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Your Garden Guy: Tips for early fall plants, yards

Are you looking for a tough, hardy fall perennial? Try Montauk daisy. This classic white daisy flower perennial is blooming now in Middle Georgia gardens. Plant in mass groups of seven or more in full sun.

Fall is show time for ornamental grasses. So if you see a variety you like, plant it in your landscape. I love pink Muhly grass. Its low care, 24 inches tall, and very easy to grow in full sun.

Yellow jacket nests are at their most populous point during autumn.

These aggressive wasps build nests underground and are often undetected until disturbed by humans, when they will quickly swarm and sting.

Use an appropriate insecticide to destroy the nest. Dont pour gasoline down the nest opening!

Now is a good time to buy mums. Pick plants with the buds closed to extend the bloom time.

Watch for seasonal sales on lawn equipment, plants and outdoor furniture.

Its time to spray plants to repel the deer and rabbits.

Todd Goulding provides landscape design consultations and can be reached at fernvalley.com.

Late summer, early fall garden and landscape projects

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Del Mar Garden Club celebrates 25th anniversary

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Mary Friestedt, Susan Pfleeger, Grace Godefroy

By Kristina Houck

If you stop by Del Mar’s post office on a Tuesday, you might see Marnie Mahoney tending to the garden. The Del Mar resident and other members of the Del Mar Garden Club continue to maintain the garden they first established in 1991.

“It’s a real pleasure to be down there at the post office every Tuesday morning,” said Mahoney, who has lived in Del Mar since 1968. “The expressions of appreciation, which we get every week, makes you feel pleased and very happy that it was done in the first place. It’s something that everybody appreciates.”

The Garden Club was formed in September 1988 after Mahoney invited a group of friends to her home to talk about gardening and possibly starting a club. By the next year, the dozen-member club grew to 35 members.

In 1991, the club held its first fundraiser, a garden tour and plant sale, to establish the garden in front of the city’s post office.

“The Garden Club was formed to promote the knowledge and love of gardening,” Mahoney said. “We talked about ways we could contribute to the beautification of the community. We weren’t just going to sit around and look at flowerpots. I thought there should be a purpose — that we accomplish something for the good of everybody.”

Celebrating the organization’s 25th anniversary on Sept. 23 at the Powerhouse Community Center, garden club members looked back on the number of projects the club has participated in or led in more than two decades.

Since the post office project, Garden Club members have beautified the public gardens at places such as the Del Mar City Hall and the Del Mar Library. Other projects include the sidewalk garden plots at the 14th Street and Camino del Mar crosswalk area by Bully’s Del Mar and the Jimmy Durante Boulevard median. Although club members do a lot of the labor, they also work with the Public Works Department and Aztec Landscaping.

In addition to maintaining several gardens in the community, the club is set to beautify 10th Street and work with the Del Mar Foundation to beautify the end of 18th Street, said Mary Friestedt, the club’s president.

“Marnie Mahoney has been my inspiration,” said Friestedt, who moved to Del Mar in 1998 and joined the club in 2005. “I think of her as the George Washington of our club. She is a very classy lady who started this club and had high standards. We’ve tried to maintain those standards.”

Today the club has 45 members and 16 perennial members. Members meet monthly from September through June, and attend educational programs and garden tours.

“I love this club,” Friestedt said. “The people are absolutely phenomenal. We’re like a big family. It’s a wonderfully friendly, warm, loving, energetic, knowledgeable group of people. It’s really a joy to be a part of this club.”

It’s not a surprise the club has reached this milestone anniversary, Mahoney said. In fact, membership continues to grow as the club recently accepted seven new members.

“We have a lot of new, wonderful younger women that are full of energy and great ideas. That’s what keeps it going,” Mahoney said. “There’s also been such a tremendous amount of interest and gratitude expressed by the city over the years. It’s been a very worthwhile endeavor.”

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Fall Garden Expo & Plant Sale to showcase UF/Leon Co. Extension Office

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Fall Garden Expo

Posted: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 8:07 am
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Updated: 8:33 am, Wed Sep 25, 2013.

Fall Garden Expo Plant Sale to showcase UF/Leon Co. Extension Office

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TALLAHASEE, Fla. — Whether you’re a social butterfly or blushing violet, you’re welcome to learn more about the University of Florida/Leon County Extension Office during their 2013 Fall Garden Expo and Plant Sale.

The Office is located at 615 Paul Russell Road, about a quarter mile east of the fair grounds. The event will be held Saturday September 28, 2013 from 9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m. and it is free.

The following is a list of scheduled activites:

Garden Tours: Guests can stroll through the gardens at their leisure and visit with Master Gardener Bed Hosts stationed in demonstration gardens by participating in self-guided tours. In addition, three guided tours will meander through all six of the demonstration gardens covering about one acre.

Educational booths: Extension office departments, which include Families Consumer Sciences, 4H Youth development, Urban Forestry/Trees their Benefits and Environment/ Sustainable Living, will have educational booths, exhibits, and sustainability tours. You can also get your horticulture questions answered at the Master Gardener Booth. Booths will also cover Hand Pollination, Herbs, Roses, Container Gardening, Xeriscaping, Bee Keeping, Vegetable Gardens, Floral Designs from Garden Plants, Wildlife Displays, Florida Friendly landscapes, Invasive Plants, Micro-Irrigation, Greenhouse Demonstration, Plants that attract Butterflies, Plant Propagation, and more. These booths will be promoting at least one of the 9 principles of Florida Friendly Landscaping as determined by the University of Florida IFAS program.

Scavenger Hunt:Test your observation skills and see if you can find all of the featured items by participating in a scavenger hunt.

Plant Sales: Plants donated by Leon County Master Gardeners and others will be on sale at reasonable prices. Money from these sales goes toward paying the expenses for sending the Leon County Master Gardener Plant ID Team to state competition. Last year the Leon County team placed first.

Snacks, refreshments, and musical entertainment will also be available.

For more information, contact the Leon County Extension Office or volunteers Dale Taylor at whiteoak43@gmail.com or Regina Blackstock at greentree@embarqmail.com.

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/LeonCountyExtension/events

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Penis Bones Show Size Mattered to Ancient Bear

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Scientists don’t have any footage to shed light on the sex lives of ancient bears, but fossil penis bones can tell all.

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Researchers recently studied a collection of penis bones from an extinct species of bear in Spain. Compared with today’s bears, this ancient creature, named Indarctos arctoides, had a surprisingly large penis bone that suggests it had infrequent but long-lasting sex sessions, the study found. And the females may have used penis size to assess their mates.

VIDEO: Penises Have Bones?!

Human males today don’t have a penis bone, formally called a bacula, but it is found in many other mammals, including chimpanzees and gorillas. Whereas humans depend on blood pressure to stiffen up their sexual member, a penis bone helps animals keep their penis reliably erect for intercourse. [7 Wild Facts About the Penis]

Penis bones are rare in the fossil record, but researchers found five of them in the Madrid Basin in Spain that belonged to this large primitive bear, Indarctos arctoides. The bear roamed Europe during the Late Miocene (around 12 million to 5 million years ago), and the male of the species would have grown to around 584 pounds (265 kilograms), similar in size to the European brown bear.

Its bacula was, on average, 9.1 inches (23.3 centimeters) long — significantly larger than the penis bones of much bigger bears. Male polar bears, the biggest bears on Earth today, typically weigh 1,100 lbs. (500 kg), but their penis bone averages about 7.3 inches (18.6 cm) long, the researchers say.

The length of the penis bone could reveal details not only about the sexual behavior of Indarctos arctoides, but also the species’ ecological habits and mating system.

NEWS: How Birds Lost Their Penises

Based on the size of baculum, the researchers think the bear likely had fewer but longer periods of intercourse than other mammals. A long baculum, the study researchers say, could have served as a physical support during mating, helping to keep the female’s reproductive tract open and in an optimal position for fertilization during these sporadic dalliances.

Indarctos arctoides may have also had relatively large individual ranges and possibly a lower population density, giving rise to fewer sexual encounters, the researchers say.

The fossil record shows that the male Indarctos arctoides would have been much larger than the female. Previous research has suggested bear species with strong sex differences tend to have shorter penis bones and mating systems where males take multiple mates and fiercely compete for females. The fact that Indarctos arctoides had a relatively long bacula suggests it was a sexually selected trait that females used to assess mate quality.

The study was led by paleobiologist Juan Abella, of the Autonomous University of Barcelona. It was detailed Sept. 18 in the journal PLOS ONE.

More from LiveScience:

Original article on LiveScience.

SECU Landscaping Goes Native

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The $27 billion State Employees’ Credit Union in Raleigh, N.C., has partnered with the North Carolina Botanical Gardens and architects O’Brien Atkins to develop landscaping templates for SECU branches using only North Carolina native plants.

The idea was suggested by SECU member Tom Earnhardt, who is also the mastermind behind the award-winning program, Exploring North Carolina, which airs on local Raleigh PBS station WUNC-TV.

“Few places on this planet have the extraordinary diversity of plants found here in North Carolina, from the spruce-fir forests in our mountains to live oaks and palm trees on our Southeastern coast,” Earnhardt said. “It’s always seemed strange to me that some businesses, and even towns, often plant the same non-native trees over and over again. As a member of State Employees’ Credit Union, I was not at all surprised when the financial institution with the best member service in the state also agreed that it should look like North Carolina. Kudos to SECU for showcasing native trees, shrubs and flowers found in the regions where its branches are located. This is just another way in which SECU is leading the way.”

Vegetation native to North Carolina include plants such as black cohosh, trailing wolfsbane, yellow buckeye and pussy toes.

SECU representatives recently met with Earnhardt and officials from O’Brien Atkins and the botanical gardens to discuss the initiative, which will include demonstration projects at new SECU branches in each of North Carolina’s three geographical regions—mountains, piedmont and coastal plains.

“As a North Carolina cooperative, we look to promote and encourage projects that benefit our State and its citizens,” said David King, a director on SECU’s board. “This initiative will allow SECU to help NC-based nurseries, while stimulating local jobs and the economy. We look forward to working with our partner groups to go native with the SECU landscape.”

Dot Hinton, senior vice president of facilities services, said in addition to supporting locally-based businesses, the use of native landscapes will provide a greater chance of plant survival, thus reducing the costs of landscaping maintenance.

“We appreciate Mr. Earnhardt for suggesting this idea. The positive effects of this effort will be seen and felt statewide,” Hinton said.

YEAR ROUND GARDENING: Purchasing and planting tips for spring flowering …

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It’s time to plan, purchase and plant spring flowering bulbs.

Why

By March of each year, I am anxious for the gardening season to begin. The spring flowers produced by bulbs are a great way to brighten the garden and signal the imminent arrival of another growing season. Gardening catalogs are already announcing the availability of bulbs for spring bloom. Local garden centers are receiving supplies of bulbs. If you want early color, begin now to plan which bulbs you will plant to enhance your landscape.

The good news: Bulbs are easy to grow. Crocus, grape hyacinth, daffodils and tulips are some of the most popular bulbs. If deer and squirrels are an issue, daffodils are a recommended choice over tulips. Daffodils also naturalize well, meaning they endure and proliferate, creating more plants.

When

Plan now and shop soon. You will find the best selection of bulbs beginning in early September.

How

– Determine where you will plant the bulbs. Consider visibility, soil type and microclimate. Because most bulbs bloom early, they can be seen in parts of the garden that will later be hidden as perennials and annuals grow. Bulbs require good drainage: Avoid heavy, wet soils. Sandy soils with southern exposure will warm early, yielding the first leaves. In Colorado, late frosts can nip leaves that emerge too soon. To avoid this, consider planting in shaded soils on the north.

– After determining a location, select which bulbs and how many to purchase. Groupings of 20 to 30 or more bulbs will provide a spectacular display. I recommend you do some Internet research on bulb varieties and bulb design before you make a final plan. The University of Illinois Extension provides bulb design basics at http://urbanext.
illinois.edu/bulbs/landscaping.cfm.

Lastly, plant bulbs that flower at different times to ensure you have color for a longer period of time. You might use different species or different varieties of the same species.

– There is a direct correlation between the size of the bulb and the size of the flower: The larger bulbs will produce larger flowers. Do not purchase bulbs that have been cut or bruised or have soft spots. Damaged bulbs can rot once they are planted.

– September and October are the best months for planting bulbs. Consult a bulb planting chart to determine the correct depth for planting. Purdue University provides an easy-to-read chart at www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-86.pdf. The bulb is planted with the growing tip facing upward and the root plate facing downward.

– Phosphorus fertilizer may be incorporated at the time of planting and will promote rooting and larger blooms in subsequent years. Typical Colorado soils are sufficiently high in phosphorus, making application at planting not a necessity.

– After planting the bulbs, lightly tamp the soil and water thoroughly. When the ground freezes, cover the area with several inches of mulch. This will help to eliminate alternate freezing and thawing of the soil, which can damage the bulbs. The mulch may be removed in early spring or when the shoots start to emerge.

– Do not leave any remnants of the bulb material (e.g., the papery husk) in and around the planting area. Squirrels will readily find the material and start digging your newly planted bulbs.

What’s needed

– Your finalized bulb selections and design plan.

– Good quality bulbs.

– A bulb planter, shovel or sturdy, long trowel..

– Organic matter for amending the soil.

– Phosphorus fertilizer if you wish to fertilize when planting the bulbs.

– Mulch.

–

Get answers to you horticultural questions by calling a master gardener volunteer at 520-7684 or emailing CSUmg2@elpasoco.com. Volunteers are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Garden Tips: Gadgets help make planting bulbs easier

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Last year, I pointed out that tulips don’t “perennialize” well. Even tulips sold as perennials only bloom for a couple of years before declining.

That’s why I wasn’t too upset when one-third of the allegedly pink tulips we planted last year turned out to be dark purple. If I want a pink tulip display next spring, this time I should buy more bulbs from a reputable nursery for planting this fall.

This isn’t good news for my husband, who did the work of planting. I did buy a hand bulb planter, but even in our sandy soil, it was a difficult job cutting the holes for the bulbs.

To make the job easier, I’m thinking about buying a different bulb planter. A.M. Leonard company (www.amleo.com) offers a bulb planter with a 36-inch handle. The planter allows gardeners to pull out a 6-inch-deep, 2.75-inch-round core of soil, creating a hole for a bulb. It also has a plunger that pushes the core of soil back into the hole on top of the bulb. No bending or kneeling is needed.

Similar to this is the Badger Semi-Automatic Planter (bulb-planter.com). It removes a plug of soil to a depth of 3 to 6 inches. Their other planters make holes the size of 3-inch and 5-inch pots. They are designed to dig holes for transplanting flowers or vegetables.

The DeWit Double-Handle Bulb Planter is another type of long-handled planter from Lee Valley (leevalley.com). It is a smaller version of a post-hole digger, with two 30-inch-long wooden handles, each with a blade at their base and attached together with a hinge. When the blades are plunged into the soil, the hinge can be used as a step for pushing down on the blades. When pulled up, the blades remove a core of soil.

Power tool enthusiasts should find power augers a handy tool for making the needed holes. Garden auger.com sells bulb and garden augers for use with everyday household drills. They offer 1.75-, 2- or 2.75-inch-diameter augers, each with a 24-inch long, 3/8-inch-diameter steel shaft. The company points out that their augers can be used for digging holes for transplants, deep root watering, aerating and turning compost piles.

There’s also the Bulb Bopper by the Garden Supply Company (gardeners.com). It attaches to your power drill. This is a steel auger cylinder that can make holes 9 inches deep and 2 inches in diameter, but does not have a long shaft.

— Marianne C. Ophardt is a horticulturist for Washington State University Benton County Extension.

Garden Club plans event

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The Red Bluff Garden Club invites the community to its Oct. 12 Garden Party held at Rolling Hills Casino’s Carlino’s Event Center.

Festivies, which include a floral design program and luncheon, begin at 9:30 a.m. and participants will be personally greeted by the one and only Supertunia.

Kate Gleim, a renowned floral artist, design teacher and a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers, is back by popular demand and will be presenting displays of floral designs for elegant occasions. She will explain how to decorate for that special event such as a wedding or a New Year’s Eve party.

Gleim, the owner of the House of Design in the Kraft Library building on Jefferson Street in Red Bluff, loves sharing her ideas for beautifying people’s environments and inspires people to experience the joy of working with floral materials, through classes at her store and design seminars.

Through teaching, Gleim’s work has taken her to most states and many countries to share design concepts. She says meeting people, exchanging cultures and experiencing new, natural environments is wonderful.

Included in the day’s activities are vendors from around the north valley, silent auction items and centerpieces created by the Red Bluff Garden members to be raffled off, and a beautiful floral design to be given as a door prize.

Reserve tickets are $28. Lunch choices are New York steak, chicken with dungeness crab and spinach strudel. Tickets can be purchased at the House of Design or call Kathy at 527-9403 or Cathy at 384-1913. The event sold out early last year.

Susan McNeese presents floral design program to garden club members

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At a joint meeting of Bogalusa Garden Guild and Northeast Garden Club held recently at the Bogalusa Senior Center, Susan McNeese, a member of Mt. Hermon Garden Club and an accredited garden club judge, presented a program on floral design. Hostesses were Sydney Hughes and Rosemary Earles from Bogalusa Garden Guild and Cidette Rayburn and Pris Sampson from Northeast Garden Club.

McNeese, a very knowledgeable horticulturist, said that this year’s theme of the Flower House at the Washington Parish Fair is “Flowers on Parade.” In addition, Garden Club exhibitors will be making designs called “Dancing with the Stars,” “Reaching for a Star” and “A Falling Star.” These special designs, she said, will be reflective, underwater and stretch.

To demonstrate the underwater design McNeese used a square glass container placed on a heavy base. She emphasized that a portion of the arrangement, as well as the flower or flowers, must be ulderwater. She suggested that flowers that do well under water are mums, roses, gerber daisies, ginger or bird of paradise. She said to secure the flowers well to prevent floating and to use a bottle of spring water to prevent clouding.

She continued saying that the container for a reflective design needs to reflect light, and suggested using silver, gold or a copper container. In addition, she said, the weight of the greenery must complement the weight of the container, and the flower selected needs to sparkle or give off a starburst effect.

McNeese demonstrated the stretch design by using two black containers of different heights. A needlepoint frog held the line material and flowers for the container. A stretch design requires the containers to be tied together, she said, and deomonstrated by using a large grape vine which had been dried. She used different colored back drops to show her audience how important the selection is, and how the addition of a back drop can make or break an arrangement.

In closing, McNeese reminded members that the District VI meeting will be held at The Castle in Franklinton.

Following the floral presentation, Vice President Lee Mizell presented McNeese a gift from the two clubs.She noted that on Friday, Oct. 1, hostesses will be Washington Parish Garden Club Council: Bogalusa Garden Guild, Franklinton Garden Club, Home and Garden Club, Mt. Hermon Garden Club, Northeast Garden Club and Southeast Garden Clippers.

A brief business meeting followed and Linda Pope, yard judging chairman, announced that the yard of the month for September was Billy and Sue Magee, 1502 Lynwood, first place; Joe and Shirley Saltaformaggio, 1510 Military Road, second place; and Donnie and Donna Crain, 224 Bankston Drive, honorable mention.

Members present were: Mary Anthony, Sharon Ball, Jolene Black, guest Justin Black, Evelyn Blair, Jenene Bracey, Rita Clayton, Earles, Fran Harry, Hughes, Regina Hunt, Bertie Lee, Shirley Lewis, Susan Lewis, Annette Magee, Mizell, Martha Pierce, Linda Pope, Rayburn, Marcy Regan, Alice Rushing, Margaret Ryals, Sampson, Brenda Simon, Patty Sue Stevenson, Ellen Taylor and Nelda Woodward.