Union County Green Magazine

Hall's Maples

Don't Commit Crepe

Mu rde r

GARDEN

Brownsand Greens

HOMEGARDENShow

&No-Till

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WelcomeWelcome

Here we are again, with another outstanding publication all about gardening andlandscape design. This year we hope that you will enjoy all the articles and hope youwill be sure to thank and patronize all the sponsors who took advertisements. Withouttheir support we could not produce this magazine showcasing all the talented gardenwriters who have contributed their time and knowledge. I hope you enjoy, keep, and tellothers about our magazine. This magazine has grown to cover over four states herelocally along with being mailed to several other states, to several readers overseas. Ihope that this will be good for the sponsors that have an internet business. This year weare proud to hand out approximately 2000 magazines at the New Albany Home andGarden Show, as well as placing over 600 copies in the goody bags at the SouthernRegion Master Gardener Conference in Natchez, where gardeners from 14 states will beattending.

I want to shout my heartfelt personal thanks to everyone who sponsored or wrotean article for the “Internationally Acclaimed UNION COUNTY GREEN” magazine. Iespecially would like to thank Lynn West, Dennis Clayton, Lisa Bryant, TraceyMurphree, and all the folks at the Daily Journal for making this happen. The Union County Master Gardeners are proudto have the New Albany News-Exchange as Partner in the New Albany Home and Garden Show.

Tim Burress,Union County Master Gardener

Thank you for reading the 2012 Spring edition of Union County Green Magazine.Although this is only the second year and second edition for the New Albany

News-Exchange’s gardening magazine, it has arguably become the most popular of ourspecial- and general-interest publications produced in addition to our newspaper.

Thanks to the help of the Union County Master Gardeners, Union County Green iswidely read and distributed over a four-state area, but also read by gardening groupsand enthusiasts throughout the country. We even have some requests for the magazinefrom overseas and it is used as a model for gardening associations and at conventions aswell.

Also contributing to this magazine’s success has been the partnership with the verysuccessful home and garden show sponsored by the Union County Master Gardenerseach March. To show appreciation, the News-Exchange donates a percentage of theadvertising sales revenue to the group each year to help support the cost of the show.

As before, this issue includes stories on a variety of topics related to gardening, butthe non-gardener should find plenty of interest as well.

We hope you enjoy Union County Green and will share it with your friends. If you need more copies, they will beavailable at various locations around New Albany and, of course, at the News-Exchange office at 400 E. Bankhead St.

J. Lynn WestEditor and General Manager

2012Spring Garden

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*COVER PHOTO:The photo on the cover of this issue of Union CountyGreen is titled "Earth Beauty" and was made byphotographer Lowrey Wilson. See his story on how tophotograph garden nature on page 42.

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Thank You to our advertisers

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New Albany Home and Garden Show Presentations


Here we are again for the fourth year, running wild planning another Gardening Extravaganza. By the time this comes outin print we will only be a couple of weeks from the New Albany Home and Garden Show.

We have over twenty Master Gardeners putting their heads together with Mississippi State Extension Personnel andusing all the creative resources that we can muster up. It is a lot of work, meeting after meeting making sure all the details aretaken care of and all the I's are dotted and all the T's are crossed.

Speakers have all been contacted, decorations have been designed and made, advertising has been printed and mailed;posters have been made and put out in over four states, not to mention getting the grounds and buildings ready for yourarrival. All this hard work is done so that we can invite you to come and see the vendors selling plants, yard art, gardentools, lawn and garden equipment, food, and don't forget we have twenty three educational seminars to help you with allyour gardening needs. “The Doctors Are In” on Friday, March 30th, so bring your questions, plant cuttings for problemidentification, bugs in a bag for answers to pest problems, and bring your soil samples to be took back and tested by ourexperts at Mississippi State University Labs. Soil samples do have a small fee of six dollars per sample. Soil sample resultsare mailed back directly to your home address and are easy to read.

So with that said, “Ya'll Come” and join us for two great days of education, fun, and food. Oh, by the way, did I tell youthat we will be giving away prizes both days and it is free admission. We are accepting donations of non-perishable fooditems to give to the food pantry.

Now, here is the schedule and we will have a pocket version for you at the gate.

The New Albany Home and Garden ShowThe New Albany Home and Garden ShowThe New Albany Home and Garden Show

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BY DR. JEFF WILSON

here are a number ofplants that can make aregular garden become a

'Southern Garden.' Some of theseare Gardenia, Boxwood, Camellia,Crepe Myrtle, and Sweet Olive,but the most popular is definitelythe Azalea.

Azaleas are a beautiful sightthat brighten landscapes withcolorful flowers in the spring anddazzling leaves in the fall. Whenselecting azaleas consider thingssuch as: bloom color, bloomperiod, mature plant size,installation and maintenancerequirements.

A wide range of sizes andcolors are available from white,yellow, orange, red, purple andmixed forms. These durable plantscan bloom for many weeks,providing long-lasting colorthroughout the landscape. Varietiesfrom the Indica, Kerume, andGumpo groups are traditionally themost common, but the repeat-blooming Encore varieties havebecome very popular.

Azaleas can grow anywherefrom one foot to 10 feet high andwide. Knowing the mature size ofthe plant will help you place it inthe proper landscape location.While azaleas are best suited forinformal gardens that receivepartial shade, they can survive inmost landscape settings. Theymust have adequate drainage andlook their best when planted ingroups.

When planting, it is best toincorporate organic matter into thesoil to provide good drainage. Alsobe sure to not set the plant belowthe soil line. I like to even leavethe rootball about one inch abovethe natural soil line.

In heavy soils, raised bedswork very well to keep the rootsout of wet soils where they will notsurvive. Azaleas prefer an acidicsoil with a pH of 4.0 to 6.0. A soiltest through your local Extensionoffice is the best method fordetermining soil pH.

In my landscape, I have twovarieties of Encore, one of theGumpo, three of the Indica, andtwo of the Kerume azaleas. I like

to fertilizeon March 1, and June1 with a slow-release controlledfertilizer. Just make sure and selecta brand that you are familiar with.

I also treat all of my azaleaswith a drench insecticide,fungicide, and fertilizer treatmenton March 1 and June 1. There arenumerous products available, butBayer Advanced All-in-One RoseCare is one product I use that hasworked well.

Wait until all blooms arefinished before pruning, since thisallows for summer growth and budset for next year's blooms.Remember to never prune backmore than one-third of the totalplant.

If you follow these few simplesteps, you too can have beautifulazaleas in your landscape! Formore information contact yourlocal extension office and pick upa copy of Growing Azaleas,Information Sheet 656.

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Dr. Jeff Wilson is a horticulturistserving Northeast Mississippi withMississippi State University'sExtension Service.

A Southern charm

Azaleas:


BY ANNA LOOPER

vintage bunny and child's teacup terrarium for yourinspiration pieces today.

Terrariums are the in thing this season.One of my customers requested one andonly said to make it vintage. I found thisantique bunny with a pastel colored rosenecklace and knew this was going tosteal the show.

Cleanmeans like sterilized. Heated to removethe bad stuff.

Cheapest you can findand usually at a pet store. You'll need thebottom 1/4 to be filled. It filters themoisture droplets and removes bacteriathat would cause mold and disease.

such as Polka Dotplant, moss, small tropicals, orchids(only use filtered water for orchids),ferns, pothos, peperomias, and smallevergreens.

There are plentyof miniatures on the market now but Ilike to find things that have specialmeaning or have a vintage feel. Doesn'thave to be old but it helps. Stay awayfrom anything paper. Stick with hard andno porous. Glass, ceramic, china, metal,etc.... think things that will create a story.

such asthe rocks you see here....glassstones...sea glass...sand...but stay awayfrom colored commercial moss as ittends to mold and smell.

Add the activated charcoal first. Addthe next layer of soil such as I'veshown..does not have to be exactscience. Add half the soil...fill withplants..then fill with more dirt. I use asoup ladle to add the dirt cause it allowsmore control. I have small ladles andlarge ones depending on container size.Add your items making sure they aren'tall the same height and size. Top off withsoil cover.

Terrariums are some of the mostfavored gifts given for any age andoccasion. I make and design themeterrariums for birthdays, holidays, babygifts, Mother's Day, best friend tribute,little girl fairy dreams, cats and paws,puppy dogs, farm animals, woodlandcreatures, china patterns, tea sets, andmy list is very long.

Terrarium containers are not difficultto find. The above is my favorite cause itgives a large viewing area...provides ahealthy place and space for the plants togrow, and can be found at places likeTarget, Walmart, and container stores.

What goes in them can be expensive.The bunny terrarium retailed for $110.00because of the antique vintage bunnyand the bottom one for about $75. Thecustomer provided some of theingredients for the bottom one. I charge$20 an hour to assemble them. Normallythat takes about 1 to 2 hours. If I have tolocate the items for you then I add anadditional $10 to $20 as in the bunnyterrarium. Right now I'm collectingchildren's tea pots and china cats. Catswill be running ... sitting ... jumping ...hiding behind the plants ... irresistible.

Caring for your terrarium meanswatching the moisture level. Add waterat the time you make the container butdon't over do it. Soil should be slightlymoist and not wet. Don't feed it rightaway while the plants are gettingestablished. It really only needs aspritzing of very weak liquid fertilizerabout once a year. I don't open myterrarium but about twice a year unlesssomething is growing too quickly or aleaf has gone brown. When a terrarium ishealthy, there is a small amount ofmoisture fog on the glass. Maybe onespot here or there. When you no longersee it for let's say about a week...then itneeds water. Mine creates a fog uptoward the top. There should not bewater droplets on the glass all the time asthis will cause the plants to rot. Leavethe lid off for a few hours until thehumidity adjusts.

Keep it out of direct light but it doesneed some filtered light unless you haveadded high light plants. Most houseplants don't like a hot window. A hotwindow will also make your terrariumsweat a lot and can cause plants to rot.Your terrarium will not grow bacteria atany time due to the filtering of theactivated charcoal.

Some folks like it simple and somego elaborate. I like the size I've featuredbecause most everyone has a spot for it.Large aquarium terrariums are showstoppers and conversation pieces butdifficult to maintain the right light andmoisture conditions.

Make your terrarium a story. Addthings that will encourage you and yourchildren to imagine they are part of thejourney. Talk with them monthly about

thechanges. Perhaps one of the pieces needsto be moved or a plant trimmed. I like tohide things for the children to find littleanimals or shapes. Farm supply storeshave miniature farm and wildlife animalsas do craft stores. I found the little doeand fawn at the popular Tractor Supply.

Tractor Supply also has some dog andcat varieties but Ebay is a good sourcefor these things too. Replacements.comhas loads of salad plates, figurines, teapots, and things like ceramic eggs,ornaments, and small coffee cups thatrange from very expensive to a fewdollars.

Don't forget sayings and names. Thiscan be achieved by pulling the keys offold keyboards picked up at Goodwill andsecond hand stores. Spell out fun wordsand things like aardvark. Make it aconversation piece.

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How to make a terrarium:1. Buy good porous clean soil.

2. Activated charcoal such asaquarium type.

3. Small plants

4. Items of interest.

5. Some type of soil cover

Terrariums: Growing in popularityand easy to make


BY SHERRA OWEN

What an integral part of our daily lives! Not only do theyprovide the oxygen we breathe, but from the beginning of timehave provided landmarks, food shelter, and medicine. They havemet our varied needs and given us some of our most memorableexperiences.

From the earliest history of America, trees have been reveredas valuable landmarks. Freedom meetings were held under large"liberty trees." Important papers were signed under "Charter"oaks to note the beginnings of institutions of faith andeducation. Under "proclamation" pines the patriots proclaimedtheir ideas for the new world. Trees became a tangibleaffirmation of our independence as evidenced by tree symbolson early flags and coins. Native Americans used trees to markhundreds of miles of trails and early deeds used trees to markcorners.

The needs of this great nation have been met to a largeextent by trees. 1765 to 1865 is known as the century of wood.One used wood from "sunrise to sunset" and did so from the"cradle to the grave." Wood built houses, barns, wagons, barrels,plows, churns, bowls, and toys. Trees were used for heat, tools,medicine, food and fences. A man's tools were so treasured thatthey were included in his will. Boys inherited tools, while girlsinherited baskets.

It was very important to know the hardness or softness of thewood, its durability and the

differentproperties sothat it couldbe put to itsbest use. Thelarge straighttall poplar wasused as logsfor houses andbarns. Theouter bark wasused forbaskets andthe inner barkfor makingrope. Thewitch hazelwas used tofind waterthrough waterwitching. Thehickory wasused for autoparts, handles,wagon wheelsand oil for lamps. Hides were tanned with red oaks and whiteoaks were stripped for baskets. Black gum and dogwoodprovided tooth brushes. My dad told a story of riding to town ina wagon when the wheel became too loose to continue. It was

tightened with the inner bark of the slippery elm foundon the roadside. When a boy got in trouble, he wastanned with a hickory stick and when he died he waslaid to rest in a pine box.

Early pioneers searched the woodland for seasonalfood. Hickories, pecans, chestnuts, walnuts, hazelnuts,and beechnuts provided great taste and protein.Vitamins and minerals were provided by apples, plums,peaches, pears, persimmons, cherries, blueberries, pawpaws and mulberries. All were eaten fresh, dried, andpreserved. Coffee was prepared from the seeds ofbeech, honey locust, and persimmon. Sweet syrup wasfound in the maple, box elder, and elderberry which


Trees! Fall Forest

Lighter tree used to fight fires

Crabapple

Over the fence to the pond and dogwood

Redbud branch

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was, also used in wine making along with black cherry.Regarding trees, Ezekiel 47:12 states "… and the fruit thereof shall be for meat,

and the leaf thereof for medicine." Some common ones are black willow (aspirin),black cherry (cough syrup), devil's walking stick (earaches, toothaches) and tulippoplar (heart stimulant). The eastern red cedar had so many medicinal uses thatNative Americans called it, "the tree of life." Today it is being studied as atreatment for cancer as well as the paw paw tree.

The sassafras tree was called the medicine tree by Native Americans andbelieved to have magical powers because it had three kinds of leaves. Sassafraswas America's first import. In 1622, 30 tons were harvested and sent to England. Itprovided a very important tea and tonic used for headaches, earaches, andbackaches.

Woodlands have long provided fun for American youngsters. Hundreds of toyswere made from wood. What American boy has not taken scraps of wood and withhammer and nails created a treasure? Most of those reading this article haveclimbed a tree or maybe even swung on a grapevine. Fishermen treasure the wormfrom the nearby catalpa tree. Older citizens remember chewing gum from thesweetgum tree and maybe adding a 'stretch berry' to make it blow bubbles.Sweetheart initials can often be found carved in a beech tree. Dad remembersriding the trees. A perfect birch or hickory would be found to climb to the top atwhich time the tree would bend to the ground to deposit the climber. Robert Frostrecounted this in his poem "Riding the Birches."

We must not forget the vital role that trees play in the sustainability of ourenvironment by providing food and shelter for thousands of animals and insectspecies thus sustaining human life. Provide a home for the trees and they willprovide a home for us.

As I stand looking across the rail fence down toward the pond, I see an ancientred cedar standing sentinel over a mature riparian forest. Within my view are some60 species of trees and shrubs growing in the sandy red clay of the Pontotoc Ridge.Missing from view is the American chestnut. Once the most valuable tree ofSouthern Appalachia, the chestnut provided fencing, furniture, food and medicine.Lying nearby is a carcass which, like all others, succumbed to the chestnut blight ofthe 30's. Today blights are slowly taking away the elms and the sassafras.

The trees in sight are bare and have graceful beauty, but I can't forget thebreathtaking fall color of just a few weeks a go and the gorgeous bloom soon tocome on the dogwoods and the tasty redbuds. I'm so thankful for the bounty of treesin Union County and the summer shade they provide.

Myrtle men riding trees

Dogwood

Dogwood blooming branch

Witch Hazel

Witch Hazel

BY BETTYE MCMILLEN

he latest addition to the Spring Home and GardenShow is a new resident to New Albany. Lady Estellewill arrive a day or two before the event begins and

will become a permanent resident of the city. Her exact place ofresidence is yet to be determined, but it will be a place of easyaccessibility. She will welcome visitors, and attention isappreciated, even demanded. Lady Estelle will not be ignored.

Exactly who is Lady Estelle, and how did she choose NewAlbany, particularly Spring in Bloom, the Spring Home andGarden Show, for her debut? Lady Estelle is the brainchild ofJudy and Ricky Henry, Union County Master Gardener andMississippi Friend of Master Gardeners 2011 winner,respectively.

Ricky Henry, an engineer by trade employed by PiperIndustries for almost twenty years, has worked tirelessly in manydifferent areas to augment his wife's interest in the MasterGardener program. "Judy comes up with the ideas and then I justtry to bring them to life for her," Ricky replied modestly.

Within the last year, Judy Henry accompanied a few friends toAtlanta Botanical Gardens, where they toured some gardens aspart of their visit. At one such garden, Judy saw an interestingpiece of yard art--a life-sized mannequin-type covered in freshflowers--something on the order of things found on floats in theRose Bowl Parade, except whole fresh flowers were used, not justthe petals. Judy took a picture to bring home, showed it to herhusband, and he ran with it.

Henry studied the picture; he and Judy designed and sketcheda design of their own, made adjustments, sketched again, tweakedthe whole thing, and sketched some more until they came up withwhat they wanted. Out came the tools, the rebar, the weldingtorch, saws, whatever he had. Rebar was cut, shaped, welded, etc.and slowly the figure took shape.

Lo and behold, the figure grew to a height of perhaps sevenfeet (Henry is tall, and it towers over him). The woman (flowerman never seemed an option) will hold a basket/flower pot filledwith blooming plants in one hand and perhaps a rake in the other.If a rake is used, it will probably be the only thing not covered inflowers.

Constructing the flower woman was Henry's job; decoratingher will fall to his wife and several other women from the UnionCounty Master Gardeners Association. Pansies ("they've alreadylocated several flats for this"), camellias ("Judy's got a lot of thosered camellias here in the yard"), verbena, other availableflowering plants, moss, whatever they can find. "And we stillhave all that elaeagnus here; we can certainly use that," Henryadded.

Ricky Henry grew up in north Mississippi and learned to work at an early age. He also learned theimportance of a goodwork ethic anddemonstrated that in allhis years at Piper. Hewas a leader whoencouraged andmotivated his staff byexample. When Piperwent through a majorrestructuring a fewyears ago, he wasreleased to utilizehis talents inother places. Andutilize thosetalents, he did.

"My fatherwas a carpenterby trade, and Ihave always beeninterested in building things. I often work from a picture ofsomething, then figure out the measurements and the type ofmaterial I will need, then draw the item and tweak it until I get itthe way Judy wants it, and we go from there." Sounds simple,doesn't it?

Simple, until one begins to look at the things Henry has built.Their home is an example of his work. The dining area was an oldscreened porch on the original home, and the den and garage areadid not exist until Henry began to put his drafting skills togetheralong with a saw, hammer, and nails. Hard work is no stranger tohim.

As for the Master Gardener program, Henry built anAdirondack chair one year because his wife wanted one. She thenasked if she could donate it to be used as a door prize for theHome and Garden Show. Two or three years later, he built twosuch chairs which he painted in vivid spring colors for the Show.One was used for a door prize, and one was raffled. This year, heplans to build five Adirondack chairs, one or two for door prizesand the others to be sold if anyone is interested in buying one.

Also on display at Spring in Bloom will be several "people"constructed from clay flower pots of varying sizes. "We usedthose for Christmas with monkey grass and red bows. I'm not surehow Judy wants to use them for the Show, but she does intend touse them," Henry said.

Come to the Show; pay your respects to Lady Estelle, namedfor Judy Henry's grandmother who wasa master gardener long before the termreally came into use. Have your picturemade with Lady Estelle; she is one of akind.

Consider this: strong womenusually have a man standing besidethem; think Cleopatra and MarcAnthony, Bonnie Parker and ClydeBarrow, Hillary Clinton and Bill,Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip--theidea being "you get two for the price ofone". The Union County MasterGardeners Association has several suchpairs, not the least of which is Judy andRicky Henry.

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Lady Estelle comes to town




BY LES HALL

n life and in business, one thing leads to another.Hall's Wholesale Maples started as a part timeoperation around ten years ago when Les Hall

was an employee at Action Industries in Belden, Miss.Always a lover of the outdoors, he enjoyed plantingtrees and watching them grow. In 1999, he beganselling River Birches, Cypress trees, Sawtooth Oaks,and various fruit trees; mainly to his co-workers.

As word spread about the "tree farmer," severalpeople began to ask whether he sold Japanese Maples.He studied the various varieties and started out withsome of the most common; Bloodgood, CrimsonQueen, and Viridis. As one thing led to another, and thelove for and understanding of Japanese Maples grew,Hall's Wholesale Maples was born and is now a fulltime business. We offer approximately 135 varieties ofJapanese Maples. Through trial and error, he has beenable to discover which varieties perform well in ourZone 7 humidity and which ones don't. When youpurchase a tree from Hall's, you can be assured that youare getting a tree that will perform well in this area.

Hall's Wholesale Maples is a simple operation withmost of the trees being grown outside at the mercy of

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Branching off intoJapanese maples


the weather, without the benefit of a greenhouse. Thisactually increases their tolerance level to a certain degree.Hall has noticed that the trees he raises transplant better thanones he purchases from others which have been grown in thecontrolled atmosphere of greenhouses. Even now, in early2012, he is concerned about our warm winter in NortheastMississippi. He doesn't want any of his trees to break bud tooearly since there is the ever-present danger of a late freeze.

As one thing led to another, and his knowledge andinterest level grew, Hall began doing some grafting, mostlyas a hobby. He has been reluctant to try grafting in the pastbecause it normally requires strict temperature control. Hehas been lucky to have a few friends who are experienced atgrafting and have given him some great tips. As with mostworthwhile projects, practice and hard work pay off and theart of grafting is starting to show significant results.

There are trying moments with the weather and thestubborn personality of some of the more particular varieties,but he is still of the opinion that Japanese Maples, especiallyin their fall glory, are some of the coolest trees in the world.



BY TIM BURRESS

Cucumbers contain most of thevitamins you need every day.Imagine, eating just one averagecucumber and all these vitaminsare yours. Vitamin B1, VitaminB2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin B5,Vitamin B6, Folic Acid, VitaminC, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium,Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

Do you feel tired in theafternoon? Don't reach for thatcaffeine boost, pick up acucumber. Cucumbers are a goodsource of B Vitamins andCarbohydrates that can providethat quick pick-me-up that can lastfor hours. Hungry and need tofight off that midafternoon hunger,cucumbers have been used forcenturies by trappers, traders andexplores for quick meals to thwartoff starvation. Now that you havehad that snack, you don't have toworry about bad breath becauseyou can save that last slice ofcucumber and press it to the roofof your mouth with your tonguefor 30 seconds to eliminate badbreath. The phytochemicals willkill the bacteria in your mouthresponsible for causing bad breath.

Are you stressed out and don'thave time for massage, facial orvisit to the spa? Grab a cucumber,

slice it up and place it ina boiling pot of

water.

The chemicals and nutrients fromthe cucumber with react with theboiling water and be released inthe steam, creating a soothing,relaxing aroma that has beenshown to reduce stress in newmothers and college studentsduring final exams.

Do you want to avoid ahangover or terrible headache?Eat a few cucumber slices beforegoing to bed, wake up refreshedand headache free. Cucumberscontain enough sugar, B vitaminsand electrolytes to replenishessential nutrients the body lost.

Don't you just hate it when youget out of the shower and themirror is fogged over? Grab acucumber slice and try rubbing italong the mirror and it willeliminate the fog and provide asoothing, spa-like fragrance. Areyou looking for a "Green Way" toclean your faucets, sinks, orstainless steel? Take a slice ofcucumber and rub it on the surfaceyou want to clean and not only willit remove years of tarnish, but itwill bring back the shine. It alsowon't leave streaks or harm youfingers and fingernails while youclean.

This one is for you girls whothink you have a problem withcellulite. Try rubbing a slice ortwo of cucumbers along yourproblem area for a few minutes.The phytochemicals in thecucumber are said to cause thecollagen in your skin to tighten andfirm up the outer layer, thus

reducing the visibility ofcellulite. Hey say it worksgreat on wrinkles too.

Have you got a problemwith slugs, snails,

and grubsruining yourplanting beds?

Place a few slices of cucumbers ina small pie tin and your gardenwill be free of pests all seasonlong. The chemicals in thecucumber react with the aluminumto give off a scent undetectable tohumans but drive garden pestscrazy.

Do you have an importantmeeting or job interview andrealize that you don't have enoughtime to polish your shoes? Rub afresh cut cucumber slice over theshoe, for a quick and durable shinethat not only looks great but alsorepels water.

Is that squeaky door or hingedriving you crazy, and you can'tfind the can of WD 40? Take acucumber slice and rub it along theproblematic hinge, and voila, thesqueak is gone.

It happens all the time, the inkpen made a mistake. Take theoutside of the cucumber andslowly use it as an eraser. It is alsosaid to works great on crayons andmarkers that the kids used todecorate the walls.

"Now you know the rest of thestory" as our old friend PaulHarvey would say. Fact or fiction,I guess you will have to try thesetidbits to see if they really work. Ican tell you that they do shine ashoe pretty good and they will helpwith a squeaky hinge if you canget the juice in there.

So, everyone, grab a cucumberor two and keep them handy, onein your car, desk, briefcase, and acouple of other places.

Drop me an email [email protected] and letme know what happens with yourexperiments in "CucumberScience."

Happy eating, keep digging inthe dirt, and plant somecucumbers.

Mississippi Master Gardener

Cucumber: the miracle fruitCucumber: the miracle fruit


BY JUDY KELLY

hen summer arrives in Natchez, Mississippiand countless other cities, towns and countrysides throughout the south, residents and

visitors alike are treated to clouds of flowering blossomsin shades of pink, lavender, white, red and purple, ashundreds and thousands of crepe myrtle trees burst forth ina frenzy of color. These lovely trees are the belles of thesouthern summer.

But all is not sweetness and light with our beautifulbelles. Each late winter and early spring finds the annualskirmishes between those who carefully prune the trees inorder to coax out ideal floral displays, as well as enhancethe health of the trees, and those who commit "CrepeMurder."

Most likely, murder of the trees is the end result of wellintentioned, but ill informed wielders of tree pruners andsaws. These folks, no doubt, are just repeating whatGrandpa always did with his trees. Or they imitate the nicelady down the street who always has the best lookinggarden in the neighborhood, (so she must know what sheis doing).

In our city of Natchez, one woman has become the"General" in the war to save the trees from disfiguring cutsand unhealthy, weakened branches. "General" Joanne Kingand her small but growing army of like minded MasterGardeners and other caring citizens descends on theNatchez City Cemetery as well as various downtownstreets to give the trees careful pruning on winterymornings in January and February.

Joanne's new recruits are first educated in the art ofcarefully selecting and pruning only those tree limbs andsmaller branches which will enhance the beauty and thehealth of the tree. They are then partnered with others whoare experienced in trimming crepe myrtles. The newrecruits learn to identify a tree's problem areas, which mayinclude dead or broken branches, branches which arecrossed and rubbing against each other or will grow tohave that problem, and sucker growth. They also look forand correct, as much as possible, dense growth in thecanopy of the tree which restricts proper airflow throughthe branches. Each cut and correction is made only toenhance the health and natural beauty of that crepe myrtletree.

The crepe myrtle project is in its seventh year at theNatchez City Cemetery. The expansion to include trees onselected downtown streets; as part of the Natchez

Adams CountyMississippi Master Gardener

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Don'tcommi t

Cr epe

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Downtown Beautification project, is in its second year.As you travel the city streets and country roads during the winter and

early spring months, before the leaves appear, you have probably admiredthe crepe myrtles for their dramatic, sculptural forms and beautiful trunks.Crepe myrtle trees have exfoliating (self shedding) bark. In winter as thebark falls away, trunks of smooth silver, tan and cinnamon brown, amongother colors, are revealed. These trees give a beautiful show in everyseason.

When you find a tree with gnarled and knobby trunks or branches, youare viewing a tree which is the victim of "Crepe Murder." Sure, the treehas survived and has re-grown a thicket of smaller and weaker branches.Sure, there is a dense floral display, since flowers bloom on new growthfrom the previous year. But what has been achieved is more of a "bush ona stick" look, than what Mother Nature intended. Growing out of theknobby cuts are dozens of weak sucker shoots.

With careful pruning over several years, the grace and beauty can berestored. But come autumn, when the leaves fall, there will always be thatknobby, gnarled reminder of the past.

Along with Live Oaks, Spanish moss and Antebellum homes, thebeautiful, in every season; crepe myrtle trees are a southern signature. Ifyou have a crepe myrtle tree, treasure it. If you plan to plant one, find asafe and suitable location for it and vow never to commit "crepe murder."Your tree will be your ambassador to future generations and you will leavemother earth a better and more beautiful place than you found it.

The Adams County MississippiMaster Gardeners will host the

in Natchez, Mississippi on May 1-4.For information contact your county

Master Gardener organization or yourlocal Extension Service.

2012 Southern RegionMaster Gardener Conference


At first glance it may appear toohard. Look again. Always lookagain.

Helen Weis has been creatingbeautiful containers andlandscape designs in Oklahomafor over a decade. In addition tobeing the owner and principaldesigner of Unique by Design,located in Edmond, Okla., she isalso a horticulture consultant,freelance garden writer and amember of the OklahomaHorticultural Society and CentralOklahoma Hemerocallis Society.

- Mary Ann Rodmacher

BY HELEN WEIS

All great gardeners have comeinto greatness through trial anderror. If at first they did notsucceed they tried and tried again.We all have those few favoriteplants we know to be tried andtrue, and often we sell ourselvesshort by sticking to what we know.As spring approaches, theanticipation of what is yet to comeslowly opens as the first buds onthe branch appear. This is myfavorite time of the gardeningyear.

Let us all agree, that you do notneed to be an expert to plant astunning container. A willingnessto study a plant tag, paired with afew customary rules and a passionfor beauty is all the expertise anynovice needs. I have found thatwhen it comes to creatingbeautiful containers, options arethe key to success. Options are thebackbone of any creativeendeavor. This year, when you goout in search of plants available toyou, try a new approach. Useyour options to their fullest andtake the unexplored path. Tryapplying creative alternatives toyour tried and true plants andbreak free from your comfortzone. Do not worry with makinga mistake, for they are the giftedlessons which bring us intogreatness. Often, mistakes arewhat give us the discipline andingenuity to avoid future pitfallsand triumph over setbacks.Mistakes are often the greatestteacher any gardener could everhave.

There are three main elementsI put into every container design,simplicity, symmetry andharmony.

Simplicity allows yourcontainer to make a statementwithout being drowned out by itssurroundings. For example, ifyour container has a garden full ofcolorful plants for a background,

then a striking solitary planting isthe way to go. A solitary plantingcan make a grand statement if keptin symmetry with the container inwhich it is planted. A small plantset in a large container will neverlook astatically pleasing.Symmetry is both seen and felt,and it can be used in many ways.When planting containers at anentrance, use two containersplacing one on either side. Thistype of symmetry createscharacter and makes a declarationat the entry you are passingthrough.

Anyone who has tried theirhand at gardening already has theability to appreciate anddistinguish color. For the mostpart, we do this not with our eyes,but with our emotions. Creatingharmony is all about the ability tocoordinate colors and pair themwith textures. If you want a boldcontainer, use bold colors and pairthem with bold textures. If youwant a soft romantic container usepastel colors and soft textures.Plant choices are all about evokingemotion. If you follow thecustomary rule of using shadeplants for shady containers andsun tolerant plants for exposedcontainers, it becomes fairlydifficult to fail.

My wish for you, in thiscoming year of gardening, is thatyou grow beyond your boundaries.That if you feel that using plantsyou have never worked withbefore is far too hard… lookagain. Always look again. No onehas ever achieved 'Victory' bylimiting their options. Now, getout there and take the unexploredpath. It's always worth the while.

Victory containedVictory contained

Union County GREEN 15Union County GREEN 25

BY STANLEY WISE

Not long after I was old enough to hold up agarden hoe, I was taught how to plant a garden bythe world's greatest teaching method: The WiseFamily Farm required hands-on learningexperience, taught by my Mother. Needless to say, Ihad to learn, but I didn't have to like it. Andin my family, I always had the lastword. However, it was alwaysafter my Mother was out ofsight.

As the years havegone by, I stilldon't like to usea garden hoe, ashovel or atiller tomake agarden.And now,in thelatter halfof my life,I like iteven less.However, Ilove freshgardenvegetablesand havelearned how togrow themwithout using the"old school" tools.

For 20 years, I havehelped farmers implement no-till farming practices on their farms

to control erosion and conserve the soil. No-tillfarming has been successful. The principles alsoapply to gardening. Mother Nature has the bestmethod of getting water and oxygen into the subsoiland breaking up hardpans formed by years ofcontinuous cultivation. Roots of plants can penetratedeep into the soil through the annual cycle ofgrowth and development. Root canals are formed

when old roots die and decompose. Thisleaves natural channels for water,

oxygenation of the soilstructure and new roots to

follow which penetrateeven deeper.

I havedeveloped a

rotationalgardeningsystem thatI call theAmazingNo-TillMini-Garden.Thismethodconsistsof

building asimple

wooden 4 x8 ft. frame

from 2 x 4lumber. If you

use treated lumber,you can reuse the

frame for many years.Next, attach a piece of high

quality heavy duty landscape

Union County Extension Agent


The

AMAZINGNo-Till Mini-Garden


fabric to one side of the frame with staples. Thisframe with the landscape fabric attached will beyour mini-garden.

Select a well-drained site to put your mini-garden with at least 6 hours of full sun per day.Preferably the site will have a gentle slope so thatrain water will drain off quickly. Next, mow off thearea to place your mini-garden. Fertilize the 4 x 8ft. area with the following fertilizer combination:One half cup of 13-13-13, one cup of CalciumNitrate, one fourth cup of 0-0-60 (potassium), and4 cups of pelleted lime. Sprinkle the fertilizer andlime evenly within the area for the mini garden.Water the fertilizer generously to dissolve it intothe sod/soil. Natural and organic fertilizer can alsobe used as an alternative. Place the frame youcreated over the area with the landscape fabric onthe bottom. Drive stakes into corners of the frameto keep it in place. This completes your mini-garden and you are ready to plant.

To plant your mini garden, take a sharp knife orpair of scissors and make an X shaped incision.Use a knife or garden-trowel to dig a hole throughthe incision into the sod/soil below for

transplanting tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, etc. Oryou can plant seeds of your choice. Be sure to usethe proper plant spacing for the vegetables you areplanting. Flowers can also be planted into the mini-garden.

The mini-garden frame will serve as a mulch tokill existing vegetation, prevent future weedemergence and conserve soil moisture. The mini-garden is effective for preventing soil bornediseases. After your plants have grown above theframe, you may also want to put a shallow layer ofwooden mulch for aesthetics and additional waterconservation but is not necessary. Rain water willpenetrate the landscape fabric mulch and you canalso use a soaker hose or garden wand forirrigation during periods of dry weather. You canadd additional water soluble fertilizer if needed.

Your mini-garden can be moved each year torotate your garden or reuse on the site by adding

more fertilizer to thegarden the next year.

There is nothingthat compares to thetaste and healthbenefits of freshvegetables. TheAmazing No-TillMini-Garden canprovide these withless effort and timethan tilling andweeding aconventional garden.Happy Gardening in2012!


Growing Garlic"My final, considered judgment is that the hardy bulb[garlic] blesses and ennobles everything it touches - with theexception of ice cream and pie."

~ Angelo Pellegrini

BY CARL WAYNE HARDEMAN

ast year we experimented in the Victory Garden byplanting 600 cloves of 31 varieties of garlic.Encouraged by our successful harvest last July,

and seeing which varieties thrive under our soil, weather,and amateur gardening conditions, we planted again thiswinter last November 1,000 cloves of 20 varieties.

The Georgian (as in Asia) Crystal seemed to produce bestresults. Oddly enough it is a hardneck variety more suited tomore northerly climes where people never even heard ofgrits for breakfast.

We use this guidebook: Growing Great Garlic by Ron L.Engeland.

Our favorite online website:http://www.gourmetgarlicgardens.com/overview.htm

Garlic is Allium sativum. The Allium family includesonions, leeks, chives, shallots, scallions, and those grownsimply for their gorgeous flowers. There are two subspecies:hardneck ophioscoridon and softnecks. Ophio is snake inGreek. The hardnecks have a central stalk called a scapewhich curls around like, well a snake. My Asian friends trimand eat the tender scapes.

Most of the commercial garlic in the US is softneck,mostly grown in Gilroy CA. You may want to put theirGarlic Festival in your life bucket. But we all could raise ourown supply in our otherwise unused containers on our patiosduring the winter.

Softnecks are mature when like onions their leaves turnbrown and fall over. Hardnecks are mature when two of theirleaves have turned brown. For both leaving them in theground can result in rot or deterioration of the bulb sheaths.

Garlic is an age old primary veggie. The Mongol Hordesand Attila's Huns carried them for sack lunches. Egyptianslaves ate them. Tomatoes, potatoes, corn, peppers,chocolate (my favorite veggie) came from the New World.Garlic originated in central Asia incold, dry, poor soil conditions, so oursoil is a holiday resort to them.

While you can find hundreds ofvarieties online to buy, scientists saythere are only ten distinctivevarieties: five hardnecks Porcelain,Purple Stripe, Marbled Purple Stripe,and Rocambole, and softnecksCreole, Asiatic, Turban, Artichoke,and Silverskin. Interestingly elephantgarlic is a leek. Most of what you seein stores in America are simplycalled southern softneck.

The varieties we have planted are: Inchelium Red, ItalianLate, Red Tochliarvi, Tochliarvi, Chamiskuri, New YorkWhite, German White, Polish Hardneck, Hnat Theradrone,Montana Carlos, Russian Giant, Simonetti, Red Janice,Metechi, Brown Tempest, Lotus, Lorz Italian, BavarianPurple, Chinese Purple, German Extra Hardy Hatali,Transylvania, Shang Dong, Belarus, Leningrad, and somesouthern softnecks from local grocery stores. They vary inpungency and days to maturity.

Garlic serves many purposes. You can eat both scapesand bulbs, probably a clove or two at a time. It is good forwhat ails you. My doctor recommends it. Momma wore anasafoetida bag to repel bad airs as a child. It can be useful inyour integrated pest management plan, and you won't havevampires.

Garlic comes nicely packaged by Mother Nature as abulb: a packet of cloves surrounded by as many sheaths asthere were leaves. Seeds will form on the bubils on the endof the scapes should you not choose to cut and eat them.

The easiest propagation is to plant individual cloves twoinches deep, pointy end up, in rich well-drained soil beforethe first hard freeze. Soil needs to be slightly acidic as foronions. Pine straw mulch will do that. They do not abideweeds well. You can use bulbs from the grocer, and plant incontainers with light mulch in your backyard as I do. Theylike blood meal which is natural nitrogen, but most anyveggie fertilizer works too. Feed them lightly once a monthwhen you are goingoutside to emptyyour kitty litter box.

Good luck and letme know how itturns out for you.

L

in the Mid-South


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to the advertiserswho helped make thispublication possible!

News-ExchangeNew Albany

ThankYou

BY DENISE PUGH

artha has them, P. Allen has them, andsoon I, too, will have them. Chickens. Is itthe new fad in urban landscaping, a protest

of foods transported coast to coast, orjust getting back to nature? I'm not sure,but for me, it was a combination ofreasons. My grandparents had chickens.As a child, I remember their cluckingand pecking and squawking, and thefear that they would peck me as Igathered the eggs, but that was morethan 40 years ago, and now I'm readyfor the challenge. I am ready to gatherbrown eggs from my own nests everymorning.

Now, thanks to a tolerant husbandand contractors, John and ChrisBullock, I am the proud owner of agreat chicken coop. This coop hasindoor and outdoor lighting, plumbing,secure doors, a ramp to the roostingarea, nest boxes and a water warmer. All

I need now are the chickens.Just when I was in a quandary as to what type of

chicken breed to purchase, my neighbor, Terry Hill,stopped by to introduce me to the chickens he raises:Jersey Giants and Delawares. I had been pondering theM


purchase of Rhode Island Reds, but after meetingTerry's chickens, I was sold. (Although I dowonder why all chickens seem to be from theNew England States.) I met Terry's chickens on awarm, winter afternoon, happy, clucking,content, laying brown eggs.

Terry was very gracious to share hisknowledge about feeding (use Prime QualityLaying Pellets), safety (use a double strand ofelectric wire around the base of the coop) andprotection from hawks, fox and other predators.

So, once Spring arrives, I'll hold the "ribbon-cutting" for the chicken coop (my husbandjokes), and we will welcome a cadre of JerseyGiants and Delawares to their new home. I can'twait for breakfast.


BY TIM BURRESS

ourds are a fun vegetable to grow and are amember of the Cucurbita family, which includepumpkins and squash. Gourds are also easy to

grow and are grouped into three major categories;ornamental, hard shell, and luffa. Ornamentals, as thename implies, is for decorations and ornaments. Thesebright and colorful gourds will spruce up your Halloween,Thanksgiving and other fall displays. Hard shelled are thelarger and longer gourds that are used to create birdhouses and other craft projects. Luffa is also know as thesponge squash. It is actually grown for use as a sponge.Gourds grow in all kinds of shapes, colors and designs.The challenge in growing a variety of gourds is crosspollination. Cross pollination is a trait of the cucurbitafamily, so if you want a variety of gourds, plant lots ofseeds and let the birds, bees, and butterflies do their job.

The most popular is the hard shell or birdhouse gourd.People grow and dry these hard shelled gourds mainly foruse as birdhouses. Hard shell varieties require 110 - 130days to grow to maturity. Gourds take a long time to dry.The small ones take at least a month and the long gourdsthat are used for crafts and birdhouses, can take sixmonths or more. Here are the basics for drying them:Clean your gourds with a solution of water and adisinfectant or bleach to kill any bacteria. Place gourds ona screen or a board, making sure that they do not toucheach other. Store them in a cool, well-ventilated area.Gently move them each day or two and wipe off anymoisture that is on them. Moisture is natural, as they areperspiring off the water content, which is about 90% oftheir weight. Fungus on them is not abnormal. They areokay unless they develop a soft spot. If a soft spot isfound, discard it. Gourds are dry when the seeds insiderattle. At this point the gourd will be very lightweight andfragile. Once they are dry, you can make a wide range ofcrafts and they can be painted, shellacked, or leftunfinished. Birdhouse gourds can be madeinto just about anything, including vases,flower pots, bowls, dishes, ladles.

Ornamental gourds are usually smaller andwill come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes,and colors. Ornamentals grow to maturity in90-100 days and are most commonly used asdecorations in fall displays.

The luffa gourd is used as a sponge, just asits name implies. It also grows to maturity inapproximately 100 days.

When planting, sow four or five seeds inhills, with the hills spaced four to five feetapart. Space rows five to ten feet apart,depending upon how much space you have.The more space you provide, the lessovercrowding, and the more and larger thegourds. Thin to two to three seedling per hill.When planting in rows, space seeds five tosix inches apart.

Gourds are grown like pumpkins and squash. They likewarm weather and lots of fertilizer. The soil should drainwell, contain lots of compost, and be kept moist. Gourdsare a vining plant and grow well on fences or a gardentrellis. Fencing is great for the smaller, ornamental gourdsor try growing them in a large container, and hangingthem off your deck. The main advantage of fencing, is thegourd grows with less blemishes, because there is nocontact with the ground. The larger hard shelled varietywill do better sprawled on the ground, as the larger fruitcan break off the vine if suspended.

Cucumber beetles, aphids, slugs and snails and squashvine borers are pests that like to attack gourds, so you willneed to keep an eye out for them.

Gourds are affected by a range of fungi, with the mostnotable being downy and powdery mildews. Begin afungicide treatment as soon as signs occur or better yet,apply fungicides before the fungus hits. Start treatmentswhen the hot and humid summer weather begins in yourarea.

Gourd plants do not like frost and a late spring frostwill kill tender seedlings. Make sure to cover them if thethreat of frost exists. The gourds themselves however, arenot harmed by frost or freezes.

Harvest in the fall after the first frost as a heavy frostwill not harm a mature crop. Some people say to harvestthem before the frost. I have read of growers and crafterswho actually leave them outdoors all winter long, lettingnature do the drying. They believe the gourds dry morenaturally, with far fewer problems with mold. Whenharvesting, leave as much stem as possible because youcan always trim the stem to the desired length and lookwhen finishing them.

Have you got a story about growing gourds? Send mean email at [email protected] and share yourthoughts or comments.

Happy Gardening and keep digging in the dirt.

Mississippi Master Gardener

G

Gourds are fun and easy to grow


Ground Covers

Ajuga, Pachysandra, Mondo Grass and Creeping Jenny

BY BITSY DAVIS

he well planned garden is made up of verticallayers of foliage and flowers, from tall andunderstory trees, to shrubs, annuals,

perennials, and vines, down to the ground huggingplants known as ground covers.

In gardening, the term ground cover is used todescribe a plant that will spread through the garden byrunning or reseeding to form a blanket of greenery in adesignated area. Ground covers vary greatly in height,in the color, shape, and size of leaves, and in bloomcolor and form.

The light requirements of various ground covers canalso be quite different. Some grow best in full sun,others require shade, and there are many which willthrive in a variety of conditions. It is important to beaware of the light available in your garden beforeselecting a ground cover. View the area at several timesduring the day to determine exactly how many hours ofsunlight are available.

Full sun is the term used for areas that receive atleast six hours of direct sun a day. Part shade meansdappled shade all day or 2 to 4 hours of bright sun andthen shade for the rest of the day. Light shade means nodirect sun but reflected light throughout the day. Anarea in full shade is one that is beneath a dense canopyof trees or in the shadow of a building with no directsunlight and very little reflected light.

Once the available light level in your planting areahas been determined, select a ground cover with lightneeds that match the available light. The informationtags that are attached to plants available for purchase ingarden centers will list the light requirements for eachplant. This information will help with your selection.

There are a great number of ground covers whichwill grow well in shady or partly shaded garden areas.English ivy, vinca, and liriope are commonly found insouthern gardens. There are others that are lesscommon, but are easy to grow and are perennial andevergreen in our zone 7.

Ajuga, commonly called carpet bugleweed, is a veryhardy, creeping ground cover which will give quickcover to a bare area in the landscape. It will form adense, low mat of oval leaves and is perfect forwoodland areas or under trees. There are manydifferent selections of ajuga available, the most popularbeing Ajuga reptans. This form grows 3 to 4 inches tall.Its dark green leaves have purple or bronze highlights.Blue flower spikes, which can be 4 to 6 inches tall, rise

above the leaves in the spring. Ajuga needs gooddrainage and will grow well in part shade or in sun.

Pachysandra terminalis, Japanese pachysandra, is alow growing evergreen perennial that is an excellentchoice for the shady garden. Growing 8 to 12 inchestall, the plant has toothed leaves which are clustered atthe top of each stem. Pachysandra is grown mainly forits shiny, leathery foliage, although it does producespikes of white flowers in the spring. It performs welleven in deep shade and will create an attractive carpeteffect, even where it must compete with tree roots.Pachysandra spreads slowly by underground runnersand prefers rich, well-drained soil.

Dwarf mondo grass, Ophiopogon japonicas, is adecorative, low-growing plant with dark green, narrowleaves that resemble grass. It forms dense, slowlyspreading clumps and works well en masse or plantedbetween stones or pavers in a walkway. The foliage is 4to 6 inches tall and stalks of tiny, pale lavender flowersare nestled among the leaves in summer. This groundcover is also known as lily turf, as it is in the lily family.It prefers well drained soil and a shady to partly shadedlocation. It spreads by underground runners and it iseasily divided to gain new plants.

Creeping Jenny, Lysimachia nummularia, is anevergreen perennial herb that has long been popular inEnglish gardens. It is low growing, reaching a height ofonly two inches, and it tolerates shade and foot traffic.Another common name, moneywort, refers to the round,penny-shaped leaves which grow along the trailingstems. Creeping Jenny is fast growing and easy toestablish, as its stems root freely as they spread throughthe garden. The small yellow flowers which appear inthe spring are a plus, but the plant is grown mainly forits foliage.

When trying to establish ground cover in a particulararea, measure the area and then consider therecommended spacing between plants. This will helpyou to determine how many plants you will need toplant in order to cover the given area.

Ground covers can help greatly when dealing withproblem areas in the garden, but just as often, they canbe used to add interest to otherwise dull areas. Byincluding a variety of different ground covers in yourlandscaping plans, you will be able to add some ground-level color and texture to your garden.

T

Bitsy Davis lives in Corinth and is a member of the AlcornCounty Master Gardeners Association. Her gardeningcolumn, "The View From the Arbor," appears monthly in TheCommunity News Flash newspaper.

for the shaded garden


BY KELLY PARKS

here are many reasons to compost. As agardener, you will save money while improvingyour soil and nourishing your plants. Adding

organic matter supplies nutrients in an ideal slow-releaseform and supplies micronutrients lacking in commercialfertilizers. Organic matter improves the soil's ability toabsorb rainfall and irrigation water, thus reducing surfacerunoff. It also helps suppress some diseases and harmfulsoil organisms such a nematodes and buffers soil pH,increasing the ability of some plants to tolerate acidic oralkaline soils. From an environmental standpoint, you willnot be adding to landfills or using chemicals that go intosurface runoff and end up in our rivers and streams.

So, we want to add organic matter to our soil -- we needto know about composting. Let's talk about "greens' and"browns." Greens provide nitrogen and protein. Examplesare fresh grass clippings, fresh manure, legume plants,alfalfa hay or meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, soybeanmeal, apple or winery pumice, wool, human hair, crushedeggshells, cabbage leaves, broccoli, coffee grounds, milkand other kitchen waste. Browns provide carbon.Examples are straw, hay, leaves, pine needles, cornstalks,sawdust, wood shavings, shredded newspaper, dry grassclippings, and dry/brown weeds and garden trimmings. Fora good balance of nitrogen and carbon, layer six inches ofbrowns to two-four inches of greens. If you want to addlime, wait until the materials decompose, otherwise thelime will create ammonia gas and you will loose nitrogenthrough evaporation. Wood ashes added in thin sprinklingsafter decomposition will boost potassium and phosphorusbut don't add in a thick layer.

There are many types of composting systems. The mostbasic is simply a pile, it is low maintenance, easy to startand you can add to it continuously. Decomposition will be

a little slow, turning the pile will help. Bins and boxesrequire time and money to build or buy but will hold heatbetter which speeds the process, you still need to turn. Atumbler is neat and makes turning easier. It works best ifmaterial is chopped and added all at once.

So, we have a good compost pile, let's talk aboutearthworms. They are essential to healthy soil. They dig asdeep as three to six feet, even tunneling into compactedareas and loosening up the soil, permitting more air andwater to get to the roots. During digestion they produce agummy substance that helps hold soil particles together.Their castings are an excellent source of nutrients and asuperb soil conditioner. Unlike chemical fertilizers,earthworm castings release nutrients slowly, making itimpossible to burn the roots. The castings contain one andhalf times more calcium, three times more magnesium,five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphates andeleven times more potash than garden soil. If you dig onesquare foot of soil from your yard and find ten or moreearthworms you have healthy, biologically active soil. Ifyou have five to nine worms you are getting there, one totwo means your soil needs help! You may want to considera worm box. There are many types and you can use yourfood waste in the worm box rather than putting it in yourcompost pile. The worms will happily eat and producecastings for addition to your garden.

When we talk about organic gardening we can't leaveout lasagna gardening. Lasagna gardening is simplycreating a garden with layers, just like layering yourlasagna ingredients in a dish. Layers consist of wetnewspaper or cardboard, peat moss, leaves or otherbrowns, and barn litter, grass clippings or other greens.Sounds familiar? You are basically making compostdirectly in your beds. Repeat the layers and finish with alayer of pine straw. You can build these layers withoutdigging up grass or loosening existing soil. In addition to

not digging, you will reap the same benefitsyou get from adding compost to your soil.You will prevent vital nutrients from washingaway, reduce fertilizer requirements, improvestructure and drainage for all types of soils,reduce soil erosion, and keep the soil coolerin the summer and warmer in the winter.Patricia Lanza coined the term "lasagnagardening" and her book by the same title iswell worth reading. You can also visit herwebsite at www.lasagnagardening.com.

Now that you know how to gardenorganically consider this. Leaves break downin one to three months, paper takes three tofive months, paper milk cartons (shredded)take five months, cigarette butts take ten totwenty years, aluminum foil takes eighty toone hundred years and styro foam neverdecomposes. Enjoy your healthy gardenwhile helping to improve the environment forall of us.

T

Greens Browns


KITCHEN COMPOSTING TIPS:

1. Cut food into small pieces.

2. Make sure foods with rinds, skins or hardoutside covers are cut open, the bacteria needsto get inside.

3. Drain extra water if you are throwing kitchencompost into a worm bin or other container thatdoes not drain easily.

4. Add an equal amount of brown matter -- onekitchen crock full for each kitchen crock of foodwaste.

5. Bury kitchen compost at least six inches belowthe surface of your compost pile to keep pestsfrom invading.

6. Put a fence around the compost pile if dogs, ratsor raccoons can get to it.

7. Mix kitchen compost from the winter into yourcompost pile after the spring thaw, turn andmake sure it is well buried.

Problem Solution

COMPOSTTROUBLESHOOTING

Pile does not heat up andfeels dry.

Add water.

Pile feels moist but doesnot heat up or heats uponly in the center.

Pile is not large enough,needs to be at least3'x3'x4'.

Pile is large and moist butdoes not heat up.

Add nitrogen rich greens,such as alfalfa meal, freshmanure, or fresh grass andturn pile.

Pile cools off before mostof the material hasdecomposed.

Turn pile.

Pile smells bad, feels soggyor is too wet.

Add shredded newspaper,straw or other browns.

All material in pile doesnot break down.

Add water, alfalfa meal orbrowns.


Why Llamas?BY SANDRA SHADDINGER

f I had a dollar for every time I have been asked thatquestion, I would be a wealthy woman. I willattempt to answer that question in this article.

Another frequently asked question is regarding thedifference between the llama and the alpaca. Both arenatives of the mountainous regions of South Americaand related to camels. Incas were the originaldomesticators of llamas and alpacas in the higher AndesMountains around 4,000 BC. Llamas of the time wereresourceful and were able to produce meat, fertilizer,and wool. They were prized beast of burden for physicallabor for the Incas.

There are four species of South Americancamelids-llamas and alpacas (thedomesticated species), andguanacos and vicunas, (the wildspecies). They have a life span ofabout 20 years and a gestationperiod of 11 ½ months. They areadaptive, gentle animals. Llamasand alpacas communicate byflicking the tail and ears, stompingthe feet and using calls. Thoughsimilar in many ways- includinghaving padded, two- toed feet,alpacas and llamas also differ insome ways.

LlamasTake then anywhere:

Valued by packers becausethey are sure-footed andcan carry loads a quarter of

their weight. Can be taught to negotiate obstacles, pull acart, compete doing tasks and visit school kids andclubs. Many have an ability to guard other livestocksuch as sheep, goats and even cattle from predators.Llamas generally stand 3 1/2 to 4 feet at the withers andweigh 250-450 pounds.

AlpacasFuture sweaters: Prized for their luxurious fiber.

There are two breeds of alpacas-huacaya and suri, withalmost identical body types but different fleece types.Alpacas are easy to handle because of their relativelysmall size. Alpacas are about 3 feet tall at the withersand weigh 100-175 pounds.

Basic NeedsPasture: Three to four llamas or four to five alpacas

per acre, depending on the pasture quality.Feeding: A good quality hay, fresh drinking water

plus a mineral mix.Annual shearing: It is a health issue because they are

susceptible to heat stress. The toenails also requiretrimming.

Buddies: Alpacas and llamas are herd animals andneed pasture mates.

Access to veterinary care: Find a local vet with large-animal experience.

I

36 Union County GREEN

Why

Not?

So why do I have llamas? They are gentle, intelligent, quietanimals. They are wonderful companions for kids and seniorsbecause of their predictable low-key temperament, intelligenceand ease of maintenance. Nathan loves wilderness packing andas they are sure footed and easy on the terrain, they leave notrace or very little in the wilderness. The fiber has a hollowcore making it light, warm and quiet to wear. They make goodlawn/pasture mowers. The llamanure enhances my gardendreams. It provides nutrients without burning my plants andsince I use no hormones orsteroids, it qualifies fororganic gardening. In pastyears, we have enjoyedshowing, parading andworking with 4-H childrenand llamas. Mostly I likethem because they are justfun to watch, living art inmy pasture.



(A conversation between Jean Ashcraft and Tim Burress)

Since 2010 the idea that New Albany needed a community gardenhas been growing. There was talk about a citywide garden along theTallahatchie where the water could hopefully be recycled from the

river. After researching the benefits of Community Gardens, members ofHistoric Northside Neighborhood Association (HNNA) voted to sponsor acommunity garden. This project was spearheaded by Vice President BeverlyJames.

To improve the quality of life for people working in the gardenProvide a catalyst for neighborhood and community developmentStimulate social interactionEncourage self-relianceBeautify neighborhoodsProduce nutritious foodReduce family food budgetsConserve resourcesCreate opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy, and educationReduce crimePreserve green spaceCreate income opportunities and economic developmentReduce city heat from streets and parking lotsProvide opportunities for intergenerational and cross-cultural connections

The location was important foraccessibility, and visibility. VeronicaWiseman, President of the HistoricNorthside Garden Club at the time, saw theneed and possibilities. The Wiseman'shaving a vacant lot on the corner ofCleveland and Madison graciously offeredthe space for the garden spot. Planning wasstarted and soon those plans were put intomotion. HNNA, the Garden Club, andneighbors all pitched in.

Cross ties donated by Mayor Tim Kent,were hauled in by David Rainy and MikeCarter and were then arranged in six foot bytwenty foot rectangles. Newspapers donatedby Lynn West, editor of the New AlbanyNews Exchange and President of HNNA,were brought in to be recycled as a weedbarrier, were laid on the ground between thecross ties. Topsoil was brought in and usedto fill the rectangles. Many thanks are due tothe Union County Sheriff's DepartmentTrustys' for helping fill the beds with topsoil.Plant such as tomato, peas, squash, peppers

Benefits discussed were:

The Historic

NorthSide District

Community Garden


and okra, were donated by the "UnionCounty Feed and Seed" and "TheGlenfield Market." Seeds, which includedflowers, watermelons, gourds, squash, andpumpkins acquired from a Miracle Growgrant were also planted and kept wateredby neighborhood resident adults andchildren. There are several volunteers thatare constants in the garden: CharlesBuster keeps the garden mowed, JackMason and Joey Lindsey keep the weedsin check, and Ray Bufkin planted flowerson the corner and built a beautifully rusticeight foot bench that anchors the cornerfor residents to take a break on as theystroll the neighborhood and work thegarden.

As a pilot community garden, ourobjective was to create interest andhopefully set a good example of whatcould happen when a community workedtogether to create a more beautiful andproductive neighborhood. The gardenseemed to spring up overnight and interestwas good, especially among the youngcouples involved, who had neverentertained the idea that they couldactually garden.

Our hope for the future is moreinterest from individuals and familiesclaiming their spot of earth to cultivate;and for them to enjoy reaping the rewardsof their work in the growing seasons tocome. This will also create anotherteaching tool for parents to teach theirchildren and grandchildren to garden.

Quality of life can be improved inmany ways, but the growing of flowersand plants has to be number one. Somesay gardening is one of the bestalternatives for stress relief and therewards are the bountiful harvest of foodand flowers. The garden is also enjoyedby passersby as well as the gardeners whotend it.

Let's just say it is a beginning...a verygood beginning. Jean Ashcraft withHNNA, was quoted as saying, "It'sexciting for me to see the way thatdifferent people in the neighborhood aretaking their time and energy to make itgrow and be fun!"

The Historic Northside NeighborhoodCommunity Garden is located at thecorner of Cleveland and Madison streets. Iencourage everyone to take the time tocome by and see what a little work can dofor your neighborhood. Who will be nextto create "A Community Garden" in yourneighborhood.

BY MICHAEL SEAL

talk a lot, as anyone who has engaged me can attestto. My capacity for conversation is boundless,whether it be at a plant show, or via telephone, or

even standing in line at the grocery. That last one is adouble whammy, for this misfortunate not only has tosuffer through my charm and wit, but also is in the onecheckout line that will come to an absolute standstill.Upon sensing my approach to the checkout conveyors,other shoppers huddle up to watch which line I enter, as aracehorse enters the gate prior to the race, for they thenknow to bet on ANY other horse/gate. Only the rookiesunwittingly stand behind me. At least they will be privy tobrilliant conversation while waiting in this endless line ofprice check delay and credit card confusion.

The lesser of these three evils (or in this case, potentialconversations with me) would be the telephone. I have anacute disdain for this device undoing mankind. First of all,it rings, sings, plays, boinks, clucks, or barks at the mostinconvenient times. It has an uncanny ability to knowwhen I'm elbow deep eating barbeque ribs, stirring a rouxwith one hand and shaking a cream sauce with the other,about to make an important point at a master gardener stateconference seminar (yes, I do have a point on occasion), orwhen crossing over four lanes of five o'clock traffic to hitthat exit my road GPS alerted me to only fifty feet back.Whew!

Secondly, I am still amazed how a telephone sitting ona desk, connected by wires to a pole thirty years agoactually worked. Now you take out a tiny box from yourpocket, wave your hand over it to move pictures around,connect to the internet, watch movies, trade stocks, andmore ever widening applications in globalcommunications. It's like "Harry Potter" meets "StarWars." Whereas, I use my antiquated cell phone to callhome and see what time it is.

Lastly, my greatest fear for the future of telephones istexting, not because I'm unable to do it, but for the dangerssurrounding those who do. It is slowly replacing personal,face-to-face interaction between two people with aconstant bombardment of thoughts all hours of the day andnight. I have to admit, cell phones gave me an invaluabletool for correctional purposes in adolescents. I observedmy two daughters texting from their old phones to theirnew phones, that's right hand to left hand. Upon realizingthe depth of their addiction, I could now confiscate theirphones and the look on their faces reaffirmed this action.Any other punishment paled in intensity. Besides, I knewbeating was ineffectual because sooner or later they wouldoutrun me or get big enough to take the belt away (workedfor me!). Mostly the danger revolves around driving andtexting, for if you take my earlier four lane, five o'clock

traffic scenario and inject someone texting their boyfriendinto it, well … I just got a new idea for an "automobile textinhibitor", otherwise labeled a hammer.

The most common exchanges with me are at the manyflower and garden shows I attend. Bromeliads are mypassion (or addiction, depending upon perspective) andhow I've made my living since 1990, the year I married mylovely wife, Elizabeth. Now, my average year covers fortyto fifty shows over a six state area, as well as speakingengagements at club meetings and conferences. Myextensive travel is probably the key to my successfulmarriage. Though my college education was extensive, Ifound very little application for sex, drugs, and rock & rollin the real world. Funding for my education in liberal arts(I gave that a whole new meaning) was provided by beinga waiter in the restaurant industry, hence my other passionfor food. But I had no formal education in horticulture.Learning was through trial and error, with my first "airplant" purchased thirty years ago. It, of course, died. I'velearned to dislike the term "air plant" for misleadingpeople. It's not the "air" that feeds them, but what's in theair: dust and debris; nitrogen in rain; bird, bug, lizarddroppings; etc. For many years I learned how to growthem, and learned how to kill them, and not in that order!Undaunted by failure in the beginning, I eventually learnedsimple strategies to succeed with bromeliads. It is at theseshows and seminars that I share my strategies with othershoping to increase their success with not only my plantsthey purchase but with other bromeliads as well.

It only takes two things to grow a plant: Number one isthe knowledge of how to grow that species; number two isthe willpower to follow those instructions. I can't go homewith everybody to care for your plants. This reminds meof a client that I recognized when she was purchasingsome of my bromeliads. I asked her how the one's she hadpurchased last year were doing. Seemingly embarrassed,she explained "I accidentally let them freeze and didn'twant to tell you. I know how you are about your plants!"My reminder that the instructions included the fact thatmost could not withstand a hard freeze was met with herresponse, "It only froze once!"

Though my learning experiences with bromeliads hasbeen done the hard way, it has provided me the insightneeded to succeed with this often misunderstood plantfamily. I proudly recall a comment made to my daughtersby a customer at a plant show they were helping me with(a now, rare guest appearance). The customer'sobservation was "your dad sure loves talking about theseplants." My daughter's response was "yeah, he talks a lot,but every once in a while, he says something important."

I

Michael Seal is owner-operator of The Funny Farm.

Say something important


BLACKBERRIES"Good for you and they taste good too"

BY ROBERT HAYS

ays Berry Farm was started in 2001 and everyyear we have doubled or tripled the number ofplants that we cultivate. We sold our first

berries in 2005 and we have 3,000 plants that are producingfor the 2012 growing season. The farm is in the process ofputting another 2,500 plants in the ground for next year'scrop. We have a you-pick operation as well as we pick andyou pick up at farm. We deliver our berries within a 20-mile radius for free if two gallons or more are ordered. Wesell to individuals, fruit stands, farmers markets, fruit andvegetable warehouses, and organic fruit juice bars. The firstten retail customers of each year that purchase five gallonsof blackberries at one time gets a certificate for one gallonof blueberries at no charge. They do however have to pickthat gallon of blueberries themselves.

Negotiations have begun to supply berries to twowineries and with three separate school districts to supplyblackberries for their lunch program. Hays Berry Farm iscurrently the only commercial wholesaler of blackberries inthe state of Mississippi.

We have six varieties of blackberries for an expandedgrowing season. We usually start to pick berries aroundMay 20th-25th, and continue picking through the end ofAugust. My best growing season was 2009 in which wepicked our first berries on May 19th and the last onThanksgiving Day. That is six months and one week ofpicking berries.

Blackberry plants are reported to have medicinalproperties as well: the leaves, roots, and outer layers of thestems can be harvested and used fresh or dried for later use.The berries are rich in antioxidants, which helps the bodyfight off several types of cancer, like cervical and breastcancer. These antioxidants also may provide protectionagainst some chronic diseases. They have a high tannincontent that gives them antiseptic and astringent propertieswhich makes them good for tightening muscles andtreating minor bleeding. Research has shown blackberries

to have some antibacterial properties that actually helpcleanse the blood. There have been other studies thatsuggest the possibilities of blackberries to have some painrelieving qualities. Blackberries also have a high fibercontent that can help with shall we say constitutionalproblems.

Some more benefits to having blackberries in your dietare:

1) help prevent macular degeneration2) help with pleurisy, and lung inflammation3) help fight endotoxin shock4) help fight against cardiovascular diseases5) help with diabetes6) help fight age-related cognitive decline (delay

process of aging)(I personally am a fan of this one)7) help with mild infections like sore throats and mouth

irritations8) help alleviate hemorrhoids9) strengthen blood vessels10) have ellagic acid for anti-viral propertiesJust think, it is possible for these berries to help with all

sorts of problems and taste so good too.Our farm's main crop is blackberries, but we do have

other produce as well. We have blueberries, pecans, blackwalnuts, chestnuts, and hazelnuts. Our farm set out anassortment of fruit trees in 2011, so we will soon haveapples, peaches, and plums. We also raise vegetables forsale as part of our day to day operation.

We are in the planning stages of putting in a picnic areaon the farm for people to come out and have a place to sitand rest while they pick their berries or to just relax andenjoy various birds and wildlife that comes around. Weinvite groups to come out and take an educational tour ofthe farm and even have a picnic lunch on the grounds.

For more information about berries and/or tours, call usat 662-538-2899 or 662-534-6267 and we invite you tovisit our website www.haysberryfarms.com for informationon the hours and days we are open.

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Community Calendar of EventsDates, events and hours are subject to change.

50 Union County GREEN


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