Clinton County Newsletter

Volume 9 Issue 9 October 2018

Editor: Carol Machael, cmachael@gmail.com; 563-357-7537

Published on the first Monday of the month except during January and December.

To submit an article it must be sent by E-mail as a Microsoft Word attachment -

Over the Garden Gate

Fun

Facts

All pumpkins are winter squash: mature fruit of certain species in the genus Cucurbita. Characteristics com-

monly used to define "pumpkin" include smooth and slightly ribbed skin, and deep yellow to orange color.

According to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, 95% of the U.S. crop intended for processing is grown in

Illinois. Nestlé, operating under the brand name Libby's, produces 85% of the processed pumpkin in the

United States, at their plant in Morton, Illinois. In the fall of 2009, rain in Illinois devastated the Nestlé

crop, resulting in a shortage affecting the entire country during the Thanksgiving holiday season.

Pumpkins produce both a male and female flower; honeybees play a significant role in fertilization. Pumpkins

have historically been pollinated by the native squash bee Peponapis pruinosa, but this bee has declined,

probably at least in part to pesticide (imidacloprid) sensitivity, and today most commercial plantings are polli-

nated by honeybees. One hive per acre (4,000 m2 per hive, or 5 hives per 2 hectares) is recommended by the

U.S. Department of Agriculture. If there are inadequate bees for pollination, gardeners often have to hand

pollinate. Inadequately pollinated pumpkins usually start growing but abort before full development.

Canned pumpkin is often recommended by veterinarians as a dietary supplement for dogs and cats that are

experiencing certain digestive ailments such as constipation, diarrhea, or hairballs. The high fiber content

aids proper digestion.

Pumpkins have been used as folk medicine by Native Americans to treat intestinal worms and urinary ailments

Pumpkins that are still small and green may be eaten in the same way as squash or zucchini.

The word "pumpkin" showed up for the first time in the fairy tale Cinderella. A French explorer in 1584 first

called them "gros melons," which was translated into English as "pompions." It wasn't until the 17th century

that they were first referred to as pumpkins.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach does not discriminate on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, genetic information,

marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, or status as a U.S. veteran. (Not all prohibited

bases apply to all programs.) Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Ross Wilburn, Diversity Officer, 2150 Beardshear Hall,

Master Gardener Advisory Board Meeting Minutes for September 18, 2018

Clinton County Extension Office, 9:00 am

Roll Call - Vicki J., Mary M., Willard L., Linda L., Bev C., Deb M., Gayle P., Mark S., Margo H., Roger R., Carol Y.

Approval Of August Minutes - Motion to approve Linda L., second Mary M.

Financial Report - Per Mark S., review of total revenue and expenses with ending balance of $4,109.24.

Mark’s Report - Two students are attending classes with Scott County Master Gardener class. Discussion regarding

fundraising, and need for obtaining gaming license thru other sources.

Bickelhaupt Arboretum - Per Margo H., Hort in the Heartland will be held on the first Saturday of March 2019. The

National Conifer convention will be held at the Bickelhaupt Arboretum on June 24th and 25th of 2020. There will also

be a wreath class, no date has been set for this event.

Committees/Projects/Events -

Master Gardener Christmas party will be December 3, 2018.

Monarch Migration Day - Forty people attended at the OLC site and 20 attended at Westbrook Park. A total of $15.00

was obtained thru donations..

OLC - Continue to water as there are social events scheduled at the fairground. There will be a clean-up day at the end

of October.

Publicity - No report given.

Election of New Board Members. - Ballots will be sent out.

Holiday Banquet - Ride sharing will be encouraged.

Old Business - Food donations are still needed, and gardeners are reminded to weigh their donated produce for re-

cording. OLC garden has donated 75 pounds of produce so far this year.

Gustafson Memorial - A rose garden and stone wall will be added.

Carol Young, Secretary

Good Snakes in the Garden

Probably 90% of the snakes one finds in North American gardens are in the family Colu-

bridae, of which the most common species are probably the Garter Snakes (Thamnophis

spp.) or related species (e.g., Ribbon Snakes). They are small, thin snakes that tend to

move fairly quickly and can give one a start when they are first encountered. They are

one of the best snakes to have in the garden as they eat almost exclusively insects. How-

ever, most gardens do not have enough garter snakes in them to make a huge dent in the

insect populations, so they are not usually considered the primary biological control for

insect problems.

Before and after of apple tree at OLC.

This tree was tilted during wind storm in early September. A couple days later it was

staked and propped up. Time will tell if tree survives.

It’s Not Too Soon To Save the Date for the MG Christmas Party

December 3 at Buzzy’s in Welton

5:30 pm social hour, 6:30 pm buffet dinner

Join us for a fun-filled evening celebrating the year’s accomplishments.

Volunteer and education awards will be presented.

Info on transportation assistance provided in next month’s newsletter.

Have you entered your volunteer hours yet????

October To-Do List

Divide perennials

Dig up canna bulbs, caladiums, dahlias, etc

Fertilize lawn after last mowing

Clean and disinfect outdoor pots

Control dandelions with broadleaf herbicide

Clean up vegetable beds and apply manure or compost

Clean garden tools for storage

Plant Now Enjoy Later: New Ideas for Garden Oomph Tired of tulips, glads, daffodils and lilies? Try something off the beaten path.

Sicilian honey garlic (Nectaroscordum siculum)

An onion relative also assigned to the genus Allium, this sublime but oft-

overlooked bulb combines grace with whimsy. Its 3-foot stems sport baseball-size

umbels of bell-shaped flowers with an antique-looking color combo of rose, cream,

and gray-green. Individual buds are vertical, open flowers are pendant, and devel-

oping seedpods snake upward again, giving the plant a fun crazy-hair look. And the

leaves mounded at the base have an artsy corkscrew twist. Its bloom time is per-

fect, appearing in the lull after the spring parade has passed and before the sum-

mer perennials are up and running. It’s also fragrant and deer resistant.

Pretty face (Triteleia ixioides ‘Starlight’)

Think of a dandelion the size of a tennis ball, colored with lemon col-

ored "stars" and you have Triteleia Starlight (without the invasive

seeding!) Narrow foliage emerges in late winter, declining just as

the growing season starts, followed by the showy umbels of starry

flowers. Very adaptable, it can take heavy soils and baking conditions

when dormant. Tuck it into a rock garden, in full sun to part shade, or

combine it with other plants in the border that like dry summers.

Just avoid locations that are wet in the winter or the corms will rot.

It stands 12-20” tall and is for zones 5-9, so keep this in mind when choosing a location.

Camas (Camassia scilloides)

Wild Hyacinth, also called Atlantic Camas, is the only eastern species of

its genus, which is in the Lily family and characterized by squat bulbs,

similar to those of small tulips in size and shape. Its pale blue-violet

flowers begin to bloom from the bottom, progressing toward the top of

the spike-like raceme at the end of the plant’s central stalk. It will

thrive in full sun, but also open shade such as a woodland edge. It likes

rich, acidic soils, but can tolerate clay soils with adequate moisture, es-

pecially when it is in flower. The bulbs are edible and were a major food

source for some Native American Indian tribes and early European Set-

tlers.

Attractive to a number of insects seeking nectar and pollen, Camassia

scilloides re-seeds itself and, though slow to establish, is fairly long-

lived. By mid-summer, the basal leaves turn yellow and wither away and

the plant remains dormant for the rest of the year.

The blooms are blue or white, and the height of the plant is 3’ with a 1 ‘

spread.

Thinking Ahead: How to Optimize Next Season’s Plant Health this Fall

By Susan Mahr, UW Extension

Fall and winter are the times of year when outdoor gardening activities often become a dis-

tant memory. However even during the late fall and winter, there are basic outdoor gardening

tasks that should be completed in order to prevent potential disease problems the following

year. Plant Debris Cleanup: Leaf diseases such as anthracnose ,Tubakia leaf spot,, apple

scab , and tar spot are prevalent on woody ornamentals anytime there is wet weather early

in the growing season.

Most fungal leaf pathogens overwinter in leaf litter, and thus leaf litter can serve as an important source of fun-

gal spores during the following growing season. In addition, herbaceous plant debris is an important overwintering

site for herbaceous plant pathogens. Therefore, be sure to rake up tree and shrub leaves after they have fallen

from woody ornamentals, and be sure to cut back and remove herbaceous plant debris after the vegetation has

been killed by frost.

There are many options for disposing of leaves and other plant debris. Use city organic waste bins. Home com-

posting is also an option for disposing of plant debris, even when that debris contains plant pathogens.

Burying can also be a useful technique for disposing of leaf and herbaceous plant debris as long as there is a layer

of soil separating the debris from the outside environment. Burying promotes decay of plant tissue, which, as

mentioned above, tends to reduce the ability of plant pathogens to survive. In addition, a soil layer over plant de-

bris provides a physical barrier that prevents spores that are produced by fungal pathogens from reaching new

healthy plant tissue. Finally, where allowed, burning of plant debris can help in eliminating plant pathogens, al-

though this technique can contribute to air pollution, and is not the method of choice.

Pruning: Late fall and winter are the best times to prune many woody ornamentals . Pruning during colder

weather, when pathogens are less active, can help lessen the possibility that pruning wounds will become entry

points for canker-causing fungi or bacteria, thus leading to a reduction in canker diseases that could potentially

girdle and kill branches or even entire trees. Proper pruning of trees and shrubs can also be important in helping

prevent foliar diseases. Pruning often opens up the canopy of trees and shrubs and allows for better air flow

within a plant. During the growing season, the increased air flow will reduce the humidity around foliage and thus

lead to more rapid drying of leaves.

With just a little effort in the late fall and winter, you can have a big impact on the health of landscape ornamen-

tals next spring and summer

Make A Grapevine Ball

1. Pick the grapevine when it is still growing so that it is soft and pliable. If you pick

it and let it dry out it will crack and be difficult to work with. Or, you can soak the

grapevine in warm water for about 1/2 hour to soften it.

2. Strip the grapevine.

3. Depending on the size you want, you can wrap the grapevine around a beach ball

(deflatable) or a balloon.

4. Wrap the vines around the ball in any pattern you like. Use floral wire to secure

as you wrap.

5. Set it aside and allow it to dry.

6. When the vines appear dry, deflate the ball and sneak it out.