Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
!!!!!
!AUGUST 2014 !
Plant-of-the-Month
Contents:
Plant of the Month: Quaking Aspen Tree
Water-Wise Plant of the Month:
--Blue Chalk Plants
Page
1-3
5-6
7-8
8
9-10
August MG Birthdays
Thanks for the Goodies
Timeline for September 2014 Magazine Info
MG Contact Information: Keep Current
Reminder: Monthly MG Meeting
Got Ideas? (For MG Magazine)
Save the Date Contacts
11
11
11
11
11
11
11
12-13
13
14-17
17
Rangeland Grasses:
Halls Panicgrass
Vine Mesquite
18
18
19
20
21
21
22
23
24-25
25
(Populus tremuloides)
Quaking Aspen is the most widely
distributed native tree in North
America. Its name refers to the
leaves, which tremble in the slightest
breeze. Often, the Aspen can be
confused with the birch tree that has a
similar looking bark.
Aspen is common in the higher
mountains of the western two-thirds of
New Mexico. It is a member of the
Salicaceae or Willow family.
4&6
QUAKING ASPEN
Aspen is common on all aspects in the western mountains of the U.S. and grows well
wherever soil moisture is not limited. However, the best stands in the Southwest are more
frequently found on the northerly slopes where more favorable moisture conditions prevail.
Aspen is a small to medium-sized tree that won't overwhelm smaller yards so typical of
today's urban subdivisions. However, while it grows fast and provides your landscape with
an early-finished look, Aspen is affected by numerous insects, diseases and cultural
problems.
Aspens best features are that it has attractive bark, its leaves tremble in the slightest
breeze and it can develop good fall foliage color. Aspens are often located on burned
areas and serve as a nurse crop to conifers that eventually replace them. These trees
spread readily from suckers
and root sprouts; and, in fact, a grove of Aspens in Utah is
T
the largest known living organism on Earth, covering thousands of acres.
Quaking Aspens are often confused with birch trees. Although Aspen are somewhat
similar in appearance to some species of birch, birch trees belong to an entirely different
family of trees. Birch plants are famous for having bark that peels back like paperAspen
bark does not peel! While Aspen leaves are perfectly flat, birch leaves are slightly "V"
shaped and more elongated than Quaking Aspen leaves.
Article Continues on Page 2
# Total Contacts
31
# Telephone Calls
31
# Emails
0
# Issues Addressed 56
Ethnicity of Contacts
Asian Male
0
Hispanic Females
4
Hispanic Males
8
Non-Hispanic Females 12
Non-Hispanic Males
7
Geographic
Las Cruces
Doa Ana
Fairacres
Mesilla
Area
26
2
1
2
Subject of Inquiry
Animals/Wildlife 1
Disease
1
Fertilizer
1
Flowers
0
Herbicides
0
Insecticides
0
Insects
17
Irrigation
7
Lawns
Shrubs
Soil
Trees
Veggies
Weeds
Misc.
Arsenic
New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. Doa Ana County, NMSU and USDA cooperating.!
2
5
7
11
1
1
2
Page 2
Family:
Salicaceae (Willow Family)
Botanical Name: Populus tremuloides
Other Names:
Trembling aspen, Golden aspen, Mountain aspen, Popple,
Poplar, Trembling poplar
Description:
A small to medium-sized tree with attractive white bark; its
leaves tremble in the slightest breeze; tree has good fall foliage color.
Elevation:
Grows in Rocky Mountains south to New Mexico, 6,500 to
10,000 feet
Hardiness:
Zones 3-8 but only where summers are not too hot, and
usually requires sharply cold winters to grow best.
Habitat & Range: Most widely distributed tree species in North America. It
grows in Alaska and Canada and south to Mexico. It withstands such a wide
range in climatic conditions by growing at lower altitudes in the north and higher
altitudes in the south. Conspicuously absent from the U.S. Southeast, because
there are no high elevation mountains to act as habitat.
Height & Width: 40 feet to 70 feet, but rarely taller than 50 feet, and seldom
more than 20 inches in diameter. Space at 20-30 ft. wide.
Growth Rate:
A fast-growing, tough tree, requiring little maintenance.
Fruit:
1/4-inch long; narrowly conical, light green capsules in
drooping catkins (capsules). In midsummer, capsules burst open and release
extremely light, cottony seeds that are easily wind-borne. However, seeds are
rarely produced in the West, where propagation is primarily by root sprouts.
Seeds:
Good seed crops produced every 4-5 years, with light crops
in most intervening years. Some open-grown clones may produce seeds
annually, beginning at age 2 or 3. The minimum age for large seed crops is 10 to
20; the optimum is 50 to 70. Seeds are very light, 5,500 to 8,000 clean seeds per
gram (156,000 to 250,000/oz).
Leaves:
Broad, nearly round, leaves (1-3) with pointed apex, and
finely serrated edges, which are attached to the limbs with a flattened petiole or
stem. Leaves shiny green above, dull green beneath, and turn golden yellow in
fall.
Bark:
Almost white, smooth, and thin (See photo above.)
Wood:
Aspen wood is white and soft, but fairly strong, and has low
flammability. It is also a popular animal bedding, since it lacks the phenols
associated with pine and juniper, which are thought to cause respiratory system
ailments in some animals. Heat-treated Aspen is a popular material for the
interiors of a sauna. Used as thin roofing slats in Russia.
Roots:
Seedlings initially have a short taproot, but a heart root
system develops on deep, well-drained soils. If rooting depth is restricted, a flat
root system develops regardless of regeneration origin
Sun Exposure: Full sun; seedlings growth impeded by shade.
Soil Needs:
Grows in many soil types, esp. sandy and gravelly slopes.
Watering Needs: Once established, can grow well in semi-arid conditions.
Propagation:
Aspen reproduce not only by seed but also by extensive
suckering. An Aspen grove starts as suckers shoot off the roots of a mother tree,
which arrived at the site by seed. This suckering habit can be a nuisance in the
urban landscape, coming up in lawns and gardens.
Pests/Disease:
Aspen is susceptible to a large number of diseases.
Wildlife:
Provides food and shelter to a wide variety of animals.
Page 3
Aspen forests allow more water or ground water recharge
and streamflow than do conifer forests. This is primarily due
to lower seasonal water losses to interception and transpiration
by Aspen compared to conifers. Clearcutting the Aspen type
may increase streamflow by as much as 60 percent during the
first year. Subsequently, water yields gradually decline to
preharvest levels and stabilize when maximum leaf area is
attained at about age 10 to 25.
SUMMARY: With silvery spring catkins, brilliant fall foliage and
striking bark that stands out in winter, the Quaking Aspen can add
year-round color and interest to home landscapes. However, most
horticulturists do not recommend planting Quaking Aspen in your
urban yard because Aspens are short-lived trees, and even
properly cared-for Aspen may not reach 20 years. Aspens life
spans can be shortened further by one or more of several insects
or diseases that attack this plant.
Within the larger context, Aspens play a very important
conservation role with its dense forest colonies that provide shelter
and food for many animals and for its role in fire suppression.!
Family:
Species:
Page 4
PLANT FACTS
Proper succulent care can be easy, as long as you know a few basics. I wanted to
share five basic tips that have helped me grow happier healthier succulents. They are
very basic but Ill share my experience with each.
#1 WATER LESS: I know, I know this is the thing that gets said over and over
with succulents too much water is not good for succulents. Its true! It is a crucial part
of succulent care. I have almost lost a couple plants due to over watering so really this
cant be stressed enough! A couple things I have learned along the way that may help
with watering the thicker the leaves on a succulent the less water it needs. So
my beautiful Pachyveria Moon Glow (shown below) is going to need a lot less water
than the Aeonium Zwartkop. I actually really like the Aeonium Zwartkop because it
tells me when it needs to be watered by having droopy leaves. Add a little water and it
perks up within a couple hours!
The way I go about watering my plants is by giving them a good soak once a
week. Ive found this works better than a light misting because all of the roots get the
water and then it has plenty of time to dry out. Now that these plants are getting colder
I just water every other week and work my way to once a month.
Page 5
Aeonium Zwartkop
Succulent leaves
Article Continues on Page 6
Page 6
Succulent Cuttings
#5 EXPERIMENT: I have been participating a little bit in this succulent and cactus
forum. There is a lot of great information on there and people are so willing to help out
when they can. From all of the things Ive read on there though Ive decided that the
health of your succulents boils down to experimenting with watering, soil and
sunlight. Every area is so different and the plants respond in various ways to their
environment. Often youll see completely contradictory statements in regard to care of
succulents but ultimately their environment determines whether or not something will
be good for the plants.
I would love to hear from any of you with your successes or failures in growing
succulents as well as questions you might have about them. I am not an expert by any
means but I am passionate about them and am always excited to learn more. If you
have any tips for growing succulents feel free to share them here as well!!
RAISING DAISIES
Page 7
--Impressive Petals: Plenty of the new cultivars sport larger flowers, with more eyecatching petals than the older Shastas. Check out the aptly names Fluffy, with its full double
flowers sprouting threadlike petals. My favorite double is Fiona Coghill, with its audacious
pompon flowers. The stout stems are strong enough to hold those heavy 3 -inch blooms,
even when theyre wet after watering or rain.
If you go for a little more traditional daisy-shaped flowers, try Sunny Side Up. It has a
yellow center thats larger than those on the other cultivars and the petals, described as
crested are shorter and more rounded. Crazy Daisy is a 30-inch tall Shasta that adds a
playful attitude to the garden and the haphazard arrangement of petals is as endearing as its
name. (See photos at top of Column 2)
--A Size For Everyone: You will find that Shasta cultivars range in height from 10 to 40
inches and flower size from 2 to almost 5 inches across. Both Fluffy and Fiona Coghill
grow to around 27 inches tall, shorter than some but bigger that the 16-inch Tinkerbelle, with
its petite 2-inch blooms. At the other end of the scale, Amelia reaches a good 40 inches tall
with 5-inch flowers.
Page 8
Wildlife-Friendly
Vegetable Gardener
Page 9
GENERAL:
Continue life support. Be prepared to harvest rainwater with buckets placed under downspouts. Also, this is a good
time to update your garden journal with notes on plant performance successes and failures.
ORNAMENTALS
As usual, deadhead flowers, oleander, and others. For oleanders, encourage dense growth without reducing
height by pruning out one-third of the branches at the plants base. To reduce overall size and improve form, cut
the entire plant back to 12 inches tall, then fertilize and water thoroughly.
By this time, drought-tolerant plants may look pretty disreputable. Assuming that they are done flowering, cut
them back. Its safe to reduce their bulk by a third.
Give big, floppy, late blooming flowers, such as boltonias, asters and dahlias, extra support. Rig some stakes or
branches around the plants, cinching them with soft twine.
Plant annual and perennial wildflower seeds for spring bloom. Bachelor buttons, flax, lunaria, coreopsis, Mexican hat, and penstemon are options.
Continue to plant heat-loving annuals like Madagascar periwinkle, portulaca and sunflowers either from seed or transplants.
Plant and divide clumps of bearded iris and daylilies. Pry each clump with a garden fork, and cut the foliage back. They split it into smaller
sections, each with some fat rhizomes and a little fan of leaves. Replant and watertheres time for the divisions to establish themselves before
cold weather arrives.
Plant seeds of pansy, Johnny jump-ups, snapdragons, and pinks for fall transplant.
Remove seed heads from Crepe Myrtles.
Fertilize container plants once this month with a water-soluble fertilizer. If you have newly planted annuals that have been in the ground over two
weeks, fertilize once with low-nitrogen, high-phosphorus fertilizer.
Start planting chrysanthemums now.
Fall planting is just around the cornercheck out the garden catalogs. If you want to plant a wildflower garden, start planning for it now. Natives
well suited to home gardens are: Mexican gold or California poppies, desert bluebells, Clarkia or godetia, chinchweed and golden fleece and tidy
tips (layia platyglossa) that has spreading daisy-like flowers.
Keep weeds under control.
Page 10
ROSES
The best time to cut roses for a bouquet is mid-morning, after the dew has dried
and just before the heat of the day stresses the blooms. Pick blooms that are just
starting to unfurl; theyll finish opening for you indoors.
Roses grown in containers can be fertilized every two months throughout the summer if you use a granular
fertilizer. For water-soluble fertilizers, they can be used every month. For roses in the ground, if you decide to
fertilize this month, use only half the recommended dose.
Apply a heavy mulch, up to 6 thick to all roses, but keep the mulch away from the main stem to avoid too
much moisture on the stem.
Watch for iron deficiency in your rosestreat with chelated iron if needed.
Fertilize roses at the end of this month.
Consider planting Catmint or Red Creeping Thyme at the base of your rose plants.
It is always important to correctly identify any insect or disease you suspect may have caused damage to your plants. If you do not know
what the culprit is, collect a sample in a plastic bag or small jar and take it to the Doa Ana County Cooperative Extension Office located at
530 N. Church in Las Cruces (located just north of the Main Post Office downtown.)
Our trained Hotline Volunteers are available to the public Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:00am to 12 noon.
PESTS
Whiteflies begin to show up this month. These tiny flying insects appear as clouds arising from the underside of leaves when a plant is watered or
disturbed. Use a soapy water solution (1 tablespoon dishwashing lotion liquidthe Dawn brand is
especially goodto 1 gallon of water) on the underside of leaves daily to keep these insects under control
since large infestations are almost impossible to control.
Continue to hose off plants frequently, once of twice weekly, to control aphids and spider mites.
As humidity rises, powdery mildew (a fungus disease) may show up. To prevent rampant infestation, apply
a sulfur-based fungicide at first evidence of mildew and repeat applications as necessary. You can also
make your own fungicide spray with 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 quart water and a few drops of liquid soap.
Before treating your plants, test the spray on a few leaves to make sure they are not too sensitive (Source:
GardenGuides.com).
MISCELLANEOUS
Depending on the weather, continue a deep watering schedule for everything.
Check drip-irrigation system timing--reduce watering if rains penetrate deeply.
Keep weeds under control--pull summer-season weeds before seeds are set.
REMINDER!
!!
!
!
!
!
!
September Goodies
Joan Woodward
Mona Nelson
Sherry Hulsey
Page 11
!
!
!
!
!
!
GOT IDEAS?
If you have a gardening-related article or a suggestion about a
Plant-of-the-Month, a vegetable or fruit, tree, invasive plant or
weed to share for our MG Magazine, please send me a link or
email me your idea. Anyone can submit information or an article
for inclusion in our monthly magazine. FYI, I do try to put in
information that is seasonal in nature to ensure that MGs and
others receive the resources on a timely basis.
Editor: Ann Shine-Ring, Certified MG
Email: asring@powerc.net
Mobile: (575) 640.7177
The City of Las Cruces will host a 2014 National Night Out event
6:00-9:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 5th, at Main Street downtown.
This evening event promotes positive activities involving crime and
drug prevention, strengthens police-community relations and
encourages neighborhood camaraderie as the City strives for a safer
Las Cruces.
MG CONTACT INFORMATION
Page 12
Figure 1. The Asian Tiger Mosquito can harbor West Nile Virus. (Susan Ellis, Bugwood.org)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports a very small number of cases in which the virus spread from human-to-human. These
cases are not typical. Generally, these occurrences were from blood transfusions, organ transplants, and very limited transmissions from mother to
child during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
WNV is not transmitted from person to person through casual contact. Touching or kissing an infected person will not spread the virus.
WNV is not transmitted from animal to animal (such as horse to horse), animal to human, or human to animal.
Is West Nile Virus found in New Mexico?
Yes. Cases of WNV in New Mexico have occurred every year since 2003. Reported WNV activity in NM during 2003 to 2011 included:
Nearly 500 cases of WNV in humans. The largest number of cases was 209 in 2003; the fewest were 4 in 2011.
Just under 500 cases of WNV in horses. The largest number of cases was 419 in 2003; the fewest were 1 in 2010 and 2 in 2011.
Other animals that tested positive included llamas/alpacas, canines, bovines, pigs/hogs, and chickens.
Dead birds might be a sign of WNV infection. Crows and blue jays are related and are especially susceptible to WNV. However, any dead bird
(ravens, magpies, scrub jays, Stellers jays, pinyon jays) could indicate presence of the virus.
Caution! If you find a dead bird, dont handle the body with your bare hands. Contact your local health department for instructions on reporting and
disposing of the body. You may be told to dispose of the bird after your report is logged.
How sick can a person get when infected with West Nile Virus?
For some people, the WNV infection produces no symptoms or serious illness. In others, it can cause health problems and sometimes death. There
is no way to know ahead of time whether or not youll get sick when you are infected.
Serious illness can occur in people of any age. Those at the highest risk for getting severely ill when infected with WNV include people over age 50
and those with compromised immune systems (for example, transplant patients). Typically, symptoms appear between 3 and 14 days after being bitten.
Among people infected with WNV:
Most (about 4 out of every 5) do not develop any symptoms.
Some (about 2 out of every 10) will develop West Nile fever. Symptoms include fever, headache, tiredness, and body aches. Occasionally, a skin
rash on the chest, stomach, and back appears, along with swollen lymph glands. The illness can be as short as a few days or can last several
weeks.
Very few people (about 1 out of every 150) will develop West Nile encephalitis or meningitis. Symptoms include high fever, headache, neck
stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, and paralysis. These symptoms typically last a few weeks, but
the WNV effect on the nervous system (including the brain) can be permanent.
Guide Continued on Page 13
Page 13
Blue-Winged Teal
" In English, ducks say quack, but what does a duck say in two other
languages? In French, its coin coin and in Spanish its cua cua.
" Dabblers rarely dive. They feed at the surface or tip up with their
behinds in the air to reach food underwater. Three Dabblers: Mallards,
Blue Winged Teals (see photo above) and American Wigeons.
" Diving ducks feed at the surface of the water or dive deep underwater.
Four Common Divers: Scoters, Eiders, Mergansers and Buffleheads.
" At about 25 inches, the common Merganser is one of the largest ducks
in North America.
Merganser Duck
" American Black Ducks, often seen with Mallards and sometimes
confused with female Mallards, migrate at night in small flocks of 12-30.
" You might be surprised to learn that many ducks are champion fliers.
Migrating Mallards can fly up to 55 mph.
Page 14
providing the canvas on which we live, work and play. Our human interaction
with the environment directly affects the health of the planet, and its capacity
to support us.
Great golf enhances landscapes and can enrich ecosystems creating and sustaining beautiful and biologically diverse open spaces contributing to the resilience of the natural world. Thats good for the planet
and helps to offset the impact of the industrys consumption of resources.
Maintaining biodiversity has always been close to the heart of the game.
As Peter Thomson, five-time winner of The Open Championship said - "It's
the balance between foul and fair ground that sets the greatest golf courses
apart". As well as being integral to the challenge of the game, natural areas
are fundamental to its sustainability. Golf can embrace the wild as much as it
needs the tamed.
Ecosystems are our planet's life support systems - purifying water,
producing oxygen, regulating temperature and climate, recycling nutrients,
providing food and vegetation, controlling erosion and providing species
habitats. Golf can contribute to all of this, but only if a course is configured to
find the best landscape and ecosystem fit for its local context. That requires
understanding combined with innovation, and an appreciation that
sympathetic development benefits everyone.
"SUSTAINABILITY AGENDA"
Across an agenda that brings sustainability from a concept into
practical actions integrated throughout the daily operations of a golf
facility, business and common good interests can be met in unison. A
greater focus in on sustainability can unlock cost-savings, and
improve reputation, operational efficiencies, and customer
attraction and loyalty.
The industry-supported programs provided by GEO help the
people on the ground in golf to evaluate and improve performance
across the six action areas of sustainable golf.
Page 15
ENERGY: The global population and its demand for energy increases
every day. How we meet that demand is the critical issue given that the
type and amount of energy we use, and the emissions that arise from that
use, have an impact on our environment, climate and our quality of life.
Traditional sources of energy are peaking or declining. In a volatile
world theyre proving increasingly difficult to deliver. Costs are rising
rapidly. In the face of climate change and environmental degradation its
also clear that they will come under increased regulation. Sustainable,
secure, renewable energy sources are the way forward, so embracing
this change and adapting energy supply makes ever greater commercial
sense.
For most golf courses, day-to-day management of turfgrass is the
single, largest resource consumption area. From 'embodied' energy in
products such as maintenance machinery, fertilizers and pesticides, to the
treatment of water and the use of non-renewable fuels, reductions in the
resource inputs into turfgrass will unlock significant economic and
environmental gains. At its heart, the future health of the golf industry rests
on a combination of efficiently managed turfgrass and a smooth transition
to cleaner and cheaper energy.
Getting ahead of the curve: As an industry golf is in a good position to
lead. Many golf facilities are well placed to harness geothermal heating
and cooling, and solar and wind-power generation. Passive design
(avoiding use of inefficient, energy squandering, mechanical systems) can
be utilized by architects to reduce or remove energy loads of buildings and
landscapes. These technologies can be retrofitted into courses and
clubhouses. Renovations to courses offer huge opportunities for energy
and resultant cost savings across long-term maintenance.
Page 16
ACTION: For more than thirty years the leading golf organizations around
the world have worked in partnership with universities and institutes on a
significant amount of sustainability based research and development. More
recently, the industry has been collaborating around the development of a
new modern sustainability system:
A set of more clearly defined and visibly recognized Voluntary
Sustainability Standards for Golf, drawing from the large body of
knowledge and best practices. Future evolutions of the standard will be
developed with newly formed international Working Groups.
Practical support programs to achieve the standard across the grass
roots of the game, simultaneously guiding courses to valuable business
benefits and continual improvement, and gathering thousands of sets of
qualitative and quantitative performance data from clubs, developments,
and tournaments around the world. OnCourse, the online program for
golf facility operations is available for free as underwritten through industry
investment.
A credible and modern certification and re-certification process built
on top of the sustainability support programs, and an international
mark of sustainability of golfs own, GEO Certified, recognized by ISEAL,
the global body assuring credibility in sustainability standards.
Page 17
Halls Panicgrass
(Panicum hallii Vasey)
Source: New Mexico Rangeland Plants, NMSU Circular 374
Revised by Christopher D. Allison & Nick Ashcroft, Nov. 2011
Description:
Occurrence:
Page 18
Vine Mesquite
(Panicum obtusum H.B.K.)
Source: New Mexico Rangeland Plants, NMSU Circular 374
Revised by Christopher D. Allison & Nick Ashcroft, Nov. 2011
Description: Viney. One to two feet tall. Long, tough stolons with
swollen, woolly joints. Light blue-green, curing to reddishstaw, then finally to a grayish-tan. Leaves somewhat
inrolled and up to 8 inches long. Seedheads in 2-6
branchlets, partially enclosed in the upper leaf sheath,
and tightly pressed to the main stem. Large, blunt seeds.
Warm-season, perennial, sod grass
Occurrence: In the southern desert and southern portion of the
western plateau, especially on sites with extra moisture.
Also grows on loamy, clay, and bottomland sites in the
high and central plains, and scattered on bottomland
sites in the northern portion of the western plateau and
northern desert. Grows at elevations from 3,100 to 7,200
feet.
Forage Value & Management:
Vine Mesquite is usually fairly unpalatable, although
livestock readily eat the fruiting heads. Because the
grass forms sod vigorously, it is valuable for erosion
control. The grass provides the best grazing in the
summer since it is coarse at maturity. Light grazing
permits the plant to spread rapidly. Since it is usually
found on sites subject to erosion, Vine Mesquite should
not be heavily grazed.!
Alfombrilla
(Drymaria arenarioides)
Family:
Page 19
IDENTIFICATION:
Flowers: Five distinct while sepals up to .2 inches in length.
Lanceolate to oblong; petals are narrow.
Seeds: Seeds are brown, C-shaped with ends touching; has a thick
dorsal groove (See photo below).
Leaves: Leaves are up to .6 inches long and up to .12 inches wide.
Stems: Up to 8 inches long and sprawling to erect, branching mostly
at base.
Root:
Has taproot
Reproduction: Via seed.
MANAGEMENT & CONTROL
Prevention and early detection are essential.
Physical removal before seed production is effective, especially if the
root crown is removed.
ALFOMBRILLA
Article References
Ecology of Alfombrilla by Alfonso Sanchez-Munoz et al in the Proceeding
of the First International Rangeland Congress, 1978, Pages 370-372
Troublesome Weeds of New Mexico, Authors: Jamshid Ashigh, James
Wanstall and Frank Sholedice, NMSU 2010
Alfombrilla Seed
Page 20
Why isnt Okra grown in Mexico and shipped here in the
winter, like chile pods? I presume either it doesnt travel well or
the demand is not great enough to make it a profitable crop.
Okra Lovers Unite! We are a weak and disorganized faction.
Fried Okra
As far as I know, Okra is the only vegetable which is not available in its fresh
form all year, and Okra in the grocery store in season looks a little worse for wear.
The best source, if you dont grow your own, is the Farmers Market, where
presumably the little pods were removed from the Mother plant earlier that day.
Got an abundance of herbs in your garden? Dry and store them for
cooking and flavored oils. A bonus? They make fabulous gifts!
Step 1: Gather the fresh herbs from your garden, preferably in the
morning after the dew has dried but before the heat of the
sun has had a chance to wilt the leaves.
Step 2: Spread the leaves out on a clean surface to dry, or tie them
into loose bundles and hand dry. This will take several days.
If youre impatient or need them right away, you can nuke
them in the microwave on low power. Lay the leaves or
stems on a single layer of a paper towel and place in the
microwave. Start out at one minute, check for dryness, and
continue at 15-second increments until the leaves are dry
and crisp. (Drying too quickly or for too long will destroy the
flavor.)
Step 3: Strip the leaves from the tough stems.
Step 4: Working with one herb at a time, crush the leaves into pieces
of the desired size and store in air-tight jars in a cool, dark
place for maximum freshness.
Step 5: If you prefer ground herbs, you can grind the dried herbs in a
clean coffee grinder. Pack the grinder as full as you can get
it. Grind until the leaves are reduced to the desired fineness.
It helps to hold the grinder and shake it a little as it grinds.
Step 6: If there are tough bits of stem remaining, sift the herbs
through a fine sieve to remove them. Put the herbs in a jar or
canister until youre ready to use them.
Page 21
Page 22
! Nutrition:
And while we are discussing nutrition, consider this: Dr. Donald
R. David of the University of Texas reported in a study titled
"Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition," that
commercially grown, hybrid foods have significantly less nutrition
than foods grown 100 years ago when people shared heirloom
varieties of vegetables. This is because fertilization intended to
increase yields actually decreases the minerals found in the
foods produced. So you get more and less at the same time.
! Economy:
Probably the best reason for growing heirloom squash is that
you can save the seeds from year to year, keeping the history
alive quite literally. Some of these seeds are quite rare, so
sharing them is a great way to spread the news about how
wonderful these varieties are.
Heirloom squash is grown in the same way as hybrid squash
so there is no extra work involved in growing a little piece of
history. Ready to give it a try? Research the varieties you are
most interested in to see which ones will do best where you live.
Then order your seeds and start planting! There are many
sources for heirloom seeds including Baker Creek Heirloom
Seeds* and Seed Savers Exchange, so start your research there.
And be prepared to be surprised at the unique varieties
available.!
Page 23
Mulches: According to the University of California,
mulches are very effective at managing the silverleaf
whitefly in cantaloupe crops. The California Melon
Research Advisory Board studied the use of both straw
mulch and reflective plastic mulch in melon crops. While
both of these mulches performed very well, the reflective
plastic mulch produced the best results. Reflective plastic
mulch reflects ultraviolet wavelengths that repel flying
aphids and whiteflies. Proper installation of this mulch is
also critical to optimally benefit your melon crop.
!
Doa Ana County Master Gardener Monthly MagazineAugust 2014
Page 24
MG Hotline (Jeff Anderson) Jeff is looking for a substitute for the next three months to fill in for Louis. This involves filling in the calendar, checking
the calendar so be certain there is staffing etc. Also please note that several gardening reference books have been added to the Hotline Library. These
have been purchased or donated. Ann Shine-Ring agreed to catalog these books and create lists for them.
MG Magazine (Ann Shine-Ring) Planned articles for the August 2014 Magazine were:
Plant of the Month:
Quaking Aspen Tree
Water-Wise Plant of the Month: Blue Chalk Plants
Articles of Interest: Caring for Succulents, Shasta Daises, Our Lords Candle Yucca, and Sustainability of Golf Courses
Pests:
West Nile Virus
Wildlife:
All About Ducks
Veggies/Fruit:
Heirloom Squash, Growing Pest-Free Melons, Okra, drying herbs and preparing herb-flavored oils
Invasive Weed:
Alfombria
Rangeland Grasses: Halls Panicgrass and Vine Mesquite
Books:
Wildlife Friendly Vegetable Gardener
COMMUNITY GARDENS
Gomez:
Sherm Levenson and Russ Boor have scheduled a meeting with the city to talk about the ongoing soil problem. This issue
needs to be rectified in order for the gardens to prosper.
Munson Center:
Sherm Levenson mentioned that these gardens are growing like weeds. The biggest problems are working in concert with
the seniors and pest control as there are squirrel issues--they eat the beautiful produce. Tony and Nancy are doing a good
job in spite of the difficulty in organizing all the volunteers. Overall these gardens are very successful.
Hospice:
The gardens are doing well and the irrigation system is working. In the spring we will have to find a new nursery to provide
plants at a discount with a billing option since Enchanted Gardens closed.
Bosque:
Gardens there are holding their own.
The Backyard
Beekeeper's
Community Gardens Education: Russ Boor proposed that we need to put something together to explain different
aspects of gardening
including
Honey
Handbook:
how to prepare the soil ahead of planting time so it is ready to grow when the seeds are planted (compost etc. takes time to break down). There is
A Guide to Creating,
so much interest in this topic right now and more community gardens will be started in the fall. Jeff said this would be a good write up for the
& Cooking
with
newspaper. Roberta mentioned a class on container gardening etc. would be good for apartment dwellers etc. JeffHarvesting,
has done a class
on container
Natural Honeys
gardening last spring for the Home and Garden show.
Author:
Kimwater
Flottum
Mesilla Valley Bosque (Joan Woodward)- MV Bosque is working with Dutch researchers on wick-type planting. This involves
using
boxes for
Crestline
places where it is hard to supply irrigation. Groasis waterboxx is one of the water boxes available. Information is found onPublisher:
the Internet
at
www.groasis.com. The Bosque is also celebrating the recent changes allowing people to sell their water rights to others.
Updates on the trees of the
!
Bosque Nova show that since the river is down considerably, that 30-50 of the trees have died. However there is an understory of plant life coming
up. They are working with Ewing to install 12,000 feet of drip irrigation for times when the river water is not available.
OTHER ISSUES:
MG Shirts/Caps Sherm reported that these items would be delivered today. After the meeting you may pick up them up from Kari Getkin.
Southern New Mexico State Fair October 1-5, 2014 Veterans Bldg. 9am-9pm every day- David and Gail Ross noted that they have signup
sheets in the back for shifts during this event. We will have an additional booth at the fair this year with information on gardening. Since this event
is our opportunity as MGs with our greatest public exposure, we need to think ahead about seminars we may wish to present, decoration (Ruth has
some people working on mobiles to hang over our area in the building) and about getting cut flowers and pots with flowers this year. We are in
charge of fruits, veggies and flora culture. The painting of the pegboard looks very nice.
Food Policy Council: Debra The Urban Agriculture working group is working on an Urban Agriculture Ordinance for the City of Las Cruces.
This would include guidelines for what is possible and allowable for gardening, livestock, farmer markets, etc. in the City. Information was handed
out and a template letter was included so we may write the Mayor or City Council to promote this endeavor.
R-Cubed (Joan Woodward) Composted pecan shells and manure is available at other times of the year other than just fall and spring.
Minutes Continued on Page 25
Page 25
IMPORTANT: Please remember to be present on your assigned date for the Hotline. If another MG forgets, please give him or her a
reminder call. Be sure to get a copy of the Subs List, for your information.
As of Monday, March 11, 2013, the Doa Ana County Extension Office hours changed to 9am12 for
receiving public phone calls and office visits Monday through Friday. However, Hotline volunteers will still be
on duty from 9am to 1pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.
URGENT:
We need at least 2 MGs at each Hotline Day, but please no more than four MG volunteers max as there is not
enough room in the Hotline Office. Please consider volunteering for at least one, four-hour assignment to
ensure we have adequate coverage for our Hotline. Thank you for your help.