'Twas the night of December 3rd and all through the barn, all kinds of creatures were stirring, food was aplenty, gifts were under the tree, the Grunyons were singing, and all were quite merry. This was the scene of our society's annual Holiday Party held at Bowers Farm. Sylvia Schult, in-charge of this year's holiday affair, did a fantastic job. All members were asked to bring a gift to exchange and either an appetizer, main dish or desert. The Society provided the ham and turkey cooked by Nora Wojciechowski. All the food was delicious and most everything was eaten in a flash. Nora Wojciechowski also found a fantastic singing group. These men, from various universities, sang in choral groups while in college. After graduating, they formed an a cappella group, The Grunyons. They entertained us with various songs and Christmas Carols, inviting Society members to join in the singing. When they finished performing, one of the Grunyons was asked to distribute the gifts. He chose a unique manner, selecting people first with red hair, then those wearing Christmas socks, then those with poinsettia plants at home. Those who answered “yes” to these questions picked up a gift from under the tree. This method of selecting our gifts continued until everyone had one. We all took home lots of great gifts. After the gifts were parceled out, John Humphrey and Tom Hershberger climbed the stocking-lined stairs. John read Clement Moore's “The Night Before Christmas”. Tom read a story written by Detroit News columnist H.C.L. Jackson that first appeared on Christmas Eve, 1937. The story, “The Little Girl in the Yellow Dress”, was created when Jackson heard his two young sons calling the girl next door a “turkey hen” and he wanted to make amends for the unkind label. Jackson wrote this story for her after seeing her walk by his house brilliantly clad in a yellow dress. Everyone left the Christmas celebration full of food, fun and fellowship. We're all looking forward to next year's party. Tom's recipe for the Spinach Orzo he made is on page 9. February/March 2004 Holiday Party Time By Tom Hershberger Stepping Stones 2 Meeting Highlights 2 Carol's Concepts 3 Wild Edible Greens 4 Forget-Me-Nots 5 Moments to Remember 8 Vegetable Gardening for Beginners 9 Organic Gardening 6 Hotlines 12 Inside this issue: Roots & Shoots ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # North Office Building, #26 East 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, MI 48341-0416 248/858-0880 Fax: 248/858-1477 This story can fit 175-225 words. If your newsletter is folded and mailed, this story will appear on the back. So, it's a good idea to make it easy to read at a glance. A question and answer session is a good way to quickly capture the attention of readers. You can either compile questions that you've received since the last edition or you can summarize some generic questions that are frequently asked about your organization. A listing of names and titles of managers in your organization is a good way to give your newsletter a personal touch. If your organization is small, you may want to list the names of all employees. If you have any prices of standard products or services, you can include a listing of those here. You may want to refer your readers to any other forms of communication that you've created for your organization. You can also use this space to remind readers to mark their calendars for a regular event, such as a breakfast meeting for vendors every third Tuesday of the month, or a biannual charity auction. If space is available, this is a good place to insert a clip art image or some other graphic. AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2003 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2003 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Carol's Concepts By Carol Lenchek, MSU Extension Program Coordinator & Extension Liaison Hello Everyone, By the time you read this newsletter, at least some of this winter will be well behind us. While we're only spending time in the garden in our dreams, our mailboxes are filling up with a bountiful supply of seed and plant catalogs. The two Winter, 2004 Master Gardener classes are well under way and hopefully running smoothly. If you would like to sit in on any of them, please call me to guarantee a chair for you in the back of the classroom. There are only three seats available per class. ? FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Stepping Stones/From the President By John Humphrey, President of MGSOC Meeting Highlights By Jean Gramlich January Meeting- Growing Indoor Tropical Plants Jane Suhail spoke on growing indoor tropical plants at our January meeting. Jane did her internship at Cranbrook and has worked at Planterra for 17 years. She was the “plant guru” on Channel 7's Kelly and Company for three years. Her specialty is orchids. Jane teaches horticulture as an art form not a science. First of all, she says, there is no such thing as a “house- plant.” Every plant we grow indoors grows naturally outdoors in climates where it rains every day and the light is much stronger than in our homes. Our plants, Jane claims, are “in a coma.” We need to determine our plants' needs according to the weather. Since light is plant food, our houseplants tend to suffer from malnutrition. She says to think of fertilizer as the equivalent of human vitamins. Most tropical plants should only be fertilized from March to September. Plants close to a sunny window should be fertilized at full strength every fourth watering. Plants 5-8 feet from a sunny window should receive half strength fertilizer. And, plants further away from a window should receive quarter strength fertilizer. The lower the nutrient numbers on the fertilizer (5-5-5 versus 20-20-20), the more often the plant should be fertilized. When a plant is over-fertilized, its leaves will develop spots; if under-fertilized, its largest, lowest leaves will turn yellow. Tropical plants typically grow in iron-rich soils. Iron can be added in many ways, i.e. rusty nails, human vitamins, etc. Never use softened water; plants like all the minerals in hard water. The amount of water needed is determined by how many leaves the plant has and how much light it gets. When you buy a plant wait until the plant needs water and then measure how much it needs using the following method: Water the plant slowly until you see water in the saucer; then wait half an hour. If the water is gone, add 20% more to the measured amount. If there is more than ½ inch of water in the saucer, siphon it off with a turkey baster and subtract that amount of water from the initial amount. Water reaches the plant's long leaves in 10 seconds. Too much water will turn the leaf tips brown; lack of water will yellow the lower, older leaves. A plant that is in a west window in the summer should be watered when it feels dry one inch down; in the winter it should be dry 5-6 inches down before watering. The farther away a plant is from a sunny window, the drier it should be before watering. In general, tropical plants do not need to be repotted. Prune them to keep them at the proper size. Place decorative pots over the ugly plastic pots plants come in. If you must repot a plant, do it in March. New soil can be added every year or so to the top. To prevent rot, make sure the soil does not cover the stems. Pruning is important to maintain proper shape and size. Some tropical plants can be pruned all year by tipping when they get leggy (elongated branches with leaves spread farther apart). Trees like the ficus should be pruned in March, one week after fertilizing, to enable them to grow new leaves. Ficus trees should be tipped for shape and whole branches pruned to allow light into its center. Ficus trees hold their leaves according to the amount of light they receive; they drop their leaves when there's not enough light. Prune ficus trees in September and save yourself a winter of picking up dropped leaves. Plants have immune systems just like humans. Healthy plants don't usually have bugs. Plants with foliar insects such as scale, mealy bugs, and mites need to be cleaned, well-fed, watered, and placed in sufficient light. Jane suggested some easy-to-mix home-made solutions to rid the plants of these pests. If using them on an orchid, tightly cover the root and pot with a plastic bag and then foliar feed. Fungus gnats, though annoying, do not hurt the plants. They lay their eggs in the top 1/8 inch of soil. To get rid of them, scrape off the top ½ inch of soil and spray with an appropriate solution. Replace the soil and spray again. Fungus gnats often indicate over-watering. Jane also provided some tips for cultivating particular species: Aglaonema “Silver Queen” crowds easily and can be pruned by removing the tallest part in the center. Spathiphyllum “Peace Lily”, in its natural habitat, grows in 18 inches of water under 3 layers of canopy at 100 degrees. Water this plant with warm water and add ¼ strength 20-20-20 fertilizer all year except during the winter when the plant should be fertilized after it stops blooming. This plant should bloom constantly. Always cut the flowers close to the leaf after the bloom begins to fade. Three to four weeks later pull out the remaining piece of stem and wait for the plant to bloom again. Sansevieria “Mother-in-Law's Tongue” is a very shallow-rooted plant. Remove its side shoots to prevent overcrowding. Polygraph experiments prove that plants experience feelings, use chemicals to communicate with one another, and can even respond to human thought. They also use chemicals to attract pollinators and to lure predator bugs when attacked by insects. Plants can even intercept chemical messages from other plants. These fascinating experiments were reported in the March 2002 issue of Discover magazine. I'm trying to assemble the list of things I wanted to do in 2003, but now realize a lot of those things just didn't happen. I'm not disappointed nor discouraged, but instead challenged to make a smaller more manageable list for 2004. From the comments and suggestions gathered from you, our members, we anticipate a continued upward momentum within our Society. To that end, in the coming months we will seek the counsel of individuals who have expertise in areas in which we wish to expand our knowledge. At this time of year, we need to take the time to prepare mentally and physically in order to recharge our body's batteries. With a few exceptions, I have personally just finished a very successful 2003. An MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), a diagnostic procedure, found a minor non-surgical tear in my right shoulder's rotator cuff. After years of “just dealing with it”, I was able to begin Physical Therapy. From this experience I realized that thorough evaluation of a situation helps us recognize our vulnerabilities and weaknesses, the first step in “tweaking” those obstacles in order to get back to enjoying the digging, planting, pruning, etc. Stretching and strengthening the muscles and tendons we were born with, is our most important “tool” for keeping the rest of our body moving. Since I'm not a health care expert, I suggest that you always consult a professional before proceeding on your own. Daylight Savings time and the first day of spring will be sprouting before we know it. We're all itching to use that tool we received as a gift or plant that “new” seed that will earn us the next “grand champion” vegetable ribbon at the State Fair. Remember this as you pro seed: each of us is unique and special, and that we can do anything we set our soil to doing. Lastly, I'm proud to be among such dedicated individuals. The overwhelming response received in Lansing, transmitted to our legislators and Governor Granholm, shows the importance of the Cooperative Extension Service. FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Forget-Me-Nots By Linda Hamilton Indoors or out, no one relaxes In March, that month of wind and taxes, The wind will presently disappear, The taxes last us all the year. Ogden Nash It's not difficult to imagine the weather in Michigan for February and March. Unless one is a winter outdoor enthusiast, or madly planting seedlings, these months can be, well, a bummer. So, we've got two optimistic wildflowers to encourage us to take these months in stride. Yes, we're talking about the brave skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) and the enduring liverwort (Hepatica americana). (Surprised?) A Rose by any other name . . . . . Throughout North America, the skunk cabbage is considered the first flower of spring. However, naturalist John Burroughs reports it “may be found with its round green spear-point an inch or two above the mould in December. It is ready to welcome and make the most of the first fitful March warmth.” Now I call that brave. Many people watch for skunk cabbage as an early sign of spring. The plant's spathe, or sheath, pushes through the still-frosty ground and stands tall when the first currents of warmer air begin blowing. That can happen with a long January thaw, or it can occur as late as March. The skunk cabbage flower does, literally, stink, but not necessarily like skunk scent. Naturalist Neltje Blanchan described the smell as combining “a suspicion of skunk, putrid meat and garlic.” (Eau de PEEEEE YEEEEEWW!) Two of the scent producing substances in skunk cabbage are skatole and cadaverine, the same chemicals found in a variety of decaying animal and vegetable matter. This stinkpot is deliberate though. One use is that the smell makes the plant unappealing to most grazing animals and another is its ability to attract insects. Certain varieties of flies can detect the smell from long distances and find it delightful. There's just no accounting for some insects' taste, is there? These bugs help transport the flowers' golden pollen. The plant's leaves, after the flowers die down, are huge by midsummer; up to several feet across. Their large size captures as much food producing sunlight as possible in the shady wetlands where they grow. The leaves also create shade, preventing competing plants from launching themselves near the skunk cabbage's root system. Skunk cabbages may be our oldest wildflowers. If conditions are right and remain stable, a skunk cabbage's roots may live more than 200 years. Another early spring riser is the liverwort, or hepatica. If you have a chance to wander through the woods in early spring, look closely at the woodland floor for these tiny flowers (blooming in white, pink or blue); they're only four to six inches tall. Fuzzy Wuzzy Was a Flower? When the buds push through the leaves, or even snow, they bear many little hairs. Author Mrs. William Starr Dana wrote, in the late 1800's, “Someone has suggested that the fuzzy little buds look as though they were still wearing their furs as a protection against the wintry weather . . . “ Hairs also coat the stems and have a couple of purposes: warmth and defense. They may help retain heat during cool spring days and cold spring nights. These hairs may also keep ants from climbing to the flowers and stealing the nectar Hepatica leaves are also furry and “evergreen.” The leaves seen in spring are actually last year's leaves; they've survived the winter, probably photosynthesizing during the winter on warm days, and are ready to start full-time photosynthesis early in the spring before other woodland wildflowers are even up. This allows hepatica to bloom early and get a head start on other spring wildflowers. The hepatica flower doesn't require insects for pollination; it can fertilize itself, thank you very much. The dying leaves of the plant resemble a liver in color and shape, hence the name hepatica, from the Greek word for liver. Following the practice known as “the doctrine of signatures,” wherein people used the color or shape of a plant as a sign of its value, a European version of the plant was used as a cure for liver ailments. In 1883 alone, more than 200 tons of hepatica leaves were imported from Europe to meet the needs of patent-medicine manufacturers. FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Moments to Remember By Sylvia Schult Finding Another Way As a reader, what are your hobbies and interests? How about the Labor Day walk across the Mackinac Bridge, photography, railroads, professional football, walking or racing for charity, history, government, day trips with the Master Gardeners, and of course, gardening. Some or all of the above would fill your time, as it does for John Humphrey. However, John still finds time to be President of the Master Gardener Society of Oakland County. Being President is no small job; planning meetings, finding speakers, and presiding at Board Meetings, is a great task he takes on with pleasure and confidence. As Vice President 2 ½ years ago, he became President, for six months, when the President had to resign to take care of family matters. He was officially elected, as President, 2 years ago, and again, in December of 2003. When you do a great job, people want you to continue! John has also worked with the By-Laws Committee to bring the MGSOOC by-laws up to date. As President, he has many interesting plans and surprises for the future. One of his favorite highlights was the Pat Farrell Project for the benefit of her husband Steven and son, Johnathan. One of our MG's, Pat Farrell, passed away, and her husband and son did not know the names of many flowers she had in several garden areas. John worked with a group of MG's, to identify and label them as well as how to take care of the flowers. It was a labor of love and appreciation to Pat's family. In 1996, John's sister-in-law Martha, had thought about taking the MG course and asked John if he would like to take the course with her. He was always interested in gardening and thought this would give him more experience. He and Martha received their MG certificates in 1997. His adventures and experience have been “growing” ever since. John's first 40 volunteer hours were at the Royal Oak Farmers Market and Tollgate. It was no problem for John to get the volunteer and education hours needed, for his Advanced MG Certificate in 1998. Many of his education hours have come from MGSOOC meetings, the Hardy Plant Society, Town and Country Garden Club and a day seminar at MSU. Getting sufficient hours each year is not a problem for John. As most MG's know, the longer one is a MG, the easier it is to accumulate the needed volunteer hours. He now has a total of more than 650 hours. John is on the Executive Committee for the Oak Apple Race. The monthly meetings start in January and last until the race is held on the last Saturday in May or the first Saturday in June. This year he has been asked to head the corporate and public safety teams for the race, and help present the awards. John really enjoys professional football and he has been a season ticket holder since 1979. The Lions are his favorite team. He also enjoys U of M football. John has been a railroad fan ever since he was 3 years old and this grandfather would tell him stories about his work as a Conductor on the British Railway in the late 1800's. It's easy to think of his grandfather whenever he hears a train whistle. Collecting railroad station post cards is a pleasant hobby for him. John was able to get the Lakeshore Garden Railway Club to come and talk about miniature railroads in the garden. Seeing the great displays they brought, sparked an interest in our minds for, perhaps, a railroad design for our gardens. Learning about our government's history and how it operates is very interesting to John. He loves being a citizen of the United States, the best county in the world, and he loves being a Master Gardener and beautifying the country he loves. John likes the reasoning of Thomas Edison, “He never failed at anything; he just found another way to do it.” This is John through and through. John gets an idea, thinks it though and if it won't work one way, he thinks of another way to get it done.    With all John accomplishes, it is no wonder that he was co-receiver of the Master Gardener of the Year Award in 2003. When the award was presented to John, he was helping Martha Ferguson present the various awards for the evening. What a surprise to him, when she started reading his accomplishments and presented the Master Gardener of the Year award to him. 2003 had been a very challenging year personally and professionally for him, and he felt a little overwhelmed. However, as a Christian, and attendee at the Woodside Bible Church in Troy, he has always put his trust in the Lord to guide him. John said the award made him realize that “people recognize you for who you are and what you do”. This award recharged his batteries and he is ready to continue doing what he loves to do, helping, serving, and guiding others. FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Organic Gardening By Peter Bray Weeds, Part II: Their Uses & Ecology Domestic Uses I counted 17 common weeds in bloom along our city's streets in early November. All are alien species introduced from Europe. (A good field guide that identifies alien species is Peterson's Wildflowers: Northeastern/North Central North America.) These weeds are all farm and garden pests so it surprises us, perhaps, to learn that they were introduced deliberately. Settlers brought with them seeds of what we now call weeds because they had medicinal, culinary, and agricultural uses. People suspected, rightly as it turned out, that they wouldn't be found in the New World. For the same reason they brought seeds of European grasses to grow fodder for their animals with the result that our major pasture grasses are alien species. Pamela Jones, in Just Weeds: History Myths, and Uses, addresses the varied uses of weeds. I shall cite three familiar examples that are all serious pest weeds: Dandelion, Ground ivy (better known locally as Creeping Charlie), and Lamb's quarters. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a source for wine, coffee (its roasted roots), a soft drink (Dandelion and Burdock), salad stuff (young leaves and the white 'crown'), and spring greens. In earlier times it had great medicinal importance -- as a blood tonic, diuretic, treatment for liver and kidney ailments, and much more. The word officinale in its botanical name means that it is part of the recognized pharmacopoeia. The names of many common weeds announce medical uses, e.g. Black medic, Boneset, Heal-all, Horse balm, and Motherwort. Some weeds still have common medicinal uses. Those who venture into the woods have learned that the juice of Plantain takes the sting out of mosquito bites, the juice of Curly dock lessens the discomfort of nettle stings, and the juice of Jewel weed (a native) counteracts Poison ivy -- all applied externally of course. Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea) was also called Gill-over-the-ground. This refers to its use in preserving beer before hops were used. Gill (pronounced Jill) is an English half-pint beer measure. A propos, there is a new (2003) book called Alewife's Garden: 7 Radical Weeds for Brewing Herbal Ales by Jillian Van Nostrand and Christie V. Sarles. Also, like the Dandelion, Ground ivy has many medicinal uses. Lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album) is best known as a spinach substitute; its leaves are rich in vitamins. Ms. Jones lists 15 other names for Lamb's quarters including Wild spinach, Goosefoot (shape of the leaf), and Dung weed (its liking for rich soil). The proliferation of names is usual for English wildflowers, for example I have seen 35 names for Ox-eye daisy. The names were local. In this country fewer names are used, no doubt because population mobility has been greater. There is a “Common names look-up” site at www.b-and-t-world-seeds.com/comsasm.htm. Horticultural and Agricultural Uses Before there were soil tests, farmers used weeds as indicators of soil quality. Clovers indicate low nitrogen; Bindweed and Quackgrass indicate hardpan; docks and mustards indicate poor drainage; Stinging nettle and Sheep's sorrel indicate acid soil, and Queen Anne's lace indicates sandy soil. This information and much more can be found in Weeds and What They Tell by Ehrenfried Pfeiffer. Weeds provide habitat for beneficial insects -- both predators of pests and pollinators, so tolerate them along garden or field edges. Also, the clovers and Black medic (legumes) can be grown in paths between vegetable beds to benefit pollinators and enrich the soil. The October 2003 edition of Acres USA includes “Benefits of Bio-diverse Forage” by Jerry Brunetti. Its thesis is that pasture that contains perennial weed species such as Chicory and Plantain among the grasses provides better forage than grass alone -- usually a mixture of European grasses such as Ryegrass, Timothy, and Orchardgrass. The added diversity provides better protein and has medicinal benefits for livestock. Also, deep-rooted weeds help farmers and gardeners by bringing minerals up from the subsoil and helping to break up the hardpan that forms underneath tilled soil. John Jeavons in How To Grow More Vegetables recommends growing comfrey, which has deep roots, to add minerals to a compost heap. Weed Ecology Weeds exploit areas where soil has been disturbed. Consequently they are a feature of human settlement. They usually thrive in bare soil but there are exceptions: Dandelions exploit lawns almost exclusively. In undisturbed woods and prairies weeds can't compete with native species so they only grow beside paths or tracks, i.e. where the soil has been disturbed. Weeds can live in disturbed soil where other plants would fail. They grow rapidly; they flower early; and they produce large quantities of seeds that can survive in the soil for many years. For example, each Lamb's quarters and Red-rooted pigweed plant sets up to 70,000 seeds per plant with a half-life in the soil of more than 10 years. An acre of farmland contains up to 200 million weed seeds. Most weeds are annuals, consistent with the long-lived-seed strategy. As always there are exceptions, e.g. Quackgrass and Canada thistle are perennials that survive and spread because of sturdy underground runners. Many weeds avoid competition from garden annuals and vegetables blooming early in the spring and in late fall. Examples are Shepherd's purse, Ground ivy, and Chickweed. Chickweed is a “winter annual”, which is a plant that begins its growth in late fall, then flowers in early spring. This is a common weed strategy to get a jump on the competition. Many weeds are adaptable to extreme conditions. Grasses are adapted to grazing and, therefore, mowing. When a grass stem is cut its re-growth is upwards from the highest node, whereas other plants grow out sideways when they are cut. Some broad-leafed weeds also adapt to mowing. A good example is Heal-all, which grows up to 2 feet tall in a hedge, but stays low and spreads outwards in a lawn. Some naturally prostrate weeds such as Prostrate knotweed, and Spotted spurge can grow from cracks in sidewalks. They survive being walked on and have adapted to the extremely high temperatures of sidewalks in summer. Spotted knapweed exhibits an adaptation called 'allelopathy', which translates as 'other kill'. Simply put, the roots of knapweed exude a substance that inhibits the growth of other plants. This is one reason why knapweed tends to be completely dominant when it is present on industrial waste ground or along railways. Published bimonthly for Oakland County Master Gardeners and Master Gardener Society members FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Oakland Township Parks need volunteers to remove woody invasive plants at the following sites: February 7th at Paint Creek Heritage Area-Wet Prairie; February 28th at Bear Creek Nature Park; March 27th at Paint Creek Heritage Area-Wet Prairie...Call Sheri at 248-651-7810 or e-mail at sgiannosa@oaklandtownship.org for more details. Forgotten Harvest and Plant a Row for the Hungry need Master Gardeners to attend the information booth April 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at the 2004 Spring Home & Garden Show at the Novi Expo Center. Volunteers must commit to 3-hour time blocks. Contact Randy Odom at 248-350-3663 or at rodom@forgottenharvest.org by March 1st. Ask a Master Gardener...Helping People Grow (formerly called Let's Go Gardening) is gearing up for the coming season. In May, Master Gardeners can volunteer at garden centers to answer questions and help with plant selection. Watch this column for more information. FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Hotlines From the M.S.U. Extension Oakland County Hotline Staff, Charlene and Maryann Before the avalanche of catalogues begins to arrive and you find yourself itching to get your hands dirty again, you may want to peruse some of the new or revised publications that have arrived in the office recently. (OK the last two years if you must know! Sorry for the delay!) While you're wishing and hoping and planning and dreaming, one of these publications might just contain that tidbit of information you've been looking for. E2847 Michigan Blueberry Facts E2759 Fruit Crop Ecology and Management E2774 Growing Table Grapes in a Temperate Climate E2784 Safe Transport, Storage and Disposal of Pesticides E2803 Buckthorn in the Landscape: Identification & Control E2811 Directory of Exotic Forest Insect & Disease Pests E2812 Biology and Management of Pine Needle Scale E2813 Biology & Management of Balsam Twig Aphid E2832 Tree Series: To Sell or Not to Sell E2836 Mosquitoes and the West Nile Virus E2837 Community Spray Programs E2839 A Pocket IPM Scouting Guide for Woody Landscape Plants E2840 A Pocket Guide for IPM Scouting in Stone Fruits E2884 Cover Crop Choices for Michigan E2886 Pest Alert: Emerald Ash Borer E2892 Distinguishing Ash Trees from other Common Trees E2894 Bean Common Mosiac Virus and Bean Common Necrosis Virus E02 TURF Crabgrass Control in Home Lawns E03 TURF Cultivation of Lawns E05 TURF Fertilizing Home Lawns E06 TURF Ground Ivy in Lawns E08 TURF Integrated Pest Management for Home Lawns E09 TURF Irrigation Practices to Preserve Water Quality E10 TURF Japanese Beetle E11 TURF Managing Waterfront Turf to Preserve Water Quality E12 TURF Managing Yard Waste to Preserve Water Quality E13 TURF Mowing Lawn Turf E14 TURF Purchasing Quality Turfgrass Seed E15 TURF Understanding MSU Soil Test Report E16 TURF Golf Course Grub Damage in Fall & Spring E17 TURF White Grubs in New Sod E18 TURF Optimizing Cultural Practices to Improve Athletic Field Performance OC 94 Fruit Pests 1 OC 505 Grubs OC 508 Tar Spot Disease OC 510 Pest Alert: Emerald Ash Borer OC 512 Spray Schedule for Pest Control on Apples, Crabapples, Quince & Pears OC 513 Spray Schedule for Pest Control on Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Cherries & Plums OC 514 Spray Schedule for Pest Control on Brambles OC 515 Spray Schedule for Pest Control on Strawberries OC 516 Spray Schedule for Pest Control on Blueberries OC 517 Diagnostic Facts Emerald Ash Borer: Biology and Control Options OC 518 Spray Schedule for Pest Control on Grapes P533 Truman's Scientific Guide to Pest Control Operations P534 Turfgrass Problems: Picture Clues and Management Options P535 Hydrangeas P536 Weed Control Manual 2002 P571 Boxwood Handbook P574 The Midwest Fruit and Vegetable Book: Michigan P575 The Perfect Michigan Lawn: Attaining and Maintaining the Lawn You Want P576 Trees of the Central Hardwood Forests of North America: An Identification and Cultivation Guide P577 Xeriscape Plant Guide: 100 Water-Wise Plants for Gardens and Landscapes P578 The House Plant Encyclopedia P579 Bulbs P580 Hollies: The Genus Ilex P581 The American Woodland Garden: Capturing the Spirit of the Deciduous Forest P582 2003 Crop Protection Handbook P583 Berry Finder: A Guide to Native Plants with Fleshy Fruits P584 Rodale's Garden Problem Solver: Vegetables, Fruits and Herbs P585 Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants: A Diagnostic Guide P586 The Orthoptera of Michigan: Biology, Keys, and Descriptions of Grasshoppers, Katydids, and Crickets Society Officers President: John P. Humphrey.....………........248-542-8213 Vice President: John Grant..… ………….......248-852-3758 Secretary: Ruth Vrbensky...… ………............248-969-6904 Treasurer: Julie Bird...……… …...................248-358-3277 Team Administrator: Sherry D. Jones……….248-442-9866 MSU Extension Liaison Carol Lenchek....…..……………….................248-858-0900 e-mail...………….………….......lenchekc@co.oakland.mi.us Team Leaders Bowers Farm: John Grant…………..………..248-852-3758 Deeann Bauer...........…………..........248-828-7385 John Humphrey..........…………. ......248-542-8213 Martha Humphrey e-mail……………….…...babylon6@ameritech.net Education /Volunteer Committee: Linda Rose........………….................248-642-4543 Fund Raising: Terry Ohrstrom...…............248-544-8658 Hospitality: Sylvia Schult...........…….........248-585-7656 Membership:Tom Hershberger....……........248-435-3954 MGSOOC Newsletter: Marilyn Citron.......…........……........248-645-5515 e-mail...………………............MCWrites@aol.com Nomination Committee: Tom Hershberger.......………..............248-435-3954 Programs:John Humphrey.…….......…........248-542-8213 Trips & Tours: Sandie Parrott.....……........248-394-1532 Website Administrator: Sheri Trout..…..248-328-0557 e-mail................................sheri@oaklandweb.com Volunteer Opportunity Contacts Oakland County Farmer's Market Info Booth Royal Oak Farmer's Market Info Booth Rochester Farmer's Market Info Booth Farmington Farmer's Market Info Booth (April 1st through September 30th) Ruth Parulis…........…………………...............248-682-2909 e-mail…….…………...ruthpreston2909@msm.com Bowers Farm Manager: Mark Seeley.......248-341-6475 e-mail.......………….........mseeley@bloomfield.org Let's Go Gardening: Denise Jones..….....586-944-8543 Continuing Education Committee for Oakland County: Jody Roeder.........………................248-642-7375 Tollgate Gardens: Rene Cottrell................248-398-2562 e-mail..........................................tyrenee@aol.com Calendar General meetings are held on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Bowers Farm, 1219 East Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304 from April through October. From November through March, General Meetings held at MSU Extension Office, lower level conference room, 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, MI 48341 February 1, 2004: Calendar submissions due to Secretary for March through May February 4, 2004: General Meeting - 6:30 p.m. Education: Ann Cline, “Bearded Irises” at Extension Office-Lower Level conference room March 1,2004: Deadline for Roots and Shoots, including calendar from Secretary and program schedule for April through June March 3, 2004: General Meeting - 6:30 p.m. Education: Gabe Tiberio, “Tomatoes - Grow them and Eat them” Extension Office-Lower Level conference room March 3,2004: Board Meeting will be held following the General Meeting to discuss the 2004 Budget March 16,2004: Board Meeting: 7:00 p.m. at Extension Office - 1st Floor instructional conference room (This is a Tuesday) April 1, 2004: Calendar submissions due to Secretary for May through July April 7, 2004: General Meeting: 6:30 p.m. Education: Fran Knorr, “Rain Gardens” at Bower's Farm MASTER GARDENER SOCIETY MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION - OAKLAND COUNTY Bringing Knowledge To Life ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 North Office Building, #26 East 1200 North Telegraph Road Pontiac, MI 48341-0416 248/858-0880 Fax: 248/858-1477 Office Hours: Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Lois M. Thieleke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248/858-0885 Interim County Extension Director E-mail: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . thieleke@msue.msu.edu Carol Lenchek... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .248/858-0900 Extension Program Coordinator E-mail: ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...lenchekc@co.oakland.mi.us Cathy Morris . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248/858-1639 Clerk & Contact for Certification Volunteer & Education hours E-mail . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . morrisc@co.oakland.mi.us Yard and Garden Hotline…………….…….248/858-0902 Charlene Molnar, Horticulture Advisor Hours of operation vary with seasonal needs. Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status. MSUE-Oakland County Office Contacts Food Safety Hotline Sylvia Treitman 248/858-0904 4-H Youth Programs Tom Schneider 248/858-0889 Michigan State University Master Gardener Program Mary McLellan, State Coordinator 517/353-3774 Building Strong Families Dawn Koger 248/858-0897 Youth and Community Development Christy Hicks-Bowman 248/858-0889 Michigan Groundwater Stewardship Program Matt Dykstra 248/858-5198 Roots & Shoots is a joint publication of M.S.U. Extension - Oakland County and MGSOC. Deadlines for submitting information or articles to Roots & Shoots are: Submission Deadline Issue Dates January 1 February/March Issue March 1 April/May Issue May 1 June/July Issue July 1 August/September Issue September 1 October/November Issue November 1 December/January Issue The Oakland Gardener only accepts submissions via e-mail. E-mail needs to include a description of request, contact person's name, phone number and e-mail address. This info will be “cut and pasted” into this online newsletter. Map to Bowers Farm FEBRUARY/MARCH 2004 ROOTS & SHOOTS, PAGE # Wild Edible Greens By Diane Opria Amaranth Next in this series of wild edible greens, we will cover the common plant Amaranth (Amaranthus retroflexus & hybridus.) I say common because it has acquired quite a few names like careless weed, redroot, and once again, pigweed. This plant has rough, oval-but-pointed leaves that are borne on long stalks. The main stem is stout and hairy, and the root is crimson colored. Compared to other wild greens, the Amaranth is relatively bland in flavor, a good addition to any tangy green you may want to tone down. It can be harvested by collecting the entire young plant, or by pruning the new growth. An excellent hunting ground for Amaranth is between rows of cultivated crops. Most farmers will gladly give permission to remove the plant all summer long. In the past, Amaranth was a popular domesticated plant, raised primarily for its shiny, black seeds. In fact, in 1519, when Cortez set out for Mexico, the Aztecs grew almost as much amaranth as they did corn. Montezuma received 200,000 bushels of the plants seed as an annual tribute! We now know that the seed has a very high level of two amino acids, usually lacking in other grains. The level of methionine and lysine are considered close to that of an ideal protein. Amaranth grain flour has excellent baking qualities. Although the flour doesn't have gluten (the gray, sticky, nutritious substance which gives dough its tough, elastic quality) like wheat, it is very mild tasting and can be mixed with wheat to raise the protein content. The flour has a pleasant nutty taste. It makes good tasting bread, muffins, pasta and pancakes. The web offers a delicious sounding Amaranth Banana Pancake recipe. Nowadays, most North American foragers value the amaranth for its young leaves. Here are a few choice ways to fix amaranth greens: Date Topic/Instructor January 6 Introduction (Lenchek) Plant Science (Morehouse) January 13 Soil Science (Patchan) January 20 Lawn Care (Patchan) January 27 Indoor Plants (Richards) Native Plants (Vrbensky) February 3 Small Fruit (Lincoln) February 10 Household Pests (Voyle) February 17 Vegetables (Bray) February 24 Woody Ornamentals (Wilson) March 2 Flowers (Macunovich) March 9 Tree Fruit (Creller) March 16 Diagnostics (Molnar) Water Quality (Dykstra) March 23 IPM (Stevens) March 30 Volunteering (Lenchek) April 6 Snow Day Vegetable Gardening for Beginners By Dawn Gallinger Our first true vegetable garden was started in the summer of 2003. The teenagers are drifting and returning with the tides, more moments for different pleasures. With the help of another emptinester, the garden held 23 varieties in its 50' x 50' space. The coming years will have many delectable moments of garden planning, what-if discussions, weed research, and harvesting/canning/recycling! Our planning consisted of the high to low row selection. That is, the tallest plants first then the shortest or vine varieties. The future garden plans included soil type, crop rotation, drainage and other highbrow discussions but in the meantime we thought high to low was good. The trip to the plant store with our garden partners was the best. Each of us kept grabbing plants stating “wouldn't this be fun.” Our staple crops were corn, two varieties of tomatoes, Roma and Beefsteak, and jalapeno peppers. The cucumbers, pickle and regular, okra, mild peppers, green, yellow and purple, sweet peas, lettuce, leeks, onions, broccoli, radishes, eggplant, squash, acorn and zucchini, watermelon, cantaloupe, and of course, pumpkins found there way into the basket under the “fun” agenda. The staples were set early when the men wanted corn, just to say they could, and jalepenos, for jalepeno jelly, a famous and deliciout Texan recipe. The tomatoes, 35 plants in all (you can never have too many, ha ha) were selected by the women for canning, fresh pesto, and tomato sandwiches! The pictures show a beautiful beginning. The plot sits inside the horse pasture; after some tilling, the natural, earthy aromas were released. Our plants seemed to grow with ease. We had previously tried cucumbers in different areas of our small farm with no success; now, we saw small blooms on those plants. Our weed research started early but soon we just picked whatever, where ever. The ground could not be seen and the leaf variety was stunning. It was so much fun to see the various plant shapes and how each vegetable grew. Okra would not have been my choice yet I enjoyed watching it grow, almost upside-down. The eggplant came in a beautiful color; I took most of them to the folks at work. Sometimes our plant selection was based first on expanding our hands-on knowledge and then on how well they tasted. We had enough tomatoes for our tomato sandwiches as well as for a few gallons tomatoes to freeze. The pickle cucumbers had the most taste but never became pickles. The corn was great but we let it stay on the cob too long, thinking bigger was better. The leeks were a chore to plant but what a nice harvest. The sweet peas were wonderful, perfect for the hungry gardener. The radish plants were not thinned, but after eating as many as possible we enjoyed spectacular flowers. Bags and bags of these vegetables were shared...the harvesting led to canning which led to recycling. Through all our trials, we are very excited about planning for next year. Our interesting year-long conversations and the Christmas garden book gifts have spurred our creativity. These effects and the amount of exercise we enjoyed will enthusiastically bring us back to the vegetable garden next year! Tom's Recipe for SPINACH ORZO In January 2001, my cardiologist recommended that I join a group at Henry Ford Hospital called “A Change of Heart”. Six hours a day for seven we exercised, meditated, and learned about medication and diet. The diet was a modification of the Dean Ornish diet, which is basically vegetarian. My wife, being a good wife, looked through many cookbooks for recipes she thought I might enjoy. She found this one and it is one of my favorites. We eat it at least once a month. 2 tsp margarine 2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped ½ cup coarsely shredded carrot 4 cups chicken or vegetable broth, reduced sodium 2 cups uncooked orzo (rosamarina) pasta (12 oz) 3 cups shredded fresh spinach or 1 10 ounce frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed to drain 3 T grated low fat Parmesan cheese 1 T fresh chopped or 1 tsp dried basil leaves Salt (optional) and pepper to taste Melt margarine or spray pan with Pam, add some Benecol and enough water to barely cover the carrots and garlic. Cook about 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until carrot is tender. Stir in broth and pasta. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat. Simmer uncovered 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until pasta absorbs broth. Add remaining ingredients. Serve. Yield: 8 servings (Continued on page #) (Continued from page #) Q & A Please send your questions and comments to me at : MCWrites@aol.com or mail them to: 1575 Fairway Drive, Birmingham MI 48009. Looking forward to hearing form all of you. Marilyn Citron Question:When digging potatoes for harvest, how do you prevent them from turning green? I dug them, placed in my wooden boxes, rinsed with a hose, and stored in the garage. The next day they were green on top, not the bottom. I realize they must be protected from the sun, but how critical is this? Must I use an umbrella while digging? Diane Opria (Continued on page #) (Continued from page #) Amaranth Au Gratin 1 pound fresh amaranth 1 pound ricotta 1 egg, beaten cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese Cook amaranth for 7 min. in boiling water in a covered pot until tender. Drain. Combine with ricotta, egg, and 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese. Pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 min. or until cheese is golden brown. 6 servings Green Rice Casserole 2 cups cooked brown rice 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1 tbl. butter 2 tbls. chopped onion 2tbls. minced parsley 1 cup steamed amaranth leaves (2 cups raw) 2 eggs, slightly beaten cups milk Stir cheese and butter into hot rice. Add onion, parsley and amaranth. Stir milk into slightly beaten eggs. Combine with rice mixture. Pour into oiled casserole. Bake at 325 degrees till set, about 35 min. 6 servings. These recipes were taken from Amaranth, From the Past-For the Future. by John N. Cole Steamed Amaranth 1 pound amaranth 2 tbls. oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1 onion, chopped Wash and coarsely chop amaranth. Heat oil, brown onion and garlic. Add amaranth and stir thoroughly. Cover and allow to steam in its own water-approximately 5 to 8 min. 4 servings Answer: While potatoes are one of the easiest crops to grow and harvest, as you've discovered storing them sometimes presents a problem. Let's start from the beginning. These Andes Mountain natives prosper best in full sun and well-drained, slightly acidic soil that's been amended with organic matter. Ideally, seed potatoes should be planted in April when white oak leaves are as large as cat's ears. Mound soil around the growing plants to cover developing potatoes; otherwise the tubers will turn green from the sunlight. After the plants have died back, carefully dig up the potatoes. Spread them in a single layer and put them in a dark, humid area at 50o to 60oF for a few weeks to allow the potatoes to “cure.” Then, store them in a dark basement at 40o to 45o F to prevent sprouting. Trying this procedure should negate the need for using an umbrella while harvesting your potatoes. John gets an idea, thinks it though and if it won't work one way, he thinks of another way to get it done.  Volunteer Opportunities