September 2009 Volume 16 Number 7 Ruth Tomlinson, Editor Kathleen Yurwit, Layout

7TH ANNUAL INSECT FESTIVAL: SEPTEMBER 12 All day/All MG event

Here comes the next BIG chance to welcome the public to MEG, promote education about insects, and have some fun. We expect nearly 1,000 visitors and we all need to be part of it—it’s a very big deal. There is a lot that is new this year. If you are on a garden committee, you have been planning, and if you are not—they can use your help now. • Native Plant Garden: YOU BUG ME SCAVENGER HUNT. • Herb Garden: BUG HUNT. • Butterfly Garden: EXHIBIT OF THE STAGES OF BUTTERFLIES. Likely, a few butterflies will emerge

from chrysalises. ELECTRONIC GAME matching caterpillar to butterfly. • Perennial Garden: ELECTRONIC GAME MATCHING INSECT TO NEST • Annual Garden: INSECT BINGO • Weed Garden and Cottage Garden: TBA. For BUGS GALORE, please keep on with the collection of dead insects; put them into containers and then in the freezer at Extension. Children can help paint a mural of the meadow, and there are the puppet show, a slideshow, hay rides, and CATCH A BUG. Also Geocache, story telling, tattoos, composting info, and BJB Q&A are happening. Whew! Work at this absolutely first-class event and you will learn something too. We guarantee it.

Chairs: Nancy Putnam, Suzanne Keeler and Evy Roberts

Table of Contents

Insect Festival 1 BJB Buzz 2 Critter Corner 3 Leaves of Three 4 Butterflights 5 Feathers 6 Committee News 7 Committee News cont. 8 Hydrangea Hang-ups 9 Early Farming 10 Mosquitoes 11 BJB Gardening Tips 12 Events Calendar 13

Cooperating Agencies: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and County Boards of Chosen Freeholders,. Rutgers Cooperative. Extension, a unit of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experimental Station, is an equal opportunity program provider and employer.

September 14, Monthly Meeting Program:

BJB will share her expertise on biting pests in

“What’s eating you now?”

Newsletter Notes: NL copy is due Sept 4 to Ruth Tomlinson , rtomlinsn@verizon.net or Helen Logan, hclogan@verizon.net

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The tours of MG gardens and monthly meeting in July were wonderful. Thanks to Jane Kraska, Will Parker, and Barbara Anuzis for sharing their beautiful gardens. Thanks to Carol Bencivengo for chairing the meeting. And thanks all of you for remembering my birthday with a delicious cake and the incredible long-handled ratcheting loppers. As soon as I got home that day I did a little pruning that was long overdue. OK, actually I went a little berserk. Anyway, the loppers greatly simplified removal of some larger branches. Thanks again.

Congratulations to Mary Lee Eldridge and to the Helpline Committee and Mentors who have been selected to be honored at the State Master Gardener Conference at Cook College on October 3. It is also the celebration of 25 years of Master Gardening in New Jersey. I have the application for any of you that would like to go to the conference. There you will enjoy the camaraderie of other New Jersey MGs, attend some interesting lectures and classes, and help honor Mary Lee and our Helpline Committee and Mentors. Keep watering those flowers and vegetables (if nature doesn’t drown them first) and throw on a little fertilizer for good measure. The county 4-H Fair in early August had pretty good weather on Saturday and a fair turnout. In keeping with so many days this summer, Sunday was a washout. Thanks to all of you who manned the tables and answered oodles of questions from the public. I was disappointed that so few of you or the public exhibited your wares and hope you will plan to exhibit next year. Plus, you could win ribbons, maybe even “Best of Show.” Save the Date: The graduation for the Class of 2009 is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. The committee will make the final determinations. It is hard to believe that it is nearly a year since this class all met for their first class and are now nearly ready to graduate! The Class of 2010, our seventeenth class, has 24 new applicants as of the middle of August, but we hope for a full class by September. Carol Bencivengo has done a great job with PR, so some of our newbies learned about the program from newspaper articles. You have done such a great job organizing our MG program and conducting popular outreach programs that so many residents want to join. Way to go! By the time this goes to press, Nora Sirbaugh and Bob Holmes will be in-laws! Congratulations on the marriage of your daughter Genevieve (Genny) to Vlad. I hope you all are enjoying the waning days of summer and your gardening adventures. Remember that this is a moderate tick year - not to mention poison ivy and allergies. The more recent Helpline questions included the phallic stinkhorn fungus, slime molds, cedar apple rust, slugs, magnolia scale, summer patch and brown patch in lawns, crabgrass and other weeds, and plants succumbing to too much water. Take care and come on in to say hi. Until next month…

BUZZ FROM BARBARA

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CRITTER CORNER: THE CRITTERS WITHIN

Humans build weather resistant shelters out of lumber, brick, and stone, then add heaters for winter’s chill and usually air conditioners for the oppressive summer heat. It is nice and comfy year ‘round. So why are we surprised and upset to find that nature’s other creatures seek out these special “trees” and “cliffs?” I got to thinking about this the other day while listening to clients complaining at Extension regarding the assorted insects they were finding in their homes. Then I returned home to ants scampering willy-nilly on the kitchen counter. The ants seem to come out of nowhere, but they do not invade any food. We must be supplying something, however, so I decided to find out which ants have moved in and hopefully convince them it is nicer outdoors. Both Barbara and I were unsuccessful in pinning a label on them, but I have learned more about ants. Several kinds of ants, ranging in size from 1/32” to ¾” long, call New Jersey home. The order is Hymenop-tera, family Formicidae. They are colored yellowish, brownish-black, reddish-brown, light brown, or all black. The adult has a constricted waist and elbowed antennae, may be hairy or smooth, and is usually wingless. If you find winged swarmers, the front pair of wings will be much larger and longer than the hind pair. The swarming males and females mate, after which the males die. Each new queen finds a comfy hiding place, bites off her wings, and lays a few eggs. Ant eggs are tiny, white or cream-colored, and vary in shape, depending on species. Larvae are whitish and maggot-like with soft, legless bodies. The new queen feeds these larvae until they form into pupae. Ant pupae, sometimes misidentified as eggs, are small and translucent with some species adding a yellowish cocoon. From this the first workers emerge and take over all colony duties to allow the queen to do nothing but lay eggs. The social ant colony can consist of hundreds to thousands of individuals. Each nest of most species has one reproductive female queen which lays all the eggs. Other possible job divisions, depending on species, are foragers, warriors, hunters, nannies, janitors, undertakers, engineers, gardeners, herders, and guards. Each colony has its own pheromone, which is detected with the antennae. This enables communication of food sources, colony invaders, and other information necessary to keep the colony healthy. Did you know ants are beneficial insects? We do not think of them that way when they are nesting in our siding and undermining our sidewalks. Most ants, however, feed on other insects, some species helping in the control of plant pests, such as caterpillars, beetles, and grasshoppers. Ants are food themselves, being the main focus of Northern flickers and are usually included in the babies’ diet by many birds. Plants rely on ant tunnels to receive air, water, and organic matter for their roots and to soften the soil for easier root growth. Seed dispersal of some plants is also accomplished by ants. They feed the tasty covering to their larvae, discarding the actual seed which then germinates away from the parent plant. Think violets, Dutchman’s breeches, and datura to name a few. On the flip side, some species tend honeydew-producing insects like whiteflies, soft scales, and aphids. Doing so can interfere with lady beetles, lacewings, and other helpful insects, indirectly contributing to plant problems. Then there are the species that move in to share our food and shelter. Some of the more common ants in our area will be covered in the next column. *”Garden Insects of North America” by W. Cranshaw, Princeton University Press, 2004 *”Ants in Your Plants” by D. Mizejewski on the web at gardeningclub.com/projects/projectprint.aspx?contentld=136760 *Rutgers Fact Sheets FS013 and FS137

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LEAVES OF THREE by Kathleen Yurwit

I had the pleasure of a recent trip to California, where we visited Los Lobos State Park. It was an idyllic setting overlooking the coast with towering trees, fabulous flora and fauna, and abundant acres of luscious poison oak. This was my first look at poison oak up close and personal, and I was itching with curiosity. I am fa-miliar with its close cousin, poison ivy, with which I have a long history of close encounters of the wrong kind, especially during adolescence. Through maturity I have learned to tame my impulses to frolic in the ivy. Poison oak (Rhus diversiloba ) and poison ivy (Rhus radicans) are in the Sumac (Anacardiaceae) family. They can grow as shrubs up to 10 feet tall and as vines, thanks to rootlets on the stem that enable the plant to adhere to trees and other surfaces. Both plants have shiny red leaves when young that then turn green. In the fall the leaves turn red again-just like some people who can’t make up their minds. The leaves grow in groups of three. Each of the three leaflets on the poison ivy plant has a stalk, while only the terminal leaflet of the poison oak has a stalk. The leaves of the poison ivy are elliptical while the leaves of poison oak are shaped like oak leaves. What a surprise! See sketches above. They both have greenish white flowers in clusters and white berry-like fruit. Poison ivy is common in the United States, except in the southwest, Alaska, and Hawaii. Poison oak is widespread in the United States, especially on the west coast from Mexico to Canada. In California poison oak is the most hazardous plant in the state due to the number of working hours lost as a result of dermatitis. Urushiol is the chemical in the sap of these plants that gives them such bad press. It is a colorless or slightly yellow oil found in the leaves, stems and roots of the plant, but not in the pollen. Poison oak and poison ivy dermatitis is apparently an anaphylactic reaction; that is, it occurs only after sensitization by previous exposure. If you are not sensitive to it yet, just you wait. Ten to one it will get you. The oil is rather strong. A minute amount little goes a long way and it is the devil to get rid of. Urushiol can remain on your clothes, shoes, and tools for years, if not removed. Even dead plants retain the terror of touch of urushiol. Checkout the following lists of Dos and Don’ts. They nearly make you afraid to venture outdoors:

▪ Recognize the leaf pattern of these poisonous plants and avoid them if possible. Here’s where the ▪ adage “Leaves of three, let them be” comes in handy. Also avoid touching anything that has come in

contact with the plant, including clothes, shoes, gloves, pets, wood, and water. ▪ Cover up. Wear gloves, a cap, a long-sleeve shirt, and long pants. Wear boots or shoes, no sandals or

open-toed shoes. Pray that it is a cool day or you’ll be sweating bullets. ▪ If you dare to touch it, do not take a bath! That effectively spreads it. Taking a shower in warm water

spreads it too. Cleanliness is overrated anyways. ▪ Wash all your clothes and gloves in hot water. Do not wash them with other clothes or else you’ll need

a new wardrobe. Now there’s a thought… ▪ Do not burn these plants. Burning can release the chemical in the smoke, and it can come into contact

with your skin that way. It is not the vapor that can harm you; it is the minute oil droplets on dust or ash in the air. Burning is inadvisable.

▪ Use rubbing alcohol immediately on your shoes, tools and affected body parts, if you come into con-tact with these poisonous plants. Then wash the exposed skin with non-oily soap and copious amount of cold water. Rubbing alcohol is a more effective solvent than water, which primarily dilutes the oil.

▪ Coming in contact with the seeping fluid from a broken blister will not cause dermatitis. Finally some good news!

Some cleansing agents such as Tecnu and Zanfel remove much of the oil if applied within 4 to 8 hours of contact. Have them on hand if you are the outdoors type.

Enough of this dreadful news about these dreadful plants. Reportedly, they do have some redeeming value. Poison oak and poison ivy are eaten by goats, sheep, and deer. At Los Lobos the deer eat the poison oak for the water con-tent, since there is no natural water in the surrounding area. Quite resourceful, I think. Bees make honey from the pollen. Of course I would be afraid to spread any of that on my muffins. Birds feed on the fruits during the winter and then sow woe as they make their rounds. As a native plant it has its place, but not near me. Refer to: Pacific Northwest Extension; Clemson University Ext

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Some memories are so clear that it seems as if a movie is playing inside my head. One such memory comes back to me from September 1993, at a point in time when I was interested in, but not yet obsessed with, butterflies. Late in the afternoon, the sunlight was streaming over the Watershed Farm at that angle which signals the approach of the autumnal equinox, and it glanced off something that was an amazing shade of blue. At closer inspection, it was a but-terfly - large, black with a wash of blue on the hindwings - oh, a female Black Swallowtail or maybe a Pipevine Swallowtail. But wait, something was wrong. Its hindwings

didn't end in swallowtails; they were squared off. It also appeared that someone had taken a black Magic Marker and drawn several lines along the hindwing margin, allowing the blue to show between them. I took this information to my butterfly guru at the time, the chef at the Manors Deli, and also explained to him that the butterfly's closed wings looked purply-blue and had red spots. He told me that it was a Red-Spotted Purple. Ha-ha, good one, now what is it really called? As it turned out, it really was named Red-Spotted Purple! In 2001, this butterfly received a promotion from NABA (North American Butter-fly Association), and it is now classified as a Red-Spotted Admiral. Not a swallowtail, it's a member of the brushfoot family. In our area, these admirals have two flights: April-May and August-September. An egg that is laid during the later flight develops into a caterpillar and grows to the third instar. All instars are mottled brown, black, and white, resembling bird droppings. The third-instar caterpillar creates a winter home by chewing the tip of a leaf, silking the leaf into a tube, silking the leaf petiole to the twig, and crawling into it through the chewed-open end to spend the winter. This leaf structure is called a hibernaculum. In spring, the caterpillar comes out of diapause, finishes developing as a caterpillar, and finds a place to attach itself to go onto the chrysalis phase. The chrysalis also looks like a bird dropping with a promi-nent knob. During preparation for Plant Expo 2008, I brushed what looked like a dead leaf off the spout of the water barrel by the Cottage and was startled to realize that it was actually a Red-Spotted Admiral chrysalis. Most likely it had spent the winter in a leaf from the Cottage cherry tree, because cherry is their preferred host plant. Several other trees serve as hosts too - willow, poplar, hawthorn, apple, to name a few. I have never found a Red-Spotted Admiral caterpillar or chrysalis on the cherry tree in my yard, probably because I didn't think to look in winter for a leaf that was still attached. Nonetheless, in late summer, a series of them fly out of the tree, madly flapping their wings as butterflies do during first flight. While many butterflies will puddle on rotting fruit, these Admirals are fruit maniacs. I've used peaches (that I acquire by asking the grocery manager whether he has any rotten fruit that I could have for free. Apparently grocery stores have an abundance of rotten peaches in late summer.) Teresa Knipper has reported equal success with rotten bananas; she puts them in the freezer and pulls them out as needed. Arriving home from the grocery store one day, I first took the peaches to a feeding tray in the backyard, then carried the groceries inside. During that brief time, five Red-Spotted Admirals gathered on the peaches - what a sight!

BUTTERFLIGHTS: Red-Spotted Admiral by Barbara Anuzis

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FEATHERS: VELVET SILKY-TAIL by Kathy Easton

While visiting a Master Gardener’s cool summer garden on a hot July afternoon, she asked me, “What can you tell me about my cedar waxwings? “ Cedar waxwings . . . one of only three waxwings in the world, silky plumage, black mask, erectile crest, high lisping call . . . there was so much to tell; but I had a pressing appointment, so I supplied a quick answer (they do not use nest boxes), offered a cursory apology, and rushed off with images of waxwings in my head. Cedar waxwing was the first species of bird I observed with my first pair of binoculars on an early May evening nearly three decades ago. A few gardens down from mine, high in my neighbor’s black locust tree blossoms, I discovered a company of cedar waxwings. My small orbit grew larger that day, and I haven’t ceased birding since.

Bombycilla cedrorum comes from combined Latin and Greek meaning silky-tailed. The cedar wax-wing’s common name is derived from its fondness for Eastern red cedar berries (Juniperus virginiana), and the waxy-looking red droplets on the ends of certain wing feathers. This red substance is believed to originate from carotenoid pigments found in the birds’ diet of fruit. In the late 19th century, renowned ornithologist and writer Edward H. Forbush asked: “Who can describe the marvelous beauty and elegance of this bird?” Well, apparently he could: “What other is dressed in a robe of such delicate and silky texture? Those shades of blending beauty, velvety black, brightening into fawn, melting browns, shifting saffrons, quaker drabs, pale blue, and slate with trimmings of white and golden yellow, and the little red appendages on the wing, not found in any other family of birds – all, combined with its graceful form, give the bird an appearance of elegance and distinction peculiarly its own.” Waxwings are fairly common in New Jersey, widespread in North America. Sugary fruits make up 84% of its diet! It’s been documented that birds sometimes get drunk on overripe fruit. The other 16% of a waxwing’s diet includes tree sap, the flower petals of trees, and insects. Nestlings are fed insects for two days, then cherries and berries are added to the baby birds’ diet. Cedar waxwings live in small flocks most of the year and are best described as nomadic in nature. Nest site timing and location is determined by the availability and abundance of sugary fruits. Waxwings usually breed later in the summer than most other songbirds when fruits of choice are plentiful. They weave cup-shaped nests high in deciduous or coniferous trees in woodlands, forest edges, and well-planted suburbs. Their reliance on fruit also influences winter migration patterns. Recent changes to its diet now include – be prepared – fruits of alien honeysuckles, and other ornamental fruiting plants and alien invasives. Availability and abundance of these plants may have shifted the distribution of birds. My wish for the waxwing is for it to find an ever-increasing number of ‘responsible gardens’ and well-managed natural areas, in order to discourage the recent trend to eat the fruit of aliens and invasives, gardens and woodland like that of my MG friend who asked me to tell her about cedar waxwings. References: bna.birds.cornell.edu National Geographic Reference Atlas to the Birds of North America National Audubon Society: The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior

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COMMITTEE NEWS

ID&D COMMITTEE The ID&D Committee will meet at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, September 18, at the Extension. We will work on, and hopefully finish, the insect mounting and pinning board. We will follow this with a general meeting at 11 a.m. to discuss the topic for the October Learnmore, abiotic disorders. The next Learnmore session offered by the ID&D Committee will be held on Wednesday, October 14, at noon at the Extension. Bring your lunch, listen to and participate in discussions on plant abiotic disorders. All Master Gardeners are welcome. The Committee is planning another trip to the Mosquito Laboratory in mid-October. The exact date has not been determined.

  INFORMATION RESOURCES COMMITTEE

Rutgers has revised the fact sheet, “Boron: Needs of Soils and Crops in New Jersey” (FS873). The Rutgers fact sheet, “Globe Artichoke: Production in New Jersey” (FS044), has been added to the MG file drawer and the MG Fact Sheet notebook. The following four books have been added to the Helpline Library: Herbaceous Plants (white; #40): Ferns for American Gardens Herbaceous Plants (white; #41): Native Ferns, Moss and Grasses Insects and Diseases (orange; #55): Diseases of Herbaceous Perennials Woody Plants (beige; #18): Broadleaved Shrubs and Shade Trees

2009 NOMINATING COMMITTEE At the General meeting held on July 13, 2009, a quorum of members voted approval of the candidates for the Nominating Committee, which is composed of:

Theodora Wang, Class of 2003, Chair Ann Calder, Class of 2008 Sue Jellinek, Class of 1995 Pat Lagunas, Class of 2006

Greenie Neuburg, Class of 1995

All active Master Gardeners are encouraged to contact any of these five committee members with recommendations for the slate of 2010 officers. Recommendations will be considered once Theodora Wang holds the first Nominating Committee meeting scheduled for August 10.

TOURS: SEPTEMBER BUS TRIP

Please join us on Thursday, September 17, 2009, for a bus trip to visit Wave Hill and The Cloisters, two of New York City’s famous gardens. A spectacular 28-acre public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and Palisades in the Bronx, Wave Hill’s vibrant landscape is one of the most beautiful spots in New York City. Though beautiful all year round, the gardens of The Cloisters are especially stunning during the late summer months. To reserve your seat on the bus, contact Pat Lagunas at plagunas@comcast.net. Four CE hours will be given for the two tours, Wave Hill and the Cloisters.

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COMMITTEE NEWS CONTINUED

ANTICS IN HELPLINE, FROM ANONYMOUS TIPSTER

We had a hilarious scene today that would win a prize as a home video. A woman brought in a vial of live ants and wanted an ID. One of us, whose identify will be kept secret until death, accidentally let them out of the vial and they immediately ran all around the room and up and down us. We were four old ladies yelling and screaming to rescue the ants and, at the same time, not wanting to touch them. Slight case of approach avoidance. Luckily, we man-aged to save two to pretend that we were Master Gardeners rather than Master Screw-ups. Can you imagine telling the walk-in her ants had escaped and were on the loose? Send in the ant police.

THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS

When despair grows in me and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,

I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.

I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought

of grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars

waiting for their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

--Wendell Berry

PROGRAMS

These programs will follow the monthly meeting at 12:30 p.m. September Program: Barbara J. Bromley will share her knowledge about “What’s eating you now?” Biting pests in-clude insects, arachnids, mites, ticks, and a few unsuspected harmful critters. Dogs and children are not included in the discussion. October Program: Jack Carman’s topic is “On Therapeutic Gardens.” Jack Carman, ASLA, is president of Design for Generations LLC, a design firm specializing in the development of therapeutic gardens in senior communities and healthcare facilities. This program was scheduled for March and was cancelled

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I have two hydrangea plants in my garden, one is blue to pink and the other is white. I have always loved them and never knew what to do with them when it came to deadheading or pruning. I noticed on the Helpline that I was not alone in this dilemma. So it seemed to be a good time for a little research and to spread the word. The first thing I learned is that, like people, different hydrangeas have different looks and needs. The second thing I learned is that there are no consistent answers, since even the professionals disagree. In the real world some people prune at the wrong time and have great flowers, while others prune at the right time and have few flow-ers. So little me is going to give you some advice which you should take with a grain of salt and a glass of wine. Number one in Hydrangea 101 is knowing which plant you have, since that determines the pruning needs, which fall into three basic categories:

1. Pruning needs of hydrangeas that bloom on shoots from the previous season, such as Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea macrophylla ‘quadricolor,’ and Hydrangea quercifolia .

2. Pruning needs of hydrangeas that bloom on the current season’s growth, such as Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ and Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle.’ 3. Pruning needs of climbing hydrangeas, such as Hydrangea anomala.

The plant most frequently associated with the name hydrangea is the Hydrangea macrophylla, the bigleaf hydrangea. It is a midsummer bloomer with blue, purple, pink, or (less common) white flower clusters. These rounded “mopheads” are often up to 10 inches wide. The flower color of these hydrangeas is related to the aluminum available to the plant. In acidic soils, aluminum is available and the flowers are blue. In alkaline soils, aluminum is not available and the flowers are pink. White flowers are forever white. Get over it. These hydrangeas make good coastal plants and can tolerate full sun if near the coast, but prefer partial shade if inland. Pruning may be confusing for the Hydrangea macrophylla because there is annual pruning, rejuvenating pruning, and forget-about-it pruning:

Annual pruning: Dead growth and dead blooms can be removed at any time. In the spring make sure all damaged and weak growth and any old flowerheads have been removed. To encourage extra large blooms for the following year, prune when the flowers begin to fade. Before August is best. Flower buds for the next year begin to form in late summer, so do not prune in the fall, winter, or spring as this will eliminate many of these flower buds. Remember, they flower on shoots made during the previous growing season

Rejuvenation pruning: When the plant is 3 to 5 years old it may be rejuvenated by removing up to 1/3 of the old wood to the ground and then on an annual basis in midsummer or winter. Sorry, not all recommendations are consistent. The dead growth should be removed to healthy growth or to the ground if it is a goner. The stems that have borne blossoms should be removed, while keeping strong young shoots.

Forget-about-it pruning: Now that you know a little about pruning Hydrangea macrophylla, consider this. Unless they are very old or too large for the space allotted, they do not have to be pruned at all. However, they will look neater if you at least remove the dead stems and flowerheads. What a nice plant.

Next month I will look at the pruning needs of other hydrangeas. Good luck with pruning your Hydrangea macroplylla. The first cut is the deepest. References: http://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens; Reader’s Digest New Illustrated Guide to Gardening

HYDRANGEA HANG-UPS by Kathleen Yurwit

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EARLY FARMING IN NEW ENGLAND by Elana Berlinger

Pasta, Bean, and Swiss Chard Soup

2 T olive oil 3 cups chicken broth 1 large carrot, pared and chopped 1 cup (2 leaves) sliced Swiss chard 1 stalk celery, pared and chopped 1 cup canned drained garbanzo beans 1 small onion, peeled and chopped 1 cup cooked macaroni shells 1/2 t Hungarian paprika Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 t crushed dried thyme Sauté the carrot, celery and onion for five minutes over medium heat in the oil. Add paprika and thyme and sauté 1-2 minutes longer. Add chicken broth and Swiss chard. Cover and sim-mer 10 minutes. Add garbanzo beans and macaroni and heat through. Season with salt and pepper. Makes two generous servings. Spinach or bok choy may be substituted for the Swiss Chard. Swiss chard from the Annual Garden was especially delicious this year. Enjoy. shared by Kathy Enquist

While vacationing in New England this summer, I learned a little bit of history that I want to share with you. When the Europeans landed in America, they brought with them the farming skills that they used at home. To clear land, they would chop down trees and chop out the roots. In America, at that time, the trees were gigantic, with no ground cover because the forests were so dark. It was estimated that it would take fifteen years to clear enough land to farm and provide food for a family of four. The Indians taught them to cut around the gigantic trees to girdle the trees. When the trees died, the leaves fell off and let the sunshine through. Then they planted what is called “the three sisters”: corn, pole beans, and squash. They created mounds between the trees and planted the corn. The beans would grow up and around the corn. The prickly leaves of the ground-hugging squash plants shaded out weeds and deterred critters. Bean porridge was made with these three vegetables and is what sustained the people during their first year. Hence we get: Beans porridge hot Beans porridge cold Beans porridge in the pot Nine days old.

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MOSQUITOES...MOSQUITOES...MOSQUITOES by Angela Topley

Mosquitoes were the topic of a lecture given by Mercer County Master Gardener Teresa Licholai at the Mercer County Mosquito Control Agency on Scotch Road. Those in attendance were given a glimpse into the work she does there, a wealth of information and many fascinating facts.

There are over 2,700 species of mosquitoes in the world, of which 65 are present in New Jersey. Most are more of a nuisance than a disease threat. The life cycle of the mosquito includes four developmental stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Eggs are placed in standing water with organic material. As the eggs hatch the larva eats the available material as it develops into the pupa, which rests. This becomes an adult which is able to mate within one week. The female goes off to find a blood meal then lays over 100 eggs. The male eats only plant nectar and dies soon after mating. The females can mate every two weeks during the warm weather. Mosquitoes hibernate in the cold weather in various stages by species. Keep your eye on the tiger…the Asian tiger mosquito that is. This invasive black mosquito has bright white spots on its head, back and legs. It bites mainly during the daytime and inhabits shady areas. Bites most often are found on your lower legs, ankles and feet. Look in containers for larvae that appear light colored in dark water. These wrigglers can be found in very small containers, such as bottle caps. The three mosquito-borne viruses that are a health concern in New Jersey are Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Saint Louis Encephalitis and West Nile Virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, confusion, tremors, convulsions and coma. Steps for control and prevention include wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outside at dusk and dawn. Use repellents according to the label. Change standing water at least once a week. Make sure screens are in good condition. The Mercer County Mosquito Control provides disease surveillance, water management and prevention, mosquito control and education. There are thirteen traps in the county. If problems are encountered, you can reach them at (609) 530-7501 or mercermosquito@mercercounty.org. We viewed the mosquitoes on a Nikon SMZ1500 with amazing clarity. The visible details made identification easy. The bright colors were fantastic. Who would have thought that mosquitoes are beautiful!

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Barbara J. Bromley’s SEPTEMBER GARDENING TIPS Reprinted and abbreviated from Horticultural Activities & Expectations

REFER ALL TICK ID TO BJB

=

Things to Do This Month: Things to Watch for This Month:

• Turf

• establish turf by sodding or seeding

• renovate turf as needed

• fertilize turf • control grubs (Dylox and other prod-

ucts)

• aerate and dethatch as needed • bring houseplants indoors before heat is turned

on for the winter • plant evergreens (early) • finish fall transplanting of perennials

• control spruce mites • control crickets as needed

• control peach tree borers (mid-month) • poison ivy control with Roundup • begin poinsettia night treatments on September

20th (continue for 40 days) (most new varieties do not need special treatment, only no supple-mental light at night, to color up)

• buy spring blooming bulbs as soon as they are available

• dog tick adult peak activity • lone star tick larvae • large numbers of spiders • artillery (sphaerobolus) fungus globules on

house, plants, etc. • mice starting to move into house for winter • any injury that occurred during the summer now

becoming apparent • fall chrysanthemums bloom • leaves of established grape hyacinths emerging

from ground

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT

The Mercer County Master Gardeners’ first calendar is due out in Septem-ber. Make a note to check it out at our gatherings. We anticipate that our members will see it as a great little gift to be given to neighbors and fami-lies and friends, as well as an indispensable item for themselves.

The Calendar Group

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EVENTS CALENDAR

Address Changes All changes of address must go to the following:

Master List Barbara J Bromley 989-6830 bbromley@mercercounty.org

Email / OneList Tom Miller 838-7443 millertom@juno.com

for Mailing Kelly Seeds Booz 989-6831 kbooz@mercercounty.org

DATE TIME EVENT 7-Sep Extension Closed 11-Sep 9:00AM MEG Workday - Prep for Insect Festival 12-Sep 1:00PM 7th Annual Insect Festival 14-Sep 10:00AM Monthly General, Executive Board Meeting 14-Sep 1:00PM Program-Barbara J. Bromley on Insect Bites 15-Sep 10:00AM Herb Garden Committee Meeting 16-Sep 10:00AM Perennial Garden Committee Meeting 17-Sep Bus Tour -- Wave Hill/Cloisters 18-Sep 11:00AM ID&D Committee Meeting 20-Sep 2:00PM Fall Frolic 21-Sep 10:00AM Information Resources Committee Meeting 1-Oct Butterfly Field Trip 2-Oct 10:00AM Monthly Executive Board Meeting 3-Oct 8:30AM MG Fall State Conference 3-Oct 9:00AM Community Outreach -- West Windsor Environmental Fair 4-Oct 12:30PM Community Outreach -- Lawrence Community Day 5-Oct 6:00PM Monthly General Meeting & Program 7-Oct Tour -- Watnong Gardens 7-Oct 4:30PM DEADLINE TO SUBMIT 2009 3rd QUARTER VOLUNTEER HOURS 10-Oct 10:00AM Community Outreach -- Hightstown/East Windsor Community Fair 12-Oct Extension Closed 14-Oct Noon ID&D Learn More 19-Oct 10:00AM Information Resources Committee Meeting 20-Oct 10:00AM Herb Garden Committee Meeting 21-Oct 10:00AM Perennial Garden Committee Meeting 21-Oct 7:30PM Community Ed - From Lawn to Food 24-Oct 10:00AM MEG Workday TBS in Nov Tour -- Steinhardts 2-Nov 10:00AM Monthly General, Executive Board Meeting & Program 3-Nov Extension Closed 11-Nov Extension Closed 16-Nov 7:30PM Community Ed - Winterizing Your Garden Tools 17-Nov 10:00AM Information Resources Committee Meeting 17-Nov 10:00AM Herb Garden Committee Meeting 18-Nov 10:00AM Perennial Garden Committee Meeting 26-Nov Extension Closed 27-Nov Extension Closed 7-Dec 10:00AM Monthly General, Executive Board Meeting & Program 15-Dec 10:00AM Herb Garden Committee Meeting 15-Dec 10:00AM Information Resources Committee Meeting 25-Dec Extension Closed

REMEMBER TO SCHEDULE THE CONFERENCE ROOM FOR YOUR MEETINGS

Helpline Substitutes: Jennifer Saltman 466-3829 Jennifer.saltman@gmail.com Ruth Tomlinson 882-7991 rtomlinsn@verizon.net Suzanne Keeler 466-1633 xarena1suzanne@aol.com

Change of email address for

Jim Lodge to jlodge88@verizon.net

14

SUBMISSIONS FOR THE MG NEWLETTER

Send to the editors of Master Gardener of Mercer County

NEW DEADLINE: Friday after the MG Monthly Meeting

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

NJ Agricultural Experiment Station Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick

Distributed in cooperation with the US Department of Agricultural in furtherance of the Acts

of Congress in May 8 and June 30, 1914. Rutgers Cooperative Extension work in agriculture,

family, and community health sciences, and 4-H youth development. Dr. Larry Katz,

Director of Extension. Rutgers Cooperative Extension provides information and educational

services to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, dis-

ability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited

bases apply to all programs.) Rutgers Cooperative Extension is an Equal Opportunity Program

Provider and Employer.

Free for active volunteers or by subscription

Published by:

Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Mercer County 930 Spruce Street

Trenton. NJ 08648-4584 609-989-6830

Brian M. Hughes, Mercer County Executive Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders

Chad Ripberger, County Department Head

RUTGERS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION NEW JERSEY AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION RUTGERS, THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW JERSEY 88 Lipman Drive, Martin Hall New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8525 _________________________ Official Business