Download July 2016 - Luna County

Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine
• Doña Ana & Luna Counties
• U.S. Department of Agriculture
• NMSU College of Agricultural, Consumer and
Environmental Sciences
Website @ Link:
Magazines can be downloaded at the NMSU
http://aces.nmsu.edu/county/donaana/mastergardener/monthlymagazines.html
& the Luna County Website @ Link:
http://www.lunacountynm.us
ŸJULY 2016Ÿ
Beginning our 8th Year of Providing
Gardening-Related Information & News
CONTENTS:
• Plant-of-the-Month: Texas RedBud Tree
• Water-Wise Plant-of-the-Month:
Globemallow
…Other Species & Cultivars
• Tropical Plants of Interest:
Hawaiian Ginger
• Grow Native: Bringing Natural Beauty To
Your Garden (Book)
8
15-16
17
17
17
19-21
• Homemade Fertilizer From Household Items 22-23
WILDLIFE
• Awake to Secrets of a Moon Garden:
(Evening Pollinators)
23-24
FRUIT, VEGGIES & HERBS
• Building Better Beefsteaks
• ‘Pretty N Sweet’ Chile Pepper Plant
• Goji Berry: Chinese Healing Herbs
14, 18
25
25-26
INSECTS
• Cicadas: Life Cycles & Behavior
27-28
• MG Monthly Meeting Minutes
• MG Hotline Duty Information
(Cercis canadensis, var. texensis)
This is a large native shrub/ small
tree, that is fast-growing, highly cold-and
heat-tolerant and very adaptable to alkaline
soils. It differs from the Eastern Redbud
(Cercis canadensis) in having smaller, more
glossy, and usually hairier leaves with wavy
edges, and it has more of a tendency to have
red seedpods, and a smaller stature.
4
4
5-7
• Honey-Do List for July 2016
• 16 Plants That Could Kill You
TEXAS REDBUD
Page
1-3
9-10
11
11-14
• July 2016 MG Birthdays
• NMSU Plant Diagnostic Clinic
• 2016 New Mexico MG Conference
Vol. 17, Issue 7
PLANT-OF-THE-MONTH
• Take Time To Smell the Flowers
• Smelly Plants in Gardens
• 14 Stinky Plants
RANGELAND TREES & SHRUBS:
… Sleepygrass
… Tufted Hairgrass
Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Office
530 North Church Street, Las Cruces, NM 88001
Phone: (575) 525-6649 Fax: (575) 525-6652
MG Program Administrator: Jeff Anderson
Editor: Ann Shine-Ring, Certified Master Gardener
29
30-31
31
Produces clusters of blooms in magenta,
deep rose, pink, purple and even white.
With a natural range extending from the mountains of southern Oklahoma through the
limestone spine of central Texas south to northeastern Mexico, the Texas Redbud is also
more drought-tolerant than the Eastern Redbud, though less so than the smaller, more
western Mexican Redbud (Cercis canadensis var. mexicana).
The Texas Redbud is a deciduous tree, native to southwestern North America, which
can reach 30 to 40 feet in height with a 15 to 20-foot width, and grows into a rounded or
vase shape. It and the Mexican Redbud are the best suited Redbuds for the western and
central Texas and Oklahoma areas of the country.
Young trees tend to be irregularly-shaped and benefit from some training and pruning
to form an upright, more uniform crown. The incredibly shiny, thick, leathery, dark green
leaves have rounded or notched tips, are two to three inches wide, and turn yellow before
dropping in the fall. The pink-purple-magenta flowers appear in profusion on the tree limbs
in springtime, well before the leaves begin to emerge. The four-inch-long seedpods that
follow are a lovely purple color and remain on the tree well into the winter.
Article Continues on Page 2
Master Gardener Hotline Contact Data
(May 31 through June 30, 2016)
# Total Contacts
24
# Total Issues Addressed 61
Ethnicity of Contacts
Hispanic Females
4
Hispanic Males
4
Non-Hispanic Females
7
Non-Hispanic Males
8
Asian Female or Male
0
Don’t Know
1
Geographic Area
Las Cruces 21
Chaparral
1
Las Palomas 1
White Sands 1
Subject of Inquiry
Animals
1
Irrigation
Disease
3
Lawns
Fertilizer
9
Shrubs
Flowers
2
Soil
General Info 0
Trees
Herbicides 0
Veggies
Insecticides 6
Weeds
Insects
5
Misc.
5
5
6
2
7
3
1
6
(pruning 3, rooting 1, recycled glass 1,fungicide1)
Thank you to Certified Master Gardener Laurie Davidson for collecting this data.
New Mexico State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and educator. Doña Ana County, NMSU and USDA cooperating.
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 2
Texas Redbud Tree—Continued from Front Page
Texas Redbud Leaves
TEXAS REDBUD CHARACTERISTICS:
• Small deciduous trees with light grey bark covered in white spots.
• Commonly multi-trunked and rarely exceed 25-30 feet in height.
• Flower in a variety of colors. In addition to the most common
magenta, you can find varieties that bloom deep rose, pink, purple
and even white.
• Its leaves have a very distinctive “heart” shape that is dark green
and waxy on the top and lighter on the bottom. (See photo above.)
• Produces a flat seedpod in late summer that is attractive to many
birds and varmints.
• Technically an understory tree, it does well in full sun but does
appreciate some afternoon shade.
• Its drought-tolerance and adaptability to the alkaline soils of
Central and South Texas make them an excellent choice for our
yards and gardens.
• Redbuds make fine lawn trees, look great in groupings, and have
their place in shrub borders and even foundation plantings.
• In winter, the dark, its leafless branches form an attractive
silhouette, especially effective against a light-colored wall. Larger
types make nice small shade trees for patios and courtyards.
• Pests and diseases include:Treehoppers, scale insects, borers,
and Verticillium Wilt, Canker, and Leaf Spots
• NATIVE USES OF REDBUDS: Native peoples used the Redbud in
a number of ways:
o The flowers are quite tasty and nutritious and were often
incorporated into meat and nut dishes, or simply eaten fresh.
o The pea-like pods where the seeds form were also used when
small. They can be quickly cooked and eaten like their relative the
garden pea.
o As the pods mature, they become astringent and unpalatable, but
were used as a tonic to stop diarrhea, fevers and whooping cough.
o The twigs made excellent baskets and trees were often coppiced
(cut to the ground to stimulate new growth) to produce more
material.
o The roots produce a reddish dye.
USE AND MANAGEMENT:
...Branching Issues The Redbud usually branches low on the trunk
and if left intact forms a graceful multi-trunked habit. Be sure to avoid
weak forms by pruning to reduce the size of lateral branches. Keep
them less than about half the diameter of the main trunk to increase
the longevity of the tree. This will reduce branch splitting. The low
branching habit makes Redbud ideal for use as a specimen, deck, or
patio tree, and it is especially suited for planting on 15-foot-centers on
both sides of an entry walk or long entrance driveway.
Article Continues on Page 3
Texas Redbud Tree
FACTS
Family:
Type:
Fabaceae (Pea)
Other Name: Judas tree
Deciduous shrub or multi-trunked tree; understory, specimen
tree; also good as shade tree; an outstanding ornamental or
specimen plant
Origin:
Native to North America in Texas, Oklahoma, Mexico
Height:
To 30 to 40 feet
Spread: 15 to 25 feet wide
Growth Pace:
Fast-growing; short-lived (25 to 30 years)
Habitat:
Dry slopes of canyons and foothills below 4,500 feet and
limestone soils; best grown at 5,000 to 6,500 feet elevations;
can thrive at lower elevations with afternoon shade.
Shape:
Round, vase-shaped
Light:
Full to part shade; give dappled shade while tree is young
Water:
Low to medium water; do not plant under sprinkler irrigation
where it will be watered with the lawn. While young, keep soil
moist, but not soggy so tree can adjust to new surroundings
Soil pH:
Alkaline to 7.2 (neutral); well-drained, calcareous, rocky, sandy,
loamy or clay soils, usually limestone-based.
Hardiness:
USDA Zones 5 to 9a; cold-tolerant and very high heattolerance; needs some winter chill to improve profuse flower
production
Bloom Time:
Early spring
Flower Color:
Pink to magenta, deep rose, purple and white in some cultivars
Leaves:
Dark green; heart- to kidney-shaped; waxy upper surface helps
retard transpiration; leathery, coarse texture
Fruit:
Green to reddish brown pods, about ½ inch wide, tapering at
both ends; small, flattened pod and seeds
Bark:
Thin and easily damaged from mechanical impact; light grey
bark covered in white spots
Pruning:
Prune during the dormant season or after bloom
Propagation:
Can be grown from seed but seeds have extremely hard outer
coat; frequently stratification is not enough—must be scarified
as well; often takes two winters of chill and thaw in the wild to
sprout seeds.
Disease/Pests: Treehoppers, scale insects, borers, and Verticillium Wilt,
Canker, and Leaf Spots
Wildlife:
Pink flowers are first nectar choice for honeybees and
hummingbirds; host plant for some butterflies (Microtia elva)
and moths. Birds, deer and other wildlife enjoy the seedpods
and cattle also graze on its leaves and pods.
Uses:
Excellent specimen plant, a fine lawn tree, looks great in
groupings, and nice shade tree near patios and decks
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Texas Redbud Tree—Continued from Page 2
USE & MANAGEMENT: Continued
...Disease & Pest Issues Unfortunately, disease often shortens its life, but
the tree puts on quite a show for a couple of decades and it is well worth
the effort to have to replant at this time.
Treehoppers lay eggs under the bark of twigs. The insect itself is not
seen but the white, sticky froth covering the eggs is quite noticeable.
Control is usually not needed.
Scale insects can usually be controlled with horticultural sprays if
needed.
Diseases Canker is the biggest problem with Redbud. The fungus
enters through wounds or dead and dying branches. Dieback begins as a
canker on a branch. The cankers, at first small and sunken, enlarge to
girdle the branch. Bark in the canker turns black and a crack forms
between diseased and healthy bark. Once girdled, the part of the stem
beyond the canker wilts and dies. There is no chemical control. Prune out
diseased branches.
Leaf spots can be a problem during wet weather. Since the disease is
rarely serious, no chemical controls are suggested.
Verticillium Wilt attacks and kills Redbud. Fertilize affected trees and
prune out wilted branches.
...Hardiness & Water Texas Redbud should be grown in full sun or partial
shade on moist, well-drained soil. It is highly drought-tolerant once
established and grows well in all areas within its hardiness range.
PLANTING & GROWING TIPS:
• The ideal time to select and plant the Texas Redbud is late winter or
early spring. Selection is best at your local retail nursery within that time
frame. Select trees that are flowering so that you can chose the true
color that you desire.
• When planting, Texas Redbud trees should be spaced at least 15-20
feet apart.
• Do not plant under sprinkler irrigation where it will be watered with the
lawn. Be sure to incorporate compost at the time of planting.
• The planting hole should be dug twice as wide, but at the same depth
as the root ball. Trees are typically available and purchased in 5 or 10gallon nursery pots.
• Carefully remove the tree from the container, gently supporting the root
ball. Loosen the root ball, if there is compacted soil around the roots.
Roots may need to be pruned if tightly wound around the pot. Plant the
tree so that the root collar is above ground level.
• Do not cover or touch the tree trunk area with any surplus soil or mulch.
A 4-inch layer of mulch around the tree will help in conserving water and
aid in quicker establishment. Water the tree thoroughly and consider
using a root stimulator.
Page 3
PLANTING & GROWING TIPS: (Continued)
Source: Judith Phillips
• Water to a depth of 30 inches every two weeks when temps are
above 85°F, and monthly during cooler weather.
• Apply slow-release fertilizer in spring for three or four years after
planting to establish the tree/shrub in garden soil. Ongoing
fertilization after plants are established is usually not necessary.
• Can be trained as a single or multi-trunked tree. Either remove
suckers in early summer to establish single trunk or leave shapely
lower branches and gradually remove twiggy growth within several
feet of the ground
• Trim off seedpods when they begin to look weathered.
• Root rot and borers can become a problem if tree is stressed too
much or by too little water.¢
‘TEXAS REDBUD’ REFERENCES
Cercis candadensis var. texensis on ‘NPIN Native Plant Database’ at
link: http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=CECAT
Cercis candadensis var. texensis, Texas Redbud, authors Edward F.
Gilman and Dennis G. Watson on ‘US Dept. of Forestry’ at link:
http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/cer
canf.pdf
Redbud Cercis Species in ‘New Mexico Gardener’s Guide (Revised
Edition)’ by Judith Phillips, Cool Springs Press, 2004
Redbud: Essential Southern Plant on ‘Southern Living’ at link:
http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/gardens/southerngardening-redbud
Texas Redbud on ‘Bexar County Extension Education’ at link:
http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/homehort/archives-of-weekly-articlesdavids-plant-of-the-week/texas-redbud/
Texas Redbuds on ‘Aggie Horticulture’ at link: http://aggiehorticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/CERCISCANADENSISV
AR.TEXENS.HTM
Texas Redbuds on ‘The Masters of Horticulture’ at link:
http://masterofhort.com/2011/03/texas-redbuds/
The Redbud Tree: Cercis Canadensis on ‘DavesGarden.com’ at link:
http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/printstory.php?rid=0&bn=%2
Farticles%2Fthe-redbud-tree-cercis-canadensis
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 4
WATER-WISE PLANTS
S. grossulariaefolia
Shared Spaces
Globemallow
(Sphaeralcea species)
Sources: Globemallow in ‘Water-Wise Plants for the SW by
N. Sterman, M. Irish, J. Phillips and J. Lamp’l, Cool Springs Press, 2007.
And NM Gardener’s Guide, by J. Phillips, Cool Springs Press, 2004
Zones:
Form:
5-11
Mounding with thin flower stems covered in
blooms in spring and late summer.
Growth & Mature Size: Fast-growing, woody to 30 inches x 30
inches.
Uses:
Borders, perennial garden, understory,
sweeps
Soil:
Any well-drained sandy or gravelly soil
Pests:
Susceptible to rust if grown in wetter
conditions.
Description:
More than a dozen species of Globemallow
brighten the Southwest in spring and late summer. Species that
make good garden plants are those with the longest and more
intense bloom times, the most refined foliage, and most compact
forms.
Desert Globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) starts to bloom in
January at the coast, in February in the low desert, March at 6,000
feet, and so on. It forms a 24-by 30-inch mound; has small, pale
green leaves; and spikes of watermelon or cantaloupe-colored
flowers for several months. Gooseberry Leaf Globemallow
(Sphaeralcea grossulariaefolia) has 30-inch stems covered in
orange-sherbet flowers that resemble hollyhocks. (See photo of
S. grossulariaefolia at top of Column One on this page.)
Cultivation:
o Globemallow blends well with Catmint, Mexican Blue Sage, Rocky
Mountain Penstemon, and Torch Lily in spring or Russian Sage,
Turpentine Bush, and Pitcher Sage in autumn.
o Grouped between Mexican Elder or Fragrant Ash, their color adds dash to
the most subtle tones of their companions.
o They compete with grasses planted as low-maintenance ground covers.
Globemallow gives focus to vast seeps of prairie grasses.
Other Species and Cultivars:
(See all plants below)
• (S. ambigua) ‘Papago Pink’™ grows 3 feet x 3 to 4 feet with extremely
large pink blossoms.
• Munro’s Globemallow (S. munroana) grows 3 feet x 2 feet in Zones 4
through 10. It has deep orange to tangerine flowers.
• Scarlet Globemallow (S. coccinea) has flowers in a soft cream-sickle
orange, is smaller at only 8 inches tall, but can form colonies 30 inches
across. The flowers are only part of the value, as the soft green lacy
foliage makes a lovely filler in all but the coldest winter months.
• ‘S. Louis Hamilton’ has amazing grenadine-coral flowers.¢
‘Papago Pink’™
‘S. munroana’
• Plant in late summer or autumn, taking care not to overwater plants
when the weather turns cold and rainy.
• Water to a depth of 2 feet every week or two when temperatures
are above 85°F every two or three weeks when temperature are
65° to 85°F, and monthly or less during cooler weather or if there is
rain or snowfall.
• No fertilizer is needed.
• To prolong bloom time, trim off spent flower stems.
• Plants may self-sow if seeds are left to ripen.
‘Scarlet Globemallow’
‘S. Louis Hamilton’
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
TROPICAL PLANTS of INTEREST
Hawaiian Ginger
The Private Naturalist @ Link:
https://theprivatenaturalist.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/hawaiian-gingernot-just-for-eating/
I live on a part of the Island of Maui’s leeward shore that is
surrounded by and engulfed in many small private and larger public
gardens and parks. The enclosed courtyard of my own housing
compound is a modest botanical garden that includes tall Coconut
Palms, Strangler Figs, banana trees, and many of the flowering bushes
and shrubs that grow on Maui.
Page 5
Aside from being the ideal subjects for amateur photographers (unlike
birds and whales, they tend not to move around much), the various species
of Ginger have long been known for their aromatic properties and as an
ingredient in prepared ethnic foods. More recently, many “root ginger”
species that belong to the taxonomic family Zingiberaceae have been found
to possess chemical compounds sought after by the pharmaceutical
industry. Zingerone, gingerols, and shogaols are the volatile oils (about three
percent by weight) responsible for Ginger’s fragrance, distinctive taste, and
numerous beneficial medicinal properties.
Several extracts and distillations of Ginger plants possess antibacterial,
analgesic, sedative, and antipyretic (fever-reducing) medicinal properties. In
addition, several species of Ginger are currently being researched as
candidates for the treatment and cure of skin and ovarian cancer. There is
also ongoing research into the blood-thinning and cholesterol-reducing
properties of Ginger.
Powdered Ginger root capsules have been shown to be effective in
treating and preventing the nausea associated with morning sickness and
motion sickness; however, clinical studies in this area have proven
inconclusive.
The following are my photographs of a few of the most common species
of Ginger plants growing in Maui’s gardens and rain forests. These species
also grow in my housing compound’s garden in Kihei (leeward Maui).
Despite competition from the usual hordes of gaudy hibiscus and
orchid tree blossoms, the plants whose flowers stand alone in that
crowd of colorful blossoms and foliage are the different species of the
Zingiberaceae Family, or Ginger.
Now that I’ve been photographing and blogging about Hawaii’s plant
life, I’ve grown to appreciate the members of this plant family because
of the great variety of their size, form, and color. It should be no
surprise, then, that along with all of the photographs of palm trees and
hibiscus, the online photo galleries of recent visitors to our islands are
crowded with images of Hawaii’s photogenic species.
The English word “ginger” comes to us from the French word
“gingimbre” by way of the ancient south Asian words “inji ver” (literally,
“the root of Inji” in Dravidian) and “singivera” (Pali), from which the
Greek word “zingiberis” and the medieval Latin word “gingiber”
probably were derived. As you might expect, the Hawaiian names for
individual species of Ginger evolved along a different linguistic line.
Alpina Purpurata 'Polynesian Princess’
Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior)
Torch Ginger (Etlingera elatior), Hawaiian = ‘awapuhi ko‘oko‘o
A herbaceous perennial, individual plants grow in large clumps whose
stalks can be as much as 6m high with leaves as long as 85cm. Although it
is cultivated throughout the tropics and has escaped to become naturalized
in some localities, its original native range is thought to be a few isolated
islands in Indonesia.
Typically it prefers a moist climate with somewhat acidic soil (pH = 5.6 to
7.5). It prefers full sun but does well in the partial shade of the rain forest. It
is found at altitudes up to 9,000 feet. The various plant tissues and parts of
this species of Ginger are rich in volatile aromatic compounds. The majority
of the essential oils extracted from the leaves, stems, flowers, and rhizomes
of Torch Ginger are monoterpene hydrocarbons.
Terpenes are the primary constituents of the essential oils of many types
of plants and flowers. Essential oils are used widely as natural flavor
additives for food, as fragrances in perfume, and in traditional and
alternative medicines. Synthetic variations and derivatives of natural
terpenes and terpenoids also greatly expand the variety of aromas used in
perfumery and flavors used in food additives. Vitamin A is an example of a
terpene. Currently, this and other species of Ginger are the subjects of
extensive research into the various antioxidant compounds present in their
leaves and rhizomes.
Article Continues on Page 6
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 6
Hawaiian Ginger—Continued From Page 5
White Ginger, Ginger Lily (Hedychium coronarium)
Crepe Ginger (Costus speciosus)
This species is a native of the Greater Sunda Islands of
Indonesia and the Malay Peninsula. Although it has become
naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands, its invasive tendencies
enable it to crowd out native species. Its preferred habitat is
moist fertile soils and partial sun, but will grow well in full sun if it
gets plenty of moisture.
One of the most cold-hardy of the Gingers, it has been shown
to withstand freezing temperatures as low as 17 degrees
Celsius. Crepe Ginger is a tall and substantial-looking plant with
large (15-30cm long by 5-7cm wide) dark-green leaves
arranged on the stalk in a spiral.
Hawaiian = `awapuhi ke`oke`o – A native of India, it was exported throughout
the tropics because of its popularity as an ornamental species. It soon escaped
the confines of private gardens and became naturalized throughout the Hawaiian
Islands. It is considered an invasive weed because of its ability to propagate
quickly by sending out many shallow roots (rhizomes) in all directions, creating
dense thickets of individual plants. This creeping growth quickly overwhelms and
crowds out other low-growing plant species.
Hedychium coronarium is a perennial herb that can grow as tall as two meters
in height. It prefers moist habitats, such as rain forests, the banks of streams,
moist forest, roadsides, and open fields and pastures. It has large (30cm long by
10cm wide at maturity) simple elliptical or lance-shaped leaves. It produces large
numbers of flowers throughout the year. The fragrant white flowers are borne on
long (10-20cm) elliptical spikes in groups of two to six flowers atop a leafy stem.
The fruit is borne in an oblong many-seeded capsule, but is not usually present or
easily seen since propagation of the species is usually accomplished by
spreading rhizomes.
This species can grow to more than 3m tall under ideal soil
and climatic conditions. The unusual-looking flowers bloom
throughout the year in tropical climates, but only in late summer
to early fall in colder conditions.
The flower’s single petal (actually the male part of the flower)
looks like crepe paper, hence the common name “Crepe
Ginger”. This and other Ginger species propagate most
effectively by producing a large network of thick fleshy
rhizomes that are similar in appearance to the “ginger root” sold
in grocery stores and at farmer’s markets. A single rhizome will
produce new shoots and grow into a clump more than one
meter in diameter in less than two years.
Traditionally, the rhizome has been used to treat fever, rash,
asthma, bronchitis, and intestinal worms. In India and Southeast
Asia, this species is still used to treat boils, constipation,
diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and vertigo (“seasickness”). This
species is also a source of diosgenin, a compound used for the
commercial production of clinically important steroids such as
progesterone.
Indonesian Wax Ginger or Pineapple Ginger (Tapeinochilos ananassae)
Like other Ginger species growing in Hawaii, this plant was introduced for its
ornamental attributes: a large, showy inflorescence and beautiful foliage. Its
foliage consists of thick, jointed bamboo-like stems that grow directly from
numerous rhizomes. The long, smooth, lance-shaped leaves are arranged on the
stem in an inward-curving spiral typical of this species; the leaves radiate outward
from the spiral. The small yellow flowers (which function as attractors to
pollinating insects and birds) are aggregated in a large (10-30cm long), bright-red
pineapple-shaped terminal spike consisting of what appear to be waxy bright red
flower petals, but are actually bracts (modified leaves that enclose the actual
flower). To reach its full height (about 3m), this species requires very high
humidity. It prefers the full shade and moist, fertile, well-drained soils of the rain
forest. Unlike many other tropical Ginger species, this plant possesses no
aromatic essential oils. Article Continues on Page 7
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 7
Hawaiian Ginger—Continued From Page 6
Scarlet Spiral Flag Ginger, Indian Head Ginger, or
Red Button Ginger (Costus woodsonii Maas)
Hawaiian: ‘awapuhi ‘inikini po‘o
This species has gently spiraled stems and grows to
about a meter in height. The leaves are deep green. The
bracts of the inflorescence are bright waxy red, forming a
pine cone-like spike (10-15cm long) from which the
yellowish-orange flowers protrude outward one at a time.
The numerous small black seeds (1-2mm long, the
smallest of the true gingers) are usually dispersed by birds,
but it is possible that they are also dispersed by water if the
plant is growing in a wetland environment.
C. woodsonii is an aggressive and invasive species. Its
rhizomes spread rapidly and, once established, they are
difficult to remove. This species grows well in full sun,
flourishing even in the sandy soils and dune sands of
tropical coasts, but it prefers the shade, ample moisture,
and deep, fertile soil of the rain forest.
Red Ginger (Alpinia purpurata)
Hawaiian = ‘awapuhi ‘ula‘ula
Originally a native of Southeast Asia, A. purpurata was introduced to
Hawaii as an ornamental species in 1928; it is now naturalized. Grows to
about 3m tall in the wild (can grow to more than 9m tall under cultivation)
and forms large clumps of foliage bearing large oblong leaves (30-80cm
long by more than 20cm wide).
As with other ginger species, the large inflorescence (15-30cm long,
getting longer as the plant ages) consists of brightly colored (usually pink or
red, occasionally white) bracts that look like a bloom, but the true flower is a
small white blossom (corolla) at the outermost tip of the inflorescence. The
fruit is a globular seed capsule about 3cm in diameter that contains
numerous small seeds (2-3mm long).
Although this species of ginger will tolerate direct sunlight, it requires very
high humidity and soil moisture, as well as warmer air temperatures (more
than 50 degrees F) to grow to its full size. Research has revealed that this
species is a possible natural source for bioactive compounds useful for the
treatment of hypertension.¢
Although the genus Costus sp. is found throughout the
tropics on all continents, this species was first collected
and described in Panama in 1941. It was an introduced
ornamental garden plant that became a naturalized
escapee in some parts of Hawaii. It is considered to be an
invasive weed on Oahu, Maui, and Kauai islands. It is
present in large but widely scattered populations at low
elevations on Maui, particularly along the Hana Highway.
This species also displays a classic behavior of species
mutualism: it exudes what is known as “extrafloral nectar”
from the bracts of the flower spike, attracting ant species
that harvest the nectar. In turn, the ants protect the plant
from the larvae of flies and other flying insects that lay their
eggs in the flowers.
Hawaiian Kahili Ginger (Hedychium gardnerianum)
To read a very worthwhile and detailed article on Hawaiian Ginger written
by the Cooperative Extension Service, University of Hawaii at Mänoa, see
Link: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-37.pdf
Ornamental Ginger, Red and Pink, Kent D. Kobayashi, Janette McEwen,
and Andrew J. Kaufman, Department of Tropical Plant and Soil
Sciences
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 8
Grow Native: Bringing Natural Beauty to Your Garden
Author: Lynn M. Steiner | May 1, 2016
Cool Springs Press | Available in Kindle & Paperback
Learn how to transform your yard into a beautiful landscape using native plants!
You don't have to compromise beauty for natural landscapes with ecological responsibility and sustainability. In Master Gardener Lynn
Steiner’s book Grow Native, you'll find guidance for planting stunning gardens using native species that support your local ecosystem.
Organized in an easily accessible way, the book offers instructions for planting, maintenance instructions, helpful tips about soil,
watering and fertilizing as well as gorgeous photography. With guidance about how to weave native plants into your landscape and
replacing common ornamentals with natural plants, this book should have a place on every gardener's bookshelf.
Grow Native combines inspirational garden shots of native landscapes with plant specific chapters and photos.
Topics Covered Include:
• Hardiness Zone Maps
• Inspiration Gallery: Gardens Full of Native Plants
• Why Grow Natives?
• What Do You Mean by "Native"?
• Lower Water Usage / Drought-Tolerant
• Hardier / Tougher
• Easier Care
• Sustainability
• Design with Natives
• How to Incorporate Natives into Your Landscape
• Replacing Common Ornamentals
• All About Native Plants
– Ornamental Grasses & Grass-like Plants
– Trees & Conifers
– Wildflowers
– Woody Ornamentals (Shrubs and Vines)
– Succulents
– Bog Plants
– Basic Growing Tips (planting, soil, watering, fertilizing)
– Pests
– Resources
– Native Solutions for Special Situations
– Glossary
Additionally, sidebars throughout the book offer pointers for attracting specific butterflies, birds, bees and other beneficials to your yard-all through plant selections.
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 9
The fragrant season can differ in its longevity and diversity depending on
climatic conditions. In warmer zones, the season opener could be Chinese
viburnums such as the Farrer viburnum (Viburnum farreri) and the Bodnant
viburnum (V. x bodnantense). They both are undoubtedly the longestblooming fragrant shrubs that send bursts of sweetly scented flowers from
November until March.
Bodnant viburnum has an extraordinarily long blooming period,
with its peak at the end of January into early February
TAKE TIME TO SMELL THE FLOWERS
Lee Valley & Vertias® Gardening Newsletter | May 2016
Author: Gina Dobrodzicka (Author Gave Permission To Print)
Article Submitted by Certified Master Gardener, Alberta Morgan
Oddly, modern plants and, as a consequence, modern gardens are
becoming increasingly scentless. Larger and more colorful flowers are the
ultimate goal of most hybridizers. Newly created plants are often superior
to old favorites, but the scent is usually lost in the improvement process.
First things first – fragrance in the plant kingdom, although delightful,
does not exist solely for our enjoyment. Scent is an effective method of
sending a simple message to potential pollinators such as various insects
and occasionally mammals or birds. It says, "Here I am, please come."
Fragrance can be most commonly found in flowers, but some plants
display other scented parts such as foliage, stems, roots, bark or seeds.
This article, however, will present only plants with scented blooms. Some
flowers are fragrant at certain times of the day or at night. Certain plants,
such as honeysuckle, send their fragrance far across the garden, while
others, such as peony, have a far more subtle scent. The size of the flower
does not determine the quality or quantity of scent.
The Oregon Grape produces spikes of yellow flowers with an intoxicating fragrance.
Another long-term bloomer is the winter variety of honeysuckle such as
the Chinese Honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) with its creamy-white
honey-scented flowers. In January, it can be joined by Sweet Box
(Sarcococca spp.), an evergreen shrub with plentiful blooms that send rich,
penetrating fragrance. Sweet Box can be followed by various witch hazels
(Hamamelis spp.) with their pungent scents. They have strong competition
from another fabulously fragrant bloomer, the Oregon Grape (Mahonia spp.)
shown above.
C
Japanese Skimmia is a shade-loving evergreen shrub. Its dark green leathery
leaves provide a backdrop for masses of creamy-white fragrant flowers and longlasting bright-red berries. Bear in mind that all plant parts are poisonous if ingested.
In mid-winter, witch hazels blooms produce an intoxicating citrus scent.
A garden planted for fragrance can be arranged in different ways. The
scented plants can be placed in raised beds so that most emitted scents
will be at nose level. If garden space is not an issue, scented plants can
be planted along a meandering path or around the periphery of a patio or
lawn. An alternative approach that may be particularly appealing to owners
of small gardens is planting all fragrance producers in "scent pockets".
Shortly after Groundhog Day, February Daphne (Daphne mezereum)
appears with flowers that emit an impressive scent. Similarly, the small,
unassuming Skimmia (Skimmia spp.) can impress with its lily-of-the-valley
scented blooms.
The white flowers of the Armand Clematis (Clematis armandii) are
magnificent, but it is its strong, sweet fragrance that makes this climber so
valuable. In early spring, some of the most spectacular fragrant trees are
magnolias. Many offer scented flowers including Saucer Magnolias
(Magnolia x soulangeana) with a particularly fine variety called 'Lennei'. More
suitable for smaller gardens is the Star Magnolia (Magnolia xloebneri), which,
true to its name, produces starry flowers. Article Continues on Page 10
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 10
Take Time To Smell The Flowers—Continued From Page 9
The Tree Heather produces masses of tiny flowers with overpowering
fragrance that carries far.
Some scented climbers that never fail to please include
Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.) and Poet's Jasmine (Jasminum
officinale). Most large-flowered Clematises are scentless, but the
small-bloomed species are frequently fragrant such as the cultivars of
the robust Himalayan Clematis (C. montana).
Another scented white-bloomer with showy flowers is the Bottlebrush
Shrub (Fothergilla spp.). Again, true to its name, its blossoms are shaped like
miniature bottlebrushes.
The shrub that can really perfume the garden in the early spring is Sweet
Olive (Osmanthus delavayi). With its jasmine-like flowers, this shrub is
regarded as one of the best white-flowered spring evergreens.
It has strong competition, however, from the tall Tree Heather (Erica
arborea) (shown above) with its white, almond-scented blooms. Winterflowering viburnums may still be in flower when they are joined by the most
fragrant member of the genus, the Korean Spice Viburnum (Viburnum
carlesii). Its white blooms emit an intoxicating fragrance reminiscent of spice
cake. Mid-spring belongs to rhododendrons and azaleas. All can color a
garden, and some can also perfume the air.
The Mock-Orange Shrub is well known for its heady scent. All Mock
Oranges display dazzling pure-white flowers, with the exception of the pinkeyed cultivar 'Belle Etoile' (shown above).
Many perennials also send perfumed flowers. The most fragrant
include Carnations (Dianthusspp.), particularly the old-fashion Clove
Carnations, Monarda (Monarda didyma) and Summer Hyacinth
(Galtonia candicans). The back of the border can be occupied by the
tall Oriental Lily (Lilium spp.) and the towering Garden Phlox (Phlox
paniculata).
The blooms of the garden phlox 'Prime Minister' are particularly valued
for their sweet fragrance.
A large space that can handle a tree could be home to a summerblooming one with fragrant flowers. Some examples include the evergreen
Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora), deciduous Catalpa (Catalpa spp.)
and the honey-perfumed Linden (Tilia spp.). All can take scent to new
heights.
A shrub that is commonly associated with summer is the Rose (Rosa spp.).
Among hundreds of species and thousands of hybrids, many are fabulously
fragrant. However, no flowers are sweeter than those of the old-fashioned
shrub roses. Examples include the French Rose (R. gallica), the Musk Rose
(R. moschata) and the Rugosa Rose (R. rugosa). The list of fragrant summer
shrubs is topped with Daphne (Daphne spp.). Its strong fragrance can be
described as spicy with a little citrus touch.
Some scented climbers that never fail to please include honeysuckle
A number of annuals can be included in a fragrant summer display
in borders, window boxes and hanging baskets. My personal favorite
is the old-fashioned Cherry Pie (Heliotropium arborescens) with its
richly scented blooms in a royal-purple hue.
There are many more to choose from: the honey-scented Sweet
Alyssum (Lobularia maritima), hybrids of the Sweet Pea (Lathyrus
odoratus), the sweet-scented Catchfly (Silene armeria), the Pot
Marigold (Calendula officinalis) and the Mignonette (Reseda
odorata).
Warm summer nights can reveal some nocturnal fragrance
emitters such as Night-Scented Stock (Matthiola bicornis), Tobacco
Plant (Nicotiana alata), Adam's Needle (Yucca filamentosa) and
vanilla-scented Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis). Their scents,
borne on the evening air, attract night pollinators such as LongTongued moths.¢
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 11
Smelly Plants In Gardens:
Learn About Common Plants That Stink
Kristi Waterworth | GardeningKnowHow.com
When most people think of plants, they imagine a field full of sweetly scented
flowers or a garden of savory herbs. But what about the others – the stinky
plants? Although smelly plants in gardens are uncommon, a few that make
interesting landscape additions also pack a pungent odor. These common
plants that stink aren’t necessarily related, but they do have a common purpose
behind that undeniably bad smell.
❖WHY SOME PLANTS SMELL BAD
We like to think of butterflies and bees when we think of pollinators – these
insects are drawn to sweet smells and often fill up gardens where fragrant
flowers abound. The lesser-known pollinators, like flies and beetles, serve an
equally important function for a small subset of plants. These plants emit a
horrific odor that may smell like rotten meat or feces. They also bear fleshy
flowers that may be covered in hair to give the full impression of decaying flesh
to their pollinators.
The Voodoo Lily (shown above) is a close cousin of the Corpse
Flower and does sometimes appear in catalogs and landscapes. This
flower is just as pungent as the corpse flower, so if you decide to plant it
make sure it’s away from windows and patios. It’s tempting to show off
your stinky garden, but friends and family may not be as botanically
accepting as you hoped when you planted these stinkers.¢
14 STINKY PLANTS
‘Dutchman’s Pipe’
‘Shunk Cabbage’
Smelly plants in gardens are less common in America, but for the most part,
you have to have invited them in since most grow wild on other continents. A
few, like the Dutchman’s Pipe and Skunk Cabbage (both shown above) Corn
Lilies, and Dragon Arum may appear from time to time, depending on your
location.
‘Starfish Flower’
❖TYPES OF STINKY GARDEN PLANTS
The most offensive plants are hardly in widespread cultivation, though many
are popular as novelties in greenhouses and subtropical locations. The
succulents known as the Starfish Flower are members of the Milkweed family
and may be the most popular choice on the smelly plant list.
The Arum family has produced a few stinkers as well, including the
enormous corpse flower. This botanical garden favorite is commonly believed
to have the largest flower, but the “flower” is actually a compound flowering
stalk and protective cowl. The remarkable thing about corpse flowers isn’t the
size of the bloom, but its infrequency – it can take a decade or more for a single
flower to appear.
Source: HGTV Gardens (Flowers & Plants)
Author: Julie Martens Forney
Meet a group of pretty plants that add strange—and even
repulsive—odors to the garden.
-Shasta DaisyOld-fashioned daisies are a must-have plant in cottage gardens and
make a great addition to bouquets, at least as far as looks go. Not all,
but some daisies bring a stink to the garden and bouquets that
resembles either cat urine, toe jam or cow manure, depending on
whose nose is sniffing. This makes sense, since flies visit the blossoms
to help with pollination. Not all varieties are malodorous (i.e., foul or
unpleasant smelling). Buy daisies in flower so you can test drive the
scent.
Article Continues on Page 12
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 12
14 Stinky Plants—Continued From Page 11
-LantanaHeat- and drought-tolerant, Lantana provides steady summer long
color in areas with even the most sizzling summers. The flowers shift
colors as they age and beckon butterflies by the dozens. Sandpapery
leaves conceal a somewhat pungent surprise. Brush against or break
lantana leaves, and you’ll encounter an odor that’s somewhere between
cat urine, gasoline and fermented citrus.
-Flowering Pear TreeSpring brings a burst of color when flowering pears (Pyrus calleryana)
break bud. These trees are urban favorites, and the fruit beckons
wildlife. While the white blossoms are beautiful, they release a lessthan-pleasant fragrance. Some say it smells like cat urine or fish that’s
been left at room temperature too long. Chemically, the culprit for the
foul smell is butyric acid, a compound found in vomit.
-Crown ImperialA stunning late spring bloomer, Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis)
is famous not only for its unusual look, but also for its unmistakable
aroma. The scent typically earns descriptors like foxy, sweaty or
sulfurous and permeates every part of this plant. Even the bulbs reek.
The culprit behind the stench is a sulfurous terpene, which is likely
present to repel hungry critters.
-Sea HollySea Holly provides the missing blue element in perennial gardens
during summer’s brightly tinted flower show. But think twice before
adding the prickly steel blue blossoms to bouquets, because the
pollinators that flock to these flowers are flies. Globe Thistles smell like
dog or cat poo. Florists do use these blooms in arrangements—after
washing off any pollen that’s present. Apparently that’s the smelly
component. Or simply pick flowers before pollen appears. For sure,
don’t plant these near a seating area.
-DaturaThis tropical beauty has a host of names, including Thorn Apple,
Green Dragon, Devil’s Trumpet and Stinkweed. Trumpet shape blooms
open at dusk and release a heady perfume. The leaves, on the other
hand, emit a strong, offensive odor when jostled or crushed. The smell
is similar to rancid peanut butter.
-‘Globemaster’ AlliumAnother common name—flowering onion—hints at the odor you’ll
encounter when you tuck these oversize bulbs into soil. Giant flowers
appear in late spring, measuring up to 10 inches across and happily
lacking any of that classic onion scent. Leaves do smell of onion,
especially if you disturb or crush them. That aroma helps repel leafeating critters, including deer and rabbits.
Article Continues on Page 13
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 13
14 Stinky Plants—Continued From Page 12
-Paperwhite NarcissusBeauty is truly in the eye—or nose—of the beholder with this bulb
bloomer. Paperwhite blossoms exude a pervasive perfume. Some people
love it, but roughly a quarter of the population likens it to the smell of
manure or urine. The odor is due to indole, a chemical that’s also given off
by E. coli. Paperwhites belong to the Tazetta group of narcissus. Tazettas
with white cups have the most offensive odor, while yellows smell better.
-CleomeAlso known as spider flower, Cleome is a grand dame of the flower
garden. Its textural blossoms stand atop graceful stems that ‘bob and
weave’ on the breeze. Whiskered blooms beckon butterflies and
hummingbirds. But this beauty releases a skunky aroma when you jostle
stems. The older, self-sowing varieties are the most offensive. Newer
types, like ‘Senorita Rosalita’ (shown at the left), lack the stink.
-Butterfly Flower PlantPretty two-tone blue blooms resemble butterflies in flight as they open
from summer into fall. The leaves have a strong, offensive smell—tough to
describe, but it’s overwhelming and permeating.
In cold regions, gardeners often bring this bloomer indoors for winter,
but are quickly overpowered by the stench. Clip stems before bringing
indoors and overwinter roots only by placing the pot in a cool spot and
keeping it barely moist through winter. The botanical name for this is
Rotheca myricoides ‘Ugandense’ or also Clerodendrum ugandense.
-Mountain Ash TreeBotanically known as Sorbus, Mountain Ash brings strong multiseason interest. White flowers in spring fade to eye-catching clusters of
orange-red fruit in fall. Leaves turn purplish red in autumn.
In addition to boasting fireblight resistance, this tree also releases a
repulsive aroma when it blooms. The flowers are pollinated by flies, so
it’s no surprise they contain a compound found in rotting bodies.
-MarigoldWidely recognized and celebrated for its critter and insect repelling
abilities, Marigold is a long-time favorite annual. It owes its repellent
reputation to oils known as terpenes, which are found in small sacs on
leaves. Brush against a Marigold, and the odor can be pungent and
strong. In the past, Burpee Seed Company developed a stink-free
Marigold, but gardeners rejected it, saying they preferred Marigolds that
smell like Marigolds.
-Skunk CabbageA native wildflower, Skunk Cabbage is one of the earliest bloomers to
appear in spring, often sending up flowers through frozen ground and
snow. The blossoms generate their own heat to melt through frozen
coverings. Leaves, when crushed, release a distinctive skunky odor,
while the flowers emit a scent between skunk and rotting meat. Flies
and carrion beetles pollinate the blooms, drawn by the stink.
Article Continues on Page 14
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 14
14 Stinky Plants—Continued From Page 13
-Hawthorn Tree & BerriesHawthorn is a small tree that’s sure to turn heads when it flowers in
spring. Blossoms fade to form red berries that linger into winter. The
flowers stink, releasing an odor akin to a rotting corpse. In Medieval
England, Hawthorns came to be associated with the smell of the plague.
The blooms contain trimethylamine, one of the first compounds formed
when animal tissue starts to rot.■
Topic Suggested By Dale Petzold, Certified MG
-Rafflesia keithiiOther articles on the subject of Stinky Plants that may be of interest:
Stinky Plants, on ‘RottenBotany’ @ link:
https://rottenbotany.com/category/stinky-plants/
Nine of the Worst Smelling Plants in the World, on ‘Mother Nature
Network’ @ link: http://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farminggardening/photos/9-of-the-worst-smelling-flowers-in-the-world/holdyour
Top Ten Plants That Smell Really Bad on ‘ListCrux.com’@ link:
http://listcrux.com/top-10-flowers-that-smell-real-bad/
Understanding the genetics of stem cell population maintenance in
plants producing jumbo tomatoes could help scientists generate more
massive fruits.
Building Better Beefsteaks
Tracy Vence | The Scientist | August 2015
He doesn’t garden at home, but plant geneticist Dr. Zachary
Lippman does cultivate his own small kitchen crop of grape tomatoes
among the five acres of the fruit grown for research in Cold Spring
Harbor Laboratory’s fields each year. Having studied tomatoes for
nearly two decades, Lippman, an associate professor at Cold Spring
Harbor, knows the fruit well. He’s partial to plants that produce
smaller tomatoes, because they “grow like weeds” compared to the
many hefty varieties commonly found at Farmers’ Markets.
Tomatoes weren’t always so beefy. Much like Lippman’s grapetomato plants, wild ancestors of the domesticated crop (Solanum
lycopersicum) bore berry-size fruit—a far cry from the SteakHouse
variety of up-to-three-pounders currently sold by seed company
Burpee.
“Since domestication, diversity at the genome level has been
significantly reduced,” says Mathilde Causse, head of the genetics
and improvement of fruit and vegetables department at France’s
National Institute of Agronomic Research in Avignon. Over time,
farmers selected for larger, less lumpy tomatoes. “Now fruits are
round and they are very homogeneous.”
By identifying mutations affecting flowering, fruit size and shape,
and nutrient content, among other characteristics, Lippman and other
researchers hope to improve the agricultural output of tomatoes and
other food plants.
In 2008, four years before researchers published the full S.
lycopersicum genome, a team led by Cornell University’s Steven
Tanksley—who was Lippman’s undergraduate research advisor from
1997 to 2000—identified a mutation in fasciated, a gene encoding a
transcription factor, that appeared to be responsible for the beefsteak
phenotype.
As it turns out, the fasciated mutation, which can alter the number
of seed-bearing structures called ‘carpels’ in fruit, was only part of the
puzzle.
Article Continues on Page 18
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 15
Honey-Do List for July 2016
Much of our suggested garden task information comes directly from Month-by-Month Gardening in the Desert
Southwest by Mary Irish (2002). We wanted you to know that this is an outstanding gardening resource book. Also,
some of our recommendations come from Southwest Planting Tips by the Month and the Tucson Gardening Calendar
both of which are produced by the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Another resource used in our Honey-Do Lists is The
Desert Gardener’s Calendar: Your Month-by-Month Guide by George Brookbank (1999.) Recommendations from
Sunset Magazine’s monthly Southwest Garden Guides may also be included.
GENERAL: Hopefully the “monsoon” season will start soon but there are no guarantees. Continue life support. Be prepared to harvest rainwater with
barrels or buckets placed under downspouts. Also, this is a good time to update your garden journal with notes on plant performance successes
and failures.
ORNAMENTALS
• Plant seeds of pansy, stock, and snapdragon this month for fall transplant. You can still sow seed of cosmos,
globe amaranth, lisianthus (Texas bluebell), marigold and sunflowers. They will grow quickly if kept well watered
and will bloom again in late summer.
• Continue to plant summer-flowering native annuals like Arizona poppy, coyote gourd or chinchweed. These
plants may germinate with the onset of our summer monsoons.
• Deadhead flowering plants but stop pinching back chrysanthemums now to allow flower bud formation.
• Provide shade for newly planted succulents, container plants, everything. Water plants in containers everyday.
Be sure that the water drains through the holes. Skip watering if it rains more than 1/2 inch. As temperatures and
humidity increase fungal infections may become a problem. Irrigate early in the day to maximize water uptake
and minimize disease.
• Fertilize annuals in pots with a water-soluble formula once this month. Do not over-fertilize if it is very hot. Do not
fertilize plants in the ground.
• Water plants from below to prevent mildew and provide plenty of mulch to reduce water loss.
• Time to order winter annuals from catalogs.
FRUIT, NUT, CITRUS & SHADE TREES
• Continue with cover sprays to apples and pears but re-read pesticide label directions about when to stop sprays.
• Continue zinc sprays to young pecans.
• If citrus trees look chlorotic, use a soil probe to check and see if water is being used between waterings. It is always best
to water deeply and less frequently.
• Maintain vigilance against tree pests such as stink bugs, leaf footed bugs, and fruit beetles. All may damage ripening fruit
but remember some damage is tolerable. Cut out the bad spot and enjoy the fruit.
• Be on the look out for signs of peach tree borer damage (a gummy substance near the base of the tree.) Treat now
according to directions.
• Continue deep watering schedule.
• Do not fertilize any fruit trees this month.
VEGETABLES, FRUIT & HERBS
• Early this month, plant Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, and sweet corn. Continue to plant Armenian cucumber,
black-eyed peas, bush beans corn, melon, pinto beans, pumpkin and winter squash after mid-month. Also plant
broccoli, cabbage, Swiss chard, collard greens, kohlrabi, and turnips.
• Monitor watering of lavender, rosemary, sages and thyme carefully during the monsoon season. These
herbs enjoy a dry summer, but if temperatures have been exceptionally hot, water deeply to keep them healthy.
Double-check to make sure they get adequate drainage, as they will rot easily in hot, wet soil.
• Summer squash may be planted anytime this month
• Amend soil and prepare fallow beds for fall planting.
LAWNS / TURF / ORNAMENTAL GRASSES
• Raise mower height, especially for cool-season grasses, to allow deeper rooting and to provide extra shade for the
plant crown.
• Do not fertilize fescues, blue grass, or rye grass.
• If you did not fertilize your warm season grasses last month, then do so now.
• Water lawns deeply to a depth of 8–10 inches.
• Grubworm damage may become obvious with dead patches of grass lifting up like a piece of carpet. Grass has no
roots to hold it down. Treat early this month while larvae are young, near soil surface, and easier to kill.
• Don’t mow when grass is wet. This will dull the blade and gunk up the mower.
• Watch for adult May or June beetles flying around porch lights. Treat the lawn in late June or early July.
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 16
Honey-Do List for July 2016—Continued
CACTI & SUCCULENTS
• Water large cactus, yuccas, ocotillos, and desert spoon at least once a month. Be sure to water deeply, to a
depth of at least 3 feet and in a large radius around the plant.
• Water all other warm-season succulents at least every 3 weeks to a depth of 2-3 feet, depending on the size of
the plant, and in a wide radius around the plant.
• Stop watering cacti and succulents if moderate to heavy monsoon rains have arrived.
• Do not overwater desert-adapted plants. Acacia, dalea, lavender, rosemary and salvia do not like wet feet.
• Cochineal scale, which looks like a white cottony mass, may become a problem on cactus. Hose them off
frequently.
• Prune only if necessary this month. Old blooming stalks from hesperaloe, agaves, or yuccas may be pruned any
time they are dry and blooming has been completed.
• Fertilize succulents at ½ the usual strength. You can fertilize container-grown plants with a water-soluble fertilizer once this month. Use only lownitrogen formulas for succulents, especially agaves and cactus.
Some of the above recommendations came from the Tucson Botanical Garden’s monthly “calendar of care” for cacti and succulents.
ROSES
• Watch for symptoms of heat stress: 1) plants with leaves that turn brown and fall off, 2) have
flowers that are small or misshapen and with bleached-out colors, and 3) have dying limbs or
canes that crack or split may be suffering from too much sun and heat.
• Roses and other ornamentals may develop brown dried leaf margins. This may be due to heat
stress and/or salt burn. Irrigate deeply to leach salts. Water-soluble fertilizers are salty so water
well before and after application.
• Keep your roses deeply watered, mulch heavily and do provide afternoon shade.
• Many roses will lose leaves during the heat of summer, but if you maintain a steady watering
schedule, they will
• Continue to wash off roses every day or two to add extra humidity, keep dust down and to control
spider mites, aphids, and powdery mildew. Aphids can easily be removed by hand, a strong jet of
water or soapy water spray but spray early in the day as you may burn leaves when the sun is
out.
PESTS
• Use BT mosquito dunks in any standing water.
•
It’s always important to correctly identify any insect you suspect may have caused damage to your plants. If you do not know what the insect is,
collect one in a plastic bag or small jar and take it to the Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Office.
It is always important to correctly identify any pest or insect you suspect may have caused damage to your plants. If you do not know what
the culprit is, collect one in a plastic bag or small jar and take it to the Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Office located at
530 N. Church in Las Cruces (located just north of the Main Post Office downtown.)
MISCELLANEOUS
• Maintain your compost pile by watering and turning it; add mulch and weed-free grass
clippings.
• Hopefully—at last—monsoon rains have arrived! Use the rain delay function on your irrigation
time to delay irrigation. Clean and repair, if necessary, your drip irrigation systems.
• Temporarily discontinue watering after any heavy monsoon rains—stop watering cacti and
succulents if moderate to heavy monsoon rains.
• If appropriate, check your water harvesting system and other garden structures after any heavy
rains.
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 17
REMINDER!
Our next monthly MG meeting is scheduled for:
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Meeting Location:
Branigan Library—Roadrunner Room
Meeting Room
Our meeting time is 9:15am to 11:30am
Per a recent directive from the Branigan Memorial
Library, we are now prohibited from bringing
refreshments to the Roadrunner Room where our
monthly meetings are held. (This was not due to any
issue related to Master Gardeners.)
To everyone who has provided Refreshments
over the years, a very big “thank you”!
JULY 2016 MG BIRTHDAYS
★ Marcia Brown
★ Mona Nelson
★ Frank Connor
★ Claudia Smith
★ Nancy DeLouise
In order to reduce the chances of Identity Theft for our MG’s,
exact birthdate info will no longer be printed in our Magazine.
Date:
Events of Interest
July 6, 2016
Onion Field Day @ Leyendecker Plant Science
Research Center (8:30am-12noon)
August 2, 2016
National Night Out (Downtown Las Cruces Mall)
Grape Day @ Fabian Garcia Science Center
(8am-12noon)
August 8, 2016
August 18, 2016
MG 2016 Student Classes begin* (8:30am to 3:30pm)
August 20, 2016 Butterfly Flutterfly (8am for volunteers to arrive)
Sept. 11, 2016
Apple Festival at Burke Orchard (12 noon to 6pm)
Sept. 16-18, 2016 2016 NM Master Gardener Conference (Santa Fe)
Sept. 23-25, 2016 Native Plant Society Conference
(Farm & Ranch Museum)
Link: http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/plantclinic/index.html
The Plant Diagnostic Clinic is designed to provide plant
diagnostic services for the State of New Mexico. Its services include
analysis of plant material for plant pathogens and environmental
stresses as well as suggesting appropriate control measures when
available.
The Clinic also facilitates insect and weed identification through
referrals to other specialists. Its clients include extension personnel,
crop consultants, growers, retailers, landscape professionals, golf
courses, researchers, government agencies, and homeowners.
The Plant Diagnostic Clinic works very closely with the New
Mexico Cooperative Extension county offices. For initial assistance
with plant problems first contact the County Extension office near
you. The County Extension staff will assist you with sample
submission to the clinic if needed. No diagnostic service fees will be
applied to samples submitted through extension offices.
Doña Ana County Cooperative Extension Office (575) 525-6649
Luna County Cooperative Extension Office
(575) 546-8806
Sept. 27 to Oct. 2 Southwest New Mexico State Fair
GOT IDEAS? If you have a gardening-related article or a
suggestion about a Plant-of-the-Month, a vegetable or fruit, tree,
invasive plant or weed to share for our MG Magazine, please
send me a link or email me your idea.
MG CONTACT INFORMATION Be sure your email address is
current so that you will be able to receive important information
throughout the month from the MG Program. I regularly update
our MG Contact List. If you need a copy of this file, let me know.
MG MAGAZINE DEADLINE The deadline for submitting articles
and information for inclusion in our August 2016 MG Monthly
Magazine will be Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Contact Info: Ann Shine-Ring, Editor
[email protected]
(575) 640-7177
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Building Better Beefsteaks—Continued From Page 14
Working independently to determine the genetic drivers of inflorescence
architecture and fruit morphology, respectively, Lippman and Esther van
der Knaap, an associate professor at Ohio State University, converged on
the same pathway. The CLAVATA gene-signaling pathway, well studied in
the model plant Arabidopsis, had been overlooked by researchers working
on the tomato.
Page 18
Homing in on the CLAVATA pathway, Litt adds, the researchers
“found a link in an incredibly important mechanism that affects not only
tomato fruit size, but affects the size and arrangement of pretty much all
[plant] organs.”
“This provides one possible explanation why, during domestication,
selection for larger and larger fruit with more and more compartments
also resulted in larger and larger plants with larger leaves and thicker
stems—a whole syndrome of gigantism,” says Roger Chetelat, director
of the C.M. Rick Tomato Genetics Resource Center at the University of
California, Davis, who was not involved in the work. The results “could
give clues to geneticists working on other fruits on some genes to check
for homologs,” says Causse, who has collaborated with van der Knaap
but was not involved in the work, “particularly for fruits in which
meristem size” can be manipulated.
Lippman and his colleagues are now working to manipulate
CLAVATA signaling to improve crop productivity in tomato and other
plants.
Realizing their research goals overlapped, Lippman and van der
Knaap—who had worked together before in Tanksley’s lab at Cornell—
decided to collaborate. Through a series of forward genetics and targeted
mutagenesis experiments, they homed in on three genes that caused an
increase in branching and flower production, as well as in the size of fruit.
“We thought that we were going to land on some known genes already
described in other plants [that] control stem cell production,” says
Lippman. “We didn’t.”
Instead of finding genes that directly affected stem cell populations
within the ‘shoot apical meristem’, the plant tissue where most growth
occurs, the researchers found genes that encode enzymes, called
arabinosyltransferases, which add a sugar called arabinose to other
proteins, affecting meristem size. Three different arabinosyltransferasegene mutants showed enlarged apical meristems and varying degrees of
the beefsteak phenotype. The finding added a new layer of complexity to
the genetic control of meristem size in tomato plants.
Dr. Lippman and his genetically improved tomatoes
“The potential is vast for all crop plants. Stem cells . . . are required
for continuous plant development throughout life, and the stem cell
population [in the meristem] is balanced in a precise way,” says
Lippman. “There’s this small window where the stem cell number is
optimal for what nature has selected for.”
“We’ve actually demonstrated that [altered expression in] the fasciated
locus is due to a change in the promoter sequence of CLAVATA3,” says
van der Knaap.
The number of rows of kernels on a cob of corn, for example,
appears proportional to the number of stem cells residing in the
meristem. “More stem cells, more rows,” Lippman says.
While knockout experiments pointed to the fasciated mutation reported
in 2008, van der Knaap, Lippman, and their colleagues found mutations
that directed the expression of that mutation. “Phenotypic traits [are
governed by] complex genetic mechanisms. It’s possible to knock one
gene out and find out that gene is partly responsible for that phenotype,
but it’s almost never going to be the only gene responsible for that
phenotype,” says Amy Litt, an assistant professor of plant evolution and
development at the University of California, Riverside, who has
collaborated with Lippman but was not involved in this research. “People
thought that they knew which genes were responsible for the fasciated
mutation, and then Lippman and his colleagues discovered that there’s
another gene, CLAVATA3. It’s interesting that people sort of thought they
had answered the question, but it turns out there was more to the answer.”
But with crop plants, bigger is not always better. And increasing
production can come at a price. “If you mutate CLAVATA3, you swing
the pendulum really far to one side, such that now you’re really out of
control—you’re going to make way too many stem cells,” says Lippman.
“That’ll give you a lot of kernels or it’ll give you really big beefsteak
tomatoes, but the problem with that is it compromises other aspects of
growth,” such as the plant roots’ ability to take up additional water or the
stalk’s ability to support larger fruits.
The key to using the newly identified genetic pathway to manipulate
fruit size could be subtlety. “Maybe you can move the pendulum just a
little bit,” he adds. “I think the potential is there to fine-tune the system of
stem cell control.”■
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
16 Deadly Plants That Could Kill You
The Mother Nature Network | Bryan Nelson | February 2016
Over the millennia, people have learned through trial and error, which
plants are good to eat and which are best to avoid. In our modern, urban
world, much of that cultural knowledge has been forgotten. Many gardeners
may be surprised to discover that they are growing some of the world's
deadliest plants in their own backyards.
Page 19
pROSARY PEA This plant may sound pious, but it's actually deadly.
Rosary Peas got their name from their traditional use as ornamental beads
for rosaries. They are used in jewelry around the world. Many jewelry
makers have died after pricking a finger while handling a rosary pea.
The poison contained within the seed is abrin — a close relative
of ricin and one of the most fatal toxins on Earth.
Here are 16 plants with lethal tendencies.
pAPPLES An apple a day might keep the doctor away, but the same can't
be said for apple seeds. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, making
them mildly poisonous. If you consume enough of the seeds, you could
ingest a fatal dose.
But that's a lot of apples. Healthline did the math: You would need to finely
chew and eat about 200 apple seeds, or about 20 apple cores, to receive a
fatal dose. If you cut up apples for your children or prefer to eat whole apples
down to the core, you may want to remove the seeds, just to be safe.
pDEADLY NIGHTSHADE The name says it all — both the foliage and the
berries of this plant are extremely toxic. Deadly Nightshade has a long,
colorful history of use as a poison, but what many people don't realize is that
the Nightshade family includes common food plants, including potatoes,
tomatoes, eggplants and chili peppers.
In fact, all of these plants contain toxins — usually in their foliage — that
can be harmful. In particular, humans and pets should avoid potato and
tomato foliage and vines in the garden.
pOLEANDER Oleander is one of the most toxic, commonly grown
garden plants in the world — and oddly enough, it's often found in
schoolyards. Ingesting any part of this plant can be deadly, especially for
children. Even smoke from burning Oleander can be fatal.
The plant's use as a poison is well-known, reports WebMD. Oleander is
reportedly a favorite suicide agent in Sri Lanka, where Oleander
poisonings exceed 150 per 100,000 people each year. About 10 percent
of those cases are fatal.
pEUROPEAN YEW Relatively common in Europe, northwest Africa and
the Middle East, nearly all parts of this slow-growing tree can be
poisonous. The exception is the red fleshy aril that surrounds the toxic
seeds. The aril is frequently eaten by birds.
Some people have chosen to commit suicide by ingesting the leaves or
the seeds, both of which contain a poison called taxanes. Sometimes
there are no symptoms of poisoning and a person or animal can die within
a few hours of ingesting Yew seeds or leaves. If there are symptoms, they
can include a fast heart rate, muscle spams and labored breathing.
Article Continues on Page 20
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 20
16 Plants That Could Kill You—Continued From Page 19
pDAFFODILS Prized for their beauty, Daffodils grow from bulbs that
could be mistaken for an edible food, like an onion. Daffodils — also
known by their Latin name Narcissus — are common ornamental plants
with a bright, cheery and mostly toxin-free flower.
Most Daffodils are deer- and vermin-resistant, but gardeners shouldn't
overlook the dark side of this plant. The Greek philosopher Socrates
sometimes referred to Daffodils as the "Chaplet of the infernal Gods"
because of the plant's numbing effect.
pSTINGING TREE Found in forests in Queensland in Australia and
Indonesia, Dendrocnide moroides is the deadliest and most potent
stinging nettle in the world. Accidentally brushing past any part of this plant
or its stinging relatives can deliver a potent toxin that will cause a painful
stinging sensation lasting for days or even months.
pDOLL’S EYE It's a good thing the creepy-looking berries of this plant
aren't enticing, because consuming the fruit of a Doll's Eye plant (or White
Baneberry) could kill you. The berries contain cardiogenic toxins that can
have an immediate sedative effect on cardiac muscle tissue.
pCASTOR BEANS If you have consumed castor oil before, you might
be surprised to learn that Castor Beans contain one of the most poisonous
substances in the world, ricin. Just one Castor Bean has enough ricin to
kill an adult within a few minutes.
Symptoms of poisoning include burning of mouth and throat, salivation,
severe stomach cramps, headache, diarrhea, dizziness and hallucinations.
Ingestion of the berries can eventually lead to cardiac arrest and death.
Despite this grim quality, Castor Bean plants are frequently grown for
decorative purposes, even in parks and public places.
pHEMLOCK This is one of the most famous poisonous plants in history.
It’s the flora responsible for killing Socrates. All parts of the plant contain
the relatively simple alkaloid coniine which causes stomach pains,
vomiting and progressive paralysis of the central nervous system.
Hemlock is also known by several common names, including Devil's
Porridge, Beaver Poison or Poison Parsley.
A severe sting from this plant will cause a severe allergic reaction in
pigs, horses, dogs and many other animals, but there's not as much
evidence that it has killed humans. (One researcher documented her time
working with Dendrocnide excelsa, which is considered a less dangerous
plant, and her increasingly allergic reaction to the plant offers a sense of
what's possible.)
pANGEL’S TRUMPET Angel's Trumpets are woody-stemmed bushes
with pendulous flowers that hang like bells. They are prized as decorative
additions to the garden because of their elegant flowers. The catch is that
all parts of these plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be
fatal if ingested by humans or animals.
Angel's Trumpets have occasionally been used to create a recreation
drug, but the risk of overdose is so high that these uses often have deadly
consequences.
Article Continues on Page 21
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 21
16 Plants That Could Kill You—Continued From Page 20
pMONKSHOOD Monkshood has a long tradition as a deadly
plant and was used by ancient warriors to poison the water of
their enemies. It was also once used as a popular werewolfdetection tool. The flower was held near the alleged wolf’s chin,
and if a yellow-tinged shadow appeared, that was confirmation
that the person was a werewolf.
Recently, a gardener died of multiple organ failure after
brushing past this deadly purple flowering plant on the estate
where he was working in the United Kingdom.
pWHITE SNAKEROOT White Snakeroot contains the toxin
tremetol, which can be poisonous if consumed directly or
second-hand. When Snakeroot is eaten by cattle, the animals'
beef and milk become contaminated with the toxin, and
ingesting those substances can lead to a condition called ‘milk
sickness’. Abraham Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks, reportedly
died after swallowing Snakeroot-contaminated milk.
Human disease is uncommon today because of current
practices of animal husbandry and the pooling of milk from many
producers, but milk sickness does still occur.
pLARKSPUR The seeds and young plants of the Larkspur are
toxic to both people and animals. Toxicity decreases as the plant
ages. Larkspur has several alkaloids including delphinine,
delphineidine, ajacine and others that can cause very
unpleasant issues. According to the USDA, symptoms of
poisoning include general weakness and muscle spasms, as
well as abdominal pain and nausea. Eventually, it can lead to
respiratory distress, paralysis and death.
Larkspur is responsible for heavy livestock losses, particularly
with cattle in Western states when the animals are allowed to
graze where the plant is abundant.
pFOXGLOVE The seeds, stems, flowers and leaves of the
Foxglove plant are poisonous. They contain digitalis glycosides,
which are organic compounds that act on the heart. When
someone eats part of this attractive plants or sucks on the
flowers, the glycosides affect cardiac function, causing an
irregular heartbeat.
Symptoms can also include digestive issues, headache,
blurred vision and confusion and can eventually lead to death.■
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 22
• Green Tea has anti-oxidant properties and as a diluted watering
solution can increase plant resistance to disease.
• White Distilled Vinegar is another enhancement for plants like roses.
Water with 1 teaspoon per gallon of water.
Homemade Fertilizer
Made from Household Items
Bonnie Grant | Dave’sGarden.com | March 2016
You don't need to be a chemist, biologist or any type of scientist to
make your own fertilizer. Plants need certain basic nutrients for vigorous
growth, optimum health and best yields. Producing a natural plant food is
as easy as opening your pantry door, recycling clippings or assiduously
saving your kitchen scraps. For centuries, our ancestors have known the
secrets to feeding crops the natural way. Harness the knowledge for
yourself and mix up a batch of old-fashioned power juice for your plants.
Most of us are familiar with the magic of compost as a mulch, soil
amendment and plant food. Composting simply requires warm
temperatures, moisture, aeration and organic material. It is one of the best
ways to compliment a natural landscape and continue the carbon nitrogen
cycle that makes up most of life. Compost also offers an accessible source
of nutrients to plants but there are many other items in the average home
that can enhance plant growth and fertilize crops. Even something as
simple as using your aquarium fresh water after tank changes, can add
nutrients from the fish waste and algae that tend to form in tanks. Making
a homemade fertilizer is easy once you know some of the basic
ingredients.
The things we eat are basically composed of natural ingredients. Good
cooks keep a pantry or larder stocked with the basic building blocks of
meals. Many of these building blocks have the potential to escalate plant
growth and boost bumper crops.
• Molasses seems to increase microbes in soil. It is as simple to use as
mixing 3 tablespoons of molasses in 1 gallon of water. Water your
plants as usual.
• Use your banana peels in newly dug rose beds to release potassium for
bigger blooms.
• Eggshells are rich in calcium carbonate and can help fend off blossom
end rot. Washed, crushed and worked into the soil, these usual
"discards" are important nutrient powerhouses that also increase soil
tilth.
• Coffee grounds are another ‘throw away’ item that still has life in it yet.
Coffee increases the acidity of soil which plants like azaleas,
blueberries and roses, love water.
Another way to recycle kitchen items is by using a vermi-composting
system. These can be purchased or they are easy to make yourself.
Vermicomposting relies upon red worms or wigglers. These small
worms break down food scraps fairly quickly and release castings,
which are rich in organic nutrients.
The key to keeping an odor-free worm bin is to make sure your food
scraps are cut up no larger than 1 inch. This promotes quicker
breakdown. The worm castings are useful mixed with potting soil or
worked into the garden bed. They can also make a formidable tea to
use as a foliar spray or soil drench.
There are other places in the home other than the kitchen to look for
fertilizer ingredients. Epsom salts are mostly magnesium with some
sulfur. The magnesium is one of the basic micro-nutrients necessary for
photosynthesis and sulfur accelerates root growth and assists with the
formation of chlorophyll. This common muscle soak is easy to use by
mixing 1 tablespoon of the salts with 1 gallon of water. Almost any plant
will react enthusiastically to an application of this mixture.
Borax is another common household item. It is a stain fighter and
laundry booster. In large amounts borax, which has high levels of boron,
can be dangerous to plants. In large garden beds, a minute amount of
boron will enhance plant germination and growth.
The recipe to use relies upon our old friend Epsom salts and some
dolomite lime. Mix 10 pounds of lime, 2 ounces of Borax and 8 ounces
of Epsom salts. Apply at a rate of 1 ounce per foot in the garden bed
prior to planting. The entire recipe treats 225 square feet of soil.
Don't dispose of your fireplace ash. Store it until spring and then
make a soil drench to enhance soil pH. The ash is a good source of
lime, potassium and trace elements. It can be worked in in its dry state
or soaked and strained as a tea. Do not use it around acid-loving plants.
Article Continues on Page 23
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 23
Homemade Fertilizer—Continued From Page 22
Awake to the Secrets of a
Moon Garden
Tammi Hartung | Birds & Blooms | April/May 2016
Items outside the home are also beneficial as fertilizers.
o If you are lucky enough to keep chickens or know someone who
does, use the manure directly worked into the soil or make a
manure tea by soaking the solids for a week and then straining them
out.
o You can also use horse or cow manure but this is best composted
and aged before applying around plants.
o Grass clippings are full of nitrogen, one of the main nutrients for
plant growth. Grass tea enhances green leafy growth and promotes
vigorous plants. Even weeds can outlive their "enemy" status and
redeem themselves. Allow them to dry and then weight them down
in a bucket of water for a few weeks. Stir frequently. Drain away the
weeds and add them to a compost pile and use the water as a foliar
feed for any plant. They release nitrogen and other nutrients into the
water for a dose of needed energy for the plants you do want to
keep.
There are many recipes for combining these natural fertilizers into a
powerful plant punch.
o One for the lawn, which is accessible and easy to use, is made up of
beer, ammonia and baby shampoo (the non-antibacterial type). Beer
gives soil microbes needed food, while ammonia adds nitrogen. The
baby shampoo enhances absorption. Use 1 bottle of beer and 1 cup
each ammonia and shampoo. Apply to the lawn with a hose end
sprayer every 2 weeks in spring. This will encourage green, lush
growth and a healthy turf.
Take a nighttime stroll through moonlit flowers and evening
pollinators. Most of us notice how gorgeous gardens are when the sun
is shining, but how often do we see what a garden looks like at night?
Between dusk and dawn, when moonlight illuminates the plants, visitors
can enjoy unique insight into a garden’s personality.
Night pollinators such as moths, native bees and bats are attracted to
plants in a moon garden with white and pale-colored flowers that are
intensely fragrant and produce a lot of nectar. As you walk through the
moon garden, you will be able to watch these varied and industrious
third-shift pollinators as they go about their important work.
-Sphinx Moth❂ MOTHS Moths fly to white and pale blooms, which show up well in
moonlight. These creatures have an amazing sense of smell; they love
flowers that are highly scented. Some moths hover over the plants to
sip nectar with their very long tongues, and others land on flowers while
they feed.
Many kinds of moths, like Sphinx Moths (like the one shown above),
will visit Honeysuckle, Columbine and Amsonia Blue Star.
More recipes are available online or in the many natural and organic
gardening books.¢
❂ BATS In the arid Southwest, three kinds of nectar-feeding bats
pollinate night-blooming plants. They prefer the nectar of large flowers,
such as Agave, Yucca, and many types of cacti. Blooms of white, purple
and green, along with very strong scents, will attract these beneficial
nighttime creatures. Article Continues on Page 24
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 24
Moon Garden Nighttime Pollinators—Continued From Page 23
❂ NATIVE BEES Although most bee species, including domestic
honeybees, do their pollinating during the day, a few native bees, such
as small Sweat Bees (see above photo), work by night, using the moon
and starlight to navigate through the garden. They pollinate Evening
Primrose, Monarda and Campion.
Lavender lures daytime fliers and nighttime pollinators
-Night-Blooming Cereus-
❂ NIGHT-BLOOMING FLOWERS A moon garden should include
flowers in pale hues of yellow, blue, purple, green, white or cream, and
pink, along with plants that have either silver or gray foliage.
The pale blooms and silvery foliage reflect the light of the moon and
stars, giving the garden a delicate glow. Plants with flowers that stay
open through the nights, such as Yucca, or blossoms that open at dusk
and close in the morning, such as Evening Primrose, are magnets for
night pollinators.■
PLANTS WITH SILVER AND GRAY FOLIAGE
!
!
!
!
!
!
!
Lavender:
Wooly Lambs’ Ears:
Horned Poppy:
Sea Kale:
Helichrysum:
Santolina:
Silver Blade
Evening Primrose:
The gray foliage of Wooly Lambs’ Ear shines in the moonlight.
Flowers of purple and blue
Pink Flowers
Yellow or orange flowers
Sprays of white flowers
Yellow clusters of tiny flowers
Yellow button flowers
Large pale yellow flowers
! Pussy-Toes:
Delicate white or pink flowers
! Sage:
Flowers of purplish-blue
The gray foliage of Wooly Lambs’ Ear shines in the moonlight.
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
‘Pretty N Sweet’ Pepper
Its name says it all:
This pepper is just that; plus tips and tasks for early spring
Niki Jabbour | Horticulture Magazine | April/May 2016
Back in August of 2015, I had the opportunity to attend the California
Vegetable Trails, an annual event that showcases many of the
outstanding varieties produced by the leading seed breeders. One of
these breeders was Seeds By Design, a family company started by Patty
Buskirk in 1994. Patty loves breeding peppers (and watermelons, squash,
tomatoes and more) and she has won ten All-America Selections Awards
for her many vegetable introductions. One of her recent winners is, ‘Pretty
N Sweet’, a compact sweet pepper that is perfect for both gardens and
containers.
No need to hide this one in your vegetable garden—‘Pretty N Sweet’ is
highly ornamental; growing into an 18-inch mound of bright green foliage
smothered in dozens of one-to-one-and-a-half inch sweet peppers. The
peppers emerge green, but they soon turn yellow, orange and red, and
they sit atop the foliage for easy picking. This variety matures early, with
the harvest beginning just two months from transplanting.
Peppers need full sun, well-drained soil and plenty of warm weather. I
like to grow, ‘Pretty N Sweet’ in big pots on my super-sunny back deck.
The plants thrive in the heat and supply us with a bumper crop of bite-size
sweet peppers from late July through early October.
• If you’re planting a garden, dig in some aged manure or compost and
pre-warm the soil with a sheet of black plastic—a black garbage bag will
do in a pinch.
• Leave the plastic in place for two weeks, remove it and plant your
hardened-off seedlings once the danger of frost has passed.
• The peppers need about an inch of water per weeks, so get out the
hose if there has been no rain.
Page 25
GOJI BERRY BUSH (Gou Qi Zi)
Source: Chinese Healing Herbs | Link:
http://www.chineseherbshealing.com/goji-berry/
Goji Berry Bush is a real treasure. All its fruits, leaves, flowers, and
root bark (Di Gu Pi) are superior herbal tonics. Goji Berries, also known
as Gou Qi Zi, have been regarded as general nutritive tonic, noted antiaging herb, and eyesight-improving medicine since long time ago.
In order to keep in good health, promote good eyesight, and slow
down aging, people keen on nourishing life consume it on daily basis by
making tea, soaking in rice wine, stewing soup, cooking congee, and
many other ways. That is why this herb is frequently found in many
excellent cuisine and herbal recipes. Thanks to it is rich in a variety of
nutrients such as carotene, vitamin A1, B1, B2, C, calcium, iron and
other necessary nutrients, today this miracle fruit has been extensively
applied for many purposes.
So, what is Goji Berry good for? How to eat and how to use it to
make the most use of its health benefits? If you have not got a clue on
these questions, seemingly you have to know more information about
Goji Berries.
WHAT IS GOJI BERRY?
Medicinally it mainly refers to the dried ripe fruit of Lycium barbarum
L., a plant belonging to the family Solanaceae. It is usually harvested in
summer and autumn when the fruits turn red. After the harvest, dry by
hot air before remove the stems, or dry in the air till it wrinkles first, and
then dry in the sun.
As a matter of fact, Goji is the general name for Lycium fruit
commodity and the plants of Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense
Mill. And sometimes it also means some other varieties.
• Container-grown plants will need to be watered more often.
• An occasional dose of a balanced liquid organic fertilizer will also keep
plants productive and growing strong.
My kids have given this prolific variety their stamp of approval; they love
snacking on the petite peppers, which also work well on veggie trays or
chopped in half and stir-fried. Betcha can’s eat just one!¢
Article Continues on Page 26
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Goji Berry Bush—Continued From Page 25
The Goji Berry herb has many common names. Medicinally it is
similar to spindle and oval, 6 to 20mm in length and 3 to 10mm in
diameter.
• Surface is red or dark red, with a small convex style mark on the top
and white stem mark on the base.
• Peel is pliable, tough, and slightly wrinkled.
• Flesh is fleshy, soft and moist.
• Seeds are similar to kidney, flat and warped, 20 to 50 in number, 1.5
to 1.9mm long, 1 to 1.7mm wide, and with pale yellow or brown skin.
• In addition, it has slight odor and sweet flavor.
• Ripe Lycium Barbarum contains betane, atropine, hyoscyamine,
zeaxanthin, scopoletin, carotene, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and
vitamin C.
• Its seed contains amino acids, trace elements, 7.09% polysaccharide, taurine, γ-aminobutyric acid, and more.
• Amino acids include aspartic acid, proline, alanine, leucine,
phenylalanine, serine, glycine, glutamic acid, cysteine, lysine,
arginine, isoleucine, threonine, histidine, tyrosine, tryptophan, and
methionine.
• Trace elements include potassium, calcium, sodium, zinc, iron,
copper, chromium, strontium, lead, nickel, cadmium, cobalt,
magnesium and others.
GOJI BERRY BENEFITS
• This herb was initially recorded for medicinal purpose in The Book of
Songs, with more than 3,000 years of history. Its name of Gou Qi Zi
first appeared in Shen Nong’s ‘Herbal Classic’ and there it was
classified as one of the best herbs. And ever since this herb has been
one of the herbalists’ favorites.
• In the East Jin Dynasty, Ge Hong, a medical master and alchemist,
got juice by pounding it alone for the treatment of eye disorders. In
Tang Dynasty, Sun Simiao, A famous Taoist and medical expert,
combined this herb with others to make liver tonic teapills to cure
blurring vision. And the famous Five Ancestors Teapills, formulated
by Li Ting in Tang Dynasty, is composed of Goji, Semen Cuscutae,
and other herbs for male impotence, premature ejaculation, infertility,
premature graying, and urine endless.
• Now this herb is enjoying the enormous popularity worldwide by
made into Goji Berry tea, bars, beer, cookies, cuttings, drinks,
dessert, extract, eye cream, powder, essential oil, face mask, facial
cream, smoothie, jam, jelly, muffin, supplement, tablets, and more. In
recent years, science has got a further understanding on Goji Berries
by analyzing its chemical composition and pharmacology.
Page 26
MODERN GOJI PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS/CLAIMS
1) It improves immune function, enhances the body’s ability to adapt to
a variety of noxious stimuli
2) It significantly inhibits the generation and spread of cancer cells
3) It improves eyesight
4) It tremendously increases the reserves of muscle glycogen and liver
glycogen. Thus it increases human energy and has anti-fatigue
effect
5) It improves brain function and enhances learning and memory
capabilities
6) It boosts the body’s adaptive defenses, which thus enhances the
endurance to various noxious stimuli, such as hypoxia, cold, blood
loss, and more
7) It enhances the body’s hematopoietic function by promoting the
proliferation of hematopoietic cell, increasing white blood cell count,
and reinforcing the body’s hematopoietic function
8) It effectively enhances various organs’ functions, improves brain
function, resists free radicals as an antioxidant, and then delays
aging
9) It dramatically reduces the levels of serum cholesterol and
triglyceride, reduces and prevents arteriosclerosis and hypertension
10) It relieves allergy symptoms, e.g. gastrointestinal tract bleeding and
joint pain. And this effect is achieved by regulating the endocrine
11) It protects liver and nourishes kidney by inhibiting the deposition of
fat in the liver cells and promoting the regeneration of liver cells
12) The guanidine derivatives contained can lower blood sugar. So it
can be used as health product for people with diabetes
13) Its tea helps with weight loss and obesity
14) It treats chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis
PROVEN GOJI HERBAL REMEDIES
Traditional Chinese Medicine tends to believe that it is sweet in taste
and neutral in properties. It goes to channels of liver, kidney, and lung.
Common functions are nourishing the liver and kidney and moistening
lung.
Key Goji Berry uses and indication are the deficiency of liver and
kidney, light-headedness, blurred vision, soreness and weakness of
waist and knees, ED (erectile dysfunction) and damage of essence,
consumptive cough, extreme thirst, and so on.
Recommended dosage is 5 to 15 grams in decoction, tea pills,
powder, paste, and liquor agents. Regularly the preferable Goji Berry
daily amount is 20 grams for healthy adults and 30 grams for treating
patients.
GOJI BERRY SIDE EFFECTS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS
As you can see now, Goji Berry is very rich in nutrients, which can be
of great help on prevention and treatment of some diseases.
Unfortunately, not all people are suitable to take this herb due to its
warm nature. It is reported that overdose might lead to a few adverse
reactions like skin sensibility, epistaxis, fever, and more.
Traditional Chinese Medicine wise, it shouldn’t be used in cases of
excess heat caused by exogenous pathogenic factors and spleen
deficiency accompanied with dampness and diarrhea.■
Article Submitted by Certified MG, Gail Ross
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 27
á
If you go out at night when
Cicada nymphs are emerging,
you should be able to find the
teneral (newly molted) adults,
which first appear creamy-white
before acquiring their final color.
Periodical Cicadas
Life Cycles & Behavior
Source:
http://entomology.osu.edu/bugdoc/PerioCicada/PeriCicadaBehav.htm
Immature Periodical Cicadas (nymphs) develop underground and suck
juices from plant roots. After 13 or 17 years below ground, mature
nymphs emerge from the soil at night into the morning hours and climb
onto nearby vegetation or any vertical surface. They then molt into
winged adults. Their shed outer skins or exoskeletons are found attached
to tree trunks and twigs. The emergence is often tightly synchronized,
with most nymphs appearing within a few nights.
â
Periodical Cicada nymphs
often construct openings
and mud tubes in areas
where they will eventually
emerge. This is most
commonly seen in wet
conditions.
á
Hundreds of nymphal
exoskeletons can be found
on tree trunks, branches
and leaves after Periodical
Cicadas have emerged.
Adult Cicadas live for only two to four weeks. During this short time,
they feed relatively little. Male Cicadas sing by vibrating membranes on
the underside of the first abdominal segment. Male courtship songs
attract females for mating. Females are silent. Each species of Periodical
Cicada has a distinctive song, and two to three of the species are
common within each brood emergence.
After mating, females lay their eggs in twigs ¼ to ½ inch in diameter.
The female's ovipositor slices into the wood and deposits the eggs. One
to several dozen eggs can be laid in one branch, with up to 400 eggs
being laid by each female in 40 to 50 sites.
Cicada eggs remain in the twigs for six to ten weeks before hatching.
The newly hatched, ant-like nymphs fall to the ground where they burrow
six to 18 inches underground to feed.
á
Periodical Cicada nymphs
crawl up tree trunks and
other surfaces at night to
find places to molt into
adults.
â
Hundreds of nymphal
exoskeletons can be
found on tree trunks,
branches and leaves
after Periodical Cicadas
have emerged.
á
Female Cicadas use their
needle-shaped ovipositor to
cut slits into small branches.
They insert their eggs into
these slits.
Article Continues on Page 28
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Periodical Cicadas—Continued From Page 27
á
Female Cicadas locate
males through the male
songs. Female Cicadas
do not produce a song.
ã
ã
Damage to branch from Periodical Cicada
egg laying. If the bark continues to peel
back, the branch will be girdled.
During the spring of the emergence year, Periodical Cicada nymphs
may build mud tubes that project three to five inches above the soil,
apparently to escape wet or saturated soils. These tubes are often
mistaken for the tubes that crayfish build.
Annual Cicadas usually emerge from June through August. Their
emergence is scattered over this time and they rarely emerge in
noticeable numbers. Annual Cicada males also sing to attract females.
The Cicada Killer Wasp often captures these insects to provision its nest
in the ground.¢
A month or two after the Cicada adults have laid their eggs,
many of the tree branches in which the eggs were inserted
die. This is called ‘flagging’ and it can look like considerable
damage has been done. Fortunately, this damage is only
dangerous to small trees and shrubs. Mature trees rarely
suffer long-term damage.
Page 28
Cicadas are actually beneficial to the environment
Source:
http://ecowatch.com/2016/06/01/17-year-cicadas-are-back/
Cicadas may be a nuisance to humans, and a terror for those who
aren’t big fans of flying bugs, but their emergence is actually beneficial to
the environment. Laying their eggs in the trees provides a natural pruning
that increases tree growth—though; the process can damage young
trees. (To prevent this, simply cover the saplings with netting and they
should survive, Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist with the National Pest
Management Association, told U.S. News and World Report.) Cicadas’
burrows aerate the soil and their decaying bodies provide nutrients.
The invasion only lasts six weeks. Once the baby Cicadas, also called
nymphs, have hatched from their eggs in the trees, they’ll fall to the
ground and burrow into the soil, not emerging for another 17 years.
Underground they survive off moisture from tree roots. Cicadas don’t eat
solid food.¢
To answer all your questions about Cicadas, check out
‘What Is Up With Cicadas?’ at link:
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2016/05/everyt
hing_you_wanted_to_know_about_17_year_periodical_cicadas.html
Topic suggested by Certified MG, Alberta Morgan
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 29
SLEEPY GRASS
TUFTED HAIRGRASS
(Stripa robusta Scribn.)
Source: New Mexico Rangeland Plants, NMSU Circular 374
Revised by Christopher D. Allison & Nick Ashcroft, Nov. 2011
Description: Coarse, leafy, thick-bunched. Three to 6 feet tall. Bright
green. Broad leaves, up to 2 feet long, hairy where the
blade joins the stem. Densely flowered, pale green
seedheads. Seeds covered with short, soft, white hairs
terminated by a twice-bent awn about 1½ inches long.
(Deschampsia caespitosa (L.) Beauv.
Source: New Mexico Rangeland Plants, NMSU Circular 374
Revised by Christopher D. Allison & Nick Ashcroft, Nov. 2011
Description: Erect, 2 to 4 feet tall. Bright green leaves, purplish
flower head. Leaves basal, flat, folded, or occasionally
inrolled, coarse, and stiff. The flower head, usually
open, may be drooping, and is 4 to 12 inches long.
Cool-season, perennial, bunch grass
Cool-season, perennial, bunch grass
Occurrence: Throughout the northern and mountain areas of New
Mexico at elevations of 5,600 to 9,000 feet. Typical of
coarse gravelly soils.
Forage Value & Management:
Even when Sleepy Grass is green, it is not very
palatable. Livestock graze it only when more palatable
forage is absent.
Although the grass is said to have a narcotic or sleepinducing effect on livestock, particularly horses, it does
not cause death.
Sleepy Grass increases under heavy grazing, and
spreads quickly from its abundant seed supply. However,
the grass is not aggressive when in competition with
more preferred grasses under controlled grazing.¢
Occurrence: Moist open sites in meadows and ponderosa pine
forests within mountain areas above 7,000 feet. May
occur in pure stands.
Forage Value & Management:
When Tufted Hairgrass is growing rapidly, livestock
relish it. Otherwise, it is usually moderately palatable.
The grass occasionally becomes so coarse that cattle
and sheep graze it only lightly. The plant withstands
fairly close grazing.¢
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 30
MASTER GARDENER MONTHLY MEETING – June 8, 2016
Introduction and Welcome – Jeff Anderson ² Notetaker: Sue Styer, Certified MG
Introduction and Welcome – Jeff Anderson
• Jeff Anderson welcomed everyone. He discussed the topic of our MG Hotline library--its importance and purchasing additional books.
• Jeff announced that because of budgeting issues the Extension office will be moving to the corner of Solano and Spruce Streets (1170 South
Solano Drive) in November/December of 2016. This is also the location of the New Mexico Dept. of Health. He asked the MGs to save smaller
boxes for the library books that we will need to move. The building offices will be painted starting in August 2016.
MG Hotline (David Ross and Gail Ross) David thanked the small dedicated group of volunteers that continually man our Hotline. He reminded
everyone that if you have signed up and cannot make the commitment to call the office or him/Gail. Volunteers will be needed for July.
Magazine (Ann-Shine-Ring) Ann reviewed her proposed articles for our July 2016 MG monthly magazine. She also requested articles and ideas for
our upcoming magazines. You may send her the article or just a link. (Email: [email protected])
Plant-of-the-Month:
Tropical Plant-of-the-Month:
Water-Wise Plant-of-the-Month:
Gardener Interest Articles:
Books:
Wildlife:
Insect:
Veggie/Fruit:
Rangeland Trees & Shrubs:
Texas Redbud Tree
Hawaiian Giner
Globemallow
Take Time To Smell the Flowers
Smelly Plants in the Garden
14 Stinky Plants
16 Plants That Could Kill You
Homemade Fertilizer From Household Items
Grow Native: Bringing Natural Beauty To Your Garden
Awake to Secrets of a Moon Garden (Evening Pollinators)
Cicadas: Life Cycles & Behaviors
Goji Berry: Chinese Healing Herbs
Building Better Beefsteak Tomatoes
Pretty N Sweet’ Pepper
Sleepy Grass and Tuft Hairgrass
Luna County MG News (Ann Shine-Ring) The group met last week and decided they will not participate in the MG Class this year but are planning a
series of Garden Mastery Workshops for the Deming community. This reflects the feedback they have been given by community members
indicating that this type of education better meets the community need.
The Sheriff’s office needs a native plant area and the MGs will try to help him. The Main Street project is waiting for information on drainage. Ann
will be presenting information on growing roses to the local Garden Club at the Senior Center in July. Ann will also be representing Luna County
MGs in a leadership workshop in Santa Fe at the State MG Convention.
Community Gardens (Tony Nunez) Tony described how hail devastated the Munson Garden wiping out cucumbers, snap peas, green onions etc.
The garden looked terrible but certain plants are beginning to come back. The compost and the flowers are doing well.
Mesilla Valley Bosque (Tony Nunez) Tony reported that they are obtaining a used greenhouse from Vado and the Project is progressing well.
Other – Jeff has had to report to the USDA on the effects of the hailstorm.
Discussion:
• Interns questioned whether the meeting hours would count toward their MG hours’ requirement for the year ending 9/30/2016. Discussion will
ensue with Jeff, as there was possibly a misunderstanding about the hours.
• Rachel Gioannini, MG, is conducting a research project on green roofs for her NMSU degree. She would like to show any interested MGs her
project. Ann will send out an email to announce the date/time.
• Jeff proposed that for the Southern New Mexico State Fair (SNMSF), we put school garden information on the back wall of our exhibit.
• Questions arose as to how individuals submit veggies/flowers to the SNMSF for judging. There is a website with all necessary information –
www.snmstatefairgrounds.net.
• Ann has found some Kindle resources/apps on gardening and will put this information in future MG Magazines.
• Discussion centered on inviting Kelly White to come down for a program. She has made some changes and it would be a good time to learn about
them. Ann mentioned that Kelly updated a great deal of info on the MG Program on the NMSU website but that info was apparently not shared
with our local MGs.
OLD/CONTINUING/NEW BUSINESS:
• 4-H Horticulture (Juliet Williams) There was a marvelous turnout for the County Contest. Juliet tutored and the kids did well on the test. Districts
– June 16 – Silver City – Juliet and Jeff will travel to Glenwood for the day. State Contest – July 12 – 3 more volunteers are needed at Skein Hall
(NMSU) for set-up in the morning and the contest in the afternoon.
• Grape Day (8/13/2016, 8am – 12pm) To be held at Fabian Garcia Science Center. This is the 3rd annual event.
• Onion Field Day (7/6/16, 8:30am – 12pm) To be held at Leyendecker Plant Science Research Center
Minutes Continued on Page 31
Doña Ana County Master Gardener Monthly Magazine—July 2016
Page 31
June 8, 2016 Monthly MG Meeting Minutes—Continued from Page 30
OLD/CONTINUING/NEW BUSINESS (Continued:
• National Night Out (8/2 6-9pm) – Jeff Anderson asked the MGs to start thinking of a project. It must be easy and quick. The event is familyoriented and held at the downtown mall. In the past they have done popsicle creations.
• Butterfly/Flutterby (August 20 at 8am) – Chihuahuan Desert Nature Park - Juliet Williams noted that this activity is also for kids to learn about
butterflies. She needs 2 or 3 people to help.
• MG Class 2016 starting 8/18/2016– Jeff Anderson –The class will be starting, and they will also be moving the office. Ann will send out media
announcements regarding this.
• Apple Festival at Burke Orchard (9/11 – Noon – 6pm) – Jeff Anderson mentioned that hail hit the apple orchard but apples are still on the trees
and the festival is still on.
• SNMSF (9/27-10/2) – Gail and David Ross reminded MGs that this event is coming up quickly and that he needs many volunteers to man the
booth, some to judge, some to help record entries and others for set up. This is a great way to get volunteer hours in before the end of the MG
year which is 9/30/2016. Sign-up sheets were available.
• NM State MG Conference (9/16-18 - $95 – Santa Fe location) Ann related some details on the Conference such as all the workshops will be on
9/16/16. There has not been any lodging information on the website thus far. Jeff will contact Kelly with any questions.
Ann mentioned that she will submit a basket provided by the NM Dept. of Agriculture on behalf of both Doña Ana & Luna Counties to the
Conference. Also there has been a request for a list of possible Showcase Exhibits for DAC. Ann questioned if Donna Knudson would be
responsible for the table showcasing our activities including the magazine etc.
Other – Joan Woodward announced that the Native Plant Society would sponsor a Conference in Las Cruces on 9/23, 9/24, 9/25, 2016. The cost is
$90 if you register now and there are fieldtrips every day. To be held at Farm and Ranch Museum. Ann will send a link to this Conference info.
Educational Presenter: Dr. Robert Flynn, NMSU Topic: The Ground Beneath Our Feet
Our next monthly meeting will be on July 13, 2016 at 9:15 in the Roadrunner Room at the Branigan Library.
LUNA COUNTY MASTER GARDENER HOTLINES
Deming (At Extension Office) Thursdays 9:00-11:00am (575) 546-8806
Columbus (At Library)
Mondays 10:30-11:30am (575) 531-2612
MASTER GARDENER HOTLINE DUTY
As of September 11, 2013, per MG request, Hotline duty signups will no longer be listed
in this Magazine. As of 1/8/14, we now can sign up for Hotline Duty online at the same
website location where we now record our Volunteer Service hours.
Connect to link: http://aces.nmsu.edu/county/donaana/mastergardener/ and click on
Volunteer Hours Logging and you can click on either:
“Go to my log sheets” or “Go to my Calendar”
We are very grateful to Eric Graham, Certified MG, for donating many hours to
create this great new resource for MGs. Thank you!
IMPORTANT:
Please remember to be present on your assigned date for the Hotline. If another MG forgets, please give him or her a “reminder”
call. Be sure to get a copy of the Subs List, for your information.
As of Monday, March 11, 2013, the Doña Ana County Extension Office hours changed to 9am–12 for receiving public
phone calls and office visits Monday through Friday. However, Hotline volunteers will still be on duty from 9am to 1pm
on Tuesdays and Fridays. Remember, the Extension Office is closed from 12 noon to 1:00pm daily for staff lunches.
URGENT:
We need at least 2 MGs at each Hotline Day, but please no more than four MG volunteers max as there is not enough
room in the Hotline Office. Please consider volunteering for at least one, four-hour assignment to ensure we have
adequate coverage for our Hotline. Thank you for your help.