Gardener News May 2025

Gardener News Gardener News

Making a Case for Dandelions

By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor/Publisher Gardener News

In the 1700’s, landscape designers in England and France premiered the concept of closely cut, well-kept grass areas in gardens.

In the 1800’s, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, an avid horticulturist, was among the first to

replicate European lawn styling in America at his Monticello estate.

At one point in time, I think people praised the glowing dandelion blossoms and lion-toothed leaves as a bounty of food and

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Taraxacum officinale

yellow flowers.

Jersey Fresh farmers have been offering fresh greens, lettuces, herbs, and asparagus for at least a few weeks now. But May brings out the first flash of another color besides green…the bright, beautiful red of Jersey Fresh strawberries.

Starting in the southern part of the state and making their way north, these ruby gems burst with great flavor. While the Garden State may be more noted for its blueberries and cranberries, it’s the strawberry that makes its mark as the first of the locally grown fruits to become available, as well as typically being the first crop consumers want to go out and pick for themselves at New Jersey farms offering that form of agri-tourism.

You can find strawberries on farms throughout the state, but they’re not a fruit to sleep on. The season typically runs from late May to late June or sometimes (if we’re lucky) early July. That does not give consumers a lot of time to seek out the berries that are known for being darker and sweeter than the larger varieties that come from outside New Jersey.

And for the most part, New

NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Joe Atchison III Assistant Secretary of Agriculture

May is For Grasping at Straw(berries)

Jersey’s strawberries are not available in supermarkets, as most are sold in farm markets and farm stands or in pickyour-own fields, all right where the people who grew them are selling them to you.

I know in my house, we absolutely do not eat strawberries at any other time of year, only when you can grab the most local berries, bite in, and see that vibrant all-red starburst throughout the fruit. The flavor is outstanding and unmatched by those cheaper berries at other times of the year from thousands of miles away.

I remember as a child, my parents would pack my brother and I up and we’d head out to a local farm on a warm May or June day to pick trays and trays of strawberries that my Mom

would turn into preserves for friends and family.

We’d also freeze berries, by removing the stems and placing them separately on sheet pans and, once frozen, placing them into freezer bags so that they could be separated easily later and not turn into a big mushy berry blob.

And of course, strawberry shortcakes or simply sliced strawberries over pound cake with a little powdered sugar dusting the top were always both welcome. This time of year certainly brings back good memories, especially when they’re tied to the locally grown and produced foods our farmers create like no others.

Strawberries are far from a “legacy crop” or something New Jerseyans only recall from

decades ago. We can also look forward toward their continued future as part of New Jersey’s bounty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Rutgers University’s New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station and their County Agricultural Extension Agents are always researching ways to improve. One example is the work of Middlesex County Agent Bill Hlubik who, along with fellow agent Peter Nitzsche, have sought to make berries that can be grown longer to extend the season and have even better flavor.

If you’d like to learn more about Hlubik and Nitzsche’s work, you can find more about it at: Rutgers Unveils New, Sweeter Strawberry Perfect for Dipping | Rutgers University

When berry season hits your area, be sure to check www.FindJerseyFresh.com to locate pick-your-own farms near you if you don’t already have a favorite location. I like to try a few different farms and see which is my favorite and then load up.

One tip I have is to try to pick berries after a couple dry days, it seems to really concentrate the natural sugars and flavor, not to mention your pants and shoes will be easier to clean once you get home with your juicy goodies.

And if you want to buy a few plants and try to grow your own, make sure you protect those berries from the chipmunks that snatched all my berries one season.

Either way, enjoy Jersey Fresh strawberry season!

Editor’s Note: Joe Atchison III is the New Jersey Assistant Secretary of Agriculture. Atchison is also the Director of the Division of Marketing and Development for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. He can be reached at (609) 292-3976.

JERSEY TASTES!

Jersey Tastes. Jersey Tastes.

Asparagus Salad

INGREDIENTS

FAMILY SIZE, SERVES 4 PORTION SIZE: 4 oz

1 lb. asparagus, fresh (thick stalks)

zest of 1 lemon

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 Tbsp. Olive oil salt & pepper to taste

F U N F A C T !

Asparagus has been enjoyed for over 2,000 years! The ancient Greeks and Romans prized it for its medicinal properties and even dried it to use year-round This vegetable can grow up to 7 inches in a single day under ideal conditions! It's loaded with vitamins A, C, E, and K, as well as folate, which is essential for cell function and great for expecting mothers

1

DIRECTIONS

2

3

Wash asparagus. Do not trim the bottoms as you normally would do Use one hand to hold the bottom end of the asparagus stalk. With a vegetable peeler, peel the asparagus into thin strips like you were peeling a carrot Try to do this gently to achieve those nice swirly asparagus ribbons Use the entire stalk Discard the ends Save tips for garnish

Combine asparagus ribbons with lemon juice, lemon zest, oil, salt and pepper.

Drizzle dressing over greens Season to taste with fresh ground black pepper.

https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/farmtoschool

RUTGERS NJAES/RCE

USDA to Conduct Maple Syrup Inquiry

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct the 2025 Maple Syrup Inquiry in the Northeastern Region. The survey will collect information from approximately 1,800 Northeastern producers. Maple syrup producers, processors and commodity markets rely on the data from this survey to make informed business decisions and help promote the industry.

“The Northeastern Region produced 5.05 million gallons of maple syrup in 2024. Vermont was the top Maple Syrup state with 53 percent of the United States’ maple syrup,” according to David Knopf, director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office. In 2024, NASS estimated the total number of taps across the nation at 17.1 million and total production was 5.86 million gallons of maple syrup.

Survey recipients are encouraged to respond securely online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail or fax. To ensure all participants have an opportunity to respond, NASS interviewers may contact producers who do not respond to arrange an interview to complete the survey.

All information from respondents is kept confidential, as required by federal law, and published so that no operation or producer can be identified. NASS will publish this data in the Crop Production report on June 12.

New Jersey Annual Vegetable Report

New Jersey 2024 sales for principal vegetables totaled almost $225 million from close to 28 thousand harvested acres, according to Bruce Eklund, state statistician of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New Jersey Field Office.

Tomatoes led in value of production, followed by bell peppers and sweet corn. Sweet corn led in harvested acres followed by cucumbers and squash. NASS did not publish New Jersey asparagus in 2024. These vegetable estimates represent crops grown in the open, not those grown under glass or other protection. For information on vegetables grown under protection, please see the Census of Horticulture and the Census of Agriculture

In the Chef’s Corner

By Andy Lagana Chef

Flat Iron Lettuce Wraps with Spring Pea Pasta Salad

Hello Gardener News

readers. The grass is getting greener, the days are getting longer, and my grill is getting greater use.

Flat Iron Lettuce Wraps are perfect for warmer weather and use a tender and flavorful cut of beef from the top blade of the chuck, a part of the cow’s shoulder. It is often considered a good alternative to more expensive steaks and can be substituted for any grilling type of steak including ribeye, skirt steak, NY strip, hanger, or London broil.

Ingredients needed are 12 oz. flat iron steak, 5 tbsp. soy sauce, ¼ cup hoisin sauce, 2 tbsp. chili garlic sauce, 1 tbsp. fresh ginger, 1 tbsp. rice vinegar, 1 tsp. sesame oil, ½ cup peanut butter, 1 tsp. vegetable oil, 2 oz. rice noodles, 2 heads butter lettuce, 1 ½ cup carrots (cut to matchsticks), 1 English cucumber (cut to matchsticks) and ½ cup fresh mint leaves

Start by whisking together the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chili garlic sauce, ginger, vinegar, and sesame oil in a large bowl. Remove ¼ cup to a medium bowl and whisk in the peanut butter and ¼ cup hot water. Cover and set aside for serving.

Put the steak in a shallow dish and pour the remaining marinade on top, flipping to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Brush a grill or grill pan with the vegetable oil and heat over mediumhigh heat. Remove the steak from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Grill for 4 to 6 minutes per side for medium-rare (a

thermometer inserted into the center should read 135˚ F).

Transfer the steak to a cutting board and let it rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, cook the rice noodles according to package directions. Slice the steak against the grain. To serve, fill the lettuce leaves with the noodles, steak, carrots, cucumber, and mint, then drizzle with some of the peanut sauce. Serve any remaining peanut sauce on the side.

For a side dish, I like a Spring Pea Pasta Salad. Gather 1 lb. small pasta shells, 1 bag of frozen peas steamed and divided, 2 cloves of garlic smashed, 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, ½ cup flat parsley, 1 cup grated parmesan cheese, 2 tbsp. lemon zest, ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper, 6 slices of prosciutto, ½ cup panko bread crumbs, 3 cups of baby arugula and 1 cup of mozzarella pearls. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl, and set aside to cool.

In a food processor, combine 1 1/4 cup peas with the garlic, basil, parsley, 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons lemon juice. Pulse until the pesto begins to come together. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Slowly stream in 1/4 cup olive oil with the food processor running until the pesto is smooth. Season with salt

and pepper, then transfer the pesto to the bowl of cooled pasta. Toss the pasta and pesto together, adding the reserved pasta water 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time to thin the sauce.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Working in batches, if necessary, arrange the prosciutto in an even layer and cook, turning occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from the pan, and transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Add the panko breadcrumbs to the pan, along with another drizzle of olive oil if the pan seems dry. Cook, stirring often, until lightly golden and toasted, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl. To the breadcrumbs, you will add 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and the remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese. Stir and set aside.

Roughly chop the crispy prosciutto and add half to the bowl of pasta. Add the remaining peas, arugula, and mozzarella, along with the remaining 2 teaspoons of lemon zest, remaining 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a good drizzle of olive oil, stirring them all together. Taste and adjust the seasoning as necessary, then serve the pasta salad sprinkled with the lemonparmesan breadcrumbs and remaining crispy prosciutto. The best wine pairing for this meal is a medium-bodied red like Syrah, Zinfandel or Malbec, offering a balance of fruit and tannins to complement the steak’s flavor and tenderness.

Editor’s Note: Andy Lagana is a Chef at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, Sussex County, N.J. For more information on its culinary program, visit www.CSResort.com.

How would you like to be named ‘The Olivia that looks like Olivia’? Well, that is just what we have in rue anemone, Thalictrum thalictroides

The naming process has followed a confusing path; the genus name Thalictrum is from ancient Greek θάλικτρον or tháliktron which means: meadow rue (a meadow plant which has compound leaves like real rues). The species naming is also apparently inane: it looks like a Thalictrum. Thus, when translated we have the strange name: The Thalictrum that Looks Like a Thalictrum

Although the scientific name is rather insipid, the common name is just as bad! Rue anemone is not a rue of the genus Ruta although the leaves are somewhat similar, and rue anemone is not a true anemone in the genus Anemone. However, rue anemone does have white spring flowers and is in the buttercup family as are true anemones. Perhaps we should use the alternate common name ‘windflower.’ This name was coined since the whole plant, especially the rounded leaflets, shimmers even in moderate breezes.

The plant itself is a real spring

In my experience, spring ephemerals require a bit of trial and error before understanding how best to use them in a garden. By definition, this group of plants emerge in early spring, flower, set seed and enter into dormancy by the start of summer. Their strategy is to complete their annual cycle before competition for sunlight and water grows more intense.

For gardeners, the trick is how to display their beauty while not displaying their declining foliage. This was my initial hesitation for using the bold textured Mayapple, botanically known as Podophyllum peltatum. Fortunately, time spent working with the plant resolved any fears!

Podophyllum is a member of the Berberidaceae or Barberry Family, with only one species native to central and eastern North America and around six species native from Afghanistan east to Japan. The genus and species of Podophyllum peltatum was officially described by the Swiss botanist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778) in 1753, although the influence for the name was from the French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort (1656-1708). Tournefort named the plant Anapodophyllum meaning Duck’s Foot Leaf!

The Native Plant Society of New Jersey

By Hubert Ling Horticulture Chair

The Thalictrum that Looks Like a Thalictrum

gem in spite of its names. Rue anemone is a common late April-May blooming plant which brightens up the forest floor of many relatively undisturbed areas of Northern NJ. The unopened buds look like little pink pearls and the opening flowers generally fade to white. Numerous ¾ inch flowers crown 5- to 8-inchtall delicate plants which have compound leaves with roundish lobes similar to those in meadow rue or maidenhair fern. There are numerous pistils and stamens but no petals. However, the 5-10 broad, white to pink, sepals look just like normal petals and double flowers are occasionally found. Rue anemones bloom for about three weeks.

This plant is treasured around the world and numerous cultivars are available including: ‘Green Hurricane’ single green flowers;

‘Betty Blake’ double, green; ‘Rosea’ single, pink; and ‘Shoaf’s Double’ pink.

Rue anemone naturally grows in shade or semi-shade, on level ground or on gentle slopes in slightly acid, rich, well-drained, medium to dry soils. It ranges from Ontario to Florida and west to Kansas, growing at low elevations. In NJ it is found in almost every county, but it is more common outside of the pine barrens.

The plant is easy to grow and propagate in a shady garden. Propagation is easily done from seeds which can be planted immediately after they ripen in late May or June. They will need a 3-month cool treatment over winter, and seedings will flower the second or third year. Double flowered cultivars do not produce seeds, but fortunately both single

and double flowered plants produce small underground tubers. Root divisions can be done in late spring or early summer. Since the plant sets seed early and the leaves almost always go down by July 4, rue anemone is a true spring ephemeral. It is not aggressive, and the growth rate is slow.

Rue anemone is generally disease free and moderately resistant to most herbivores, drought, and it tolerates heavy shade. It will also tolerate a range of acid to basic soils.

Rue anemone attracts bees, butterflies, flies, and moths. It also serves as emergency food for very hungry small mammals who may consume the small tubers. The cooked tubers have been used for human food and the roots have been used as an astringent and as a treatment

Morris County Park Commission

By Bruce Crawford Horticultural Manager

Bold and Beautiful

The species epithet of peltatum describes the peltate leaf, whereby the petiole is attached near the center of the lower leaf’s surface. Mayapples form large masses that are connected by underground horizontal stems called rhizomes.

The leaf-bearing stalks appear from buds at the tip of the rhizome with the individual stalks appearing in mid-April in New Jersey. They are initially protected by white bracts that reach just above the soil before splitting open to allow a single stem to emerge. Individual stems will have either one or two leaves, with those displaying two leaves most apt to flower.

For those flowering stems, the flower bud appears at the tip of the stem with the dark green leaves draped around the stem below. The sturdy stems approach a height of

15-22" at maturity with each leaf measuring 12-14" in diameter and displaying upwards of nine, deeply cut lobes that resemble a duck’s foot! Interestingly, the flower bud goes from being highly visible at the tip of the plant to concealed by the expanding foliage, even though it remains perched atop the stalk. Once reaching the mature height in May, the white flowers start to open and were thought to resemble the blooms of an apple tree – hence, the common name of Mayapple! When fully open, the 7-9 petaled blossom ranges from 2-2½" in diameter with a ring of yellow anthers surrounding a prominent, globe-shaped stigma. Flowers will not self-pollinate but require two genetically different parents with Bumble Bees often assuming the role as pollinator.

Pollinated flowers will yield

for piles. I would strongly recommend not using this plant for food or medical treatments since it is listed as a mild poison, and the sap may cause blistering on skin contact and vomiting on ingestion.

Rue anemone is a real diminutive gem to add to your shaded rock, woodland, nighttime, fairy, gnome, or living wall garden. The cheerful white flowers of the straight species greet you in spring and the double cultivars add a hint of the fairyland to shady areas. Since the double varieties are slow growing you might wish to protect them with hardware cloth if you have a chipmunk or his friends’ problem. Checkout photos and info on rue anemone at our website: https://www. awesomenativeplants.info/ photo_galleries/photo_pages/ thalictrum_thalictroides.html

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is Past President of The Native Plant Society of NJ and Horticulture Chair. He can be reached at milhubling@verizon.net.

a round to egg-shaped ‘apple,’ growing to 1½" in diameter and maturing in late July and early August. They are edible, but only when ripe since all parts of the plant contain the very toxic Podophyllotoxin. I have always been hesitant to try something that may still be poisonous, but our wildlife is far more daring, and the fruit is highly favored by the Eastern Box Turtle. Stalks that did not flower or failed to produce fruit will go dormant in June, while the foliage of fruiting plants remains into July. In general, Podophyllum prefers a shaded location in humus rich soil that does not become excessively dry. It is tolerant of a broad pH range of 5-7 with an equally broad hardiness range of zones 3-8. It ultimately needs a large area to expand, and as

the foliage deteriorates during late spring, there should be other plants to distract the eye from the declining foliage. Consider underplanting Rhododendrons and Pepperbushes (Clethra alnifolia) with Mayapple or combining them with the contrasting texture of large ferns, like Cinnamon (Osmunda cinnamomeum) or Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia pensylvanica). Without doubt, spring ephemerals can be intimidating subjects to work into the garden, especially when the foliage is dramatically large! However, that’s what makes gardening fun! Podophyllum also provides that touch of whimsy when their bold leaves beckon you in for a game of hide and seek to find their hidden yet, beautiful flowers! Certainly, a playful reason to grow this bold and beautiful plant.

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Manager of Horticulture for the Morris County Parks Commission, and a Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at BCrawford@ morrisparks.net

Grape and Wine Science Certificate Program

June 9 – 28, 2025 | 9:00am – 4:00pm EDT Online & In Person in New Brunswick, NJ

Prepare for a position in this flourishing industry by gaining foundational knowledge from experts in three major areas of grape and wine science:

Grape growing and vineyard management

Wine making

Business operations

Program Features:

Three weeks of classroom instruction, including hands-on workshops and field trips

Four-week paid winery internship *Participants must be 21 or older to participate

Hurry, apply by May 12 and save $300!

From the Director’s Desk Rutgers Outreach

Provided by Brian Schilling Director

Don’t Get Ticked! Prevent Tickborne Disease with Key Tips & Tactics!

Spending time outdoors in New Jersey puts you at risk of tickborne disease. As it is impossible to avoid ticks completely, it is important to be prepared when you or someone you love encounters one.

If you see or get bitten by a tick in New Jersey, you can first upload a good close-up picture or two to the Rutgers Center for Vector Biology’s “NJ Ticks 4 Science!” website for a tick ID within 48 hrs. If you mail us the tick – instructions on the website – we will test it for relevant disease-agents for free. Our goal is to alleviate stress for those confronted with an unexpected tick bite, provide informed guidance, and create statewide risk maps for tickborne diseases.

litter, and shady areas like in forests. If you are interested in reducing tick populations in your own backyard, consider mowing the grass, mulching the leaves, and opening the tree canopy to dry the environment and kill ticks.

These habitat modifications also make the environments less suitable for tick hosts such as white-footed mice, the reservoirs of Lyme bacteria and other tick-transmitted disease agents. Mice like tall grasses, low vegetation, and leaf litter in shady environments. Therefore, clearing or allowing the sun to shine through reduces tick and tick-host populations, decreasing your chances of being bit.

picked up the disease-agent while blood-feeding. Ticks are vectors, which means they pick up a disease-agent from one blood-host then hold onto it often for months and pass it to another host, sometimes a human, during the next bloodmeal. Although the blacklegged (deer) tick is the primary vector of Lyme disease, ticks in New Jersey are also linked to other tickborne illnesses, notably babesiosis, a disease caused by protozoan parasites that is becoming increasingly prevalent in the state.

Atlantic County

Phone: 609-625-0056

Bergen County Phone: 201-336-6780

Burlington County Phone: 609-265-5050

Camden County Phone: 856 216 7130

Cape May County Phone: 609-465-5115

Cumberland County Phone: 856-451-2800

Essex County Phone: 973-228-2210

Gloucester County Phone: 856-224-8040

Hudson County Phone: 201-915-1399

Hunterdon County Phone: 908-788-1339

Mercer County Phone: 609-989-6830

Middlesex County Phone: 732-398-5260

Monmouth County Phone: 732-431-7260

Morris County Phone: 973-285-8300

Ocean County Phone:732-349-1246

Passaic County Phone: 973-305-5740

Salem County Phone: 856-769-0090

Somerset County Phone: 908-526-6293

Sussex County Phone: 973-948-3040

Union County Phone: 908-654-9854

Warren County Phone: 908-475-6505

If you want to avoid tick bites, there are steps you can take to minimize your risk. Wear light colored clothes, making it easier to spot ticks, and tuck your pants into your socks as well as your shirt into your pants. By reducing areas of open skin, you are limiting where the tick can find a spot to bite.

Beyond physical barriers, use synthetic repellents like DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535, or natural alternatives such as PMD (from oil of lemon eucalyptus) on your skin and/or clothing. Permethrin is another highly effective option—it works as both an insecticide and contact repellent but must be applied to clothing (not skin) several hours before wear. Once dry, it can remain effective through multiple washes. Be aware that permethrin is toxic to cats and should be used with caution. Always follow the product label directions carefully.

Common areas for tick encounters are tall grasses, leaf

Please know that ticks do not fly, skip, jump, or fall from trees. Ticks will wait on grasses or other vegetation with their front legs outstretched, waiting for a host to pass by – the “sciencey” term for that behavior is “questing.” Therefore, on a trail avoid veering off the path into areas of overgrown grass, leaf piles or bushes. If you are standing in leaf litter they can also crawl onto your shoes and up your legs.

If your garden neighbors a forest, you can help reduce ticks by spreading wood chips along the forest edge. Woodchip borders along recreational trails also limit tick encounters. More research is needed on the effectiveness of different methods of tick control, but habitat modification holds promise.

In New Jersey only the blacklegged (deer) tick can transmit Lyme bacteria. However, not all blacklegged (deer) ticks are infected because it depends on whether they

If you get bitten by a tick, remove it as soon as possible. The most dangerous part of a tick bite is not how it is removed, but when it is removed. The transmission of disease agents, if present in the tick, does not happen immediately which means you have time to prevent a tickborne disease even after the tick has embedded and started blood feeding. “Tick checks” can work!

When removing a tick, you can use fine or slant-tipped tweezers, a tick remover or if there are no tools around, your fingers! Pull steadily out and once the tick has been removed, clean the area. If the mouthparts (the part that looks like it should be a head) remain behind after removal, that is fine. The mouthparts cannot transmit disease-agents without the tick’s body and will eventually be pushed out like a splinter. Do not wait to see a doctor to remove the tick, just get it out! If you have questions or are interested in learning more about the “NJ Ticks 4 Science!” project, check out https:// ticks.rutgers.edu/ for more information.

LAND-GRANT UNIVERSITY NEWS

Scientists Witness Plant Cells Generate Cellulose and Form Cell Walls for First Time

In a groundbreaking study on the synthesis of cellulose – a major constituent of all plant cell walls – a team of Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers has captured images of the microscopic process of cell-wall building continuously over 24 hours with living plant cells, providing critical insights that may lead to the development of more robust plants for increased food and lower-cost biofuels production.

The discovery, published in the journal Science Advances, reveals a dynamic process never seen before and may provide practical applications for everyday products derived from plants including enhanced textiles, biofuels, biodegradable plastics, and new medical products. The research also is expected to contribute to the fundamental knowledge – while providing a new understanding – of the formation of cell walls, the scientists said.

It represents over six years of effort and collaboration among three laboratories from differing but complementary academic disciplines at Rutgers: the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Engineering, and the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

Dam Renovations Provide Irrigation Source for NJAES Specialty Crop Research and Extension Center

The Rutgers NJAES Specialty Crop Research and Extension Center is one of the many off campus locations that Institutional Planning & Operations (IP&O) helps maintain at Rutgers University. Located in Cream Ridge, NJ, the facility conducts research focusing on increasing production efficiency and the protection of fruit crops from disease, including apples, strawberries, peaches and more.

Planning, Development, and Design units as well as University Facilities are in the process of completing a $4 million renovation project of an onsite dam, which the research facility uses for irrigation. Funding for this project was provided by the State Legislature to the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station as part of a larger initiative to improve NJAES off-campus research and extension facilities.

The dam in Cream Ridge is one of seven dams on Rutgers property. Two dams have been previously renovated at the Rutgers Plant Science Research and Extension Farm in Adelphia. The next one slated for repair is located at the Philip E. Marucci Center for Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension in Chatsworth, NJ. Renovations of these dams ensures their utility for decades to come.

The dam is the first of its kind in New Jersey, using a unique system to confine sediment collection to one area, keeping water levels and surface elevation stable, and allowing for easier maintenance. In addition, the spillway has been converted from grass to concrete, fortifying the dam, which Richter believes should last for 100 years.

The research center relied on the dam for irrigation purposes. Over the past decade, however, due to the degradation of the dam, the center had to use secondary resources. With the dam renovation nearing completion, and with IP&O also upgrading the pipes and pump house system, the center will once again be able to use the dam for irrigation.

Rutgers Plays Vital Role at the 2025 New Jersey Agricultural Convention

The 2025 New Jersey Agricultural Convention and Trade Show, a collaborative effort among the Vegetable Growers Association of NJ, the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA), and Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE), was held from February 4 – 6 at Harrah’s Resort and Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City, NJ. Each year, RCE plays a leading role in developing and hosting a series of educational sessions, led in recent years by co-chairs and RCE agricultural agents, William Bamka (Burlington County) and Michelle Infante-Casella (Gloucester County).

The largest agriculture education each year in the Garden State, there almost 650 attendees drawn from among NJDA personnel, delegates of the NJ State Board of Agriculture, farmers, commodity groups, trade show vendors, along with a strong contingent of Rutgers officials, some of whom served as key presenters at more than a dozen sessions held during the three-day event.

Laura Lawson, Executive Dean of Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) and Executive Director of NJAES, addressed the convention. She underscored the pivotal role of NJAES and its crucial statewide partnership in ensuring the viability and success of the agricultural industry in New Jersey. Lawson also unveiled the 2024 NJAES Annual Report, which featured a wide range of experiment station research and outreach activities in service to New Jersey businesses and residents.

As the state’s land-grant institution, Rutgers leverages its extensive research and knowledge to meet the mission of community engagement, access, outreach and service that addresses the pressing needs identified by the agricultural community. Guided by input from growers, NJAES’ well-established record of innovative agricultural research enables it to be responsive to both current and emerging agricultural issues, ensuring a more sustainable and resilient industry.

This reciprocal relationship among SEBS, the experiment station, and the

agriculture community was reflected in the strong turnout among the NJAES executive leadership team. This included Mazen Shehat, Senior Associate Dean of Finance and Administration; Lia Papathomas, Director of External Relations and Strategic Initiatives; Josh Kohut, Dean of Research & NJAES Director of Research; Jim Oehmke, Chair of the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics and NJAES Director of Economic Development; and Brian Schilling, Director of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Several NJAES department heads also attended, including Rachel Lyons, Chair of the Department of 4-H Youth Development; Peter Oudemans, Professor and Director of the Marucci Blueberry and Cranberry Research and Extension Center; and Peter Nitzsche, Director of the Clifford E. & Melda C. Snyder Research and Extension Farm.

Among the major presentations at the convention was “Agrivoltaics 101” by A.J. Both, professor and extension specialist in the Department of Environmental Sciences. Both and several colleagues comprising the Rutgers Agrivoltaics Program have undertaken a research and demonstration project to test whether installation of a vertical bifacial solar array at the university’s Animal Farm at SEBS will enable modern farming practices to be combined with generating solar energy. The all-day workshop, “FSMA Produce Safety Rule Growers Training” that fulfills FDA requirements and covered topics like produce safety, worker hygiene, and water management, was chaired by RCE agricultural agent Meredith Melendez (Mercer County).

The SEBS Office of Development and Alumni Engagement hosted a table at the convention in an effort to connect with Rutgers alumni in attendance. Since many of our alumni specialize in agriculture, this event served as a great opportunity to make connections, promote support for SEBS and our students, and update alumni information, all with the goal of facilitating school and university initiatives.

Farmers have been studying and trying to manipulate the genetics of fruits and vegetables since people first started farming. Once the original farmers planted and harvested their first crops, it was only natural that they would want to make improvements and try to increase their yields in their ensuing growing seasons. Whether it was selecting the best tasting fruits, or saving the seeds from the best yielding plants, this type of natural selection has been going on in agriculture for thousands of years.

And this type of selection continues today. Farmers are always looking to make improvements. Higher yielding soybeans, drought resistant corn, juicier apples, or better tasting tomatoes. As you can see, the possibilities are endless. And this selection process has helped feed an ever-growing population throughout the world.

Let’s look at peaches as an example. Peaches originated somewhere in Asia thousands of years ago. With the advent of modern trade, they gradually moved around the world until they eventually made their way to North America. Once they were here, farmers planted

The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

The Importance of Genetics

them and tried to improve them. During the late 1800’s, due to a multitude of factors, farmers learned how to grow them, and consumers learned how to, well, consume them, and they really took off in popularity. It was said that Hunterdon County alone had over one million peach trees. With this type of attention being given to peaches, it was only natural for growers to start looking for new and improved varieties. Commercial nurseries were started and each one tried to outdo the other. Fruit tree breeding programs were started at Rutgers, as well as at other Universities around the country with the goal of helping farmers to grow and market better peaches. And it worked. The varieties that farmers were growing back in 1900 were greenish yellow

with possibly the slightest blush of red color when they were fully ripe. They were barely two inches in diameter. They were not much to look at compared to the varieties that are being grown today. But over time, these older varieties were replaced with new and improved strains. They gradually became bigger, redder, and sweeter. But other characteristics were selected as well. Growers in the Deep South, where the winters are not as cold as they are here in New Jersey, needed peaches that would crop after a very short dormancy season. Conversely, growers in Michigan and Ontario needed varieties that could withstand extreme cold winter temperatures. And growers in California needed peaches that were firm enough to withstand

The Society of American Florists’ 2025 Marketer of the Year Contest Now Accepting Entries

The Society of American Florists (SAF) is now accepting submissions for its 31st Annual Marketer of the Year Contest, recognizing innovative and effective marketing campaigns that have helped floral businesses grow. SAF members across the industry—including retailers, wholesalers, importers, manufacturers, and growers—are invited to apply. The deadline to enter is May 31, 2025.

Entries will be judged by a panel of successful floral business owners and at least one non- industry marketing expert. Judges will review and score all entries. Originality and success are the two most important attributes judges look for. The entry receiving the highest score is the winner.

A $5,000 cash prize, sponsored by Design Master, a division of Smithers Oasis, will be awarded to the winner during a ceremony at the Society of American Florists’ (SAF) annual convention, Aug. 11-14, 2025 in Phoenix. A profile of the winner will be published in the September/October issue of Floral Management.

The Society of American Florists is the association that connects and cultivates a thriving floral community through training, education, marketing resources and advocacy. Our vision: The power of flowers in every life. For more information, visit safnow.org.

For additional information, contact Amanda Jedlinsky at ajedlinsky@ safnow.org

a one week journey across the country to reach their markets on the east coast. Now we have white and yellow fleshed peaches, peaches without fuzz (nectarines) and peaches that are shaped like donuts. We have peaches that ripen in June here in New Jersey, and also peaches that ripen in late September, as well as every week in between. There are varieties that are grown specifically for processing or canning and other varieties that are only grown for the fresh market.

But with all of these varieties to choose from, growers have to be very careful about which varieties they select to grow. A variety bred to perform well in southern Georgia will more than likely, not perform well in northern Michigan. But, with improved plant breeding

techniques, it is now possible to try and engineer varieties that keep only their best characteristics and in turn, allow growers to try and get the best of both worlds.

One or two hundred years ago, farmers would perform a great deal of this selection process on their own. And they would know whether or not the newer version of something would work for them. But now, research is being done across the globe. And while it is great to learn about improvements that are made half-way around the world, it is important to remember that what works in Oregon might not necessarily work in Oldwick. Happy Spring!

Editor’s Note: Peter Melick is co-owner of Melick’s Town Farm in Oldwick and a 10th-generation New Jersey farmer. Peter is Mayor of Tewksbury Township, Hunterdon County, NJ. He also served as a director for the New Jersey Farm Bureau and is a past president of the New Jersey State Board of Agriculture. Peter has also been featured on NJN, News 12 New Jersey and on the Fox Business Network.

Making a Case for Dandelions

(Continued from page 1)

medicine. But somewhere in the twentieth century, people decided that the dandelion was a weed. Most people today think they are the most unpopular flower in the neighborhood.

These sunny flowers go from bud to seed in days. Their lifespan is long, too – an individual plant can live for years.

Dandelion plants begin to flower and blossom in early spring (late March to May). The flower then produces seeds that are attached to the pappuses, which are like little parachutes that carry the seeds once the wind blows them away. The seeds then land on the ground and begin the cycle all over again. Once germinated, these seedlings develop into mature plants, with leaves that grow into a rosette pattern between 3 to 10 inches long. The dandelion plants also have a deep taproot that can grow between 6 to 18 inches

long. This makes it difficult to get rid of them completely. The plant’s taproot can also survive throughout the winter and can sprout again the following spring, growing a whole new plant.

There are multiple methods for getting rid of dandelions on your lawn. If you don’t want to use an herbicide, you can manually remove the dandelion by either hand pulling the plant or using a dandelion ground fork tool. When handpulling dandelions, it is important to completely remove both the plant and its taproot to avoid them coming back. If the taproot is not pulled out completely, it can cause the growth of a new dandelion plant. It’s best to pull the plant when it’s young, and when the soil is moist. The older the plant gets, the deeper the taproot will extend into the soil making it harder to remove.

Another method

As the busy landscaping season kicks into high gear, it’s a great time to make sure you’re set for success—not just with tools and materials, but with knowledge, compliance, and safety. The NJLCA is a stickler when it comes to safety and professionalism and asks you to do the same! Here are a few important reminders for landscape contractors and professionals across New Jersey:

Stay Current with Your Pesticide License

If you’re applying any kind of pesticide—even something as seemingly simple as RoundUp— you are required by law to have a New Jersey State Pesticide License. Be sure your license is up to date and that you’ve completed all necessary continuing education credits. If you or your employees still need a license, now’s the time to register for a class to get certified before the season hits full stride.

Keep Granular

Products Off Hard Surfaces

When applying granular lawn care products like fertilizers, it’s essential to clean up any product that spills onto sidewalks, driveways, and curbs. A quick pass with your leaf blower helps prevent runoff into streets and waterways, keeping our environment cleaner and avoiding violations or complaints. But keep that blower at half throttle

The NJLCA Today

By Gail Woolcott Executive Director

Spring Reminders for Landscape Professionals: Safety, Compliance, and Success

when doing so, it will make the homeowners and neighbors happy.

Don’t Let Frost Catch You Off Guard

Even though spring is warming up, early- to mid-season frosts are still a risk. The average last frost date in New Jersey is May 15th, and planting tender annuals too soon could cost you. Vinca, in particular, is highly sensitive to cold—avoid planting it until after Memorial Day for best results. Be aware of the weather and don’t rush your plantings!

Know the Fire Code Rules for Mulch

If you’re working with commercial or multifamily properties, be sure you’re familiar with the latest fire code regulations regarding mulch placement. In general, mulch must be kept at least 18 inches away

from any building that isn’t a oneor two-family dwelling—unless the first three feet of that perimeter are noncombustible, like concrete or stone. For full details and guidance, please visit our website.

Inspect Your Equipment Before Use

Give all equipment a thorough inspection before starting the season. Check the air filter, oil level, and gas tank, and look for any loose belts or damaged or missing parts. This was the first thing that candidates would fail on the Certified Landscape Technician’s Exam. Confirm that all safety guards are properly installed and functioning. Replace any worn components or take the equipment to a certified technician for servicing if needed.

If you’re using electric or batterypowered tools, be sure the batteries

are in good condition—free from cracks, damage, or signs of wear.

Snap Those Project Photos

Whether you’re finishing a new patio, freshening up plant beds, or installing a water feature, take photos of your work! Not only are these great for marketing and social media, but they’re also invaluable when preparing entries for the NJLCA’s Landscape Achievement Awards coming up this late summer. Show off your hard work—you’ve earned it.

Save These Dates: Upcoming NJLCA

Events

Mark your calendars! The NJ Contractors Showcase Expo will be held on August 6th at the County College of Morris. This outdoor event is a must-attend for industry networking, demos, and new product insights.

Also, don’t forget to book your foursome early for the Annual NJLCA Golf Challenge, once again being held at Wild Turkey at Crystal Springs. Proceeds support NJLCA scholarships and it’s always a great day of fun and connection. Taking the time now to check these items off your list will keep you compliant, professional, and ready to grow this season—literally and figuratively.

If you have questions or need more information, or are interested in joining the NJLCA, please visit www.NJLCA.org Here’s to a safe, successful, and vibrant season ahead!

Editor’s Note: Gail Woolcott is the Executive Director for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association. Gail was presented with a community service award from the Borough of Fairview, New Jersey for her assistance in leading the 9-11 Memorial Park project and the Legislative Champion of the Year award from the Federation of Employers and Workers of America. She can be reached at 201-703-3600 or by emailing gwoolcott@ njlca.org.

• This zero-tail-swing excavator provides unrestricted rotation, giving operators more room to work in close proximity to walls and other objects.

• The 3-ton compact excavator market is highly competitive with a high retail volume. R2-Series compact excavators are designed to excel in this marketplace by providing the performance, durability, quality and versatility necessary to push operator productivity and profitability to the next level.

• Lease for as low as $765 per month

Barckett

Colorful Hanging Baskets•Grass Seed•Straw•Jolly Gardener

Give Large Agricultural, Slow-Moving Vehicles Space

As farming weather arrives, you may observe an increase in tractors and farm vehicles on roadways. Please stay alert, especially when driving in rural areas, as these agricultural vehicles often travel at slow speeds.

Pass carefully. Wait for a safe passing zone, watch for oncoming traffic, signal before changing lanes, and return to the lane once the vehicle is in your rearview mirror. Don’t pass near intersections, around curves, over railroad crossings, or near bridges. If the vehicle is extra-wide, wait to pass until the driver pulls over and signals that it’s safe. Honk your horn beforehand in case the driver can’t see you. Understand the tractors and farm vehicles may be turning into a farm field. Look for entrances to farm fields and consider this possibility before attempting to pass one.

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Read The Gardener News Online GardenerNews.com

POWER EQUIPMENT

FEATURING

Magnificent Mother's Day Flowers

NJDA Secretary Wengryn Marks National Agriculture Day

New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn along with state and local officials marked National Agriculture Day with a visit to Hionis Greenhouses in Hunterdon County.

National Agriculture Day, which was March 18, highlighted the abundance provided by agriculture and the importance of farmers to New Jersey and the nation. Farmers in the state take in nearly $1.5 billion from products sold at the gate each year.

“The diversity of New Jersey’s agriculture makes it one of the truly unique states in the country,” Secretary Wengryn said. “Whether it’s growing potted flowers and plants like we have seen today, or our world-famous Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables, raising livestock, turning Jersey grapes into award winning wines,

or producing aquaculture and seafood products, our farmers do a remarkable job each year providing the best for New Jersey, the nation and even internationally. It’s important to recognize the efforts of all involved in the industry and to remind consumers why we are still the Garden State.”

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Garden State’s largest agricultural sector is the nursey/ greenhouse/sod industry with more than $725 million in sales annually. New Jersey ranks No. 4 in the country in floriculture (flowers) sales and No. 7 in the country in overall horticulture sales.

New Jersey’s other primary agricultural sectors include fruit and vegetables, which when combined with the nursey/greenhouse/sod

industry, make up approximately 80 percent of agriculture receipts in the state. According to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture data released in 2022, the Garden State had nearly $300 million in sales for vegetables, melons, potatoes, and sweet potatoes and nearly $200 million in sales for fruits, tree nuts, and berries.

Other New Jersey products that rank in the top 10 in the U.S. in production are asparagus, blueberries, bell peppers, cranberries, eggplant, spinach, tomatoes, peaches, cucumbers, squash, and sweet corn, as well as agritourism, seafood catch, and seafood landings.

With more than 250,000 acres permanently preserved for agriculture, the industry plays a significant role in maintaining a strong economy and provides

numerous career opportunities including farm production; agribusiness management and marketing; agricultural research and engineering; food science, processing, retailing; banking; education; landscape architecture; urban planning; energy and many more.

The top New Jersey counties in farmland acres are Salem (97,465), Burlington (93,594), Hunterdon (91,588), Sussex (71,688) and Warren (70,747). According to the USDA, 94 percent of farms in New Jersey are considered family farms.

With almost 10,000 farms on approximately 750,000 acres, New Jersey farmers are stewards of the land, contributing to the health, beauty, productivity and quality of our water and soil resources for the benefit of all state residents.

New Jersey Pesticide Container Recycling Program-2025

This Program is offered to agricultural, professional and commercial pesticide applicators who hold a valid NJDEP applicator license. Other entities that qualify for program participation also include state, county, and municipal government agencies.

Participants must provide proof of licensure at each drop-off location. A representative from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture will be on-site to inspect recycled containers and issue the receipt of pesticide credit to the

Drop-off Sites:

applicant. Only one CORE credit will be issued to each applicator per year.

Container Requirements:

Used containers must be correctly processed prior to arrival. Accepted containers are limited to the following:

Empty, triple rinsed, drained and dry on the inside

Free of residue (other than stains)

Containers will be accepted at each location from 9AM-12PM

Salem County

Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC.

440 N. Main St., Woodstown, NJ

• 5/23/25

• 6/20/25

• 7/18/25

Atlantic County

Helena Agri-Enterprises, LLC.

66 Route 206 (North of the Route 30/206 Intersection) Hammonton, NJ

• 5/16/25

• 6/13/25

• 7/11/25

Foil seal and EPA registered label must be removed

Non-refillable containers, with either ¼ inch hole or 6 inch slit at the bottom

Embossed with HDPE or recycled #2

Adhere to size requirements (will accept sizes up to 55 gallons)

5 gal: cut in half

30 gal: cut into (4) pieces

55 gal: cut into (8) pieces

Monmouth County

Rutgers Fruit and Ornamental Research Extension Center

283 Route 539

Cream Ridge, NJ

• 5/30/25

• 6/27/25

• 7/25/25

For further information, or questions, please contact Rachel DeFlumeri. Email inquiries to rachel.deflumeri@ag.nj.gov

Additional program information can be found through the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s website http://www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/anr/nrc/processingsteps.html

Governor Murphy Signs Bill to Protect New Jersey Businesses Against Retail Theft

Governor Phil Murphy signed A4755/S3587, which establishes and upgrades certain crimes related to retail theft, provides that repeat offenders can be sentenced to extended prison terms, addresses gift card fraud, and requires the Attorney General to take actions to combat organized retail theft.

“No business owner or retail worker should have to fear for their safety or endure the financial loss caused by organized retail theft,” said Governor Murphy. “Over the past few years, we have worked to crack down on organized retail theft, which threatens livelihoods and public safety. With today’s bill, we are taking decisive action to combat this growing threat and protect businesses and workers statewide.”

To impose stricter penalties for these crimes and establish a dedicated effort to combat organized retail theft, the bill specifically:

1. Upgrades any simple assault to an aggravated assault when committed against a retail employee engaged in the performance of their duties.

2. Upgrades to a second-degree crime the failure to pay a tax, fee, penalty, or interest due if accrued through conduct as a leader of an organized retail theft enterprise.

3. Establishes fostering the sale of stolen property as a disorderly persons offense.

4. Provides that the value of merchandise involved in a shoplifting offense may be used to upgrade the offense.

5. Provides that a person may be sentenced to an extended prison term for repeat convictions related to retail theft.

6. Requires merchants that sell gift cards to ensure that the gift cards are enclosed in secure packaging and that they display a consumer notice related to gift card fraud provided by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

7. Requires the Attorney General to undertake steps as deemed appropriate to effectively investigate, prosecute, and deter organized retail theft, which may include establishing a retail theft unit, task force, or other office or initiative.

With the signing of this bill, Governor Murphy brings New Jersey in line with surrounding states, including New York and Pennsylvania, that have already taken similar measures to combat organized retail theft.

Hellebores have become one of the most interesting and beautiful flowering perennials in the winter landscape. The most common are the Christmas rose, Helleborus niger and the Lenten rose, Helleborus x hybridus. Many other species and hybrids also exist.

Depending on the type, they can start flowering as early as Christmas and continue through to early spring. They are characterized by evergreen leaves and a mass of flowering stems adorned with white, yellow, purple, pink and even red flowers, often with beautiful central markings. These clumping perennials which grow to about one foot tall thrive in tough garden situations and are deer resistant. Hellebores can grow in many situations in the garden and are very adaptable, growing at the base of large trees where dry shade conditions exist. They prefer part shade to shade conditions.

In the garden, the hellebores are relatively easy to care for. For Helleborus niger and especially Helleborus x hybridus, desiccated or burnt leaves can be removed in late winter as the buds are emerging from the soil. The foliage, even as it ages, does provide protection for the emerging buds which can be vulnerable to cold

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

By Andrew Bunting Vice President of Horticulture

Hellebores for the Garden

temperatures. The leaves should only be removed when the threat of very cold weather has passed.

There are dozens of species and hundreds of cultivars to choose from. In the early 1990’s hellebores became more popular in the garden due to selection efforts in both Germany and the United States. The Lenten rose, Helleborus x hybridus and selections emerged as the most cultivated type. They are characterized by large rosettes with broad evergreen leaves surrounding a clump of stout stems covered in five-petaled flowers two to three inches across in early spring. The flowers come in a myriad of colors including pink, rose, purple, nearly black, white, and yellow. Some types are spotted and other types have double flowers. An effective approach to display them in the home is to cut individual flowers and float them in a large bowl with the flowers facing skywards. One of the earliest selections was created by local plantsman,

David Culp at his garden in Downingtown, PA, Brandywine Cottage. Aptly named Brandywine™ this seed strain offers the home garden many different color types including pink, purple, yellow, apricot, and white, as well as doubles, “anemone” types, and others that are spotted or with a picotee edge to the petal.

The Christmas rose, Helleborus niger can bloom around Christmastime, especially in more moderate climates like Europe and especially England. It, too, has coarse evergreen leaves and is characterized by stout stems to 9-12 inches tall covered in pure white flowers with a many goldenyellow stamens in the center of the flower. Flowering will vary considerably depending on the climate. In the Philadelphia area, flowering typically occurs in late winter.

In the last 30 years there has been an amazing renaissance in the horticultural world with hellebores. Many individuals and companies

have hybridized many species and there has been an explosion of new and interesting selections hitting the market every year.

The Winter Ballet Series are hybrids between the Lenten rose and the Christmas rose and feature many cultivars including ‘Liara’ which reaches 18-20 inches tall with light pink flowers and darker pink veins, and ‘Linda’ with cream colored flowers with yellowish-green center.

Famous plant breeder Hans Hansen created the Honeymoon® Series. He made his selections for a strong floral display, a mix of colors, long flowering period, and great vigor.

‘California Dreaming’ has bright yellow flowers. ‘French Kiss’ has large white flowers with magenta veining. ‘Rome in Red’ is a dark maroon red and ‘Tropical Sunset’ has light yellow flowers with streaks of red.

Frostkiss® Series are complex hybrids including H. x hybridus, H. niger,

H. lividus, etc. This mix of parents has resulted in many selections that have both interesting flowers and foliage. ‘Anna’s Red’ has reddish purple flowers set against leaves with silver patterns. ‘Molly’s White’ has a large stature with outward facing white flowers. ‘Penny’s Pink’ has bright pink flowers and bronze foliage with pink veining.

Editor’s Note: Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Horticulture for the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. He is one of the most recognized horticulturists in the Philadelphia, Pa., region and a highly regarded colleague in the world of professional horticulture. Bunting has amassed a plethora of awards, including the American Public Gardens Association Professional Citation, Chanticleer Scholarship in Professional Development, Delaware Center for Horticulture’s Marion Marsh Award, and the Certificate of Merit from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. In addition, Bunting has lectured extensively throughout North America and Europe, and participated in plant expeditions throughout Asia and Africa. Learn more at https://phsonline.org/team/ andrew-bunting

PHS Award Winners for 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show, Gardens of Tomorrow

The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) announced the winners at the 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show, Gardens of Tomorrow. Inside the Pennsylvania Convention Center, this year’s Flower Show was in full bloom through March 9, 2025. Featuring a world-class roster of landscape architects, garden designers, horticulturists, and florists, the Flower Show captivated visitors while showcasing the latest gardening trends and innovations.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the creativity and vision of the designers who brought this year’s Flower Show to life. Through cuttingedge design and thoughtful plant choices, these designers remind us that our gardens are not

just reflections of today, but also powerful tools for creating more sustainable, biodiverse, and connected communities tomorrow,” stated PHS’s Vice President and Creative Director of the Flower Show, Seth Pearsoll.

“The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show,” “The Philadelphia Trophy,” and the “The Mayor’s Trophy” are among the many coveted awards bestowed on designers.

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show – Landscape was awarded to Mark Cook Landscaping & Contracting for their exhibit, “Signature of Time.” This unique garden design reflected the journey of life through a blend of architecture, color, texture, and plants

from diverse time zones. Tropical and perennial plantings evoked past experiences, while the evolving landscape showcased nature’s ability to transform.

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup for Best in Show – Floral was awarded to Jennifer Designs for “Welcoming Wildlife Home.” This whimsical floral exhibit featured large animals and insects crafted from plant materials gathered at a dining table. It highlighted the crucial role of wildlife in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and demonstrated how thoughtful plant choices and habitat creation support biodiversity and ecological balance.

(Continued on next page)

GardenerNews.com

PHS Award Winners for 2025 Philadelphia Flower Show, Gardens of Tomorrow

LANDSCAPE WINNERS

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup - Best in Show

Mark Cook Landscaping & Contracting

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Silver Trophy - Landscape exhibit receiving the second-highest number of points

Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Lab x TREELiNE DESiGNZ

The American Horticultural Society Environmental Award - For an exhibit of horticultural excellence that best demonstrates the bond between horticulture and the environment and inspires the viewer to beautify home and community through skillful design and appropriate plant material

Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Lab x TREELiNE DESiGNZ

Anne Vallery Award - Awarded to an exhibit that uses its intent to take a strong stance on a humanitarian or environmental issue

Laurel-Brook Gardens

The Governor’s Trophy - For most innovative or unique design Apiary Studio

The Kate and Robert Bartlett, Jr. Award - Best use of trees

Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Lab x TREELiNE DESiGNZ

The Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association Trophy - Showing the most effective use of plants and best use of design in the Landscape category

Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Lab x TREELiNE DESiGNZ

The Philadelphia Trophy - For best use of color

Irwin Landscaping

The PHS Council Trophy - Most accomplished display of forced plants Laurel-Brook Gardens

Massachusetts Horticultural Society Gold Medal - To the Educational exhibit demonstrating the best use of design. Mercer County Community College

PHS Gardening for the Greater Good Award - Landscape - For the exhibit that best exemplifies PHS’s mission to activate horticulture and gardening as a force for the “greater good” by advancing the health and well-being of people and their environments

Susan Cohan Gardens

Special Achievement Awards of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania

- Awarded to exhibits of unusual excellence in the categories of Conservation, Education, Horticulture, and Creativity

Conservation over 1,000 sq. ft.:

Susan Cohan Gardens

Horticulture over 1,000 sq. ft.: Laurel-Brook Gardens

Conservation under 1,000 sq. ft.:

The Men’s Garden Club of Philadelphia

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Choice Award - Landscape - Given to the exhibit that the RHS believes provides inspiration to visitors, the public, and the horticultural industry

Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Lab x TREELiNE DESiGNZ

FLORAL WINNERS

The PHS Philadelphia Flower Show Cup Best in Show

Jennifer Designs

The Philadelphia Flower Show Silver Trophy - Floral exhibit receiving the second-highest number of points Robertson’s Flowers and Events

The Emile H. Geschick Memorial Award - For a distinctive orchid display Robertson’s Flowers and Events

The Mayor’s Trophy - For the Floral exhibit that demonstrates the most innovative or unique design or use of floral, plants, or products

American Institute of Floral Designers

The Phyllis M. Craig Award - For the Floral major exhibit demonstrating the best use of color in flowering and/or foliage plants

Arrange, LLC

Society of American Florists Flower Show Award - For artistic presentation of flowers and plants for public enjoyment

Jennifer Designs

PHS Gardening for the Greater Good Award - Floral - For the exhibit that best exemplifies PHS’s mission to activate horticulture and gardening as a force for the “greater good” by advancing the health and well-being of people and their environments

Jennifer Designs

Special Achievement Awards of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania – Horticulture - Awarded to exhibits of unusual excellence in the categories of Conservation, Education, Horticulture, and Creativity

Education over 1,000 sq. ft.:

Jennifer Designs

Creativity over 1,000 sq. ft.:

Jennifer Designs

Creativity under 1,000 sq. ft.

TissaRose Floral

EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT WINNERS

The Alfred M. Campbell Memorial Trophy For the Educational major exhibit that demonstrates the most successful use of a variety of plants in a unique fashion

Temple University

The Bulkeley Medal of The Garden Club of America - For the exhibit of exceptional educational merit that increases the knowledge and awareness of the viewing public and best combines an important message with the ability to convey it to the public

Temple University

Chicago Horticultural Society Flower Show Medal - To an educational exhibit showing outstanding horticultural skill and knowledge in a nationally recognized flower show

University of Delaware

The Pennsylvania Landscape & Nursery Association Trophy - Showing the most effective use of plants and best use of design in the Landscape category University of Delaware

The PHS Gold Medal Award - For the best use of PHS Gold Medal Plants in a major exhibit

Mercer County Community College

PHS Gardening for the Greater Good Award - Educational - For the exhibit that best exemplifies PHS’s mission to activate horticulture and gardening as a force for the “greater good” by advancing the health and well-being of people and their environments

Mercer County Community College

PHS Sustainability Award - For the educational exhibit demonstrating the best use of sustainable gardening practices to the public

Mercer County Community College

Special Achievement Awards of the Garden Club Federation of Pennsylvania – Education - Awarded to exhibits of unusual excellence in the categories of Conservation, Education, Horticulture, and Creativity

Education under 1,000 sq. ft.:

Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School

Horticulture under 1,000 sq. ft.: University of Delaware

PHS MEDAL WINNERS

PHS awards medals for all three categories of exhibitors based on different criteria to celebrate creativity and exceptional execution. Exhibits are scored and awards are given based on quality of design, horticultural excellence, plantsmanship, construction and craftsmanship, visitor experience, and educational value (for Educational exhibits).

PHS Gold Medal – for designs receiving 90-100 points

Landscape

Apiary Studio

Ishihara Kazuyuki Design Lab x TREELiNE DESiGNZ

Laurel-Brook Gardens

Mark Cook Landscape and Contracting

Floral

Jennifer Designs Robertson’s Flowers and Events

Educational

Temple University University of Delaware

PHS Silver Medal – for designs receiving 80-89 points

Landscape

Irwin Landscaping

Susan Cohan Gardens

Floral

American Institute of Floral Designers Arrange, LLC

TissaRose Floral

Educational

Bucks County Community College Floral Program

Lakeside School

Mercer County Community College

W.B. Saul High School

PHS Bronze Medal – for designs receiving 65-79 points

Landscape

The Men’s Garden Club of Philadelphia

Floral

Bloom Bold Co. Simply Nia Design

Educational

Delaware Valley University

Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School

Next year’s PHS Philadelphia Flower Show is scheduled for February 28March 8, 2026 (Members’ Preview Day is February 27, 2026).

NORTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF STATE

The Northeastern Association of State Departments of Agriculture convenes the following 10 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

New York Department of Agriculture and Markets Calls for Second Annual

‘Women in Agriculture’ Awards

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Commissioner Richard A. Ball, in celebration of Women’s History Month, announced that nominations are open for the 2025 Women in Agriculture Awards. Presented on Women’s Day at The Great New York State Fair, the Women in Agriculture Awards recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in New York’s agricultural sector. Now in their second year, the Awards seek to shine a spotlight on the many inspiring female leaders shaping the future of the industry, with 10 different categories showcasing the incredible range of agricultural excellence in New York State. In honoring women across the agricultural sector, the Awards support the theme of this year’s Women’s History Month, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations,” which celebrates the collective strength and influence of women who have dedicated their lives to education, mentorship, and leadership.

Commissioner Ball said, “From spearheading production of their own businesses to creating critical policy change, women have long led the way in all corners of the agricultural industry. Here at the Department, we support and recognize the women trailblazers in agriculture here in New York, and are honored to celebrate their work and contributions to agriculture with our annual Women in Agriculture Awards. I’m excited to see this tradition continue in 2025 and thank The New York State Fair for helping us highlight the incredible talent in the industry. I encourage anyone who knows a strong woman in agriculture to consider nominating them for an award.”

The Women in Agriculture Awards annually honor 10 women for their contributions in areas including research, legacy, sustainability,

veterinary practice, leadership, innovation, mentorship, overall achievement, and more. Nominations may be submitted at agriculture. ny.gov/womeninagnominations and are being accepted now.

Nominations are open now and will close May 9, 2025 at 5:00 pm. All submissions will be reviewed by a committee of State Fair and Agriculture and Markets employees whose work covers a diverse range of agricultural sectors, with winners selected and notified in June. Award winners will be invited to attend a special presentation and awards ceremony at The New York State Fair’s Women’s Day Breakfast on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 9:00 am. More details about the breakfast and additional Women’s Day celebrations at The Fair will be posted to nysfair.ny.gov/your-visit/ special/ in the coming months. Tickets for the breakfast will also go on sale in June.

According to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistical Service’s 2022 Census of Agriculture, of New York’s 57,558 producers, nearly 22,000, or 38%, are women. Additionally, over 14,000 farms in New York are owned and operated by a woman. Nationally, the United States had 1.2 million female producers, accounting for 36% of the country’s 3.4 million producers.

The United Nations has declared 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer. The worldwide observance will call attention to the vital role that women play in global food and agricultural production. It will also raise global awareness of the unique challenges women in agriculture face, catalyze action to help address those challenges, and support many of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including those focused on gender equity, food security and poverty.

NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

2025 LDD (Gypsy Moth) Treatment Program Announced

The New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) is seeking to treat 13,712 acres of residential- and county-owned properties in Burlington, Cape May, Passaic, Morris and Sussex counties this year to combat the tree-killing Lymantria dispar dispar (LDD –formerly called the gypsy moth).

The recommended treatment areas are a significant increase over last year’s 1,400 acres. The reasons for the increase are a combination of the lack of treatments by the states near the northwest border as the moth travels by wind, and a dry summer which made the sporadic E. maimaiga (an LDD moth fungus) less active. More than 7,000 of the recommended treatment areas are in the northwest corner of the state in Sussex County.

“With the moth’s increase in activity, these treatments are critical in helping prevent the spread of this insect and reducing its population in future years,” New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said. “Preserving the valuable trees that are part of New Jersey’s landscape and wildlife resources is an essential element of this program.”

The NJDA held an informational session in West Trenton on Thursday, January 9, to outline its 2025 Aerial LDD Suppression program. Egg mass surveys were conducted from August to December in 2024.

If the effected municipalities in Burlington, Cape May, Passaic, Morris, and Sussex counties participate, the treatments will take place in May and June. Participation is voluntary. To qualify for the program, a residential or recreational forest must have an average of more than 500 egg masses per acre and be at least 40 acres in size. A single egg mass contains up to 500 eggs.

There were 5,100 acres recommended for treatment in 2023, and nearly 9,000 acres in 2022. The previous year, only 50 acres were treated in Cape May County and one municipality in Burlington County opted not to treat 120 acres. There were no areas of the state recommended for treatment in 2019 and 2020. From 2017 to 2018, the NJDA’s program included approximately 3,900 acres of residential and county owned properties in Burlington, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, and Warren counties. That was about an 80 percent reduction from what was treated in the 2016 program. The population decrease was the result of effective treatments and sporadic E. maimaiga (an LDD moth fungus) activity.

The NJDA and Department of Environmental Protection use Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) to combat the LDD moth. It is a biological insecticide that kills the LDD caterpillar when ingested. Two to three consecutive years of significant defoliation (defined as 75 percent or more) can kill an otherwise healthy tree. Additionally, any LDD defoliation can make trees more susceptible to other damage that can lead to the death of the tree. Oak trees are the preferred host for LDD, but the caterpillars can be found feeding on almost any tree.

For more information on New Jersey’s LDD suppression program, visit: www.nj.gov/agriculture/divisions/pi/prog/gypsymoth.html. Also, for national LDD material, visit https://www.aphis.usda. gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-pests/the-threat/spongymoth.

DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE NEWS

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Pennsylvania Expands Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine to Four Northeast and Northwest Counties; Encourages Pennsylvanians to Help Slow Pest’s Spread as Spring Approaches

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced Bradford, Sullivan, Venango, and Wyoming Counties have been added to the Pennsylvania counties quarantined due to confirmed populations of the invasive pest spotted lanternfly. Redding encouraged Pennsylvanians to look for and destroy lanternfly eggs prior to the spring hatch to help slow the destructive pest’s spread.

“As you clean up your yard or just enjoy beautiful Pennsylvania spring days, you can help keep lanternflies from becoming a summer nuisance and harming our valuable grape and nursery industries,” Secretary Redding said. “Every spotted lanternfly egg mass you scrape and squash is 30-50 damage-causing insects that won’t hatch in May.”

The invasive spotted lanternfly was first discovered in the U.S. in Berks County in 2014. While aggressive, coordinated efforts among states and industry have

slowed its spread, the insect, which spreads largely by hitching rides on an in cars and other vehicles, continues to threaten valuable food and ornamental crops.

In 2024, the department expanded the quarantine area by one county to 52 counties, although more than half of those counties have relatively small, isolated populations of lanternflies. The quarantine expansion comes after extensive surveys by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture in concert with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in every Pennsylvania county, with a major emphasis on Erie County, where much of the state’s $1.77 billion wine and grape industry is concentrated.

The lanternfly quarantine prohibits moving lanternflies at any stage of life, as well as infested items like firewood, brush, and other debris. Among other measures, it requires those who operate businesses or travel for business in and out of quarantined counties

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Allyson Angelini Named Connecticut’s Outstanding Young Farmer

Allyson Angelini, owner of Full Heart Farm in Ledyard, was named Connecticut’s 2025 Outstanding Young Farmer during Ag Day at the Capitol in Hartford on March 19, 2025. As a first-generation female farmer her journey as a farm owner began 14 years ago when at the age of 24, Angelini purchased land in pursuit of being part of the food solution and doing what she loved – farming. Today Angelini is inspiring others to pursue their passion while living her dream.

“I am truly honored to receive the Outstanding Young Farmer Award. Farming is not something I do alone – it’s a collective effort made possible by my family, our crew, and our incredibly supportive community,” said Angelini. “This recognition reflects the dedication of so many people who believe in the importance of small farms, firstgeneration farmers, and sustainable food systems. I’m grateful to be able to steward a tiny piece of land as I continue learning, growing, and paving the way for future farmers.”

Administered by the Connecticut Agricultural Information Council, the purpose of the Outstanding Young Farmers (OYF) Program is to bring about a greater interest in the farmer to foster better urban-rural relations through the understanding of the farmers’ endeavors, to develop further appreciation for their contributions and achievements, and to inform the agribusiness community of the growing urban awareness of farmers’ importance and impact on America’s economy. The Connecticut OYF program is modeled directly on the National OYF program. Angelini can now apply to compete for the National OYF award.

“Allyson’s recognition as Outstanding Young Farmer is well deserved. She and her family are powering the local food movement and bringing meaning to their harvests,” said Agriculture Commissioner Bryan P. Hurlburt. “Her story is one of determination and passion that I hope encourages others to pursue a career in agriculture.”

to get a permit. More than 33,300 businesses across the U.S. and Canada have gotten permits for more than 1.42 million employees, demonstrating that they know how to recognize lanternflies and avoid transporting them.

Adult insects die off over the winter after laying tiny rows of eggs, covering them with a putty-colored protective coating. The egg masses, which can be on any outdoor surface, from trees and rocks to equipment and law furniture, each contain 30-50 eggs approximately the size of a pinhead and have survived winters in sustained sub-zero temperatures. Scraping and smashing them is easy and requires no special tools.

Learn how to recognize and report spotted lanternflies, control them on your property, and keep from taking them to new homes when you travel at agriculture.pa.gov/spottedlanternfly.

DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Announces Appointment of Brosch as Deputy Secretary

Chris Brosch named as deputy secretary of agriculture by Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton.

Brosch has been the Administrator of Delaware’s Nutrient Management Program since 2015. Under his leadership, he has utilized science to educate stakeholders on the importance of investing in cover crops, utilizing manure relocation, and nutrient management planning to help farmers be the best stewards of the land and ensure the protection of our waterways.

“Chris Brosch has proven himself to be a leader through his work with the Nutrient Management Program. This program is essential to helping farmers pursue sustainable agricultural practices, and Chris is well-recognized for helping farmers in that regard,” said Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton. “I expect that his leadership will now help to sustain the Delaware Department of Agriculture as we work towards greater resiliency of our producers and protection of our consumers.”

In his new role, Brosch will continue to serve as a co-director for LEADelaware, an agriculture leadership program in which fellows visit agricultural-related businesses, attend seminars and expert panels, and participate in team activities and workshops.

Brosch is recognized as an expert in agronomic nutrient and carbon mass balances, soil health and sustainability, and composting. He earned a master’s degree in agriculture from Virginia Tech and his bachelor’s degree in natural resources science from the University of Maryland.

The Garden Historian

By Lesley Parness Garden Educator

The Patriot & The Plant: David Fairchild

Last time, we learned about Lue Gim Gong, a poor Chinese immigrant who revolutionized Florida’s early orange industry with a spinster and a rooster. This month, we meet a charmed mid-westerner named David Fairchild who stocked America’s supermarkets and helped transform the American diet.

David Fairchild (1869-1954) was raised on the wide-open plains of Kansas. The son of the president of the Kansas State College of Agriculture, a microscope was his favorite toy. After graduating from that school, Fairchild began his first job at the Department of Agriculture (DOA) where he started the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction. For the next 37 years, he traveled the globe collecting plants of use for the American people.

(Chile), red seedless grapes (Italy), citrons (Corsica), and pomegranates (Malta) just to name a few!

Travel in those days required resilience, bravery, and a stout constitution. Crossing the Andes Mountains, his donkey slipping on a 1000’ long icy cliff, David clung on precariously, smiling all the time. When the heat of Javan jungles debilitated others, David quietly remarked that Kansas was hotter. During typhoons, the ship rocking violently, David told funny stories to calm other passengers. Even with cannibals, David managed to be friendly - but he admitted to not lingering.

He was assisted in this and all other endeavors by his wife, Marion Bell, the daughter of Alexander Graham Bell. Her influence, connections and good advice were significant factors in his success as a botanist and an explorer.

American food was boring and bland, but in the 1870s American tastes began shifting towards seasonings and new, unusual produce. The exotic banana debuted at the 1876 Philadelphia World’s Fair, although it was wrapped in tin foil to disguise its phallic shape and eaten with a knife and fork.

His first trip was to Naples, Italy. On it, Fairchild met the very wealthy, eccentric Barbour Lathrop, who funded and accompanied him on many of his future travels. Lathrop and Fairchild became “government food spies.” Their mission: find exotic crops and bring them back. The DOA sponsored many daring oversea explorations to do just that.

Fairchild visited every continent in the world (except Antarctica) and brought back hundreds of important plants, including mangos (Vietnam), papayas (Ceylon), nectarines (Afghanistan), dates (Iraq), wheat (Spain), soybeans (Indonesia), kale (Austro-Hungary), avocados

In addition to long, arduous hikes through hostile terrain, Fairchild launched many charm offensives as well. In Bavaria, he befriended the men guarding their precious hops fields. “Acquiring” these heirloom hops exponentially improved and expanded the American beer industry. Wherever he landed, his first question, posed with a friendly smile was, “What’s good to eat here?”

Circa 1900, the US led the world in cotton production with Upland cotton in the southeast and Sea Island along the Atlantic coast. Fairchild visited Egypt, bringing back a few choice cultivars. You are likely sleeping on sheets of his Pima cotton, grown in the southwest.

The story about Fairchild helping facilitate the planting of D.C.’s Japanese Cherry Blossom trees demonstrates his botanical and political savvy. While visiting Japan, he greatly admired their flowering cherry trees. Back in Washington, he helped to secure a shipment for the Tidal Basin in D.C. That was after first planting them in his own Chevy Chase, MD garden and hosting parties to show them off and gain support for them.

In 1926, the Fairchilds built a home in Coconut Grove, Florida. They named it “The Kampong,” after similar compounds in Java, where Fairchild had spent so many happy days collecting plants. Retiring in 1935, he joined a group of passionate plant collectors and horticulturists to bring a one-ofa-kind botanic garden to life. In 1939, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden opened its 83 acres, including his 8-acre Kampong, to the public. In 1940, Dr. Fairchild embarked on the Garden’s first official collecting expedition – he never really stopped collecting plants.

Fairchild wrote four fascinating books describing his extensive travels and providing graphic accounts of native cultures. An accomplished photographer, he also illustrated these books. My favorite, “The World Was My Garden: Travels of a Plant Explorer,” was written in Chester, New Jersey at the home of his friend Elizabeth Donnell Kay (now the Kay Environmental Center.)

Recipient of National Academy of Sciences Awards, namesake of the ubiquitous lizards of Miami (Anolis fairchildi), this Plant Patriot oversaw the introduction of more than 200,000 plants into the United States and transformed American agriculture, farms, and gardens.

Want more? “The Food Explorer: The True Adventures of the Globe-Trotting Botanist Who Transformed What America Eats” by Daniel Stone and “Fruits of Eden” by Amanda Harris are both excellent reads.

Editor’s Note: Lesley Parness offers a variety of presentations and workshops for garden clubs, plant societies, and horticultural gatherings. Recently retired from her position as Superintendent of Horticultural Education at the Morris County Park Commission, and with four decades of teaching environmental science and garden education, her focus now is garden history. A complete listing of her talks can be seen at lesleyparness.com and she can be reached at parness@verizon.net. This column will appear in the paper every other month.

Making a Case for Dandelions

for getting rid of dandelions is using a broadleaf weed control. While some folks prefer using liquid herbicides to spot spray weeds, granular herbicides like a trusted, well-known Weed & Feed brand offers great benefits, as they are cost-effective, easy to apply to the whole yard, and often contain fertilizer. This kind of product will feed your lawn for up to three months and controls weeds down to the roots in one, easy step.

In school, I learned fall is the best time of the year to control broadleaf weeds such as dandelions.

If you prefer not to use synthetic herbicides, corn gluten meal is an option. Corn gluten meal is a powdery byproduct of the corn milling process.

It is a natural and eco-friendly product that has gained popularity in recent years as both a fertilizer and a weed suppressant. Corn gluten meal does not prevent weed seeds from germinating, but it does inhibit those seeds from forming

roots after germination.

(Continued from page 12)

Be careful, corn gluten meal can also inhibit new lawn seeds from becoming established.

In general, fertilizing can also help to encourage a healthy, thick lawn that can crowd out dandelions and other lawn weeds.

Make sure to read and follow all label directions. Pay close attention to required personal protective equipment, and re-entry intervals (especially if children and/or pets use the lawn).

Here is a little twist! Did you know that soil with unbalanced pH can be a breeding ground for dandelions? Dandelions tend to thrive in acidic soils, so this can be an indicator that you need to test and adjust your lawn’s soil pH. A healthy lawn has a soil pH between 6.2 to 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral).

Pollinator Flower

First, pollinators often rely on an assemblage of flowers and pollen to meet their dietary needs.

Researchers have found that dandelions don’t provide particularly good quality pollen when compared to other early-flowering species. Insects mostly feed on them because dandelions are a convenient source of nectar, and sometimes pollen. More nutritional native plants would be better for them.

In support of pollinators, reduce mowing, allowing the dandelions to have a niche. I always delay the first mow as long as possible, which can be a balancing act between letting the dandelions flower and allowing the turf to get too tall.

If you would like to support pollinators, consider holding off on removing dandelions until other flowers, trees, and shrubs are blooming. But don’t wait too long.

Dandelion Wine

When life gives you a yard full of dandelions, make dandelion wine!

I’m sure you have heard of dandelion wine. But I bet many of you have not had the pleasure

of actually tasting it—or making it. About 30 years ago, I had a chance to taste a glass, or two, of homemade dandelion wine. Despite the sugar in the recipe, and once it was fully fermented, the result was a deliciously dry wine. The wine was served to me chilled. Are dandelions good or bad? The decision is yours.

Editor’s Note: Tom Castronovo is executive editor and publisher of Gardener News. Tom’s lifelong interest in gardening and passion for agriculture, environmental stewardship, gardening, and landscaping, led to the founding of the Gardener News, which germinated in April 2003 and continues to bloom today. He is also dedicated to providing inspiration and education to the agricultural, gardening, landscaping, nursery, and outdoor living communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

Gardener News

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