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
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| One of my new tulips. |
Yesterday was a
gorgeous day, just right for weeding and planting. Today is the right kind of day to stay inside
and write about planting! I think we get
more showers in May than we do in April- let’s hope it means great June
flowers!
Keep an eye on the
sky late today and tomorrow because there is a small chance of severe weather,
especially south of M69. It means a warm
front is working its way in so it’s hard to complain. But keeping the grass mowed gets a bit hard
in this weather- especially when there is so much planting and weeding to do.
My redbud is
blooming and the flowering quince. Alliums
are starting to bloom in the garden, as well as early iris. The rhubarb went to stalk quickly this year
and is just ready to bloom. My
strawberries have buds. Plums and
cherries are in full bloom but apples are just starting to bloom. Magnolias are starting to fall, and my tulip
show is beginning to fade. Lilacs are showing color and will bloom soon
here.
Its Memorial weekend- time for planting
Memorial weekend has
become almost synonymous with planting but be a bit wary. This is a moveable holiday and this year almost
week ahead of what it would be if it were a fixed holiday like it used to
be. It’s probably fine to plant most
things now, but keep an eye out for frost still and be prepared to cover tender
plants if needed.
Gardeners have a
choice to make between getting the first fruits and flowers and losing early
planted crops or flowers. If something
is expensive or one of a kind err on the side of caution and hold off planting
another week or so. Otherwise plant
on!
I have planted
early sweet corn and tomatoes outside.
My potatoes and onions are already planted- well some of my onions. I always buy too many sets. So I will be planting onions everywhere for a
while. Remember everything doesn’t have
to be planted this week. Making several
plantings a week or so apart of things like beans and corn makes for a longer
harvest.
You may want to get
down to that greenhouse before the weekend to get the best choices, but I think
this year there will still be plenty after the weekend passes. Don’t forget the farmers market will be
selling plants as well as the first garden offerings so get to one soon.
I’d wait at least a
week to put houseplants outside.
Remember to put them in the shade first- so they get used to being
outside- and gradually move certain sun lovers into the sun. Most houseplants do better with partly shaded
to shaded locations outside.
Keeping the weeds out
It often seems
like weeds grow even faster than the grass at this time of year. And if you have a vegetable garden it’s
important to keep weeds down as your new plants emerge or get established. We know that weeds compete for water and soil
nutrients with desirable plants but new research has discovered something else.
Many weeds
also inhibit the expression of certain genes in plants as studies at the University
of North Dakota have proved. Researchers
studied the genome of plants grown with and without weeds to see what changes
happened to the genes in plants exposed to weeds.
The changes
seen in gene expression are partly because of stress from competition but there
is also an effect that as yet cannot be attributed to stress alone. When weeds are allowed to grow with corn
plants for example, the corn has a weaker immune system and doesn’t adjust to
additional stresses, such as drought, as well.
And the corn doesn’t grow as strongly or produce as much foliage and
seeds, although this effect may not be too apparent when weeds are removed
early. Even when the weeds were removed while the
corn had only 3-4 leaves the effect remained throughout the plants life.
Conversely
some weeds grew better when they were growing with certain plants rather than
without them. Their genes were altered
in a beneficial way. Most gardeners are familiar with what is known
as companion planting- growing certain plants together to improve the yield of
both – and this study proves that there is probably some validity to the
practice. It may be a chemical reaction
that changes the expression of certain genes either to the plants benefit or
loss or something we still haven’t figured out yet.
One thing
gardeners can take away from this is that gardens need to be kept weeded if
plants are to grow to their full potential.
Or at least certain plants and certain weeds need to be separated, we
need to do a whole lot more research to determine just what plants help or
hinder other plants.
A stink bug trap you can make
Stink bugs
can be annoying in the home when they are attracted to lights in the evening
and their big ugly selves create panic in bug phobic people, even though native
stink bugs are pretty harmless. The
Brown Marmorated Stink bug, a newly arrived exotic pest can damage lots of
fruits and vegetables in the garden.
Stink bug traps are the best way to cut the population of these stinkers
down, as chemicals aren’t too effective when used on them. The garden industry has raced to produce
stink bugs traps, the newest ‘trap” craze.
Two things
have popped out in the latest garden industry news however. The first is hardly a revelation. Using a stinkbug trap in the garden actually
results in more damage to fruits and vegetables than not using one. That’s because the traps attract more bugs to
the garden, duh! This is also true of
Japanese beetle traps and other insect traps.
If you want to use a trap in the garden place it well away from the
plants you want to protect – at least 50 feet away.
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| Brown Marmorated Stink Bug - wikimedia |
The second
bit of news is that a trap you can make yourself, for little cost, will trap
stink bugs in the home better than any commercial trap. Researchers in the
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech University tried and
rated a lot of different stink bug traps.
They found that a trap you can make at home easily was the best “killer”
of stink bugs in the home. You can see
their video of how to make the trap at http://vimeo.com/92354801
The trap
basically consists of an aluminum foil cake pan filled with a water-dish soap
solution with a light suspended over it.
(By the way this is also an effective flea trap.) This is set up at night. The light attracts the bugs; they drown in
the water, (the dish soap helps destroy any floating ability), you empty the
trap and re-fill it. Simple.
Remember the Emerald Ash Borer?
MSU is
reporting this week that they now suspect that the Emerald Ash Borer was in the
country, specifically Wayne County, MI. at least 10 years before it was
discovered. I well remember the fall
when MSU announced that they had finally identified a beetle they suspected of
killing Ash trees. They then thought the
beetle had been here a couple of years. By spring MDA and MSU had joined forces to
try and stop the beetle. But even though
they threw some money at the problem that money was not spent wisely. The Michigan Depart of Agriculture and Natural
Resources and MSU did not act quickly and effectively enough to stop the spread
of the beetle.
In Michigan
the fact that we have lost the Ash population is pretty evident and old
news. In my area of the state the woods
and roadsides are littered with dead, ugly ash trees. In the original tri-county area of
infestation the trees have largely been removed and the public has largely
forgotten the problem. But other states
are just now entering battle mode with the little green insect. It’s probable that eventually, regardless of
what is done now, that we will lose all ashes in the Eastern US, if not the
whole country.
This is a
shame, since this might have been prevented, had Michigan acted aggressively
and responsibly to halt the spread of the insect when they did find it. And the US Agricultural Department certainly
dropped the ball by not stepping in and making Michigan fight the battle and helping
it do it. Instead we tiptoed around
trying not to upset the lumber industry or the tourist industry by aggressively
banning wood transportation. We had to
hold countless meetings and public forums before we did anything. Our Michigan quarantine efforts were just
silly and the fines we imposed for breaking quarantine the first several years
were antiquated and not even enforced. And it’s not that we didn’t know how
destructive this beetle could be. By the
time it was identified we pretty much knew what a killer it was and how it
killed trees.
While it
was great that MSU got money to study how to kill the beast, we should also
have been spending money from the very first season to eradicate it in a way we
knew could work, getting rid of infested trees and halting any movement of wood
in the state. Instead we used money to
make posters, have educational meetings that could give homeowners no real and
effective method of killing the beetle (chemical methods still aren’t that
effective) and we had little contests on ways to use the dead ash trees.
To be fair
MSU didn’t have the power to impose quarantines or restrict movement that
should have been done by the State and Federal government. But they sure loved all that Emerald Ash Borer
money those government bodies threw at them.
They actively petitioned the government for money supposedly to educate
the public, which was done to some extent, and for control research but a lot
of that money was just plain wasted.
Some in MSU’s entomology and horticulture divisions may have recommended
more aggressive handling of the quarantine but they were largely drowned out by
those wanting money to “research” the problem.
We should
have been fighting the beetle by clear cutting quarantine borders, removing and
burning infested trees, aggressively halting wood transportation and putting in
effect certain other restrictions Michigan was reluctant to impose. Could we have halted it? Maybe. We blew it, quite frankly. Now Michigan has the distinction of being the
state that gave the country Emerald Ash Borer.
MSU’s announcement that the beetle was in the state years before we even
detected a problem just underscores our poor performance in this arena.
Growing Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob’s
Ladder or Polemonium (Pronounced: po-lee-MOE-nee-um ) is not seen as often in the garden as it
should be. Jacobs Ladder is a hardy, perennial,
easy to grow plant that thrives in woodland or partly shaded gardens. Its fern-like foliage contrasts nicely with
hosta, heuchera, columbine, astilbe, corydalis and other shade loving plants
even when its pretty blue flowers are gone. Other common names for the plant include Greek
Valerian and Devils Backbone.
 |
| Polemonium confertum- native to Rocky Mnts. Credit USDAFS-Andrew Kratz |
There are
many native species of Polemonium spread across the cooler areas of the world
and only a few are being used as ornamentals, with two species Polemonium
reptans and Polemonium caeruleum dominating the garden scene. It is a shame that other species aren’t being
utilized more often as there are many interesting members in the genus. Sometimes native species are sold in catalogs
but it can be hard to find the more unusual species.
Polemonium
has leaves divided into leaflets, which decrease in size as they proceed to the
tip, giving it the common name, Jacobs Ladder.
Leaves range from a purplish tinge to bright green and there are at
least two varieties with pretty variegated leaves. The plant slowly grows into a large mound
from 12- 18 inches high depending on variety and growing conditions. Foliage dies to the ground each winter.
Polemonium
flowers are produced in clusters on tall stems from the center of the foliage
in early summer. The most common species
have 5 petals and are about a ½ inch in diameter. There is a cluster of yellow stamens in the
center, sometimes red tipped. There are species of Polemonium with double
flowers and also with trumpet shaped flowers. Most Polemoniums have blue or purple flowers
but white “sports” have been developed and are sometimes offered in garden
catalogs. One native species has pale
yellow trumpet shaped flowers (Polemonium pauciflorum). Pink flowers are rarely seen. One variety of Jacob’s Ladder, ‘Apricot
Delight’ is said to be blue with a peach colored center.
Most Jacob’s
Ladder flowers are mildly fragrant if the fragrance can be determined at
all. One variety offered in catalogs ‘Snow
and Sapphires’ is often described as fragrant but that is a debatable
term. Polemonium flowers are appealing
to bees and butterflies however, and at least one species of moth in North
America, Coleophora polemoniella, uses the plant to feed its larvae.
Other varieties of Polemonium
There are a
few cultivars or named varieties of Polemonium commonly offered in garden
stores and catalogs. ‘Snow and Sapphires’,
mentioned above, has green foliage tipped in snowy white and tall stalks of
sky-blue flowers. Another variegated
foliage Polemonium is ‘Stairway to Heaven’.
It has white variegated leaves that are flushed with pink in cool
weather and lavender blue flowers. ‘Touch
of Class’ is a newer white variegated foliage Polemonium with medium blue
flowers.
White
flowered Polemoniums include ‘Album’ and White Pearl.’ ‘Purple Rain’ has purple tinted foliage and deep purple flowers. A hard to find variety of Polemonium
pauciflorum called ‘Sulfur Trumpets’ has silver-green foliage and pale yellow
trumpet shaped flowers.
Caring for Polemonium
Polemonium
is hardy in plant zones 3-7. Polemonium likes rich, humus laden soil in a
partially shaded or dappled shade environment.
It will survive deeper shade but won’t bloom well there. When it is happy it makes large attractive
clumps over several years. Flowers do
produce abundant seed and the plant can seed itself in the garden but is rarely
invasive enough to be a pest. Cutting the flower stalks off after blooming
stops will stop reseeding and makes the plant more attractive.
 |
| Jacob's Ladder. |
Polemonium
should be watered when the soil becomes dry and they do not do well in dry
shade. A light application of slow
release flower fertilizer in early spring makes for larger, more vibrant
clumps. Avoid too much fertilization as
this makes flower stalks floppy and the foliage more sprawling. Too much sun or dry conditions will cause the
foliage to tip burn, curl and look unattractive.
Polemonium
foliage is attractive to some cats just as catnip is. This is more apparent when plants are bruised
or cut. Cats will sometimes damage
plants by rolling on them or eating them. Some gardeners never have a problem
with cats and it may be that individual plants vary in their attractiveness to
cats. Polemonium is also eaten by
rabbits and deer. Other than those pests
Polemonium has few disease or insect problems to worry about.
Clumps of
Jacob’s Ladder do not need to be divided but if you want to increase the plant
you can dig and divide the clump in late summer. Promptly replant the divisions and keep them
watered.
Other uses of Polemonium
In earlier
days Polemonium had some herbal uses but no modern herbal lists them as
useful. A black dye can be produced by
boiling the plant in olive oil and this is sometimes used to darken and
condition hair.
Polemonium
is a wonderful plant to attract bees and butterflies to shady areas. The foliage provides interest and useful
texture contrast to shaded gardens or even containers. Polemonium naturalizes in woodland gardens
and will give years of enjoyment. Plant
it along paths and in front of borders so you can enjoy the sight and possibly
the smell of its pretty blue flowers.
Have a great 1st weekend of summer!
Kim Willis
“He who has a garden and
a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero
More
Information
Invasive Parrot Feather plant found
in southeast Michigan pond
Michigan Department of
Natural Resources responds to the siting of this aggressive aquatic invader.
Release from an aquarium or water garden is suspected source.
Posted on May 14, 2014
by Jane Herbert, Michigan State University Extension
A Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) news
release details the state’s response to last fall’s siting of the invasive
aquatic plant, parrot feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum). The invasion was found
in a storm water detention pond located in Wayne County’s Brownstone Township
in southeast Michigan.
Parrot feather is related to Eurasian Water Milfoil
(Myriophyllum spicatum)—an aggressive aquatic invasive that is all too familiar
to Michigan lake enthusiasts. Often found in retail centers under the wrong
name, parrot feather is a popular water gardening and aquarium plant with
deeply cut, bright blue-green, feathery leaflets. It is one of the few
submerged aquatic plants whose stems and leaves extend above the surface of the
water. Parrot feather is highly aggressive and heavy infestations resemble a
forest of tiny fir trees across the surface that shade and crowd out native aquatic
plants. Trailing stems, up to 5 feet long, form dense, strangling mats below
the surface.
 |
| Parrot Feather MDNR-Matt Ankey |
As with last summer’s siting of European Frog-bit in Alpena,
the MDNR Early Detection Rapid Response Unit worked with local government to
conduct verification and assessment. This process included a survey of local
waters near the detention pond. To date, it appears the parrot feather is
isolated to the detention pond; however, more intensive survey efforts are
being planned for the surrounding area in the spring of 2014. (For a full
article on the MDNR’s response to both sitings please visit a recent issue of
Land and Water Magazine.)
According to the MDNR, parrot feather is a “prohibited
species” in Michigan, which makes its possession, transport or release illegal,
due to the severe negative effects it can have on native ecosystems. Parrot
feather has only been found in the Great Lakes basin in a few previous
locations (in Michigan’s Oakland County and Indiana’s Steuben County). The
source of this new infestation is unknown, but it is possible that this plant -
popular in aquariums and water gardens - may have been released into the pond.
To prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, Michigan
State University Extension urges that aquarium and water garden enthusiasts DO
NOT RELEASE aquatic plants or animals. The national Habitattitude campaign
offers guidance on the humane and environmentally safe disposal of unwanted
aquatic organisms.
This article was published by Michigan State University
Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To contact an
expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI
(888-678-3464).
Events, classes and
other offerings
Please let me know if there is any event or class that
you would like to share with other gardeners.
These events are primarily in Michigan but if you are a reader from
outside of Michigan and want to post an event I’ll be glad to do it.
Master Gardeners if you belong to an association that
approves your hours please check with that association before assuming a class
or work day will count as credit.
Do you have plants or seeds you would like to swap or
share? Post them here by emailing me at kimwillis151@gmail.com
The
Lapeer area Horticulture Society is looking for new members. There are no
education or experience requirements to join; only a love of gardening is
needed. The Horticulture Society meets
the third Monday of each month for socializing, networking and a brief
educational presentation. Next meeting
is at Swoish’s Greenhouse, North Branch, May 19th 6:30 pm. Everyone is invited to join. Dues are only $15 a year. For more information on joining or meeting
locations contact Bev Kobylas at bkobylas@yahoo.com
The
Lapeer Horticultural Society is having a Plant and Yard sale May 31st,
from 8 am to 2 pm at 316 Davis Lake Road, Lapeer.
This yard sale will feature a variety
of garden plants and interesting items for the home and yard. Proceeds benefit the Lapeer Horticulture
Society. The sale is on the north side
of Lapeer, just off M24.
The
3rd Annual Michigan Honey Festival- Saturday, July 12, 2014 10am - 5pm at The Harvey Kern Pavilion in Frankenmuth,
Michigan.
Attend educational seminars and learn
all you need to start beekeeping! Purchase all
your beekeeping supplies from a variety of vendors. Lots of Michigan honey for sale. Learn how to
brew honey beer and mead and attend the many cooking with honey
demonstrations. There is a children’s
craft area and a demonstration garden done by Master Gardeners. Watch a bee beard demonstration. There will be lots of interesting products to
sample and buy made from honey or bee’s wax.
This year’s festival is all indoors,
so no weather worries. Admission is $5
for adults, children 12 and under free.
More information ? http://www.michiganhoneyfestival.com/contact.html
Invasive
Plant Workday , Thursday, May 22,
2:00–4:00 pm Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road Dryden, MI
48428-9776
We will spend the afternoon working
on removing garlic mustard. This a great opportunity for community service
hours and master gardener hours. Bring gloves and water. (810) 796-3200
Wildflower
Lore and Legends, Sunday, May
25, 2:00 pm Seven Ponds Nature Center 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI 48428-9776
Let’s explore some strange uses and
weird names of some of our most common wildflowers. (810) 796-3200 $3 for non-members.
Dahlia
Tuber Sale Sat, May 24, 8am-4pm, 12am Dahlia Hill, 2809 Orchard Dr, Midland,
MI.
Dahlia bulbs for sale By Dahlia Hill Society
of Midland at $2/each or 6/$10. Expert
volunteers on hand. www.dahliahill.org.
10th
Heavenly Hosta Sale, Sat, May
31, 9am-2pm, Sunday, June 1, Noon-2pm –First Presbyterian Church 1432
Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI.
Multiple groups will be selling
hostas as a fund raiser. Many varieties available and master gardeners will be on-site.
http://firstpresbyterian.org/
Clarkston
Perennial Plant Exchange Sat, , June 7,
8:30am, Village Parking Lot Clarkston, MI.
Sponsored by the Clarkston Farm &
Garden Club. Bring well rooted, tagged perennials. www.clarkstongarden.org 248-620-2984
Master
Gardener College (open to
public) June 20-21, MSU, East Lansing, MI
This year’s event features exciting
full day tours and hands-on workshops on Friday followed by a delicious dinner
at the University Club in East Lansing. Saturday features two entertaining and
educational keynote speakers, as well as eighteen exciting sessions to choose
from in order to feed your mind with science-based gardening knowledge. And, of course, there will be plenty of buying
opportunities.
Key note speaker Charlie Nardozzi will
speak on Foodscaping...A Growing Revolution
Almost a third of American households now do some kind of food gardening.
While everyone wants to grow their own
food, many are unwilling to give up precious yard space or have their yard,
perceivably, look unruly.
You do not have to be a Master
Gardener to attend. Re-certified MG get a discount. There is a wide variety of
pricing options for this event starting at about $65 for a single workshop to
about $200.00 for the 2 day event.
Please go to http://events.anr.msu.edu/event.cfm?folder=mgcollege14 for more
information and to register.
You must pre-register. Registration
fees are refundable until May 31, 2014, less a $20 cancellation fee. After May
31, refunds are no longer available. For
more information, contact Betsy Braid at 517-884-7081 or braidbet@msu.edu.
Garden
Day August 2, 2014, 8 am – 4:15 pm,
Michigan State University Department of Horticulture, East Lansing Mi.
MSU’s annual garden day is on
Saturday this year. The keynote speaker
is Amy Stewart, author of Wicked Plants,
Flower Confidential, and The Drunken Botanist and other books. Ms Stewart is also the concluding speaker and
you can also stay for a reception after the event where she will discuss the Drunken Botanist. You can choose from a
number of excellent workshops/classes, 1 morning and 1 afternoon session.
Classes include Herbal housekeeping, Best Herbaceous perennials, Creative
Containers, Dividing Perennials, Herbs at Home, Pruning Basics, Gardening in
the Shade, Unusual Trees and Shrubs, Creative Edge, and Going Native.
Cost of the event is $85 until July
22nd , $95 after. Lunch and free parking
included. Additional $39 for evening reception.
Go to hrt.msu.edu/garden-day-2014
for class
descriptions and to register.
2014
MASTER GARDENER ASSOCIATION - GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN GARDEN TOUR – June 22nd
2014.
Celebrate spring by enjoying a stroll
through beautiful gardens in Genesee County's east side. Each site has its own
unique features. The homeowner or a Master Gardener would be delighted to
answer any questions. Although each garden looks very different, all of the
homeowners share the passion of watching their garden grow and expand each
year. Much thought has been put into every loved plant or garden art. The
gardeners believe that the garden is an expression of them. Fortunately for us,
they want to share their masterpiece with us.
Please join us in touring nine
outstanding gardens on Genesee County’s east side Sunday, June 22 10:00AM -
5:00PM.and visit the For-Mar Truck Farm at one of the sites. Mark your calendar
for the easy self-guided tour. The total tour is 16.3 miles with easy access
from I-69 to start at site #1 and I-75 to end at site #10 home. There are no
rules where you start or finish, but the routemoves nicely goingfromnorth to
south or south to nor
Advance tickets will be available on
May 23rd at the MSU Extension office for $10.00, $2.00 for children under 12.
Advance tickets will also be available on May 23rd from the following
merchants:
Bordine Nursery 9100 Torrey Rd, Grand
Blanc - (810) 655-5588
Jenny B’s Garden Party 9063 Clio Rd.
Clio - (810) 687-7742
Piechnik Greenhouse,13172 McCumsey
Road, Clio - (810) 686-9211
Walker Farms & Greenhouse 5253
Atherton Road, Burton (810) 743-0260
Tickets may also be purchased the day
of the tour (Sunday, June 22rd) at any of the garden sites. Site addresses will
be posted on the web page the night before the tour. The photo on the ticket
cover was by a student that won the coloring contest at one of Swartz Creek’s
elementary schools.
Gardens will be open for viewing on
June 22 from 10A – 5P, Rain or Shine.
Visit the web site for driving
directions/questions: http://GCgardentour.weebly.com/
NOTE: Gardens open only on this
specific day and time. PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE!
Accommodations for persons with
disabilities may be requested by calling Jim Harrow, Plant & Pest Hotline
(810) 244-8548 two (2) weeks prior to the event to ensure sufficient time to
make arrangements. Requests received after this date will be met when possible.
Newsletter
information
If you would
like to pass along a notice about an educational event or a volunteer
opportunity please send me an email before Tuesday of each week and I will
print it. Also if you have a comment or opinion you’d like to share, send it to
me. Please state that you want to have the item published in my weekly notes.
You must give your full name and what you say must be polite and not attack any
individual. I am very open to ideas and opinions that don’t match mine but I do
reserve the right to publish what I want.
Once again the
opinions in this newsletter are mine and I do not represent any organization or
business. I do not make any income from this newsletter. I write this because I
love to share with other gardeners some of the things I come across in my research
each week. It keeps me engaged with local people and horticulture. It’s a
hobby, basically. I hope you enjoy it. If at any time you don’t wish to receive
these emails just let me know. If you know anyone who would like to receive
these emails have them send their email address to me. KimWillis151@gmail.com
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