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June 24, 2009 Welcome to Texas Gardener’s Seeds, the weekly newsletter for Texas gardeners. Please do not reply to this e-mail as the sending address is not monitored. See the bottom of this newsletter for information on how to subscribe, unsubscribe, or contact the editor. |
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Getting to the root of
science in a nutty way By Kathleen
Phillips Dr. Leo Lombardini has
gone underground to get the most top secret information in his field.
Lombardini is watching
roots grow in his experimental orchards, and it is sort of nuts — he's a
pecan researcher.
His study is part of a
national specialty crop research project funded by the U.S. Department
of Agriculture. Lombardini, a Texas AgriLife Research horticultural
scientist, will focus on pecans while researchers at other universities
focus on almonds, pistachios and walnuts. The overall goal is to
discover ways to produce a higher quality, more nutritious nut in the
most efficient, sustainable way.
"There have been very
little root research efforts," said Lombardini who is teamed on the
project with Dr. Astrid Volder, Texas A&M University assistant professor
of horticultural sciences. "And there has been nothing that looks
directly at the root. As far as we know, this is the first research to
look at roots in the real setting."
To do that, Lombardini
bored a hole at a 45-degree angle about 20 inches from the trunk of 20
trees in a 400-tree orchard planted in February. Each hole was fitted
with a six-foot clear plastic tube into which a camera will be inserted
at various times in the growing year.
"Pecan trees are
planted bare root, that is, with not much root system," Lombardini said.
"The camera turns to capture a panoramic-type view. So we will be able
to watch as these roots grow and see how they respond to various
conditions over time."
A pecan tree spends its
first five or six years growing into a mature tree capable of producing
nuts. Spring is typically a period of growth for the trees, but it is
not currently known whether first-year roots grow much in the first few
months of planting. Lombardini hopes the initial shots from the camera
in June will give an indication of first-year root growth.
"If we can see when
various roots of a tree die or what happens to roots in a drought, for
example, we then might know better how to schedule tree maintenance or
apply nitrogen at the best time for the best results," Lombardini
explained.
Lombardini plans to
photograph the roots at least twice a year. A similar study in Las
Cruces, N.M., will replicate his work, and the two can be compared.
The federal grant will
provide $100,000 over three years for Lombardini's study. |
 As the eggs of a new type of phorid fly develops inside the heads of red imported fire ants, it takes over the control of the host, said Dr. Scott Ludwig, Texas AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management specialist. Ludwig released fire ants infested with the parasite at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton on April 29. (Texas AgriLife Extension photo by Robert Burns) |
New phorid fly species turns
red imported fire ants into 'zombies'
By Robert Burns Zombie fire ants may not sound like a
cool thing, but wait a minute, said a Texas AgriLife Extension Service
expert.
On April 29, on the grounds of the Texas
AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton in East Texas, Dr.
Scott Ludwig released fire ants infected with a new type of phorid fly,
a minuscule parasite that only preys on red imported fire ants.
The infected ants will soon exhibit some
very bizarre behavior, he said.
"First they become zombies, their
movements under the control of the parasite. Then their heads fall off
and the parasite emerges," said Ludwig, AgriLife Extension integrated
pest management specialist.
Previously released phorid flies only
preyed on ants in disturbed mounds. In contrast, the species,
Pseudacteon obtusus, that Ludwig released in April is attracted to
foraging red imported fire ants and not disturbed mounds. Which is even
better, he said, as attacks of ants are not dependent upon the mounds
being disturbed.
The "zombified" fire ant is made to
wander about 55 yards away from the mound to die.
"The parasite does this so it can
complete development without being detected and attacked by the fire ant
colony," Ludwig said. "By making their hosts wander away, the parasite
is insuring its survival."
As with the new species, the previously
released phorid fly species in Texas only attacks red imported fire
ants. They inject their eggs into their bodies. In response, fire ants
withdraw to their underground nests and reduce their foraging range, he
said.
Once established, it was hoped that
earlier releases of phorid flies would spread beyond the original
release sites, and there has been evidence that they have, Ludwig said.
"Pseudacteon tricuspis was first released
near Austin in 1995. From 2003 to 2006, it spread over 10,000 square
miles," Ludwig said. "The second species, P. curvatis, was established
2004 and is beginning its spread."
The parasite isn't attracted to native
ant species, he emphasized.
"We're hoping the new parasite will
reduce the foraging of fire ants, and thereby allow our native ants to
regain some footing," he said.
The release was part of the Texas
Imported Fire Ant Research and Management Project.
"The project was initiated in 1997 as a
result of the Texas Legislature funding an exceptional item requested by
Texas AgriLife Research," Ludwig said. "The project's goals are the
management of imported fire ant to below economic levels on agricultural
lands and to eliminate the imported fire ant as a nuisance or health
threat in urban environments." The phorid flies infesting the fire ants
Ludwig released were raised by Dr. Lawrence Gilbert, director of the
Brackenridge Field Laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin.
"UT researchers have taken the lead on
phorid fly research in the state," Ludwig said.
More information on the project and fire
ant research can be found at
http://web.biosci.utexas.edu/fireant/index.html
or
http://fireants.tamu.edu/.
The new species was previously released
in 2007 only in South Texas, where it was established but did not
spread.
"It may not have spread because of the
drought," he said.
Ludwig's release was the first in East
Texas. In 2010, he plans to set out traps baited with live red imported
fire ants to determine if and how rapidly the phorid fly has spread.
"Earlier data suggests they can spread 25
miles a year through wind-assisted dispersion," he said. |
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Gardening tips When planting in the summer it is essential to keep newly planted seedlings shaded during the afternoon until established. Even plants that normally require full sun will benefit from a little less full sun. Use whatever is available: old boards, cardboard, shingles or shade cloth. Have a favorite gardening tip you’d like to share? Texas Gardener’s Seeds is seeking brief gardening tips from Texas gardeners to use in future issues. If we publish your tip in Seeds, we will send you a free copy of Texas Gardener's 2009 Planning Guide & Calendar. Please send your tips of 50 words or less to the editor at: Gardening Tips. |
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Did You Know...
If you want a natural breath freshener, try chewing on a sprig of peppermint. It will even mask the odor of garlic breath. |
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Upcoming garden events Quitman: The Friends of the Arboretum is hosting a photography contest to promote and document the natural resources, history and beauty of Wood County. Both amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to participate in this contest. Photographers are to submit electronic images of flowers, native plants, landmarks, architectural elements, and landscapes that depict one of the four seasons in Wood County. Images must have been taken within Wood County, and within the last two years. These photographs will be used by the Friends of the Arboretum various print and electronic media to be distributed at various venues and displayed on the Friends' website. First prize winners in each class will receive a professionally printed 11 X 14 canvas of their original work, which will be donated by jeb Originals in Winnsboro. Second and third place winners will each receive a ribbon. And, all prize winners will receive recognition from the display of their work in various venues and forums. Classes are: Adult Amateur, Adult Professional, Student Senior Division (Ages 17 to 14), and Student Jr. Division (age 13 and younger). There is no entry fee, but all entries must be accompanied by the completed official entry form, which can be downloaded at http://woodcountyarboretum.com. Entries must be received prior to midnight on July 1. Contestants may enter as many times as they wish, but a separate official entry form must be included for each entry. The Gov. Hogg Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, located in Quitman, is a 23-acre site dedicated to gardens, walking trails and the preservation of historic buildings. The development of the site is ongoing with volunteer help from Wood County Master Gardens, local garden clubs, various civic organizations and the generosity of the area businesses. The Friends of the Arboretum is a non-profit group dedicated to raising funds and volunteering time in support of the development of the Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. For additional information, contact Pam Riley at (903) 967-2820 or email friendsarboretum@yahoo.com. Woodway: Dr. Joe Masabni, Texas AgriLife Extension Service Vegetable Specialist, will present "Getting Ready for Fall" (Vegetable Gardening Program), Wednesday, July 8, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway. For more information, contact (254) 757-5180. Georgetown: The Williamson County Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas will hold its annual brainstorming meeting from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., July 9, at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. 8th St., Georgetown. Members and guests will share and discuss ideas for the coming year's programs. Refreshments will be served and guests are welcome. For more information, contact Billye Adams at (512) 863-9636 or visit http://www.npsot.org/WilliamsonCounty/default.htm. Austin: The Travis County Master Gardeners Association will present "Becoming A Garden Detective: Diagnosing Plant Problems" from 10 a.m. until noon, July 11, at Zilker Botanical Garden, 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin. Just when you think you've done everything right by your plants, one of them starts to go downhill. One of the biggest challenges for gardeners is correctly diagnosing plant problems and finding effective, safe solutions. Is your plant dying because of an insect, environmental or disease problem? Join us to learn the causes of plant problems, the process for diagnosing plant problems, and preventive garden management techniques. This class is free and open to the public. A plant clinic will run during the seminar to help you diagnose current problems so please bring samples of problem plants. For more details, see http://www.tcmastergardeners.org or call the Travis County Master Gardener's help desk at (512) 854-9600. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Water Gardening," Noon- 1p.m., July 13, at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Pat Plowman will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Pearland: Dr. Carol Brouwer, Conuty Extension Agent for Horticulture, will present "Landscape Design" from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m., Tuesday, July 14, at Bass pro Shops, Highway 288 at the Sam Houston Tollway, Pearland. This free lecture is hosted by the Harris County Master Gardener Association. For additional information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu. Seabrook: Donita Brannon, Horticulture Exhibits Manager of the Rainforest Pyramid at Moody Gardens, will speak on "Recovering from Ike" at 10 a.m., July 15, at the Meeting Room at Clear Lake Park (on the lakeside), 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. She will discuss plants that survived the hurricane along with rebuilding and soil remediation of the gardens after the storm. This free lecture is hosted by the Harris County Master Gardener Association. For additional information, visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu. Austin: The Austin Pond Society will host the 2009 Pound Tour July 18 and 19. Approximately 15 ponds will be included in the tour on Saturday and another 15 on Sunday. For additional information, visit www.austinpondsociety.org. Rockport: The Aransas/San Patrico Master Gardeners will host "Xeriscape Gardening with Native Plants," presented by Karen Ivey, Administrator, San Patricio Municipal Water District, as one of their Brown Bag events, from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, at the Aransas County Library, 701 Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail ararsas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Victoria: Victoria County Master Gardeners will present "Mulching, Composting and Water Conservation," Noon-1 p.m., August 10, at the Pattie Dodson Health Center, 2805 N. Navarro St., Victoria. Monica Pilat will speak. Free to public. Bring sack lunch. For additional information, contact Victoria County Extension Office, (361) 575-4581. Schertz: The next Guadalupe County Master Gardener training class is for anyone with a love for gardening and a desire to learn more about horticulture. Classes are on Wednesday August 12 to December 9th from 6:15 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. and two Saturdays at the Schertz Civic Center, 1400 Schertz Parkway, Schertz. Instructors include Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists, staff and local experts, including Malcolm Beck, Patty Leander and Drs. Larry Stein and Mark Black. Topics include botany and plant growth, entomology, Xeriscaping, propagation, herbs and vegetables, tree care and pruning principles, composting and organic horticulture, water conservation and much more. Registration is $170 with a 10% discount if received by June 10, and $125 for 2nd household member if sharing a handbook. Payment plan also available. For more information, an application and a list of speakers, please email gsammermann@gvec.net or call (830) 372-4690. Applications are also available on our Web site at www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. Woodway: Steven Chamblee, Chief Horticulturist at Chandor Gardens, Weatherford, will present "Texas Tough Plants" (Improving your Landscape), Wednesday, August 12, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Carleen Bright Arboretum, 9001 Bosque Blvd., Woodway. Topics include: Best choices for annuals & perennials, trees, groundcover, shrubs & bushes, roses and accent plants. This free event is sponsored by McLennan County Master Gardeners and McLennan County AgriLife Extension. For more information, contact (254) 757-5180. San Antonio: The San Antonio Botanical Society is bringing David Rogers' Big Bugs to the San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston at North New Braunfels Ave., this fall. The exhibit opens Labor Day weekend (September 5-7), and will remain on location through December 6.Featuring gargantuan sculptures of insects, the exhibit alters viewers' perceptions and magnifies the role of insects as nature's "hidden gardeners." Sculptures are constructed entirely from natural materials, complementing and blending with the existing landscape. Interactive programs for children and families, and integrated materials for educators, will be available at the Garden throughout the three-month exhibit. For more information, call (210) 207-3255, or visit www.sabot.org. MONTHLY MEETINGS Rockport: The Aransas/San Patricio Master Gardeners meets at 9 a.m. the first Tuesday of each month at the AgriLife Extension Office - Aransas County, 611 E. Mimosa, Rockport. For additional information, e-mail aransas-tx@tamu.edu or call (361) 790-0103. Kilgore: Northeast Texas Organic Gardeners meets at 10 a.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Wildwood Eco-Farm in Kilgore. For more information, call Carole Ramke at (903) 986-9475. Allen: The Allen Garden Club meets at 7 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month, February through December, at the Allen Heritage Center, 100 E. Main St., Allen. For more information, visit www.allengardenclub.org. Austin: Austin Organic Gardeners meet at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin. For more information, visit www.main.org/aog. Pearland: The second Tuesday of each month the Harris County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold a free evening educational program for the public, called the Green Thumb Series, at Bass Pro Shop, Highway 288 at Sam Houston Tollway, Pearland. For more information visit http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu or call (281) 991-8437. Schertz: The Guadalupe County (Schertz/Seguin) Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT) meets the second Tuesday of each month except July and August at the Guadalupe County Annex, 1101 Elbel Road, Shertz. A plant exchange and meet-and-greet begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by a program at 7. For additional information or an application to join NPSOT, contact guadalupecounty@npsot.org. Rockport: The Rockport Herb & Rose Study Group, founded in March 2003, meets the second Wednesday of each month, with the exceptions of June and July, to discuss all aspects of using and growing herbs, including historical uses and tips for successful propagation and cultivation, meets at 619 N. Live Oak Street, Room 14, Rockport at 10 a.m. Sometimes they take field trips and have cooking demonstrations in different locations. For more information, contact Linda (361) 729-6037, Ruth (361) 729-8923 or Cindy (979) 562-2153 or visit www.rockportherbs.com. Brownwood: Brown County Master Gardeners Association meets the second Thursday of each month, from Noon to 1 p.m., at the Brown County AgriLife Extension Office, 605 Fisk, Brownwood. For additional information, call Freda Day (325) 643-1077, or Mary Engle (325) 784-8453. San Antonio: The San Antonio Herb Society meets at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of each month at the San Antonio Garden Center, 3310 N. New Braunfels (corner of Funston & N. New Braunfels). For more information on programs, visit www.sanantonioherbs.org. College Station: The A&M Garden Club meets on the second Friday of each month during the school year at 9:30 a.m. at the Senior Circle Rooms, College Station Professional Building II, 1651 Rock Prairie Road, College Station. Expert speakers, plant sharing, and federated club projects help members learn about gardening in the Brazos Valley, floral design, conservation topics, and more. For more information, visit www.sallysfamilyplace.com/Clubs/GardenClub.htm. Dallas: The Rainbow Garden Club of North Texas meets the second Sunday of each month at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome. Meetings are held at member’s homes and garden centers around the area. For more information, visit www.RainbowGardenClub.com. Cleburne: The Johnson County Master Gardener Association meets at 6 p.m. on the third Monday of each month. The public is invited to attend. There is an educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For information on topics call (817) 556-6370 or visit http://www.jcmga.org/. Sugar Land: The Sugar Land Garden Club meets on the third Tuesday of each month, September through November and January through April at 10 a.m. at the Sugar Land Community Center, 226 Matlage Way, Sugar Land. The club hosts a different speaker each month. For more information, visit www.sugarlandgardenclub.org.Denton: The Denton Organic Society, a group devoted to sharing information and educating the public regarding organic principles, meets the third Wednesday of each month (except July, August and December) at the Denton Senior Center, 509 N. Bell Avenue. Meetings are free and open to the public. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are preceded by a social at 6:30. For more information, call (940) 382-8551. Glen Rose: The Somervell County Master Gardeners meet at 10 a.m., the third Wednesday of each month at the Somervell County AgriLife Extension office, 1405 Texas Drive, Glen Rose. Visitors are welcome. For more information, call (254) 897-2809 or visit www.somervellmastergardener.org. Granbury: The Lake Granbury Master
Gardeners meet at 1 p.m. on the third
Wednesday of each month at the Hood County Annex 1, 1410 West
Pearl Street, Granbury. The public is invited to attend. There is an
educational program each month preceding the business meeting. For
information on topics call (817) 579-3280 or visit
http://www.hoodcountymastergardeners.org/.
Seabrook: The Harris
County Precinct 2 Master Gardeners hold an educational program at 10
a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at The Meeting Room
at Clear Lake Park (on the Lakeside), 5001 NASA Road 1, Seabrook. The
programs are free and open to the public. For more information, visit
http://hcmgap2.tamu.edu.
Houston: The Native Plant Society of Texas — Houston (NPSOT-H) meets at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except for October (4th Thursday) and December (2nd Thursday). Location varies. For locations, for more information on programs, and for information about native plants for Houston, visit http://www.npsot.org/Houston. Rosenberg: The Fort Bend Master Gardeners meet at 7:15 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month except December at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center located at 1330 Band Road, Rosenberg. For more information, call (281) 341-7068 or visit www.fbmg.com. Seguin: The Guadalupe County Master Gardeners meets the third Thursday of each month at the Texas AgriLife Extension Bldg. at 210 E. Live Oak at 7 p.m. For more information, phone (830) 379-1972 or visit www.guadalupecountymastergardeners.org. Longview: The Northeast Texas chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas meets the third Thursday of each month at St. Mary’s Parish Hall in Longview. For more information, call Logan Damewood at (903) 295-1984. Edna: The Jackson County Master Gardeners present their "Come Grown With Us" seminars on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through October, beginning at 7 p.m. at 411 N. Wells, Edna. The seminars are free, open to the public and offer 2 CEU hours to Master Gardeners or others requiring them. For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at (361) 782-3312. Fort Worth: The Organic Garden Club of Forth Worth meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month except July and December at the Fort Worth Botanic Gardens main building. Refreshments are served. For more information, call (817) 274-8460. Dallas: The Dallas Organic Garden Club meets at 6:45 p.m. on the fourth Thursday of each month at the Fretz Park Recreation Center, located at the corner of Hillcrest and Beltline Road in Dallas. For more information, call (214) 824-2448 or visit www.dogc.org. Arlington: The Arlington Organic Garden Club meets from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month (except November and December) at the Bob Duncan Center, 2800 S. Center Street, Arlington. For more information, contact David at (817) 483-7746. If you would like your organization’s events included in "Upcoming Garden Events," please contact us at Garden Events. To ensure inclusion in this column, please provide complete details at least three weeks prior to the event. |
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The Southern Kitchen
Garden
By William D. Adams and Thomas R. Leroy A kitchen garden, or potager, is a
celebration of the seasons: brimming with vegetables, herbs, flowers,
and even fruit trees, it’s our link with nature and a source for fresh
produce. The kitchen garden has always been an important part of life in
the rural South, at times meaning the difference between being well-fed
or going to bed hungry. In recent times, the kitchen garden has become
more fashionable and now more and more homeowners are reaping the
delicious rewards of growing their own food.
A kitchen garden needs little more than a
small raised bed, so an aspiring gardener with only a modest backyard
will have plenty of room to get started. If you have more space on your
hands, then you can include some produce requiring a little more space
like fruit trees, corn or pumpkins.
In the book, the authors with take you
through the process of starting your very own kitchen garden from
location to soil preparation to planting and then to harvest. It is also
loaded with useful information on propagation, pest control and is laced
with mouth-watering recipes and beautiful color photographs.
$21.30 plus shipping*
Order online with credit card at
www.texasgardener.com or call toll-free 1-800-727-9020.
*Or with credit card by phone and receive
FREE shipping. That is a $3.50 savings! Visa, MasterCard and Discover
accepted. |
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Wish you’d saved
them?
Are you missing an important issue of
Texas Gardener? Or, perhaps, just tired of thumbing through stacks
of back issues looking for the tips and techniques you need to make your
garden grow? These new CDs provide easy access to all six issues of Order by calling 1-800-727-9020.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.)
*Other volumes will be available soon. |
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Sale! A book so
good, even the insects like it
That’s right. We
have a small quantity of The Vegetable Book that have been
nibbled on by silverfish. The result is very minor cosmetic
damage. We can’t sell them as new books at full price so we are
forced to drastically reduce the price to $13.87 (includes
tax and shipping). That is more than half off the regular
price! This should appeal to all the tightwads out there as well as
those who would like to have a second, not-so-perfect copy of Dr.
Cotner’s timeless classic to carry with them to the garden as a
working copy. Hurry while supplies last!
$13.87 includes tax and shipping! (while supplies last) Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or order on-line. (Discover, MasterCard and Visa accepted.) |
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Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac
Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac is a giant monthly calendar for
the entire state — a practical, information-packed, month-by-month guide
for gardeners and "yardeners." This book provides everything you need to
know about flowers and garden design; trees, shrubs, and vines; lawns;
vegetable, herb, and fruit gardening; and soil, mulch, water, pests, and
plant care. It will help you to create beautiful, productive, healthy
gardens and have fun doing it.
$26.63 plus shipping*
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
*Mention
Texas Gardener’s Seeds when ordering by phone and we’ll waive shipping charges. (Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
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Fiber row cover
valuable year-round
Grow-Web encourages plant growth and development, and also provides
protection from insects, birds, diseases and frosts. It is also air and
water permeable and allows for ventilation. Grow-Web provides excellent
protection to seedlings when applied directly to the seedbed.
$30.64 per 12.3’ x 32.8’ roll (includes shipping!)
Order by calling 1-800-727-9020 or
order on-line.
(Discover, MasterCard and Visa
accepted.) |
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Missed an issue? Back issues of Texas Gardener’s Seeds are available at www.texasgardener.com/newsletters. Publisher: Chris S. Corby ● Editor: Michael Bracken Texas Gardener’s Seeds, P.O. Box 9005, Waco, Texas 76714 ● www.TexasGardener.com |