter It probably will be late sum-

mer or fall before these positions are filled

Extension Annex and Nursery

As you know the Extension Annex was flooded As a result I

saw an opportunity to have some work done to that facility The

County Facility Maintenance employees have been busy in mak-

ing a number of needed improvements to that building Please

have patience as this work is in progress Irsquom hopeful that the

work will be completed by the end of this month or the first of

July Work on the nursery floor has been delayed due to the

Countyrsquos Public Works Dept having to respond to an over-

whelming number of flooded properties roadshellip and continued

heavy rains Again please have patience with this We will even-

tually get this project accomplished

Upcoming Events

Donrsquot miss the ldquoMonth-by-Monthrdquo (A NGC Tri-refresher and

Advanced Master Gardener Training) on August 14 amp 15 in Mil-

ton This will count toward your MG recertification hours De-

tails are available at httpwfrecifasufleduevents including

the registration form

Instead of having the Master Gardener State Conference this

year we will have District Conferences Our District Master Gar-

dener Conference will be held in Milton on Friday October 10

with a preconference tour being held the day before (October 9)

There are limited details at this point but please put this on your

calendar The idea is to have a statewide conference on odd years

and local district conferences on even years

The Extension Office will be closed on Friday July 4th for Inde-

pendence Day I hope you find time to enjoy quality time off this

summer

Annex in the

first stages of

repair after the

flooding

33

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Presidentrsquos Message by S Taylor

Itrsquos been a long time since Irsquove been here in the Compost Pile ndash 5

years to be exact Irsquod like to start out by saying that I am hum-

bled by the opportunity to stand at the front of the room again

First time around I accepted the job to prove to myself (and to

my kids that) I could do it This time around itrsquos an opportunity

to learn more about myself and all of you If nothing else the

OCMGA offers opportunities ndash itrsquos up to you to figure out how to

best take advantage of them

Wersquove been busy certifying our newest class Congratulations to

those of you that have completed your training (The rest of you

are not far behind) You are now able to make the most of the

opportunities offered to MGs Like to talk to people Work in

the CV office or at the annex present a program to a garden

club Prefer getting your hands dirty The people at the annex

love to play in the dirt and the CV landscape ALWAYS needs

weeding Neither of those apply Figure out what you want to

do and see if you can come up with a way to implement it Make

your own opportunity The sky is the limit here (well actually

Larry is but he is pretty accommodating)

Veterans (or as Ed Smith calls youhellipvintage MGs) you too can

make the most of those opportunities So you have given pro-

grams or worked at the nursery and are burned out Go a totally

different direction Volunteer for a standing chair position or

become an intern training coordinator Figure out what attract-

ed you to the OCMGA way back when and see if you can recap-

ture that zeal

Two surveys have been sent out Why You ask Because we are

76 members strong yet only about half of that number are truly

active Please take the survey and help us see what we are doing

right as well as what we are doing wrong Let us know what op-

portunities you want to have and how we can encourage you to

take advantage of the opportunities that are out there

We all started our MG careers with a desire to learn and help others The opportunities are out there ndash which ones will you

choose

In spite of flood damage to

the annex building our

nursery is still going

Amenities are severely

limited but our dedicated

volunteers are working

hard

Fridayrsquos are nursery day

(unless otherwise noted)

Come on out

44

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

SCROUNGINGmdashTRASH OR TREASURE by B Buckellew

People throw away the neatest things In Niceville the ldquoclawrdquo comes around once a week to pick up the trash discarded by residents Usually itrsquos just that ndash trash but there are treasures to be found as well Hal put me onto this he has put a lot of it into his landscape and some of it is actually good (Sorry Sandie) Along with lots of good free oak firewood I have col-lected a smoker a park bench a fire pit (converted into a plant-er) a lawn ornament numerous planting pots bricks landscape stepping stones plants bottles for the tree buckets for veggie growing and more After each weekend drive around and see what your neighbors have considered to be junk You may be surprised (and donrsquot worry about being thought of as Sanford and Son) Folks actually tossed this stuff Now itrsquos mine

Asclepias tuberosa is commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two

colors yellow and red with yellow high-lights should have read Asclepias tuberosa is

commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two colors yellow and

orange

There is a tropical variety of Asclepias Asclepias curvassavica which is considered in-

vasive It overwinters primarily in south Florida although it may survive north Florida

winters in mild years This variety has red flowers with yellow interiors and is also a

favorable food source for monarch butterflies and their young

Correction to MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS from the May Com-

post Pile

Donrsquot forget those yard and garage sales There

are lots of garden tools and other items you

would be able to convert to garden use

Keep an eye out for moving days as well When

folks are moving out you would be amazed at

what they leave out by the curb when they are

done

Recycling at its best

55

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

66

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Next general membership meeting will be

on July 30th

at the Crestview Extension Office

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

Limited Pesticide Training and Exam

Friday July 25th

1030ammdashnoon

Shade Gardening

Located at the Tryon Library

Pre-register by email bbollesufledu or call

(850)595-3460

District Master Gardener Conference

October 9th

(pre-conference tour)

October 10th

conference

Milton FL

More information will be posted as it be-

comes available

IMPORTANT

Due to the recent flooding the Extension Annex Ft

Walton Beach will be closed until further notice

The Nursery is still in operation and workers are needed

Nursery is open on Friday from 9 to noon

77

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of

names such as Australian holly coral ardisia coral bush coral-

berry tree hens-eyes Christmas berry and spiceberry This in-

vasive species was introduced to the United States in the early

twentieth century as an ornamental

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant It

is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the

horticulture industry as an ornamental plant Ardisiarsquos native

range includes areas of Japan and northern India Ardisia es-

caped cultivation in 1982 spreading into wooded areas Current-

ly Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and cen-

tral Florida In the landscape Ardisia is known and grown for its

persistent red berries glossy foliage and low maintenance

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida

such as hardwood hammocks becoming a significant pest

httpplantsifasufledunode42

Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and

Wild coffee Chinese holly is a non-native non-invasive substi-

tute as well

Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

(a non-governmental organization) as a category I species de-

fined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting

native plant communities in Florida In many areas Ardisia cre-

nata has become a significant pest

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaardis_ccfm

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia

julibrissin) can been seen in

an array of unusual loca-

tions throughout our area

Originally imported from

China the tree has been

cultivated since the 18th

century Mimosa is a mem-

ber of the legume family

and therefore capable of

fixing nitrogen It reproduc-

es both vegetatively and by

seed It is considered short

lived and extremely messy

The tree produces flowers

and seed pods which re-

quire cleaning up during the growth season There are over a

hundred species of Albizia all native to Asia Africa or Australia

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

It is easily grown in average medium well-drained soils in full

sun to light shade Best flowering in full sun The tree prefers

rich light soils but will live in a wide range of soils including

poor ones It will tolerate drought but best growth occurs with

regular watering It also thrives in high summer heat It is con-

sidered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it It can be

spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of

water and water movement

The best method for control is not to plant however it is used

extensively for landscaping Cutting is an initial control measure

best done prior to seed set and usually requires follow-up cut-

tings in combination with herbicide treatments due to re-

sprouts Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are

effective httpwwwnpsgovplantsalienpubsmidatlantic

aljuhtm

Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia Redbud and Fringe

tree httpedisifasufleduep468

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant

Council as a Category I species defined as an invasive exotic

plant that is disrupting native plant communities http

wwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

I want to end with the following

Of the more than 4000 known plant species growing in Florida

approximately 30 are not native to Florida or the Southeast

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificial-

ly in locations beyond their known historical native ranges

httpedisifasufledufr133

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

THE GOOD THE BAD THE INVASIVES by D Stevers

A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communi-

ties by displacing native species changing community struc-

tures or ecological functions or hybridizing with natives This

definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic

range of the problem but on the documented ecological dam-

age caused Category II invasive exotics have increased in

abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant

communities to the extent shown by Category I species They

may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated

(FLEPPC definition)

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 3: Nl june 14

33

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Presidentrsquos Message by S Taylor

Itrsquos been a long time since Irsquove been here in the Compost Pile ndash 5

years to be exact Irsquod like to start out by saying that I am hum-

bled by the opportunity to stand at the front of the room again

First time around I accepted the job to prove to myself (and to

my kids that) I could do it This time around itrsquos an opportunity

to learn more about myself and all of you If nothing else the

OCMGA offers opportunities ndash itrsquos up to you to figure out how to

best take advantage of them

Wersquove been busy certifying our newest class Congratulations to

those of you that have completed your training (The rest of you

are not far behind) You are now able to make the most of the

opportunities offered to MGs Like to talk to people Work in

the CV office or at the annex present a program to a garden

club Prefer getting your hands dirty The people at the annex

love to play in the dirt and the CV landscape ALWAYS needs

weeding Neither of those apply Figure out what you want to

do and see if you can come up with a way to implement it Make

your own opportunity The sky is the limit here (well actually

Larry is but he is pretty accommodating)

Veterans (or as Ed Smith calls youhellipvintage MGs) you too can

make the most of those opportunities So you have given pro-

grams or worked at the nursery and are burned out Go a totally

different direction Volunteer for a standing chair position or

become an intern training coordinator Figure out what attract-

ed you to the OCMGA way back when and see if you can recap-

ture that zeal

Two surveys have been sent out Why You ask Because we are

76 members strong yet only about half of that number are truly

active Please take the survey and help us see what we are doing

right as well as what we are doing wrong Let us know what op-

portunities you want to have and how we can encourage you to

take advantage of the opportunities that are out there

We all started our MG careers with a desire to learn and help others The opportunities are out there ndash which ones will you

choose

In spite of flood damage to

the annex building our

nursery is still going

Amenities are severely

limited but our dedicated

volunteers are working

hard

Fridayrsquos are nursery day

(unless otherwise noted)

Come on out

44

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

SCROUNGINGmdashTRASH OR TREASURE by B Buckellew

People throw away the neatest things In Niceville the ldquoclawrdquo comes around once a week to pick up the trash discarded by residents Usually itrsquos just that ndash trash but there are treasures to be found as well Hal put me onto this he has put a lot of it into his landscape and some of it is actually good (Sorry Sandie) Along with lots of good free oak firewood I have col-lected a smoker a park bench a fire pit (converted into a plant-er) a lawn ornament numerous planting pots bricks landscape stepping stones plants bottles for the tree buckets for veggie growing and more After each weekend drive around and see what your neighbors have considered to be junk You may be surprised (and donrsquot worry about being thought of as Sanford and Son) Folks actually tossed this stuff Now itrsquos mine

Asclepias tuberosa is commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two

colors yellow and red with yellow high-lights should have read Asclepias tuberosa is

commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two colors yellow and

orange

There is a tropical variety of Asclepias Asclepias curvassavica which is considered in-

vasive It overwinters primarily in south Florida although it may survive north Florida

winters in mild years This variety has red flowers with yellow interiors and is also a

favorable food source for monarch butterflies and their young

Correction to MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS from the May Com-

post Pile

Donrsquot forget those yard and garage sales There

are lots of garden tools and other items you

would be able to convert to garden use

Keep an eye out for moving days as well When

folks are moving out you would be amazed at

what they leave out by the curb when they are

done

Recycling at its best

55

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

66

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Next general membership meeting will be

on July 30th

at the Crestview Extension Office

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

Limited Pesticide Training and Exam

Friday July 25th

1030ammdashnoon

Shade Gardening

Located at the Tryon Library

Pre-register by email bbollesufledu or call

(850)595-3460

District Master Gardener Conference

October 9th

(pre-conference tour)

October 10th

conference

Milton FL

More information will be posted as it be-

comes available

IMPORTANT

Due to the recent flooding the Extension Annex Ft

Walton Beach will be closed until further notice

The Nursery is still in operation and workers are needed

Nursery is open on Friday from 9 to noon

77

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of

names such as Australian holly coral ardisia coral bush coral-

berry tree hens-eyes Christmas berry and spiceberry This in-

vasive species was introduced to the United States in the early

twentieth century as an ornamental

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant It

is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the

horticulture industry as an ornamental plant Ardisiarsquos native

range includes areas of Japan and northern India Ardisia es-

caped cultivation in 1982 spreading into wooded areas Current-

ly Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and cen-

tral Florida In the landscape Ardisia is known and grown for its

persistent red berries glossy foliage and low maintenance

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida

such as hardwood hammocks becoming a significant pest

httpplantsifasufledunode42

Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and

Wild coffee Chinese holly is a non-native non-invasive substi-

tute as well

Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

(a non-governmental organization) as a category I species de-

fined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting

native plant communities in Florida In many areas Ardisia cre-

nata has become a significant pest

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaardis_ccfm

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia

julibrissin) can been seen in

an array of unusual loca-

tions throughout our area

Originally imported from

China the tree has been

cultivated since the 18th

century Mimosa is a mem-

ber of the legume family

and therefore capable of

fixing nitrogen It reproduc-

es both vegetatively and by

seed It is considered short

lived and extremely messy

The tree produces flowers

and seed pods which re-

quire cleaning up during the growth season There are over a

hundred species of Albizia all native to Asia Africa or Australia

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

It is easily grown in average medium well-drained soils in full

sun to light shade Best flowering in full sun The tree prefers

rich light soils but will live in a wide range of soils including

poor ones It will tolerate drought but best growth occurs with

regular watering It also thrives in high summer heat It is con-

sidered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it It can be

spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of

water and water movement

The best method for control is not to plant however it is used

extensively for landscaping Cutting is an initial control measure

best done prior to seed set and usually requires follow-up cut-

tings in combination with herbicide treatments due to re-

sprouts Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are

effective httpwwwnpsgovplantsalienpubsmidatlantic

aljuhtm

Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia Redbud and Fringe

tree httpedisifasufleduep468

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant

Council as a Category I species defined as an invasive exotic

plant that is disrupting native plant communities http

wwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

I want to end with the following

Of the more than 4000 known plant species growing in Florida

approximately 30 are not native to Florida or the Southeast

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificial-

ly in locations beyond their known historical native ranges

httpedisifasufledufr133

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

THE GOOD THE BAD THE INVASIVES by D Stevers

A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communi-

ties by displacing native species changing community struc-

tures or ecological functions or hybridizing with natives This

definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic

range of the problem but on the documented ecological dam-

age caused Category II invasive exotics have increased in

abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant

communities to the extent shown by Category I species They

may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated

(FLEPPC definition)

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 4: Nl june 14

44

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

SCROUNGINGmdashTRASH OR TREASURE by B Buckellew

People throw away the neatest things In Niceville the ldquoclawrdquo comes around once a week to pick up the trash discarded by residents Usually itrsquos just that ndash trash but there are treasures to be found as well Hal put me onto this he has put a lot of it into his landscape and some of it is actually good (Sorry Sandie) Along with lots of good free oak firewood I have col-lected a smoker a park bench a fire pit (converted into a plant-er) a lawn ornament numerous planting pots bricks landscape stepping stones plants bottles for the tree buckets for veggie growing and more After each weekend drive around and see what your neighbors have considered to be junk You may be surprised (and donrsquot worry about being thought of as Sanford and Son) Folks actually tossed this stuff Now itrsquos mine

Asclepias tuberosa is commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two

colors yellow and red with yellow high-lights should have read Asclepias tuberosa is

commonly available through the big box stores and comes in two colors yellow and

orange

There is a tropical variety of Asclepias Asclepias curvassavica which is considered in-

vasive It overwinters primarily in south Florida although it may survive north Florida

winters in mild years This variety has red flowers with yellow interiors and is also a

favorable food source for monarch butterflies and their young

Correction to MILKWEED FOR MONARCHS from the May Com-

post Pile

Donrsquot forget those yard and garage sales There

are lots of garden tools and other items you

would be able to convert to garden use

Keep an eye out for moving days as well When

folks are moving out you would be amazed at

what they leave out by the curb when they are

done

Recycling at its best

55

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

66

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Next general membership meeting will be

on July 30th

at the Crestview Extension Office

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

Limited Pesticide Training and Exam

Friday July 25th

1030ammdashnoon

Shade Gardening

Located at the Tryon Library

Pre-register by email bbollesufledu or call

(850)595-3460

District Master Gardener Conference

October 9th

(pre-conference tour)

October 10th

conference

Milton FL

More information will be posted as it be-

comes available

IMPORTANT

Due to the recent flooding the Extension Annex Ft

Walton Beach will be closed until further notice

The Nursery is still in operation and workers are needed

Nursery is open on Friday from 9 to noon

77

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of

names such as Australian holly coral ardisia coral bush coral-

berry tree hens-eyes Christmas berry and spiceberry This in-

vasive species was introduced to the United States in the early

twentieth century as an ornamental

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant It

is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the

horticulture industry as an ornamental plant Ardisiarsquos native

range includes areas of Japan and northern India Ardisia es-

caped cultivation in 1982 spreading into wooded areas Current-

ly Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and cen-

tral Florida In the landscape Ardisia is known and grown for its

persistent red berries glossy foliage and low maintenance

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida

such as hardwood hammocks becoming a significant pest

httpplantsifasufledunode42

Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and

Wild coffee Chinese holly is a non-native non-invasive substi-

tute as well

Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

(a non-governmental organization) as a category I species de-

fined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting

native plant communities in Florida In many areas Ardisia cre-

nata has become a significant pest

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaardis_ccfm

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia

julibrissin) can been seen in

an array of unusual loca-

tions throughout our area

Originally imported from

China the tree has been

cultivated since the 18th

century Mimosa is a mem-

ber of the legume family

and therefore capable of

fixing nitrogen It reproduc-

es both vegetatively and by

seed It is considered short

lived and extremely messy

The tree produces flowers

and seed pods which re-

quire cleaning up during the growth season There are over a

hundred species of Albizia all native to Asia Africa or Australia

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

It is easily grown in average medium well-drained soils in full

sun to light shade Best flowering in full sun The tree prefers

rich light soils but will live in a wide range of soils including

poor ones It will tolerate drought but best growth occurs with

regular watering It also thrives in high summer heat It is con-

sidered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it It can be

spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of

water and water movement

The best method for control is not to plant however it is used

extensively for landscaping Cutting is an initial control measure

best done prior to seed set and usually requires follow-up cut-

tings in combination with herbicide treatments due to re-

sprouts Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are

effective httpwwwnpsgovplantsalienpubsmidatlantic

aljuhtm

Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia Redbud and Fringe

tree httpedisifasufleduep468

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant

Council as a Category I species defined as an invasive exotic

plant that is disrupting native plant communities http

wwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

I want to end with the following

Of the more than 4000 known plant species growing in Florida

approximately 30 are not native to Florida or the Southeast

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificial-

ly in locations beyond their known historical native ranges

httpedisifasufledufr133

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

THE GOOD THE BAD THE INVASIVES by D Stevers

A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communi-

ties by displacing native species changing community struc-

tures or ecological functions or hybridizing with natives This

definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic

range of the problem but on the documented ecological dam-

age caused Category II invasive exotics have increased in

abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant

communities to the extent shown by Category I species They

may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated

(FLEPPC definition)

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 5: Nl june 14

55

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

66

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Next general membership meeting will be

on July 30th

at the Crestview Extension Office

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

Limited Pesticide Training and Exam

Friday July 25th

1030ammdashnoon

Shade Gardening

Located at the Tryon Library

Pre-register by email bbollesufledu or call

(850)595-3460

District Master Gardener Conference

October 9th

(pre-conference tour)

October 10th

conference

Milton FL

More information will be posted as it be-

comes available

IMPORTANT

Due to the recent flooding the Extension Annex Ft

Walton Beach will be closed until further notice

The Nursery is still in operation and workers are needed

Nursery is open on Friday from 9 to noon

77

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of

names such as Australian holly coral ardisia coral bush coral-

berry tree hens-eyes Christmas berry and spiceberry This in-

vasive species was introduced to the United States in the early

twentieth century as an ornamental

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant It

is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the

horticulture industry as an ornamental plant Ardisiarsquos native

range includes areas of Japan and northern India Ardisia es-

caped cultivation in 1982 spreading into wooded areas Current-

ly Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and cen-

tral Florida In the landscape Ardisia is known and grown for its

persistent red berries glossy foliage and low maintenance

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida

such as hardwood hammocks becoming a significant pest

httpplantsifasufledunode42

Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and

Wild coffee Chinese holly is a non-native non-invasive substi-

tute as well

Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

(a non-governmental organization) as a category I species de-

fined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting

native plant communities in Florida In many areas Ardisia cre-

nata has become a significant pest

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaardis_ccfm

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia

julibrissin) can been seen in

an array of unusual loca-

tions throughout our area

Originally imported from

China the tree has been

cultivated since the 18th

century Mimosa is a mem-

ber of the legume family

and therefore capable of

fixing nitrogen It reproduc-

es both vegetatively and by

seed It is considered short

lived and extremely messy

The tree produces flowers

and seed pods which re-

quire cleaning up during the growth season There are over a

hundred species of Albizia all native to Asia Africa or Australia

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

It is easily grown in average medium well-drained soils in full

sun to light shade Best flowering in full sun The tree prefers

rich light soils but will live in a wide range of soils including

poor ones It will tolerate drought but best growth occurs with

regular watering It also thrives in high summer heat It is con-

sidered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it It can be

spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of

water and water movement

The best method for control is not to plant however it is used

extensively for landscaping Cutting is an initial control measure

best done prior to seed set and usually requires follow-up cut-

tings in combination with herbicide treatments due to re-

sprouts Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are

effective httpwwwnpsgovplantsalienpubsmidatlantic

aljuhtm

Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia Redbud and Fringe

tree httpedisifasufleduep468

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant

Council as a Category I species defined as an invasive exotic

plant that is disrupting native plant communities http

wwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

I want to end with the following

Of the more than 4000 known plant species growing in Florida

approximately 30 are not native to Florida or the Southeast

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificial-

ly in locations beyond their known historical native ranges

httpedisifasufledufr133

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

THE GOOD THE BAD THE INVASIVES by D Stevers

A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communi-

ties by displacing native species changing community struc-

tures or ecological functions or hybridizing with natives This

definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic

range of the problem but on the documented ecological dam-

age caused Category II invasive exotics have increased in

abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant

communities to the extent shown by Category I species They

may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated

(FLEPPC definition)

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 6: Nl june 14

66

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Next general membership meeting will be

on July 30th

at the Crestview Extension Office

Click on the images to open up a link to the

specific event page

Limited Pesticide Training and Exam

Friday July 25th

1030ammdashnoon

Shade Gardening

Located at the Tryon Library

Pre-register by email bbollesufledu or call

(850)595-3460

District Master Gardener Conference

October 9th

(pre-conference tour)

October 10th

conference

Milton FL

More information will be posted as it be-

comes available

IMPORTANT

Due to the recent flooding the Extension Annex Ft

Walton Beach will be closed until further notice

The Nursery is still in operation and workers are needed

Nursery is open on Friday from 9 to noon

77

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of

names such as Australian holly coral ardisia coral bush coral-

berry tree hens-eyes Christmas berry and spiceberry This in-

vasive species was introduced to the United States in the early

twentieth century as an ornamental

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant It

is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the

horticulture industry as an ornamental plant Ardisiarsquos native

range includes areas of Japan and northern India Ardisia es-

caped cultivation in 1982 spreading into wooded areas Current-

ly Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and cen-

tral Florida In the landscape Ardisia is known and grown for its

persistent red berries glossy foliage and low maintenance

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida

such as hardwood hammocks becoming a significant pest

httpplantsifasufledunode42

Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and

Wild coffee Chinese holly is a non-native non-invasive substi-

tute as well

Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

(a non-governmental organization) as a category I species de-

fined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting

native plant communities in Florida In many areas Ardisia cre-

nata has become a significant pest

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaardis_ccfm

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia

julibrissin) can been seen in

an array of unusual loca-

tions throughout our area

Originally imported from

China the tree has been

cultivated since the 18th

century Mimosa is a mem-

ber of the legume family

and therefore capable of

fixing nitrogen It reproduc-

es both vegetatively and by

seed It is considered short

lived and extremely messy

The tree produces flowers

and seed pods which re-

quire cleaning up during the growth season There are over a

hundred species of Albizia all native to Asia Africa or Australia

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

It is easily grown in average medium well-drained soils in full

sun to light shade Best flowering in full sun The tree prefers

rich light soils but will live in a wide range of soils including

poor ones It will tolerate drought but best growth occurs with

regular watering It also thrives in high summer heat It is con-

sidered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it It can be

spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of

water and water movement

The best method for control is not to plant however it is used

extensively for landscaping Cutting is an initial control measure

best done prior to seed set and usually requires follow-up cut-

tings in combination with herbicide treatments due to re-

sprouts Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are

effective httpwwwnpsgovplantsalienpubsmidatlantic

aljuhtm

Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia Redbud and Fringe

tree httpedisifasufleduep468

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant

Council as a Category I species defined as an invasive exotic

plant that is disrupting native plant communities http

wwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

I want to end with the following

Of the more than 4000 known plant species growing in Florida

approximately 30 are not native to Florida or the Southeast

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificial-

ly in locations beyond their known historical native ranges

httpedisifasufledufr133

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

THE GOOD THE BAD THE INVASIVES by D Stevers

A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communi-

ties by displacing native species changing community struc-

tures or ecological functions or hybridizing with natives This

definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic

range of the problem but on the documented ecological dam-

age caused Category II invasive exotics have increased in

abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant

communities to the extent shown by Category I species They

may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated

(FLEPPC definition)

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 7: Nl june 14

77

Ardisia crenata (Coral berry) is also known by a variety of

names such as Australian holly coral ardisia coral bush coral-

berry tree hens-eyes Christmas berry and spiceberry This in-

vasive species was introduced to the United States in the early

twentieth century as an ornamental

Christmas berry is the most common name used for this plant It

is a small upright shrub that is used and sold extensively in the

horticulture industry as an ornamental plant Ardisiarsquos native

range includes areas of Japan and northern India Ardisia es-

caped cultivation in 1982 spreading into wooded areas Current-

ly Ardisia has established in many counties in northern and cen-

tral Florida In the landscape Ardisia is known and grown for its

persistent red berries glossy foliage and low maintenance

Ardisia crenata has naturalized in many areas across Florida

such as hardwood hammocks becoming a significant pest

httpplantsifasufledunode42

Native alternatives for Ardisia include Dwarf yaupon holly and

Wild coffee Chinese holly is a non-native non-invasive substi-

tute as well

Ardisia crenata is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council

(a non-governmental organization) as a category I species de-

fined as an introduced species that is invading and disrupting

native plant communities in Florida In many areas Ardisia cre-

nata has become a significant pest

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaardis_ccfm

Mimosa or silk tree (Albizia

julibrissin) can been seen in

an array of unusual loca-

tions throughout our area

Originally imported from

China the tree has been

cultivated since the 18th

century Mimosa is a mem-

ber of the legume family

and therefore capable of

fixing nitrogen It reproduc-

es both vegetatively and by

seed It is considered short

lived and extremely messy

The tree produces flowers

and seed pods which re-

quire cleaning up during the growth season There are over a

hundred species of Albizia all native to Asia Africa or Australia

httpwwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

It is easily grown in average medium well-drained soils in full

sun to light shade Best flowering in full sun The tree prefers

rich light soils but will live in a wide range of soils including

poor ones It will tolerate drought but best growth occurs with

regular watering It also thrives in high summer heat It is con-

sidered a tree or shrub when used in the landscape

The tree has a showy flower and bees are attracted to it It can be

spread extensively in the wild especially in areas with plenty of

water and water movement

The best method for control is not to plant however it is used

extensively for landscaping Cutting is an initial control measure

best done prior to seed set and usually requires follow-up cut-

tings in combination with herbicide treatments due to re-

sprouts Systemic herbicides like glyphosate and triclopyr are

effective httpwwwnpsgovplantsalienpubsmidatlantic

aljuhtm

Some alternatives for Mimosa are Acacia Redbud and Fringe

tree httpedisifasufleduep468

Mimosa (Silk tree) is listed by the Florida Exotic Pest Plant

Council as a Category I species defined as an invasive exotic

plant that is disrupting native plant communities http

wwwfloridatacomrefaalbiziacfm

I want to end with the following

Of the more than 4000 known plant species growing in Florida

approximately 30 are not native to Florida or the Southeast

Organisms are considered non-native when they occur artificial-

ly in locations beyond their known historical native ranges

httpedisifasufledufr133

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

THE GOOD THE BAD THE INVASIVES by D Stevers

A Category I invasive is one that alters native plant communi-

ties by displacing native species changing community struc-

tures or ecological functions or hybridizing with natives This

definition does not rely on the economic severity or geographic

range of the problem but on the documented ecological dam-

age caused Category II invasive exotics have increased in

abundance or frequency but have not yet altered Florida plant

communities to the extent shown by Category I species They

may become Category I if ecological damage is demonstrated

(FLEPPC definition)

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 8: Nl june 14

88

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

BOOK REVIEW by M Stewart

If you donrsquot have this book in your library you should Dr Ed-

ward Gilman (yes that Dr Gilman) authored Betrockrsquos Florida

Plant Guide It was published in 1996 but still provides an excel-

lent reference source for the Florida gardener

274 color photos of Floridarsquos more popular turfgrass bedding

plants perennials groundcovers palms shrubs trees vines and

interior foliage Each plant has the scientific name common

name zone size form flower culture uses and notes

There are two other books (well hersquos written more) that you

really should consider adding to your library if you havenrsquot done

so An Illustrated Guide to Pruning (2011) Well written and easy

to understand An ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO PRUNING Third

Edition is a must-have for anyone interested in the pruning and

maintenance of trees Filled with updated illustrations photo-

graphs and examples this completely updated guide is designed

to help readers understand and implement the appropriate

pruning practices that are vital to developing sustainable struc-

ture in the first 25 years of a trees life Coverage includes a varie-

ty of information about the challenges associated with pruning

such as disease prevention root pruning mature tree pruning

and restoration following storms With its simple tables lists

and strategies this book is an appealing resource for horticul-

ture landscape and tree associations and industries and is a nat-

ural addition for botanic garden and arboreta bookstores

Finally there is Your Florida Guide to Shrubs Selection Es-

tablishment and Maintenance written with Robert J Black and

Sydney Park Brown No other book offers such colorful com-

plete and reliable information about all aspects of select-

ing growing and

maintaining the

shrubs and small

trees that thrive in

the Florida land-

scape Written for

everyone from the

homeowner with

limited gardening

skills to the land-

scape professional

or property manag-

er the new edition

of this photo-filled

guide includes a har-

diness-zone map

and all the infor-

mation you need to

help create a beauti-

ful landscape

A word of cautionmdashthe guide to pruning is EXPENSIVE

But if yoursquore going to tackle pruning and arenrsquot sure of

yourself this is definitely an investment that will be well

worth it In the meantime enjoy the Florida Plant Guide

and perhaps re-discover an old favorite plant for your gar-

den

WILDLIFE HAPPENINGS courtesy of UF Florida Wildlife Extension

Wersquoll be in the dog-days of summer but there is still plenty going

on in the animal world

Birds

mdashShorebird migration starts in mid-July peaking in August

mdashSwallow-tailed kites begin gathering as do purple martins and

tree swallows in preparation for migrating south for the winter

mdashLook out for nesting shorebirds Keep from disturbing them

Reptiles

mdashLater in July young alligators and crocodiles will begin hatch-

ing

Insects

mdashNo one needs to tell you that mosquitoes and chiggers are

abundantwatch out

Mammals

mdashBaby raccoons foxes armadillos possums and bobcats leave

dens and begin following parents

Plants

mdashScrub morning glory and butterfly weed begin to bloom

Special Date

On July 22 1982 the first Florida bog frog was discov-

ered in a panhandle wetland

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

The Savvy Survey Series httpedisifasufledu

topic_series_savvy_survey

Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 9: Nl june 14

99

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

UPDATES AND INFO by Editorial Staff

Donrsquot forget to check out the Master Gardener channel on

Crestview Community Television There should be more pro-

grams coming soon httpwwwcvctvinfochannelcfm

category=The20Master20Gardenerampid=4430

Highlights from Louie Schwartzbergrsquos TED2014 talk and his 3D

film title ldquoMysteries of the Unseen Worldrdquo Definitely worth a few

minutes to watch httpwwwyoutubecomwatch_popup

v=FiZqn6fV-4Y

There is a project going on to revive five (5) of Floridarsquos native

orchids You may be surprised where they are going to be put

httpwwwmercurynewscombreaking-newsci_25971851lab

-project-aims-revive-rare-florida-orchids

Purple Sunset is a new ornamental cultivar of pomegranate

Punica granatum Read all about it at http

nwdistrictifasufleduhort20140617purple-sunset-

pomegrnate

As we get closer to the official first day of summer we do not

need to tell anyone that it is getting warmer Snakes like warm

weather but the intense heat that we experience mid-day this

time of year We continue to log snake sightings in the panhan-

dle and encourage those who see either of the three FWC is

tracking to report to them The tracking website can be found on

the Escambia County Extension webpage along with an update

on snakes logged since the beginning of May You can find this

website at httpescambiaifasufledu If you have questions

concerning snakes or would like to submit a sighting for our log

you may contact Extension Agent Rick OConnor at roc1ufledu

Grant Writing Tips and Advice for New Writers

httpedisifasufleduwc161

Black salt marsh mosquito httpedisifasufleduin1035

Insects Friend or Foe A color and learn handout Perfect for

visits from the grandkids

httpedisifasufleduin1030

Managing Mexican Petunia in the home landscape

httpedisifasufleduep498

Candidate species for marine ornamental aquaculture French

Grunt httpedisifasufledufa186

Introduction to organic crop production

httpedisifasufleducv118

University of Florida potato variety spotlight lsquoElktonrsquo

httpedisifasufleduhs1237

Butterfly personality quiz httpbitly1jMrpR4

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Landscape work day

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 10: Nl june 14

1010

HEAD START by M Stewart

For a couple of months our group has been heading over to the

Head Start in Crestview on Tuesday mornings Our mission

teaching preschoolers about plants and gardening Our intrepid

volunteers L Chambers S Taylor L Morris M Stewart A

Phillips J McCreary R Herington V Grund aka Mr Farmer

man and F Todd reported for duty every Tuesday at 930am

and we rotated through 3 of the classrooms Plant parts were

covered one day Other days included making seed mats Moth-

errsquos Day flower pots (thank you Crestview Nursery for the dona-

tion of zinnias for that project) Motherrsquos Day cards using plant

parts as stamps seed bombs and finally fuzzy caterpillars Fuzzy

caterpillars required a bit of prep work in M Stewartrsquos garage

with the help of S Taylor and R Herington but the results were

well worth it The kids also planted the beans in cups A lesson in

overwatering and strategic removal was necessary A Phillips

and J

McCreary salvaged that project

We also did a class we called lsquoWhat Part Do We Eatrdquo

Samples of roots stems leaves and flowers (all edible)

were brought in and the kids had a chance to sample

fresh produce They really liked Mr Farmer mans on-

ionmdashcomplete with flower and lease

Our last project was Buzzy Buzzy Bees You can tell from

the below picture even the instructors were called in to

partake Definitely a lsquofashionablersquo queen bee

The kids were all receptive and there were plenty of hugs

to go around We had as much fun as they did

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014

Page 11: Nl june 14

1111

Your member site

wwwocmgamembersorg

The Foundation for the Gator

NationAn equal opportunity

institution

Have pictures or an idea for

an article

Send it in

Articles and pictures are

always welcome

Garden journals We have all had

them I have had my share Gorgeous

things some of them All sitting there

ready to be attended to I couldnrsquot tell

you where half of them are at this

point

All the lsquoexpertsrsquo have repeated that we

should have garden plans and we

should keep records After all it would

be a good thing to remember exactly

when you sprayed whatwhat worked

and what didnrsquotwithout relying on

what is sometimes a very uncooperative

memory

But those journalssomething about

them Perhaps itrsquos the pre-prepared

pages Nice charts and tables that more

often than not are pointing out the fact

that what Irsquom doing isnrsquot recommend-

ed Maybe itrsquos the pages for the garden

planall set up with a grid and some-

times even with stickers for those items

in your yard I donrsquot know about you

but my arbors and lsquodecorrsquo donrsquot match

any of the stickers Letrsquos not even get

started with trying to lay out a half cir-

cle garden (complete with sort of even

pie wedges) onto a square grid Therersquos

a reason that most of high school ge-

ometry class is a distant and painful

memory

Then again it could be those pages

for each month (in one caseeach day)

of what was planted harvested (donrsquot

forget the scientific names)I think it

gets to the point of being intimidating

I donrsquot like a book that will make me

feel guilty Not just because I forget to

fill it out but the fact that Irsquom not out in

the garden every single day Besides

which I do enough writing for my clas-

ses Irsquove been assigned a paper a week

(plus citations) on topics that would

bore a toad into hibernation Now this

journal has the audacity to know at

what depth I planted bulbs

My journal is my memoryfaulty

though it may be I distinctly remember

where the water line is in the back yard

Having someone installing edging and

getting a bit too happy with the pickI

can even tell you where the resulting

geyser was located as well as which

wrench fits the shut off valve exactly I

can also tell you the exact location of

my cable line When your irrigation

installer knocks on the door and the

question is ldquoIs your computer still

workingrdquo you sort of remember little

things like that Yes he sheared off the

cable line

I did find a little blank journal A bit

bigger than pocket size but there are no

pre-filled pages I can tote it in my work

bucket and jot things downor not I

donrsquot feel guilty making an entry like ldquo

$ I hate rabbitsrdquo or an entry

ldquoRabbit 0 Me 1rdquo Look I believe there

is room in the garden for plenty of crit-

ters just not when the hairy little de-

mon from hell has eaten every single

bit of foliage off the sweet potatoes But

I digress

Irsquove made an entry that just said

ldquoFirst tomatordquo I did remember to put

the date on it Now Irsquom not sure which

tomato it was either Forgot that little

detail There are other tidbits in there

mostly of memories I think thatrsquos more

of what the journal is anywaymdasha way to

remember the gardennot just the

facts and figures A garden should be

more than thatmdashit should be a place

you remember how that first tomato

tasted fresh from the vine how the

woodpecker yells when the suet feeder

is empty and yes the geyser that

erupted

So Irsquoll keep going with my little blank

book It might not be a lsquoproperrsquo garden

journal but itrsquoll be full of the memories

I think are worthwhile

Enjoy your gardens and the summer

Donrsquot forget we can always use articles

and ideas

M Stewart mdashEditor

S Farrell and K Harpermdashco-

editors

LAST WORD By M Stewart

An Okaloosa County Master Gardener Publication JuneJuly 2014