nl june 14
DESCRIPTION
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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