Kim's Weekly garden newsletter June 4, 2013

June 4, 2013 - Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter

From Kim Willis

http://www.examiner.com/gardening-in-detroit/kimberley-willis

http://www.examiner.com/country-living-in-detroit/kimberley-willis

These weekly garden notes are written by Kim Willis, unless another author is noted, and the opinions expressed in these notes are her opinions and do not represent any other individual, group or organizations opinions.

Hi Gardeners

Bristly Locust flowers

Is there anything prettier than the blue of the sky in June?  Maybe it’s the yellow roses spilling down among the purple iris and Dames Rocket or the frothy white of spirea or the pink weigela.  All of those things are blooming here, along with poppies, baptisia, peonies, and my huge bank of bristly locust with its pretty pink and lavender pea-like flowers the hummers are buzzing through.  I have a clematis beginning to bloom.  The little pink fleabane daisies are blooming in the fields and the drifting fluff from the cottonwoods is floating on the air.

I do love June, especially when the nights are cool, the days sunny but not too hot and the birds are singing.  I was a little upset when I had to cover my plants on the 2^nd of June to protect them from frost.  We had light patchy frost around here, but even the things I didn’t cover seem to be making it.  Hopefully that’s the end of that nonsense. 

The barn cats loved the covering the plants experience, both this week and last.  All of those exciting tents to explore and mom was laying out cozy things to cuddle on. I was afraid the cats would do more damage than the frost.  They were really fascinated by the “tents” I erected over my newly planted dahlias for some reason.  I had already staked and tied them so the coverings stood up a little higher than most and swayed in the breeze.  I have a netting fence around that bed to keep them out but they were so fascinated by the tents they were trying to climb it.  I had to sit by with a hose to spray them for an hour or so before they got the message.

Painted Turtle

I was sitting by my pond for a bit yesterday and saw tadpoles along with clouds of tiny fish.  I still don’t know what type of fish we have in there- we never see the big ones but there are always hundreds of little ones in the spring.  We put a few bluegills, some koi and some goldfish in there at various times.  It’s a huge pond and the fishy inhabitants are a mystery still.  I ordered a long handled minnow net and I am hoping to snag some of fish and look at them closely.  See what retired people are up to?

I watched a huge painted turtle digging in the bank of my pond yesterday. Turtles are crossing the road now, I am seeing them everywhere.  They are looking for places to bury their eggs.  If you want to help one, help it go in the direction it was traveling, even if that seems away from water. They are looking for sandy, loose soil.  Turtles are another animal in which we are seeing a decline in numbers so give them a break if you can.

June almanac

This month’s full moon was known by Native Americans as the strawberry moon.  Other names for June’s full moon include rose and hot moon.  The moon is new on 8^th, first quarter is the 16^th, full on the 23^rd, last quarter on the 30^th.

The summer solstice, the longest day of the year is June 21.  This is a bittersweet day for me as it means the days will now be getting shorter.  The length of the day is 15 hours and 18 minutes on that day.  Starting the 23^rd we lose about a minute a day until mid-July, then it jumps to 2 minutes a day until mid- August when it jumps to losing about 3 minutes a day.

Good days for planting above ground crops are the 19-20^th and below ground crops the 27-28^th.  The best time to harvest above ground crops is the 14-16^th.  Better get to harvesting below ground crops today, as the best days are the 4-6^th. ( Of course good gardeners also harvest when the crop is perfect for picking, regardless of the moon.) Prune to encourage growth on the 12-13^th. 

In June we celebrate World Environmental Day on the 5^th, Flag Day on the 14^th, and Father’s Day on the 16^th.  Its National Dairy Month, National Rose Month, National Men’s Health Month, National Cataract Awareness Month, and National Safety Month.  The birthstones are the pearl and moonstone and the flower of the month is of course, the rose.

Bringing the houseplants outside

Many houseplants benefit from a summer outside but you don’t have to empty the house if you don’t want to.  Make sure the nights are staying above 45 degrees, maybe warmer for some really delicate plants, and all danger of frost has passed before you put them outside. (Maybe that will be next week.) 

Always start houseplants in a shaded location outside, even if they were in a sunny window inside.  They will burn and wilt if you don’t.  Some plants can gradually be moved to a partly sunny or sunny location but many will do best outside in at least light shade.  I put my cacti, jades, aloe, lemon tree and lemon verbena in sun after a couple weeks but most of my houseplants stay under the shade of a cedar tree where they get some filtered, dappled sun part of the day.  You may have to look for the right spot for houseplants, sometimes a porch facing east or north will do.

Leave houseplants in their pots.  It is less traumatic for them when they are moved back inside in the fall.  You can partially bury the pots or mulch around them.  Group them together to make it easier to water them and remember that potted plants may need more water than those in the ground, so check often.   You can fertilize and re-pot the plants when you put them outside if you want to encourage growth.

Some houseplants can actually be incorporated into your landscape.  I bury the pots of my rex begonias and cane begonias in my shady border and use spider plants in containers.  My lemon tree goes in the front flower bed.   Many people use large tropical plants on patios and decks.

Plant tags

There is a controversy in gardening circles as to whether one should tag their plants in the garden with the variety name.  Some think tags detract from the garden, even if tucked down almost out of sight or if made out of fancy copper.  In a public educational garden such tags make a lot of sense but are they needed in a private garden?

Of course you are going to take the price tag off the plant- (actually I have seen people leave them in case the plant dies and they have to return it, that’s tacky,) but many of us who have poor memories like to have the tag there to remind us what the plant is when someone asks “What’s the name of that one?”  And you should remove any tags actually attached to the plant, because they will eventually damage the plant by girdling the stem or branch.  Place them near the plant.

One solution is to record the plant location and name in a binder, some even paste the tag the plant comes with in a binder.  You could also add a picture. There are computer record keeping programs for gardeners that help you do this too.  But when strolling the garden with a visitor how often will you have that binder with you ?  So those of us whose memories are not that great leave the plant tags.  Plant tags on perennials may also alert you that the newly emerging foliage is not a weed or that there is something planted underground you may not want to disturb in early spring when you are looking for a spot to plug in the new plants you bought.

You’ll see plant tags in my garden. I use a variety of ways to keep the tag with the plant.  On my tomatoes and other veggie plants I use a hole punch to make a hole in the tag and then attach it with a twist tie to the tomato cage or a stake.  I have put tags on fences or trellis behind plants such as grapes.  On some perennial plants I just use the plastic plant tag that came with the plant and just bury it by the plant so only a small amount of the top is visible.  It can be pulled out if needed to check the name. 

Plastic window blinds cut into proper size pieces, popsicle sticks, plastic spoons or knives all can be written on with a marker and put near the plant if you don’t have a printed tag.  I use a taller piece of white window blind on plants where I might be more likely to damage them, such as on my hardy hibiscus, because they emerge late.

Some creative people paint stones with plant names or tiny clay flower pots to place by plants.  Others make copper, brass or steel name tags.  Imaginative people can find hundreds of ways to mark their plants.

As a backup I also record the name and location of any new perennial plant in a notebook.  I keep the names of some veggie or annual flowers too, and record whether I liked them or not at the end of the year.  Having that backup helps when a grandchild presents you with a handful of tags collected from the garden!

Radish recipes

I am harvesting tiny radishes from some seed I received as a bonus in a seed order.  Maybe you are harvesting radishes too, and wondering what you can do with them other than making little radish flowers for a veggie tray or slicing them into a salad.  Radishes served with butter and sea salt is a popular new dish in fancy restaurants, and comes to us from old French recipes.  To make fancy cuisine with the little round radishes wash and trim them, then make those cute little radish “roses”.  Put each radish in a small cup like a mini muffin cup, then pour melted butter over the radish and sprinkle with sea salt and let cool before eating.  Honey butter works well with this too.

The French take a crusty piece of French bread, spread it with butter and add thinly sliced radishes, then sprinkle it with sea salt or coarse kosher salt.  This is often served at picnics.  You can use any kind of radishes or bread.  This was a favorite of my grandfather, who planted radishes very early every year in a cold frame so he could have radish sandwiches.

You can also slice radishes of any kind very thinly; add some thinly sliced green onion and fry them in a small amount of hot bacon drippings or if you are a vegetarian in olive oil.  This is a good low fat sub for fried potatoes. 

If you don’t have radishes growing and these recipes interest you, plant radish seeds and be harvesting radishes in 4-6 weeks. Radishes come in many types and colors.   The ones I am growing are small round purple ones. Some have a “hotter” flavor than others.  Try a variety of types to see what you like, you can get seed packets with a mixture of varieties. If you have trouble with worms getting into the radishes grow them in containers using potting medium, not garden soil.  Harvest radishes while the roots are still small, as they get bigger they get woody. You can also buy radishes at the farmers market.

More benefits of Marijuana

Marijuana has been used medicinally to help such things as chronic pain, nausea, insomnia, glaucoma pressure, and loss of appetite.  But Prof. Yosef Sarne (of Tel Aviv University's Adelson Center for the Biology of Addictive Diseases at the Sackler Faculty of Medicine) has found another use for a chemical found in marijuana, THC.  He found that THC protects the brain from damage from loss of oxygen, whether it is used preventatively or given shortly after an adverse event.

Professor Sarne’s research found that a very low dose of THC, 1,000 times less than the amount of THC found in a typical joint, could protect mental functioning when given 3-7 days before a brain injury- (such as a planned surgery that might result in low blood flow to the brain) or 1-3 days after a traumatic event such as a seizure, stroke, or chemical poisoning. 

The researchers found that THC stimulates cell signaling and new neurological cell growth, helping to quickly repair brain damage.  More research and clinical trials need to be done but it’s being suggested that THC might be a good treatment for those with chronic seizures, heart problems that involve low blood flow, and other medical conditions that involve mental functioning.  So you tokers out there – toke on.  This is another good reason to legalize marijuana. If you get the munchies try a radish sandwich!

Watch out for the turtles,

Kim

Garden as though you will live forever. William Kent

More Information

Michigan gardeners shouldn't panic over Giant Hogweed

By Kim Willis, Examiner, June 2012

I wrote this article last June, but it is just as applicable this year.  Every summer the media tries to get people excited over this noxious plant. I’m seeing stories all over.  There’s a link to this article if you are interested in the plant at the bottom.

Don’t panic over the recent news stories about Giant Hogweed. Giant Hogweed is a dangerous plant that has occasionally been found in Michigan but it has not suddenly become more prevalent. Your chances of running into Heracleum mantegazzianum are very small. Read more at:

http://www.examiner.com/article/michigan-gardeners-shouldn-t-panic-over-giant-hogweed

Something a little different.

After Oklahoma Tornado, USDA Assists in Pet Rescues

Posted by Dwight Cunningham, Public Affairs Specialist, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, on May 31, 2013 at 10:05 AM

“His name is Zeke,” read the Facebook posting after the May tornado that devastated Moore, Okla. “He’s a male boxer, almost 6 months old. Wearing green collar. Last seen near NW 63rd and Portland. He is fawn, black mask with white marking on face, chest and paws. We miss him very much. Please return.”

There are a lot fewer missing or homeless “Zekes” today due to the efforts of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (ODAFF) and partners who are working to reunite lost pets with their heart-stricken owners.

The May 20 tornado that swept through Moore displaced many animals in the area.  ODAFF worked with USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) within an Incident Command structure to triage animals and place them in shelters so that they could be reunited with their owners.  Home Depot allowed ODAFF to set up the triage facility at their location, and animals were then moved to several shelters in the area that were housing pets until they could be reunited with their owners.

Just days after the disaster, hundreds of dogs and cats have been reunited with their owners, state officials said.

As recovery efforts continue, ODAFF is working collaboratively with APHIS to provide support for pet and livestock owners. While much of the heavy lifting is being done by state and local staff and volunteers, APHIS’ primary focus has been on response coordination and planning, pet shelter assessment, and providing technical assistance for animal carcass removal.

For example, hours after the storm ODAFF established the Home Depot pet triage center, operated by ODAFF veterinarians and staff as well as volunteer veterinarians. APHIS assisted with scheduling volunteer veterinarians and veterinary technicians to staff these shelters, and to support record-keeping efforts where requested. APHIS also provided assistance in preparing a site physical safety analysis at the shelters and provided expertise and recommendations to address temperature and other animal welfare concerns.

“The cooperative efforts of USDA-APHIS in conjunction with ODAFF staff and area shelters has resulted in many reunifications of displaced pets with their owners,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture, Jim Reese. “It has taken the hard work of federal and state staff as well as many volunteers to assist with our response.  We will continue to work cooperatively with all those involved to reunite animals with their owners.”

In all, more than a dozen APHIS employees were deployed to the rescue/recovery/reunification effort as part of the agency’s emergency response mission.

Meanwhile, an ODAFF spokesman said efforts are ongoing to use social media and other avenues to reunite owners with pets, including Zeke.

Bristly Locust hedge in background

To learn more about efforts to assist pets and their owners in Oklahoma click here. http://www.oda.state.ok.us/tornado-relief.htm