Thursday, April 3, 2014
Canton Library Giving Garden
Things are starting to come together at the Canton Community Giving Garden. After a lot of delays due to getting materials delivered we finally have the beds built and the soil in them and ready to go! We have scheduled a planting day for Tuesday, April 22nd for those who want to come out and help get things started. Of course, we will only be planting the cool season plants at that time. It will still be a few weeks before we can get the warm season plants in the ground. Take a look at these pictures and you can see how far we have come in a short period of time. I'm looking forward to the programs we have scheduled at the library this summer.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Haywood County Garden Tour
Haywood County (NC) Garden Tour: “Forests, Flowers & Food”
The
Master Gardeners of Haywood County present their biennial garden tour:
“Forests, Flowers & Food” on Saturday, June 21, 2014 from 9am to 4pm
(rain or shine.) Visit three extensive private gardens, a perennial
garden maintained by church volunteers, and an elementary school
teaching garden.
Tickets
are $15 and may be purchased in advance by calling 828-456-3575. Or
reserve your tickets for “will call” on the day of the tour by emailing mgtour2014@charter.net. Garden Tour proceeds fund education-related horticultural projects in Haywood County.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Starting New Community Garden Project
Today we started work on the new community garden project at the Canton library. The weather didn't cooperate but we did have a few brave Master Gardener Volunteers brave the cold and get started on installing a couple of raised beds. I'm looking forward to seeing this project move forward! Thanks to those who came out today!
Here is most of the gang after we finished the first raised bed.
Tom, Rich, and James were doing all the carpentry work. I just dug the holes for the trellis poles.
Rhonda helped too. I'm not sure why she needed the sun glasses?
Here is most of the gang after we finished the first raised bed.
Tom, Rich, and James were doing all the carpentry work. I just dug the holes for the trellis poles.
Rhonda helped too. I'm not sure why she needed the sun glasses?
Friday, November 1, 2013
Asian Lady Beetle Invaders
From: Mike Waldvogel and Patty Alder, Extension Entomology
Just in case the kudzu bugs weren't annoying enough, we have had reports from western NC that the Asian lady beetles have begun their search for winter quarters. For those of you who are new to this phenomenon, you can read about it at:
http://insects.ncsu.edu/
While a lot of North Carolinians spent last week dining on deep-fried everything at the NC State Fair, the beetles have been focusing their attention on crevices in tree bark, rock outcroppings, and (of course) buildings. The beetles use visual and physical cues to find suitable overwintering sites. Although these locations tend to be the sunnier or warmer sides of buildings, or on exposed light-colored buildings, this doesn't mean that people with dark-colored siding, brick or log homes are immune to the lady beetle assault. Research has shown that the beetles seem to respond to contrasting and often right-angle shapes or reflective colors, which conveniently (for them) are what windows and doors present against the overall background of a house. Once the beetles arrive at the site, they use chemical cues to locate the specific crevice they want to inhabit within the structure. The source of these chemical cues may be beetle feces from previous winters (yes... they live and poop inside your walls), or the odor of beetles that died at the site, or possibly an attractant or pheromone released by the beetles. So, think of your house as the sacred ladybeetle burial ground.
In some cases, the beetles are a very limited nuisance. However, we have had situations where people's houses have been inundated
with literally thousands of lady beetles. The sheer numbers of beetles that appear over the course of the winter and spring convince people that the beetles are reproducing in the house. Of course, this isn't true. The beetles prey mostly on tree-feeding aphids, but they are also found in a variety of agricultural crops. They lay their eggs on these same plants. So, unless they're growing some "crop" indoors that's infested with aphids (some very mellow and happy aphids) then the beetles are not reproducing or laying eggs in your house. The beetles show up because they are simply heeding Nature's call to escape harsh winter weather.
The beetles do not cause real structural damage, if you exclude the odor and yellow-brown stain that they often leave when you disturb or squish them. There have been reports that the beetles may "bite", but it's more like a pinch (unless you're a real whimp). There have been published reports of people developing significant allergies from exposure to airborne particulates from decaying lady beetle carcasses. So, the lady beetles aren't entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.
As with kudzu bugs, pesticides remain questionable in their effectiveness. Some studies have shown that treatments around windows and doors particularly on the south side of the house may have a more significant (but not absolute) impact on the beetle invasions. While frustrated homeowners are anxious to engage in chemical warfare against the beetles, let's be practical and consider the logistics and safety behind trying to treat sufficient exterior areas of a home to prevent beetles from gaining access. Even if you do treat around windows and doors, there is a lot of unchartered territory for the beetles to explore. We still see chemical control as being mostly an exercise in futility. If people do try to spray pesticides on the exterior of their houses, particularly up high over their heads, please stress to them the need to wear some sort of personal protective equipment, particularly something to protect their eyes, head and other exposed body parts from the chemical mist that rains down upon them and their kids who are watching nearby. Yes..... keep kids and pets OUT of the area, preferably inside.
We still recommend the tried-and-true method of vacuuming up wayward beetles indoors, although this recommendation rarely
appeases irate callers who then make rude, socially unacceptable and physically impossible suggestions as to what you can do with
vacuum cleaner bags full of beetles. Light traps work well for catching beetles in some situations and this may be particularly important for commercial facilities, such as hospitals and some manufacturing plants, where any type of biocontamination is a critical issue. These facilities often use the expensive industrial style light traps (not the traditional "bug zapper" type of trap you hang in your yard for summer entertainment). There is a trap that homeowners can build and use in their homes. These traps will work best at night with minimum interior lighting (i.e., with all lights off) or during the day if you close your curtains to keep out extraneous exterior light and the prying eyes nosey neighbors who want to know what you're doing behind those closed curtains.
Just in case the kudzu bugs weren't annoying enough, we have had reports from western NC that the Asian lady beetles have begun their search for winter quarters. For those of you who are new to this phenomenon, you can read about it at:
http://insects.ncsu.edu/
While a lot of North Carolinians spent last week dining on deep-fried everything at the NC State Fair, the beetles have been focusing their attention on crevices in tree bark, rock outcroppings, and (of course) buildings. The beetles use visual and physical cues to find suitable overwintering sites. Although these locations tend to be the sunnier or warmer sides of buildings, or on exposed light-colored buildings, this doesn't mean that people with dark-colored siding, brick or log homes are immune to the lady beetle assault. Research has shown that the beetles seem to respond to contrasting and often right-angle shapes or reflective colors, which conveniently (for them) are what windows and doors present against the overall background of a house. Once the beetles arrive at the site, they use chemical cues to locate the specific crevice they want to inhabit within the structure. The source of these chemical cues may be beetle feces from previous winters (yes... they live and poop inside your walls), or the odor of beetles that died at the site, or possibly an attractant or pheromone released by the beetles. So, think of your house as the sacred ladybeetle burial ground.
In some cases, the beetles are a very limited nuisance. However, we have had situations where people's houses have been inundated
with literally thousands of lady beetles. The sheer numbers of beetles that appear over the course of the winter and spring convince people that the beetles are reproducing in the house. Of course, this isn't true. The beetles prey mostly on tree-feeding aphids, but they are also found in a variety of agricultural crops. They lay their eggs on these same plants. So, unless they're growing some "crop" indoors that's infested with aphids (some very mellow and happy aphids) then the beetles are not reproducing or laying eggs in your house. The beetles show up because they are simply heeding Nature's call to escape harsh winter weather.
The beetles do not cause real structural damage, if you exclude the odor and yellow-brown stain that they often leave when you disturb or squish them. There have been reports that the beetles may "bite", but it's more like a pinch (unless you're a real whimp). There have been published reports of people developing significant allergies from exposure to airborne particulates from decaying lady beetle carcasses. So, the lady beetles aren't entirely innocent of any wrongdoing.
As with kudzu bugs, pesticides remain questionable in their effectiveness. Some studies have shown that treatments around windows and doors particularly on the south side of the house may have a more significant (but not absolute) impact on the beetle invasions. While frustrated homeowners are anxious to engage in chemical warfare against the beetles, let's be practical and consider the logistics and safety behind trying to treat sufficient exterior areas of a home to prevent beetles from gaining access. Even if you do treat around windows and doors, there is a lot of unchartered territory for the beetles to explore. We still see chemical control as being mostly an exercise in futility. If people do try to spray pesticides on the exterior of their houses, particularly up high over their heads, please stress to them the need to wear some sort of personal protective equipment, particularly something to protect their eyes, head and other exposed body parts from the chemical mist that rains down upon them and their kids who are watching nearby. Yes..... keep kids and pets OUT of the area, preferably inside.
We still recommend the tried-and-true method of vacuuming up wayward beetles indoors, although this recommendation rarely
appeases irate callers who then make rude, socially unacceptable and physically impossible suggestions as to what you can do with
vacuum cleaner bags full of beetles. Light traps work well for catching beetles in some situations and this may be particularly important for commercial facilities, such as hospitals and some manufacturing plants, where any type of biocontamination is a critical issue. These facilities often use the expensive industrial style light traps (not the traditional "bug zapper" type of trap you hang in your yard for summer entertainment). There is a trap that homeowners can build and use in their homes. These traps will work best at night with minimum interior lighting (i.e., with all lights off) or during the day if you close your curtains to keep out extraneous exterior light and the prying eyes nosey neighbors who want to know what you're doing behind those closed curtains.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
VanWingerden International Open House
Have you ever wondered what goes on inside those big time commercial greenhouses??? Well now is your chance...
The VanWingerden International, Inc. 22nd Annual Open House is happening on November 9th from 10am - 3pm at 4055 Haywood Rd, Mills River, NC... Tour the greenhouses and enjoy the acres of poinsettias while learning about the environmentally friendly growing practices! Bring your walking shoes! Questions, please call (828) 891-4116
The VanWingerden International, Inc. 22nd Annual Open House is happening on November 9th from 10am - 3pm at 4055 Haywood Rd, Mills River, NC... Tour the greenhouses and enjoy the acres of poinsettias while learning about the environmentally friendly growing practices! Bring your walking shoes! Questions, please call (828) 891-4116
Monday, July 15, 2013
Pesticide Safety
Please take a moment to read the excerpt from the 'North Carolina Pest News' below on the use of a specific type of systemic insecticides...
NORTH CAROLINA PEST NEWS
NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
North Carolina State University * College of Agriculture & Life Sciences of Entomology * Box 7613 * Raleigh, NC 27695
Volume 28, Number 14, July 12, 2013
CAUTION !
The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina and may not apply in other areas.
______________________________________________
ORNAMENTALS AND TURF
From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist
News About Neonicotinoid Insecticides
Neonicotinoids include products such as imidacloprid (Merit, Marathon, various homeowner products made by Bayer), dinotefuran (Safari), acetamiprid (TriStar), and thiamethoxam (Flagship). All the chemicals in this group are systemic and move to plant issue once applied. This includes nectar and pollen. These products have been under scrutiny lately due to their negative effects on pollinators. See this report: http://ecoipm.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/neonicbees.pdf
Recently there was a large bee kill in Oregon apparently due to misapplication of a neonicotinoid to a flowering linden tree. Labels typically state “Do not apply to flowering plants or when pollinators are present” or something similar. In response the Oregon Department of Agriculture has temporarily restricted use of dinotefuran while it investigates the incident. More information about this incident is in a recent article: http://www.nurserymanagementonline.com/oda-restricts-dinotefuran-use.aspx
It is important to correctly use all insecticides by professionals and homeowners.
NORTH CAROLINA PEST NEWS
NORTH CAROLINA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
North Carolina State University * College of Agriculture & Life Sciences of Entomology * Box 7613 * Raleigh, NC 27695
Volume 28, Number 14, July 12, 2013
CAUTION !
The information and recommendations in this newsletter are applicable to North Carolina and may not apply in other areas.
______________________________________________
ORNAMENTALS AND TURF
From: Steve Frank, Extension Entomologist
News About Neonicotinoid Insecticides
Neonicotinoids include products such as imidacloprid (Merit, Marathon, various homeowner products made by Bayer), dinotefuran (Safari), acetamiprid (TriStar), and thiamethoxam (Flagship). All the chemicals in this group are systemic and move to plant issue once applied. This includes nectar and pollen. These products have been under scrutiny lately due to their negative effects on pollinators. See this report: http://ecoipm.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/neonicbees.pdf
Recently there was a large bee kill in Oregon apparently due to misapplication of a neonicotinoid to a flowering linden tree. Labels typically state “Do not apply to flowering plants or when pollinators are present” or something similar. In response the Oregon Department of Agriculture has temporarily restricted use of dinotefuran while it investigates the incident. More information about this incident is in a recent article: http://www.nurserymanagementonline.com/oda-restricts-dinotefuran-use.aspx
It is important to correctly use all insecticides by professionals and homeowners.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Warmer Weather
Warmer weather brings all sorts of great things... new leaves on the trees, spring flowers, active bird populations, and mosquitoes!!! Yes, I said it, mosquitoes! Many times homeowners are not overly concerned with mosquitoes until they become a pest, literally. But what can you do now?
According to Dr. Michael Waldvogel, Extension Associate Professor & Specialist, Structural & Industrial Pests, now is the time to start prevention methods for mosquito control. Eliminate standing water around your home. Even small areas that collect water such as a sagging tarp on a boat, or an old tire, can be a haven for mosquito larvae. Clean out your gutters to ensure that water flows freely and does not get stopped up to create a pool. Also, make sure to clear any drainage ditches around your home. A drainage ditch is meant to collect and redistribute runoff in a timely manner. It should not have standing water where mosquitoes can breed.
Last but not least, Dr. Waldvogel says, "Convince your neighbors to do the same because mosquito control takes a community effort."
Image Courtesy of www.cals.ncsu.edu
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