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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

July 29, 2014 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter



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

A display at the Garden on Suncrest, Lapeer.
We got some needed rain this weekend but I hope you didn't get any unneeded storms or power outages.  The biggest damage I had was that my Oriental lilies, the huge Casa Blanca’s are falling over.  I was lazy and didn't stake them this year.  They are the tallest lilies this year with many of my other varieties being shorter and having fewer blooms than the year before.

The Farmer’s almanac was sure wrong about this month.  It said we would have a warmer than usual month.  Instead we have had one of the coldest Julys on record.  That’s ok with me though and I bet the people at the Eastern Michigan State fair won’t mind cooler temps as long as it doesn't rain too much. I believe the average precipitation in July is 3-4 inches depending on where you are in Michigan.  I have had over 5 inches so far and it’s still going to rain some more before the month ends.

Speaking of the Eastern Michigan State Fair I saw some pretty pictures of the Master Gardener exhibit there.  If you go to the fair why not stop in and take a look?  For those readers not familiar with Imlay City and the Eastern Michigan State Fair let me say that it’s a great fair to attend.  It’s clean and safe, and they have a one price ticket that includes parking, shows and rides.  Admission is only $10.00 until 2pm today July 29th and tomorrow July 30th and $15.00 after that.  They have lots of farm animals including a petting zoo, circus performances every day and some grandstand shows each night.  The fairgrounds are easy to get to- just North of I69 on M53.

Pink Zazzle.
The garden phlox are adding color in the garden right along with hydrangeas, buddleia and of course the beebalm, helianthus, coreopsis, rudbeckia, all the day lilies and trumpet lilies.  I will probably have sweet corn ready this week but the tomatoes are ripening very slowly in the dreary cool weather.

I have been very happy with my black petunias this year up to the point where we put the planters of them on our new deck and the fallen flowers stained the deck dark purple when it rained.  Beware the color stains!  I am also quite happy with the new gomphrena Pink Zazzle that I planted in a container this spring.  It’s very colorful and unusual and does well in part shade.  It’s supposed to keep well over wintered inside, we will see.

Freeze those blueberries

Blueberry season is upon us and while it’s great to eat fresh blueberries they are even better for you if they are frozen before eating.  Research done at South Dakota State University found that blueberries are higher in anthocyanin, (the healthy antioxidant that comes from the deep blue color of blueberries), after they are frozen. The freezing bursts cell walls and makes the anthocyanin more available when the berries are consumed.

Blueberries are an almost unique fruit to the US, with the US producing 84% of the world’s blueberries according to the Agricultural Marketing Resource Center.  Some blueberries are also produced in Canada, Chile, Mexico and Central America and a few European countries.  Michigan is the state that usually has the highest yield of blueberries.

To freeze whole blueberries spread them on a cookie sheet a single layer thick, put in the freezer about an hour and then dump into a zip close bag or plastic container.  You can freeze and add more berries to the container as you get them. 

Freezing blueberries in a single layer then pouring them into a container keeps them from sticking together and makes removing some for a recipe easy.  When using berries from the freezer container, take out the berries and promptly return the container to the freezer so they don’t begin to thaw and stick together.

When blueberries are defrosted they hold their shape, but the texture is softer than fresh berries.  They need to be used quickly after defrosting.  If baking you can just throw frozen blueberries in the recipe without defrosting.

Trumpet Vine- a Hummingbird Magnet

Trumpet vine grows happily through much of the United States and that’s good, because there are few plants more attractive to hummingbirds.  If you need a sturdy, easy to grow vine for sun or partial shade, or want to attract hummingbirds to your yard, plant a trumpet vine.  While there are some gardeners who consider the trumpet vine invasive, it has many good features if carefully managed.  Many types of birds nest in trumpet vines and the seeds are also eaten by birds.

You may know the Trumpet vine, Campis radicans by one of its other common names, Trumpet Creeper, Hummingbird vine or Cross Vine.  It is native to the Southeastern United States but has naturalized in many other areas.  Trumpet vine is hardy from zone 4-9.  There are also Asian species that have been hybridized with our native species to produce different colors and forms.

Growing Trumpet Vines

Before you purchase and plant a trumpet vine, carefully plan where you want to plant it.  While beautiful in bloom it can be very invasive and destructive.   Do not plant trumpet vines close to homes or outbuildings.  The aerial roots that the vine produces creep under shingles and boards and lift them; the heavy vines may collapse structures that are not sturdy.  The roots of the trumpet vine will crack foundations, come up through asphalt and invade sewer lines.   If a vine climbs into a tree it may eventually kill it.  If near flower beds it will send out invaders from its root system that will soon over take the bed and are very difficult to eradicate, even with common weed killers.

Trumpet vine climbing light pole prop wire.
So where do you plant it?   Plant Trumpet Vine on a sturdy trellis or fence some distance from the house or flowerbeds.  Plant it on a pole or dead tree in an area that can be mown around.  Without support Trumpet Vine will form a large shrub.  If it’s situated in an area that can be mown around this is often the best solution.  Keep suckers mown or trimmed down and prune and thin aggressively to keep it in control.

Trumpet vine will grow in sun or partial shade in almost any soil.   It will even grow in fairly deep shade, although it will seldom bloom there.  Gardeners usually buy trumpet vines as plants.  The vines send out underground runners that develop into new plants that can be detached and transplanted. Trumpet vine resents transplanting however, and may sulk the first year.  Potted plants from a nursery transplant somewhat better. Once it gets established though, watch out!  Trumpet vine can grow 30 foot or more in one season.  Trumpet vines can also be started from cuttings, which root fairly easily.

The trumpet vine has compound leaves, consisting of 7-11 leaflets per stem.   They are slow to leaf out in the spring so be careful when pruning out winter damage. Once it gets established the trumpet vine thrives on pruning.  Thin and prune aggressively to control and shape the plant. Wear gloves when pruning as Trumpet vine causes a rash on some people who handle the plants.

Trumpet vine flowers consist of 5 petals fused into a long, tubular shape that flares out at the end.  Most trumpet vines have orange flowers; the color can vary somewhat depending on the weather and the age of the flower.  In full sun, with rich soil and even moisture the trumpet vine can be in bloom from early summer through fall.   In dry or very hot conditions the trumpet vine may stop blooming for a while. 

Hummingbirds love trumpet vines and a large plant may have several Hummers on it at the same time.  The flowers also attract bees and ants. Trumpet vine flowers eventually turn into bean-like seedpods full of flat, paper like seeds, if the Hummers have done their work.

Keep trumpet vines well watered as they get established.  They do not need fertilizer and seldom get diseases or insect pests.   If drought conditions develop in your area a deep watering may keep them in bloom longer.  Trumpet vine stems become thick and woody over time.   These woody vines usually survive winter and then put out new growth.  Where trumpet vines are grown as a bush they will die back to the ground in some areas, but will come back quickly from the roots in the spring.  Wait until spring growth has started, which may be quite late, before pruning out winter damage, as it is difficult to determine dead wood on these vines.  In the far south, trumpet vines may remain semi-evergreen.

Cucumbers are a summer treat

Cucumbers are now available at Michigan farm markets and there’s nothing tastier and cooler than fresh Michigan cucumbers.  Did you know that cucumbers are actually 10 degrees cooler inside than the outside air?  Michigan grows cucumbers for the table and also for pickling.  There is a national pickle company processing plant in Imlay City, Michigan, (Pinnacle Foods).  Unless you pickle them, cucumbers don’t store long, but that’s ok because there are so many ways to enjoy them.

Cucumbers are mostly water- about 95% water but they do pack some nutrition, especially in the peel.  Cucumbers are very high in potassium.  Here are a couple of cucumber recipes to enjoy this summer.
 
Here are two great ways to use cucumbers.

Cucumbers in yogurt sauce

3 medium cucumbers, washed and thinly sliced
1/2 cup of plain yogurt- Greek is good
3 tablespoons of salad dressing such as Miracle Whip
1 tablespoon of fresh chopped dill leaf
1/4 teaspoon of celery salt
1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
 1/8 teaspoon white pepper

Blend yogurt and salad dressing with spices.  Add cucumber slices and gently toss to cover.  Refrigerate for at least one hour.  3-4 average servings.

Instant pickles

2 thinly sliced and peeled cucumbers
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1 dill flower or a few chopped leaves

Combine everything in a bowl and let marinate in the refrigerator for 15-minutes to an hour.  It can sit longer but the longer it sits the saltier the cukes become.  Discard after 1 day.

The two recipes above are great with cucumbers that have gotten a little large.  Salad cucumbers should be picked while young and skinny. 

This weeks weeds

Queen Anne’s lace


Flowers sometimes get fanciful names but this wild carrot does have a pretty flower that looks lacy.  It’s a common sight and the subject of many a child’s bouquets for mom.  Queen Anne’s lace is also known as wild carrot or sometimes bird nest flower.

Queen Anne’s Lace, (Daucus carota), is the ancestor of the common garden carrot and it does have a yellowish-white thick taproot.   But it’s not advisable to eat the roots of those plants found growing wild as it often hard to distinguish Queen Anne’s lace from some very deadly forms of Hemlock. 

Queen Anne’s lace is a bi-annual plant.  The first year it sends up a mound of feathery fern-like leaves that smell like carrots when crushed.  In the second year tall, tough spikes- up to 5 feet high come out of the mounds of foliage.  These support flat, umbrella shaped clusters of white flowers.  There can be many stems and flowers from each plant.

In the very center of most flower clusters is a single dark red or purple flower.  As the flowers die they curl upward, forming a brownish cup or “birds nest”.  Seeds mature inside the cup and are eventually shaken to the ground by the wind.  Plants die after the second year.

Queen Anne’s lace is in flower from June through the summer.  It is found in sunny, well drained soils of all kinds in fields and along the roads.  It makes an excellent cut flower.


Virginia Creeper, woodbine

Virginia Creeper, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, is one of those plants that some consider a weed and others consider a garden plant, even purchasing it from nurseries.  It is often confused with Poison Ivy because of its growth habits.  It has beautiful fall color and is an easy vine to grow in all most any conditions.  While it is not irritating to everyone, Virginia Creeper does have a sap that some people are allergic to, although it doesn’t affect people as badly as Poison Ivy.

Virginia Creeper has compound leaves with 5-7 parts, not three, although an occasional three leaflet leaf leads confusion to its identity.  The leaflets are joined at the base in a palm shaped pattern.  In the spring new leaves may have a reddish tinge, in summer they are green with reddish stems.  In fall, the plant is truly beautiful when the leaves turn to scarlet red.

Virginia Creeper has small, greenish white flowers that are barely noticeable.  The flowers produce small grape-like fruits which turn blue-black in autumn and contrast nicely with the red fall foliage.  The fruits are poisonous to humans but are very well like by birds that soon gobble them up.  


Virginia Creeper just starting fall color.
Virginia Creeper grows as a vine, it has tendrils with a sticky pad on their end that can attach it to almost anything.   It will climb trees or sprawl on the ground, or cover fences.  One plant can cover huge areas.  It is a perennial plant although the foliage dies each winter.   Some older vines get woody and thick and persist through winter.   Pieces of the stem can root where they touch ground and the plant also spreads by seeds dropped by birds. 

Once established in an area Virginia Creeper spreads aggressively.  It will grow in any kind of soil, in wet or dry areas and in sun and shade.   It doesn’t play nice in the garden and care should be used if it is wanted in the garden for fall color.

Break out the sweaters and umbrellas!
Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero


More Information
What do I do if there’s a bat in the house?

In August there is always an increase in people reporting bats in their house.  This is because baby Brown bats, the most common bat in Michigan, are learning to fly about this time.  Like all youngsters they get lost and do stupid things, like crawl through a crack to explore a new place.   They don’t want to get in your hair or bite your neck.  They just want out!

But bats in the house are no laughing matter for most folks.  They cause panic and great concern.  While no one should panic, bats in the house should not be tolerated either.  Bats are helpful creatures and yes, they should be protected, but they also carry rabies and other diseases and parasites.  Every year in Michigan bats are found that test positive for rabies and almost every year people in Michigan who were in contact with rabid bats have to have preventative rabies vaccines. 

If a bat suddenly appears flying through a room, open a window or door, darken the room and be quiet or leave.  If you are not screaming and jumping around, the bat will generally sense the air current from the open window or door and leave.   You can leave enough light that you can see, like the light from a night light,  but bright lights generally make the bat want to find a place to hide.  If it doesn’t fly out you may be able to scoop it up in something and throw it out.  Do not handle a bat with your bare hands.  If you do manage to get bitten in the process you must not release the bat.  You will need to keep it for rabies testing.

Bat found hiding or dead in a room

If you see a bat hanging on the curtains, crawling on the floor, or hiding in the room somewhere or find a dead bat in the living quarters of the house, you have different things to consider.  If there are sleeping children in the room, or people who are ill and unaware of their surroundings and the bat could have been there for a while, you must consider whether it could have bitten them.  Brown Bats don’t seek out humans to bite and they don’t drink blood, but if they feel threatened by sudden movement, are stepped on, or handled or rolled over on in bed they could bite.  The bites are tiny and not very painful and a sleeping person could easily not know they were bitten. Toddlers may not be able to communicate that they were bitten or forget about it. 

Big brown bat eating a meal worm.
While only a small percentage of bats carry rabies, the threat is great enough that bats found in these circumstances should be collected carefully and submitted to your local animal control or health department for rabies testing.  You must use great care not to get bitten yourself.  Wear heavy gloves and try to scoop up the bat into a jar, or box.   Even dead bats should not be handled with bare hands.  If you smash the bat with a tennis racket or other item you may damage the head, which is needed for rabies testing and end up with you or your loved ones receiving rabies prevention shots.  If there is a delay in transporting the bat to the proper agency for testing they will tell you how to store it.

Pets with bats

If you find your pet with a dead or living bat or even if you find a dead bat close to farm animals such as horses, you should have that bat tested for rabies.  This is critical if your pet has not had a recent rabies vaccine.  If the pet gets rabies it could easily be passed to owners and their family before they realize what is going on.  Don’t worry about getting a fine for an unlicensed or unvaccinated pet, rabies is nearly always fatal and an extremely painful way for anything to die.   Animal control or the health department will help you decide whether vaccinated pets should also be quarantined.

Bats in the attic

If you find a bat in a room that hasn’t been occupied for a while, or in spaces like attics, crawl spaces, chimneys, wall voids etc. you do want to remove them, but you probably don’t have to worry about submitting them for testing as long as you don’t get bitten handling them.   Try to remove them alive or exclude them from the space after they have left in the evening to feed.  There is no law that prevents you from killing bats when they are in your home, but they are beneficial creatures that are becoming increasingly endangered and their lives should be spared if possible.

Usually if more than one bat is found roosting in an area of the home it is a colony of female bats and until August, each female bat is likely to have one baby bat with her.  When they fly out to feed at night they leave these babies behind.   You may hear noises and scrambling around as the females leave.   By mid-August, most baby bats will leave each night with mom.  You don’t want to seal up holes the bats are using until this time.  Even if you don’t care that the baby bats will die without their mothers, they will cause quite a smell and attract insects if they die.  Male bats are solitary or gather in small groups of 2 or 3.

Bats should never be tolerated living in a home with humans, even if they are in spots where people seldom go. Besides the treat of rabies, bats carry parasites like lice and batbugs, (similar to bed bugs), the dust from their excrement can cause lung disease, and their excrement can build up until it damages the building and the smell becomes over whelming.  The urine and excrement can damage wiring and cause fires.  Large colonies can be quite noisy at night.  Bats are very beneficial in nature but need to be removed from human homes for health and safety reasons just as we remove rats and mice.

Bat control

Ultra sonic devices, mothballs, and poisons for rats and mice do not work on bats.  Bright lights hung in bat roosting areas at night are seldom effective with established colonies either.  The best way to remove bats is by exclusion.  This means locating all the places bats are coming and going from and sealing them off when the bats are outside feeding at night.  You can stand outside, maybe with the help of friends and count how many bats are leaving just after sunset and where they are leaving from.  After a few days of watching and locating holes the holes should be sealed after the bats have left for the night.  Bats can go through any size hole a mouse could go through, a 1/2 inch crack is all they need. 

If it is going to be hard for you to do the sealing work yourself there are companies specializing in bat removal.  They often use traps that allow bats to leave but not come back in after sealing all the other holes during daylight hours.  You can do this too.  After a week or so of using excluder devices all the bats should be gone and the excluder site can be sealed.  You can also wait until cold weather (November - December) and seal holes because the bats will have left for hibernation spots.


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

Eastern Michigan State Fair- July 29th – August 2nd  Imlay City Mi. (M53 just North of I69)
One of the best fairs in Michigan is early this year.  See the large Master Gardener exhibit as well as other exhibits of flowers, veggies and fruits.  Lots of animals, fair food and carnival rides too. Daily circus and alligator shows. Rodeo on July 29th, 7 pm.

Price- July 29th and 30th all tickets are $10.00 before 2 pm otherwise admission is $15.  Admission price includes all shows and rides.  Parking is free. 

Weeds and Herbs from the Wild -Tuesday, August 19 at 7: 00pm at Seven Ponds Nature Center 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI 

The Friends of Herbs at Seven Ponds will host speaker: Jim McDonald- innovative Michigan herbalist and wildcrafter. He will share with us what herbs and weeds can be harvested during this time of year. Preregistration is required by calling 810-796-3200 to reserve your seat. Join us for a wonderful informative program, cost is $5.00 per person.



Herb & Butterfly Garden Tours -Sunday, August 10, 2:00 pm -Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI 


We have the loveliest cultivated gardens totally maintained by volunteer gardeners. This is a walk suited for those who cannot venture too far from the center. Non-members- $3.00 adults, members and children 12 and under free.  (Tour is being conducted by park naturalists.)



Cool Plants for Shady Areas- Sat, August 9, 10am English Gardens, all locations (Ann Arbor, East Pointe, Clinton Twps., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak, Commerce Twps., West Bloomfield  call 1-800-335-Grow

Creating a beautiful garden is possible even in the shade.  This program will cover basic information on planning, planting and maintaining flowers and plants in the shade. Special emphasis will be given on perennials. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com.


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.

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.  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

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



Tuesday, July 22, 2014

July 22, 2014 Kim’s Weekly Garden Newsletter



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
Lily Vice Versa, a hybrid lily.



Its 88 degrees and humid today and once again we are looking for storms later.  These storms will be scattered so if you have containers that need watering better not wait for rain. 

I am getting tomatoes more frequently now- love those Early Girls.  My tomato plants however are really starting to suffer from fungal disease.  I also started getting a few ripe raspberries this week.  Once again I am competing with wild birds and chickens for my berries. My early sweet corn has some nice ears forming and the pumpkins are as big as soccer balls now.

The Oriental and Trumpet lilies and their hybrids are beginning to bloom.  I love the smell of lilies although some people do not.  My Casa Blanca lilies aren't as tall as they are most years; I suppose that’s caused by the hard winter too.  My new lilies are quite short but I know lilies tend to be smaller the first year they bloom in a new spot.

I just had to go outside and rip Jewelweed away from my office window so I can see out again.  After the rain last week it grew by leaps and bounds.  I like to leave some around the yards for the bees and hummingbirds but I don’t like it blocking my view and breeze.   Another weed that is sky rocketing toward the sky is lambsquarters.  There’s an article below on that weed.

As far as the noxious weed – Giant Hogweed – that I spoke about last week is concerned - so far no cases in Michigan.  I spoke with MSUE in Livingston County today and they said no hogweed has ever been identified in that county. They do get tons of photos and samples and all have turned out to be cow parsnips or water hemlock or other weeds.

I am a bit concerned with the attitude of various regulatory agencies toward the plant.  The USDA is the one that puts out bulletins warning about it and listing it as a dangerous weed that needs reporting.  But when they are contacted they say to call the state department of agricultural and natural resources and when they are contacted they say to call MSU Extension.  According to one county horticulture agent MSUE doesn't have any funding or agreement with those other agencies to remove hogweed.  They will ID it if they can but they won’t come to your home.

This ho hum attitude is not what it takes to keep a dangerous plant from taking hold in Michigan.  I know that the vast majority of calls about hogweed turn out to be some other plant from Queen Anne’s Lace to water hemlock.  I even got photos of ferns and cheese mallow which look nothing like hogweed from people wanting to know if they have hogweed.  But still if the plant is to be kept out of the state we need some agency to step up and be responsible. To me it seems like it should be the USDA or the MDA that is responsible for eradication and site visits.

Well it’s hot out today but I hope you can get outside to just sit a while.  Take off your shoes and socks and let your bare feet rest on the ground.  The earth contains an electromagnetic field that helps set your internal clock and keeps you healthy and happy.

The benefits of cinnamon

Two new and interesting studies on the benefits of an ancient spice have recently been published.  Food researchers have been trying for years to find natural food additives that can control harmful bacteria in foods.  Researchers at Washington State University found that Cinnamomum cassia oil can be used to kill food bacteria without harm to humans or animals.  Ten drops of oil to a liter of water will kill E.coli bacteria. 

Researchers developed bio-films for packaging meat and other foods subject to spoilage and food borne pathogens.  They also recommended that the Cassia oil be added to food washing solutions for produce and meat.  They also suggested that the oil could be incorporated into ground meat.

In other news about cinnamon Cinnamonum verum, the sweeter cinnamon often used in cooking, may have some benefit in treating Parkinson’s disease.   Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that cinnamon, given orally, was metabolized into sodium benzoate.  Sodium benzoate was found to reduce the loss of important proteins in the brain, improves neurotransmitter levels and improves motor function in animals with Parkinson’s disease.  If you know someone with the disease it sure wouldn’t hurt to add abundant cinnamon to their diet.

This weeks weed- Lambsquarters

Young lambsquarter plants.
Common Lambsquarters, (Chenopodium album ) is also known as White Goosefoot, Fat Hen, and Mealweed and it gets those names in an interesting way.  Europeans used the weed to fatten poultry and sheep, and also as a cooked green, similar to spinach.  Native Americans collected the seeds, which were eaten raw or ground into a flour to cook.  They also ate the plant as a green. 

Common Lambsquarters is an annual plant that grows just about anywhere.  It likes rich soil and often comes up in manure piles and barnyards.  Animals eagerly seek it out to eat when it is young and tender.

Common Lambsquarters has roughly triangular leaves, with notched edges and sometimes small lobes.  One large leaf on the tip of a stem is often followed by two small leaves that are opposite of each other.  The rest of the leaves are alternate on the stem.

Flowers of lambsquarter
Lambsquarter leaves have a grey, somewhat fuzzy underside, especially when young.  The plant makes thick sturdy stems that have vertical ridges and are often red tinged.  It can grow to 3 feet or even larger in great spots.

The plant has inconspicuous, greenish grey flowers that look like tiny knots on spikes near the top of the plant.  Common Lambsquarters produces two kinds of seeds, a hard, black round seed that can survive in the ground for a long period of time, and a lighter brown, flattened oval seed which generally germinates quickly.  The plants produce thousands of each type of seed each year.

Feeding sugar to bees may be part of their decline

Bees are on the minds of many gardeners these days and many gardeners have begun to keep a hive of bees as a hobby.  Bee keepers have long used the practice of giving bees’ sugar water to eat when food supplies are scarce.  Now researchers are saying the practice of feeding sugar solutions to bees may be a contributing factor to what is known as colony decline or collapse.  Both cane/beet sugar and high fructose corn syrup were found to be poor sources of bee food.

Let’s face it; sugar is not good for us or many other animals.  Bees are designed by nature to feed on honey from their hive when nectar and pollen are scarce.  When bees are fed sugar or corn syrup researchers found that an organ called the fat body (similar to our liver and fat tissue) had different gene activity than bees eating honey. This gene activity was related to immune function, metabolism, and brain function.  Colony collapse has often been linked to poor immune response and poor storage of fat reserves in bees.

This study was done by the University of Illinois Institute for Genomic Biology and published in Scientific Reports.   An earlier study done there found that honey has the ability to neutralize some pesticides that bees consume while foraging.  The take away from this is that bee keepers should leave enough honey for the bees so that they don’t have to be fed sugar solutions and if supplemental feeding is necessary, pure honey might be the best choice.

This also got me to thinking about our practice of feeding hummingbirds a sugar solution.  Could we be hurting the hummers?   I have written to the researcher, Gene Robinson, who worked on the bee study to see if he has any thoughts on that topic.  I’ll keep you informed.

Plant fungicides may cause resistance to human fungicides

This is the season for fungal diseases to run rampant in the garden, given the right conditions.  Fungal infections plague all living creatures and man is no exception.  Aspergillus fungal spores are found in soil (and also in other places, even indoors) and gardeners may be more susceptible than others to breathing in the spores which can cause allergic reactions or the more serious disease of the lungs called Aspergillosis.  People with compromised immune systems are more susceptible to fungal diseases but people with normal immune systems may also become infected.

Aspergillosis is treated by giving people anti-fungal medications called triazoles.  These are very similar to fungicides used in agriculture/horticultural to control fungal infections in plants. In studies done in the Netherlands and now from Radboud University Medical Centre and The University of Manchester it was found that Aspergillosis and other human fungal diseases are becoming resistant to anti-fungal medications. 

The current research found that resistant strains of fungi were more common in agricultural areas where the use of crop fungicides is common.  The research strongly suggests that just like antibiotics used in livestock are contributing to strains of antibiotic resistant bacteria, crop fungicides are causing fungicide resistant strains of fungi.

Fruit fungus may cause asthma in humans

So on to more fungal news.  Alternaria alternate is a common garden fungal disease that infects many kinds of fruits and vegetables.  You have probably had this fungus in your garden at one time or another.  Different kinds of produce have different names for the disease symptoms Alternaria alternate produces, but the same lovely fungal species is involved.
Alternaria fungal disease of tomatoes - fruit root and early blight. Photo from coursewares.MJU.ac.th

Early blight of tomatoes and potatoes, leaf spots of fruit trees, fruit spot on peppers, black rot of carrots, head rot of broccoli are all Alternaria alternate diseases.  Apples, cucumbers, kiwi, tomatoes, carrots, cabbage, broccoli- all produce can basically have some Alternaria alternate fungal disease.

Research done at the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid has found that Alternaria alternate fungi can cause asthmatic reactions in people when they ingest the fungi on fruits or vegetables.  Research suggests this fungus could be a major cause of childhood asthma.  Alternaria alternate can also cause fungal infections of the skin, eyes and lungs in humans.

Alternaria alternate fungi generally create rotted areas on fruits and vegetables but can be present on produce with no visible signs.  The fungi can be found on fruits and vegetables in stores and farm markets as well as on the farm and in the garden.  This is another reason why you must thoroughly wash all produce, even organic produce, which may be even more susceptible to Alternaria alternate spores being on it, because no or weaker crop pesticides are used.  Also do not eat fruit and vegetables with rotted areas or use them for canning or juice.

Cannabis may shrink tumors

Marijuana- a medical miracle drug.
Yes I love good news about cannabis.  I believe the medical uses of this plant are many and it is being underused and understudied.  However some countries are actively researching marijuana’s medical properties.  Research done recently at University of East Anglia and Universidad Complutense de Madridin, Spain has shown that the active ingredient in cannabis- THC –shrinks or stops the growth of cancerous tumors.


The research was done with human breast cancer tumors.  Research suggests it’s effective on other forms of cancer tumors too.  The researchers say they hope a synthetic drug can be developed that mimics THC but I say – just legalize marijuana and let people self-medicate without fear.


Lovely Lantana

If you are struggling with sandy, poor soil in a sunny location and want lots of color then lantana is the plant for you.  This lovely plant thrives in situations many plants would struggle in.  Lantana flowers attract butterflies and bees. It is a favorite of swallowtail, skipper and some brush footed butterflies.  The foliage is also a food plant for some moth and butterfly caterpillars.

There are several species of lantana; they are native to tropical America and Africa.  Some lantanas have naturalized in the southern states and have become invasive pests, even if they are beautiful.  Gardeners will want to stick with hybrid lantana plants that are sterile, even if they plan to grow them in the north as an annual.  The sterile varieties bloom better and longer.   These are the varieties most often found in the garden shop.

Lantana- tough but pretty.
Lantanas come in upright and trailing types.  The leaves of Lantana are long, gray-green and blade-like with toothed edges.  They feel rough to the touch and have a strong odor when crushed.  While some people profess to like the smell, most avoid bruising the leaves after smelling them. 

Lantana flowers come from the tips of the plant and from where leaves join the stem in half round clusters of numerous, small 4 petal flowers.   The small flowers turn color as they age so most flower clusters contain two or more colors.  Colors are in the hot range of oranges, yellows, and reds, with a few pinks and lavenders.    The flowers also have a slight scent, which again, some like and some don’t.

DANGER- Wild Lantanas produce small fruits that are juicy and blue-black.  Birds are fond of them but they are poisonous to humans and animals.  The sterile varieties found in garden stores don’t produce fruit.

Growing Lantana
Because the best varieties for blooming are sterile, gardeners usually buy plants.  Lantana seed can be found in some catalogs though.  Many lantanas are not labeled with variety name in garden stores.

Lantana is a tender tropical plant.  It must not be put outside until all danger of frost has passed.  In the north it is generally treated as an annual.  In frost free areas it can be planted in the ground and is perennial. 

Lantana must be planted in full sun.  It thrives in well drained sandy soil of low fertility.  In rich moist soil it is prone to disease and produces more leaf than flowers.   While drought tolerant, lantana plants must be watered until they form a good root system.  They will also bloom better if they are watered once a week in hot dry weather.

Lantana is a great container plant as long as the container has good drainage.   They should be watered a little more frequently in containers than in the ground.  Try to water the soil around the plant and not get water on the leaves.  Wet foliage may cause disease problems.

Plants in containers may benefit from a little slow release fertilizer but lantana plants in the ground seldom need fertilizer. If the plants get woody and lanky cut them back by a third.

Deer and other animals do not usually eat lantana, although some insects do.  If grown in moist areas the roots may rot.  Lantana in shade is prone to fungal disease.
 
Remember- bare feet on the ground makes you healthy and happy.

Kim Willis
 “He who has a garden and a library wants for nothing” ― Cicero


More Information

Controlling raspberry cane borers
Wilting shoot tips signal that this easy to control pest has found your raspberry patch.


Posted on July 8, 2014 by Mark Longstroth, Michigan State University Extension


This time of year, Michigan State University Extension educators, including myself, get calls from homeowners complaining that the shoot tips of their raspberries are dying. I ask if there are two rings cut into the stem below the wilting. If the answer is yes, I know they have the raspberry cane borer.

Raspberry cane borer, Oberea bimaculata Oliver, is a beetle pest of raspberries that is widespread in Michigan. The beetle lives its life feeding on raspberries. The adults emerge in June. They feed on the tender shoot tips of new raspberry canes. The females lay their eggs about 6 inches below the tips of the new primocanes (first year shoots emerging from the ground). First, she chews two rings around the stem about 0.5 inches apart. Then she lays an egg between the girdles. The girdling causes the stem tip to wilt.

Control is easy and organic, just remove the portion of the stem between the two girdles and throw it in the trash. If not removed, the larvae burrows down the cane to the base and into the crown the next summer. Affected canes are weak and often break or die the next year. The larva pupates in the soil and emerges the next year to attack the shoot tips.

This pest seldom requires insecticide sprays and can be controlled by scouting for wilting shoot tips in the summer and removing the stem sections with the eggs before the larvae can burrow into the cane. If there is a severe pest infestation, pesticide sprays are targeted on the adults in the immediate pre-bloom period, just before the flowers open.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu.

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

New - Eastern Michigan State Fair- July 29th – August 2nd  Imlay City Mi. (M53 just North of I69)
One of the best fairs in Michigan is early this year.  See the large Master Gardener exhibit as well as other exhibits of flowers, veggies and fruits.  Lots of animals, fair food and carnival rides too. Daily circus and alligator shows. Rodeo on July 29th, 7 pm.

Price- July 29th and 30th all tickets are $10.00 before 2 pm otherwise admission is $15.  Admission price includes all shows and rides.  Parking is free. 

Weeds and Herbs from the Wild -Tuesday, August 19 at 7: 00pm at Seven Ponds Nature Center 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI 

The Friends of Herbs at Seven Ponds will host speaker: Jim McDonald- innovative Michigan herbalist and wildcrafter. He will share with us what herbs and weeds can be harvested during this time of year. Preregistration is required by calling 810-796-3200 to reserve your seat. Join us for a wonderful informative program, cost is $5.00 per person.



Herb & Butterfly Garden Tours -Sunday, August 10, 2:00 pm -Seven Ponds Nature Center, 3854 Crawford Road, Dryden, MI 


We have the loveliest cultivated gardens totally maintained by volunteer gardeners. This is a walk suited for those who cannot venture too far from the center. Non-members- $3.00 adults, members and children 12 and under free.  (Tour is being conducted by park naturalists.)


Garden Party & Daylily Dig- Sat, July 26, and Sunday July 27- 9am-6pm, Merrittscape, 5940 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford Township, MI.

Featuring over 200 varieties of award winning daylilies for sale.  You pick 'em, we dig 'em. 1000's of plants. We have over an acre and one half of spectacular ponds and display gardens to enjoy and inspire.  248-681-7955.

Cool Plants for Shady Areas- Sat, August 9, 10am English Gardens, all locations (Ann Arbor, East Pointe, Clinton Twps., Dearborn Heights, Royal Oak, Commerce Twps., West Bloomfield  call 1-800-335-Grow

Creating a beautiful garden is possible even in the shade.  This program will cover basic information on planning, planting and maintaining flowers and plants in the shade. Special emphasis will be given on perennials. FREE. www.EnglishGardens.com.

Michigan Ag Expo 2014- July 22, 2014 - July 24, 2014 Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI

Ag Expo is Michigan’s largest outdoor agricultural show. With more than 250 vendors, demonstrations, educational sessions, and ride and drive equipment available, there is something for everyone. Admission to the show is free!
Visit the Ag Expo 2014 website for more information. http://agexpo.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.

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.  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

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