Gardener News December 2020

TAKE ONE

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December 2020

GARDENERNEWS.COM

TAKE ONE No. 212

WARNING: Don’t Let These Hatch

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses on Landscaping Fabric and a Green Weeping Willow Tree (Salix babylonica).

Spotted Lanternfly egg masses are lurking everywhere. Please seek them out!

First let me tell you about a recent experience I had while eating lunch outdoors at a restaurant in Flemington.

The invasion has begun. Now is the time to get There was a west wind blowing as we dined. serious.

Much to my surprise, we were pelted by Spotted We have been warned by the United States Lanternflies the entire time. They were bouncing Department of Agriculture and state departments off of us like hail pellets in a winter storm. of agriculture for years. Taking action now will The people at the surrounding tables were being protect the future of our precious landscape. pelted as well. Almost everybody was trying their

By Tom Castronovo Executive Editor/Publisher Gardener News

best to kill as many of them as possible in between bites. Even the restaurant staff was trying to step on them as they walked by. It was like a scene out of a science fiction movie. Reality set in quickly on the tremendous problem we are facing.

I’ve been told the colder weather has killed off the adult lanternflies that were bugging New Jersey a few weeks ago, but come spring, the destructive pest is predicted to continue its spread and feeding throughout the state, and beyond.

The insect is native to China, (Cont. on Page 11)

2 December 2020

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December 2020 3

Around The Garden

By Tom Castronovo Gardener News

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December is a Month to Remember I’m Italian and Irish, and I love Christmas. Below are some of my favorite dates and events in December.

First: The 88th Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will be lit on December 2.

Construction workers building Rockefeller Center put up a Christmas tree 1931, the first-ever Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The first formal Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting Ceremony was held in 1933. The tree was decked with 700 lights in front of the eightmonth-old RCA Building. Today there are more than 50,000 multi-colored LED lights on approximately five miles of wire. The three-dimensional Swarovski star on top weighs approximately 900 pounds and features 70 spikes covered in 3 million crystals.

Traditionally, Erik Pauze, head gardener at Rockefeller Center, has been selecting a tree-mendous Norway spruce (Picea abies) in the later years of its life cycle, measuring at least 75 feet tall and 45 feet in diameter. He first eyed this special 2020 spruce in 2016.

The tree is presented to New York and the world by Tishman-Speyer, the owners of Rockefeller Center. It is a true symbol of hope and Christmas spirit.

Due to the pandemic, there will be no public access to this year’s tree lighting ceremony. However, you’re invited to view the live national broadcast “Christmas in Rockefeller Center” from home on NBC. Second: The 98th National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony.

You’re invited to watch the lighting of the National Christmas Tree and holiday performances on Dec. 3 on www.thenationaltree.org. The show will be available to stream on-demand throughout the holiday season.

Due to COVID-19-related public health concerns, the National Park Service (NPS) and National Park Foundation (NPF) will not host a live audience at the 2020 National Christmas Tree Lighting.

In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge walked from the White House to the Ellipse to light a 48-foot fir tree decorated with 2,500 electric bulbs in red, white and green, as a local choir and a “quartet” from the U.S. Marine Band performed. Now, 98 years later, this American holiday tradition continues to bring citizens together to share in a message of hope and peace.

Third: December 5th is observed as World Soil Day. In 2013, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations collectively supported and requested the officials of the UN Assembly to mark the day. The day is observed to raise awareness about healthy ecosystems and the importance of soil in human lives.

Fourth: December 8th. My sister’s birthday.

Happy Birthday, Lanie.

Fifth: December 12th is National Poinsettia Day. The date marks the death of Joel Roberts Poinsett, an American botanist, physician and Minister to

Mexico, who in 1828 sent cuttings of the plant he’d discovered in Southern Mexico to his home in Charleston, S.C. Botanically, the plant is known as Euphorbia pulcherrima.

In July of 2002, the House of Representatives created Poinsettia Day, passing a resolution to honor Paul Ecke Jr., who is considered the father of the poinsettia industry. It was Paul Ecke’s discovery of a technique which causes seedlings to branch that allowed the poinsettia industry to flourish.

Studies have shown that poinsettias are not poisonous. However, people sensitive to latex, the milky fluid found in cut poinsettias and other plants, may experience irritation in the form of a rash if they come in contact with the sap.

When transporting, keep the plant protected from winds and temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Place your poinsettia in a sunny window.

Temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal.

Water when the soil is dry.

Sixth: Before Christmas, remember to clear the leaves off of your concrete sidewalks or pavers to avoid tannin staining. Tannins are complex chemical substances derived from phenolic acids (sometimes called tannic acid). Tannins are distributed in species throughout the plant kingdom.

Seventh: December 24th.

I love to celebrate Christmas Eve. Eighth: December 25th.

This day is one of the most festive Christian holidays in many countries around the world. It celebrates the birth of Jesus.

This day will also be very difficult for me. I will be wishing my dad, my new heavenly father, a Merry Christmas, spiritually.

Ninth: December 31st.

I hope we can all usher in the new year as a happy and healthy one.

I’d like to now share with you something of interest as I close out my 2020 columns. Tannins are found commonly in the bark of trees, wood, leaves, buds, stems, fruits, seeds, roots, and plant galls. In all of these plant structures, tannins help to protect the individual plant species.

Tannins that become stored in the bark of trees protect the tree from being infected by bacteria or fungi. In this case, the tannins precipitate out the enzymes and other protein exudates from bacteria and fungi thus not allowing these organisms to infect the tree. Many bud scales on woody plants contain tannins to protect the inner leaf tissue from being consumed and in many seed plants the initial set of leaves from a germinating seed are also high in tannins.

Basically, tannins will leach out of decomposing wet leaves and stain. Concrete is a porous material and, due to that fact, can easily become discolored from this natural environmental process.

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 and nursery communities through this newspaper and GardenerNews.com.

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4 December 2020 Now that December has arrived, we are reminded that winter will not arrive in the same fashion as it did last year, when a frantic, supercharged economy ran on all cylinders and grew astronomically.

That is a pace and a mindset in sharp contrast to the current COVID-19 world.

Things are more measured now and all that we do is balanced on a scale of risk.

Going about freely is abridged by widespread health threats, rules, and precautions not seen in this country since the last pandemic of the Spanish Flu about 100 years ago As with any situation that one encounters, there are takeaways that we, hopefully, learn from that help us develop as individuals going forward. I know I have experienced some of those as part of living and working through this pandemic.

Things we usually say are most important to us – such as faith and family – took on deeper dimensions in our lives. We found ways to weave them more into our lives than before, abetted by additional time to reflect, which, oddly, was “forced” upon us by disrupted work and social activities.

Life slowed down a bit and provided us the opportunity

GardenerNews.com NJ Dept. of Agriculture

By Douglas H. Fisher Secretary of Agriculture

Pandemic Lessons: From the Farm to Home of turning a bit inward, being reflective, introspective, and grateful for life’s simple things. There has been the opportunity to see more clearly now. We may even have developed talents we didn’t know we had.

Working from home and having our homes become classrooms suddenly became major trends, and our ability to adapt to these new realities has been so impressive.

One way we saw New Jerseyans adapting, at least during the time right after the pandemic began, was how folks turned to home gardening. Some got involved for the first time, while experienced gardeners stepped up to another level. Another was the way families took to the outdoors, in all its glorious forms, availing themselves of the opportunities to breathe in the refreshing aspects of nature.

Several of these changes to our daily routine – especially people cooking more meals at home and those seeking outdoor activities – were beneficial to our farmers, as they were able to provide many products and activities for families to enjoy and savor like never before.

In spring, it was going to a farm or nursery for bedding plants or fruit and vegetable starter plants.

Later, as summer rolled on, the bounty of hundreds of agricultural products our farmers grow came into the market, making them available for our increased meal preparation and for gracing our tables.

This made for a full palette of ingredients people could use in the increased number of meals they cooked and ate at home. Their purchases helped our farmers recoup some of what they lost when many restaurants closed or

had their seating severely reduced, due to the pandemic.

We as consumers got to buy what the farmer produced, or to just wander through these treasured environs.

Our souls were lifted as we just slowed down and rejoiced in these natural setting. When fall arrived, we picked pumpkins and rode hay wagons and weaved through mazes in the crisp autumn air.

So, what about now?

What is there to do to keep this going in a frigid, frosty season? Well. there is plenty.

There are Christmas tree experiences, heading out in the early-morning, cutting and choosing a tree, and also buying wreaths. There are outdoor holiday villages on farms, in the suburbs and cities, complete with local fare and artisan creations.

Or, you could enjoy a wine-tasting experience, like one I recently visited

at Heritage’s Winery, or the served-in-a-crop-circle beer flights at Screaming Hill Farm Brewery. You can also find places where you may make fresh maple syrup, or perhaps visit a tented farmto-table restaurant with outdoor seating.

When things get back to normal, vaccines are developed and distributed, I would say remember what we have lived through and try to incorporate what we have done during this unusual time and make these things traditions going forward.

There are lessons we all have learned. Let’s cherish them.

Editor’s Note: Douglas H. Fisher is New Jersey’s Secretary of Agriculture.

He is the department’s executive officer, secretary to the State Board of Agriculture and a member of the Governor’s cabinet.

Secretary Fisher fulfills executive, management and administrative duties prescribed by law, executive order or gubernatorial direction. He can be reached at 609.292.3976. For more info, please visit: http:// www.state.nj.us/agriculture

New Blackberries: Eclipse, Galaxy, and Twilight The best of eastern and western blackberry genetics have been melded to create Eclipse, Galaxy and Twilight, three new blackberry varieties released by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

ARS’ Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, working in cooperation with the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, has blended the desirable traits of eastern erect-cane blackberries and western trailing blackberries into new varieties with thornless semierect canes to fill new niches in the fresh berry market.

Eclipse was the first of the three varieties from these crosses to move from the test fields to final

selection. Its name was changed from ORUS 2816-4 to Eclipse to commemorate the total solar eclipse visible in Corvallis in 2017.

One of Eclipse’s parents, Triple Crown, known for highest marks in productivity, vigor and flavor, ripens in late summer. Eclipse inherited the same triple high scores, but it ripens earlier, filling a hole in the fresh market harvest season between when trailing varieties ripen and when Triple Crown ripens.

“Eclipse inherited Triple Crown’s outstanding f lavor, beloved for its sweet, fruity taste, with hints of root beer and spice.

But what Eclipse has that Triple Crown doesn’t is a firmer skin that gives you a good pop when you

bite down. Firmer skin also means the berries handle and ship better and don’t leak, which is always an attractive feature for the fresh market,” said biological technician Mary Peterson, who works in the blackberry breeding program.

The second blackberry release, Galaxy, also has Triple Crown as a parent and inherited similar traits, with the firmer skin of Eclipse.

But it produces a few days earlier than Eclipse. Galaxy’s berries are slightly larger than those of Eclipse with dark-colored fruit.

“People who’ve tasted Galaxy have detected hints of blueberry, mint and grape,” Peterson said.

The third release was named following the same sky theme, and the specific name Twilight was

selected because it ripens last of the three varieties, 4-5 days after Eclipse, Peterson explained.

With an ancestry seven-eighths eastern U.S. blackberry and one-eighth western blackberry, Twilight is higher yielding than Eclipse. Tasters have remarked on its complex, deep blackberry jam flavor, with floral and honey notes, but the berries are perhaps not quite as sweet.

The Agricultural Research Service is the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific in-house research agency. Daily, ARS focuses on solutions to agricultural problems affecting America. Each dollar invested in agricultural research results in $20 of economic impact.

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Make the memories and tradition yours.

We invite you to find your perfect Christmas Tree and make lasting memories at one of New Jersey’s local Christmas Tree Farms.

Visit NJChristmasTrees.org to find a choose-and-cut tree farm near you.

December 2020 5

6 December 2020

R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E Office of Continuing Professional Education

May the Grass Be Greener On Your Own Side!

If you want your yard to look as pristine as the fairways of Augusta National or Pebble Beach, the first step is understanding the ABCs of turfgrass management.

Learn the art and science of lawn care from Rutgers turfgrass experts during two Zoom classes this December.

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December 21, 2020 | 9am-12pm | $135 | Online Agronomy Basics, Turf Establishment, and Maintenance Best Practices

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Rutgers Cooperative Extension Phone Directory 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

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From the Director’s Desk

Rutgers Outreach Provided by Brian Schilling Director

New Jersey Wine Makes for Great Holiday Gift-Giving While we are all dealing with the pandemic the best we can, the holidays will undoubtedly be quite different this year.

Many are evaluating how best to share time with extended family in ways that are as safe as possible. Another change this holiday season will be how we all handle gift-giving.

I for one, love to give tickets to concerts, plays, and sporting events. Since we have no idea when these venues will get back to normal, my ticket buying is going to be put on hold for a while. Of course, all is not doom and gloom, because for me, there is always the gift of wine.

As the county agricultural agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County for the past 36 years, I have been working with the wineries in New Jersey for a long time and have witnessed their evolution to producing great wines. Yes, great wines. I know that most Americans believe that wine is only made in California, but New Jersey was actually making wine and winning awards before California even had wineries.

It should be recognized that New Jersey has a long history of wine making. In 1767, the Royal Academy in Great Britain awarded two wines produced in New Jersey their highest award as the best wines produced in the New World. This was the beginning of the New Jersey wine industry.

Of course, Prohibition from 1920–1933 curtailed industry growth, and it didn’t really get revitalized until the Farm Winery Act was passed in 1981. We had seven wineries then, but we now have over 50, with quite a few more in the planning stages.

In fact, the wine industry is the fastest growing segment of agriculture in New Jersey, by far. That is great news for all of us because great wine is being made and it makes for great holiday giving. (By the way, the best wines in the state were recently revealed at the 2020 New Jersey Wine Competition. Go to www.newjerseywines. com for the top wines from this competition.)

One of the great things about the New Jersey wine industry is the diversity of wines produced. Crisp whites, lush and fruity reds, gorgeous fruit wines, rich ports, and beautiful dessert wines are all offered by New Jersey’s wineries. And because of the diversity of soils and climate in this state, the wines

produced reflect those differences. In fact, a survey conducted by Rutgers University revealed that there are currently 82 grape varieties being grown in this state.

Most wineries do not expect to find a perfect grape to make one, and only one, wine. They have found that producing a range of wines is very consumer-friendly. Many also produce fruit wines made from blueberries, cranberries, or various other fruits.

Some consumers may confuse this fruit wine production with the inability to produce a quality dry wine. Quite the contrary—the production of the one does not diminish the production of the other. In fact, we make some of the best fruit wines in the country. Try a New Jersey blueberry wine with cheesecake for dessert this holiday and you will know what great food and wine matching is all about.

As you travel from the vineyards of Sussex County in the north to those in Cape May County in the south, the grape varieties change with the climate. In the north, it is cooler and so grapes such as Riesling and Pinot Noir are doing very well.

In the south, the hot weather grapes are their forté. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet franc, Merlot, and even some Italian varieties such as Sangiovese and Nebbiolo are thriving.

Chardonnay seems to do well throughout the state as does Chambourcin, which is a red hybrid grape, originally bred in France in the 1800s. It produces a lush, fruity red wine I especially love with burgers.

Another option for your holiday gifts is the gift of winery event reservations. Currently, all visits to wineries are by appointment and because there is a limited selection of other venues, winery events are extremely popular and sell out quickly. I have attended a few and social distancing is always in place.

These reservations are a great alternative to those concert tickets.

New Jersey wines routinely win top honors in national competitions, even beating the likes of California wines. So, I challenge the reader to go out and experience the passion that is the New Jersey wine industry.

What you will find is a wide range of wine types and styles, and wines that will satisfy the tastes of just about any wine drinker.

Gifting New Jersey wines is a great idea this holiday season.

Editor’s note: This month’s contribution was written by Gary Pavlis, Ph.D., Agriculture & Natural Resources County Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Atlantic County.

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R U T G ER S N J AE S / R C E

December 2020 7

A Colorful Bromeliad for the Holiday Season Although the calendar contends December 21 is the official start to winter, December 1 always marks the beginning of the chilliest season for me.

Regardless of the date, it falls in the midst of the Holiday Season and it is time to turn our attention indoors for festivities and family.

It is also time to buy and give plants appropriate to the season.

One such group of plants that has piqued my interest for years are the red, yellow and silver leaved forms of Dyckia, commonly called Sawblade Plant. Initially, the common name may dissuade you from considering the plant, but read on and allow me to convince you otherwise.

Dyckia, which is pronounced Di-key-ă is a member of the Bromeliaceae or Bromeliad family, a huge family with over 3,350 species. It is so large that it is actually broken down into eight subfamilies based upon genetic and cultural distinctions.

Dyckia is found among the This Lifelong Learning column is dedicated to amplifying innovations in teaching and learning - spotlighting educational and professional development courses and webinars available at Rutgers throughout the year. Please visit the website at the bottom to obtain the full list of classes available. We R Here When You Need Us. As we enter the “off season” and begin to contemplate our 2021 garden plans, winter becomes the perfect time to strengthen your plant identification and design skills.

Your hiatus from outdoor gardening does not mean you have to wait to expand your learning. Our winter series of courses will help landscape professionals and horticultural enthusiasts: choose better plants for specific places; manage existing landscapes better; impress potential customers (or neighbors) with your vast plant knowledge; and increase your bottom line.

December Trivia Question: What is the official state flower of New Jersey? (...and is it edible?)

Spotlight Programs: This month’s first spotlight program is designed to strengthen the fiscal wellbeing of the landscape/ horticulture professional - Better Business Management Skills for the Landscape Professional (January 7, 2021; Online Class; 9:00am -3:30pm).

subfamily Pitcairnioideae, which it shares with five additional genera. The genus name was penned in 1830 by the Austrian botanist Julius Hermann Schultes (1804-1840). The name recognizes the Prussian amateur botanist and botanical artist Joseph zu Salm-ReifferscheidtDyck (1773-1861) who had a strong interest in succulents and was also the Prince of a small region in present day Germany.

Dyckia remains a genus that is still not fully understood with 160-plus species and appears to have evolved around 4 million years ago.

Dyckia naturally grows on sun-drenched rocky cliffs or gravelly soils that are low in nutrition. It is found mostly in Brazil, but also appears in the neighboring regions of Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina.

It appears at elevations near sea level to dizzying heights approaching 6,000 feet. Its ability to grow at such high altitudes also provides the stamina to endure extremes in temperatures, from highs near 100 degrees

Fahrenheit to lows of 20 degrees Fahrenheit or colder.

Typical to Bromeliads, the thick leaves of Dyckia are arranged in spiral rosettes and depending upon the species, the foliage may curl downward around the container. Although it was named after Prince SalmReifferscheidt-Dyck for his interest in succulents, Dyckia is not a succulent. The leathery leaves do not contain waterstoring tissue but rather endure extended periods of drought by simply going dormant.

The beauty of the plant lies in the wonderfully colored foliage, which comes in shades of yellow, red, green and silver.

The margins of the leaves are often armed with reflexed spines, inspiring the common name of Sawblade Plant. Although sharp to the touch, the spines are often silver colored and provide ornamental appeal.

There are a number of great cultivars and species that are ideal for container culture and are very apropos for the Holiday Season. “Grape Jelly” is one of my long-time favorites with its

dark maroon foliage. A selection I have only recently discovered is “Nickel Silver.” The silvergray foliage is unique and stunning, whether by itself or complimented with contrasting plants.

The extremely harsh conditions that these plants endure in the wild makes them very easy to grow as a houseplant. Plants appreciate an organic potting soil that drains well yet retains moisture. Surprisingly, the plants respond well to weekly watering or rainfall during the growing season and thrive when placed outdoors during the summer.

Plants appreciate a weekly application of liquid fertilizer that is diluted to one-quarter of the recommended rate from April through September. The best foliage color appears when the plant is sited in a full sun, although they will also flourish in partial shade or a sunny windowsill.

As a group, Dyckia is a very long-lived plant and not fussy in the least. The colorful foliage looks great for the holidays and the spiny leaf margins will

Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education

By Kenneth M. Karamichael Continuing Education Professional

Lifelong Learning

This online class will teach you how to build the foundation you need to be successful. In this program, landscaping industry expert Marcus vandeVliet will provide solutions to help make your business more profitable.

He will discuss the following critical topics: leadership; business and pricing strategies; production and overhead costs; daily sheets; call sheets; job monitoring; implementing change, and much more. A successful business requires more than growing green grass. Learn how to cultivate your business model and achieve long-term financial success.

Instructor: Marcus vandeVliet is a leading consultant to the landscape and green industry. Before founding his consulting firm, he owned a design build company.

Marcus’ areas of expertise include business management, software implementation, operations systems,

estimating, employee training and strategic planning.

The second program is one of our most popular (and longest running) winter weekly series Landscape Plants: Identification, Selection and Application (January 8 – March 12. 10 sessions; Friday mornings; 9:00-10:30 a.m.)

In this 10-week online course, Steven Kristoph and Derron Dover will teach you two vital skills that all plant lovers, horticulturists, and managers should master - the ability to identify landscape plants on the properties you manage, and expanding your palette of plants to select the right plant for the right site and the right purpose.

This interactive mini-series will cover a variety of different kinds of landscape plants, including shade trees, ornamental small trees, conifers, needle evergreens, broadleaf evergreens,

rhododendrons and their kin, flowering shrubs, groundcover options, and more. Whether you’re a landscaping professional or just a person who loves plants, this class is for you!

Instructors: Steve Kristoph is widely known for his encyclopedic knowledge of plant material. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in horticulture from Rutgers University, and he has been an adjunct instructor at Rutgers for over 30 years. He also owns and operates Steven Kristoph Nursery in Monmouth County, N.J., where he grows many types of ornamental trees, shrubs and herbaceous perennials.

Derron Dover is the owner of Dover Designs and has been a guest lecturer at Rutgers since 1992. This dynamic instructional team will not disappoint. Their passion for plants and education is infectious – in a

certainly garner much interest among your guests and family members.

Fortunately, the plant does not require considerable handling other than the occasional up-potting and can be enjoyed at a safe distance. Hopefully, you will soon have a colorful new Bromeliad with which to enjoy this season and for many seasons to come.

Happy Holidays!

Editor’s Note: Bruce Crawford is a lover of plants since birth, is the Rutgers State Program Leader for Home and Public Horticulture, a part time lecturer in Landscape Architecture at the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, regularly participates in the Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education Program, and Past President of the Garden State Gardens Consortium. He can be reached at crawford@njaes. rutgers.edu. good way!

Trivia Answer: The common blue violet (viola sororia) - is among the first to appear in your garden, emerging as early as March and blooming through May. Also known as hooded blue violet and meadow violet, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center says that the flower has an association with the virtues of modesty and decency.

According to the “National Audubon Field Guide to Wildflowers,” the leaves of the New Jersey state flower have beneficial amounts of both vitamin A and C. The leaves can be cooked or used in your salad - although rather bland in flavor without adding your favorite dressing.

Visit CPE.RUTGERS.EDU to learn more about the hundreds of programs available at OCPE, Rutgers Cooperative Extension and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station all year long!

Editor’s Note: Kenneth M. Karamichael, Ed.M., is an internationally recognized continuing education professional with Rutgers Office of Continuing Professional Education within Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Ken can be reached at kenneth@ rutgers.edu.

8 December 2020

GardenerNews.com

ts e ll by e P or t d s e oo ag all d W B P o in the wo re i F

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Ba eme gg lt e Bu & d lk

Cut & Burlap Trees • Poinsettias • Large Red Bows Wreaths • Grave Covers • Cut Greens • Custom Wreaths Roping • Decorations • Garland • Lights • Kissing Balls Freshly Brewed Coffee • Chocolate • Gift Baskets Pies • Cookie Trays• Live Center Pieces Pick it out and we will make it

ed n e s or d r C Bi er De

Holiday Hours December Monday - Thursday 7-6 Friday - Saturday 7-7 Sunday 7-5

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December 2020 9

Cherry, Our Native Hardwood Gem

By Hubert Ling Wild black cherry, Prunus serotina, is a prized, beautiful hardwood native to almost every county in New Jersey and to most of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Guatemala.

This cherry is not closely related to the cultivated sweet cherry, P. avium, or to the sour cherry, P. cerasus, and wild black cherries are only one-eighth to three-sixteenths inches in diameter. However, these small cherries, after being carefully pitted, have been used for jam and to flavor rum and wine.

Wild black cherry has high wildlife value. This tree has numerous small white flowers which dangle down from the tree in conspicuous clusters.

These flowers are highly prized by several types of bees and the cherry leaves are host to numerous types of butterflies and moths such as the Eastern Throughout history, America has been defined as a melting pot of immigrants whose culture, traditions, and customs have contributed significantly to our national identity and have been interwoven into the fabric that binds our homeland together.

Often around holidays, these unique practices rise into our consciousness and remind us of the importance of diversity in our great nation.

On Christmas Eve, many Italian American families will sit down to a Festa dei sette pesci known to us as the Feast of Seven Fishes.

Usually an hours-long affair, the dinner focuses on the importance of family, with a fond nod to the familial ties to the “Old Country.”

Since the “boot” of Italy juts into the Mediterranean Sea, it is no wonder seafood has played a prominent role in Italian cuisine.

Since the country has a heavy Roman Catholic influence, many Italians typically forgo meat on the day before a holiday. Consequently, seafood is readily available to serve as a substitute for meat.

The traditional meal originally came from Southern Italy, where it is still known as “The Vigil” (Feast of the Seven Fishes is an Americanized name that most Italians would not recognize if

tiger swallowtail, viceroy, and sphinx moths.

The fruits are relished by songbirds, quail, turkey, deer, and other mammals. This plant is also grown for the beauty of the graceful flowers.

One trait of wild black cherry that severely limits its usefulness to people is the high concentration of glycosides, which are converted after ingestion into highly toxic cyanides. These glycosides are present in the seeds, leaves, stems, and young bark of the plant and are a leading cause of livestock poisonings and occasionally poisonings in dogs, cats, and humans.

Unfortunately, birds frequently spread the seeds around and create problems for farmers raising livestock.

Although Native Americans used wild black cherry for food and to treat several medical problems, these uses of the plant are not recommended because of its very dangerous levels of toxins; wild cherries are best left for the wildlife to

enjoy.

In addition, most wild strains taste bad. Many farmers would like to eradicate the plant, which is a shame, because away from livestockraising areas, this forest tree is one of America’s premiere cabinet woods.

Wild black cherry subspecies may be shrub-like or tree-like.

As a moderate-sized forest tree, it is generally 50 to 80 feet tall (the current record holder in the Great Smokies is 134 feet) with a diameter of one-and-a-half to three feet (five feet maximum).

The wood is generally straight and fine grained, and moderately hard. Black cherry is named for its deep mahogany heartwood, which deepens in color over time. The end grain and knots are close to black in hue.

The sapwood remains a light tan, which can result in interesting art objects with contrasting colors. Cherry wood takes a fine polish and it has widely been used for cabinets, gun stocks, musical

instruments, veneer, and paneling. Cherry cures well and four-by-six-inch slabs may dry without internal checks and cracks.

Cherry is a moderately priced hardwood; premium cherry goes for about $10 a board foot. This is relatively inexpensive when compared to tropical hardwoods which typically range $30 to $100 per board foot. Cherry can be obtained, in custom rough cut form, from Amish lumbermen at a fraction of the price for premium boards.

Wild cherry is a pleasure to work with hand and machine tools. With the straight grain, you can relatively easily split off large boards, which is important to primitive woodworkers without ready access to a sawmill or a padded bank account.

Cherry can even be cut with simple threading devices, which allows you to make wooden nuts and bolts and adjustable items without too much frustration. You might have

NJ Agricultural Society

By Al Murray Executive Director

Festa Dei Sette Pesci – NJ Style!

used in Italy.) This celebration commemorates the wait for the midnight birth of the baby Jesus.

The tradition made its way to the United States by Southern Italian immigrants in New York City in the late 1800s. How the number of seafood dishes was fixed at seven remains unknown. Some speculate that the number may come from the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church, seven days of creation, seven deadly sins or possibly the seven hills of Rome.

The feast usually includes some combination of anchovies, whiting, lobster, sardines, baccalà (dried salt cod), smelts, eels, squid, octopus, shrimp, mussels, and clams - and many times exceeds the traditional seven dishes.

It is no secret that New Jersey hosts a substantial population of Italian Americans, and like Italy’s geography, we too are surrounded by water on three of our sides.

Consequently, New Jersey also enjoys a substantial commercial seafood industry. How great would it be for those of us without Italian heritage to borrow from this wonderful custom and integrate some New Jersey seafood into our holiday menu?

New Jersey’s commercial fishing industry ranks fifth in the nation, with over $8 billion in sales, and supports over 52,000 jobs. There are six major commercial fishing ports: Atlantic City, Barnegat Light, Belford, Cape May, Point Pleasant and Port Norris. With landings of over 100 different species, New Jersey fisherman could easily supply any seven-course seafood dinner.

In addition to commercial fishing, New Jersey boasts a vibrant aquaculture industry, where our farmers lease open water spaces to grow and harvest some of the finest clams and oysters along the Atlantic

Coast.

I know our commercial seafood industry would welcome our support. As so many industries have been affected by the COVID pandemic, New Jersey’s commercial seafood industry has been particularly harmed. Much of New Jersey’s commercial seafood is sold through the food service industry. As restaurants throughout the East Coast closed, demand for fresh seafood dried up (pun sadly intended). Despite a rise in consumer purchases of fresh seafood to cook at home, it is not enough to counter sales lost to the food service trade. Some estimates have put the loss at 40 percent.

As we enter this season of giving, I will be thinking of the hard-working families whose livelihoods depend on the fruits of the ocean. In addition to the traditional Christmas turkey and ham, I am looking forward to

guessed that wild black cherry is one of my favorite woods for colonial woodworking projects.

Black cherry has been used successfully to reclaim mine spoils and the ability of cherry stumps to sprout is legendary. Re-sprouting from the base after being shaded out by canopy trees, fire, or harvesting is very vigorous and may continue for years.

I once saved a 19-inch stump from the wood cutter and aged it slowly in my garage. The poor thing sprouted after about six months and continued to sprout for another year; it is now my prized end table lamp combination.

Wild black cherry should be encouraged in every woodlot distanced from domestic animals. It is our gift of lasting beauty to the world from a New Jersey native plant.

Editor’s Note: Hubert Ling is President of the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. He can be reached at milhubling@verizon.net.

including some New Jersey seafood to our holiday dinner. My only dilemma is what to choose. Until now, the only semblance of a fish at the holidays was a bowl of goldfish crackers. Fortunately, that is about to change.

Possible suggestions could include an appetizer of fresh oysters on the half shell, fresh clams cooked into a hearty New England Chowder, scallops wrapped in bacon, clams casino, Oysters Rockefeller, or a broiled fish platter.

Regardless, I am thankful to have all these choices, as do you.

Editor’s Note: Al Murray is the Executive Director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society. Established in 1781, the Society is New Jersey's oldest organization whose purpose is to advocate, educate and promote on behalf of New Jersey's agricultural industry. Mr. Murray previously spent his entire career at the NJ Department of Agriculture, serving as the Assistant Secretary. He can be reached at njagriculturalsociety@ gmail.com

10 December 2020 We are ending a year that will be remembered as one of both challenges and progress for Garden State farmers and gardeners.

As we close out 2020, we are seeing the start of hemp farming in the Garden State, which licensed approximately 60 farmers to grow hemp, with hundreds of applications to grow pot’s nonpsychoactive cousin still pending.

This fast-growing crop will bolster the state’s third-largest industry, as well as create many related jobs producing paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction materials, and even health foods.

Hemp also offers the advantage of being one of the most environmentally safe plants to grow, requiring little or no pesticide and herbicide while helping control topsoil erosion and producing oxygen. New Jersey farmers are now positioned to begin tapping into a global industrial hemp market that is expected to reach $10.6 billion by 2025.

We also made strides in helping the state’s fishing and aquaculture industries address the beating they have taken during the economic downturn. NOAA approved the state’s plan to spend $11.3 million in federal fisheries relief from the CARES Act on grants to fishing Mistletoe is the common English name of many species of parasitic/ hemiparasitic plants. Pests to many ornamental trees, most mistletoe parasitize their hosts and can cause abnormal growths called “witches’ brooms,” growths that can deform branches and decrease reproductive abilities.

Capable of producing their own food, mistletoes are abundant in both temperate and tropical climates.

Slow growing, yet persistent, their eventual demise seems directly related to the demise of their hosts.

And the only effective control is the removal of this parasite…and there seems to be a few ways to do just that.

For years, I have heard stories of people shooting mistletoe out of trees. And while my sources are trustworthy “plant people” in the industry, I myself have never seen it. Thankfully, we live in a technological age where you can easily Google or YouTube such things.

After a quick YouTube search, my curiosity was confirmed. There are many videos showcasing mistletoe being shot out of the sky with rifles.

One video, in particular, shows a Ruger 10/22®American rifle knocking down mistletoe, several stories high, using Remington 22 Thunderbolt ammunition.

GardenerNews.com Agriculture and Natural Resources

By Eric Houghtaling New Jersey Assemblyman

2020: A Year of Progress and Challenges

businesses whose revenues declined by at least 35 percent.

Our state’s commercial and recreational fishing industries, which generate about $8 billion per year in revenues and support more than 50,000 jobs, need all the support we can give them.

These grants will help, as will the new Support New Jersey Seafood website launched by the Department of Agriculture and the DEP to make it easier for customers to find local businesses.

Another development that impacts commercial fishing is the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) vote in October to reduce the total allowable catch (TAC) of menhaden, also known as bunker, by 10 percent.

ASMFC, on which I serve as our state’s legislative appointee, took a conservation approach that looked at menhaden’s role in the

ecosystem as food for many other fish. The 10 percent catch reduction is a good compromise between the needs of commercial fishermen who wanted to maintain the status quo with no change in menhaden catch limits, and recreational fishermen who wanted a 15 percent reduction to help preserve their efforts to invigorate the striped bass population.

We also moved forward this year in bringing solar energy producers and farmers closer together in 2020 and construction of the Nichomus Run Solar Farm in Pilesgrove Township could begin in 2021. The project will use rows of solar panels over 800 acres to generate up to 150 Megawatts of clean power annually, enough to power 24,000 homes. It also will be home to 1,000 sheep.

I’m very enthusiastic about solar energy. As a lifelong electrician,

I’ve seen all kinds of technology used to produce electricity, and solar energy holds great promise as one of the cleanest and cheapest energy sources.

Looking ahead, we will also be watching what could become the greatest challenge to farmers and gardeners in 2021: the Spotted Lanternfly. A species native to China, the Spotted Lanternfly arrived in New Jersey in 2018 and has since been recorded in all 21 counties, although the highest populations are in the counties closer to Pennsylvania.

This pest is a big eater and threatens more than 70 plant species, including cultivated grapes, and hops on our commercial vineyards.

It also is a nuisance to gardeners, feeding in droves on landscape trees.

While colder weather should kill off adult lanternflies, entomologists

Unique Plants

By Bob LaHoff Nursery Specialist

Shooting Plants in the Sky

Another video shows a “gentler, kinder” approach, whereby a group of kayakers trek down a waterway harvesting mistletoe with a makeshift hook on a large pole.

A couple of simple turns and the hook easily separates the parasite from its host. Either way, the goal to remove and free one from another is achieved.

Neither a tree, a shrub, or a vine, mistletoe has no roots, yet is able to grow on a wide range of hosts.

North American native mistletoe’s, Phoradendron leucarpum, ancestry traces back to that of the European.

Producing some photosynthesis in their life cycle, their contributions to their host seems to end in tragedy.

Most mistletoe seed are dispersed by birds and this brings me to another YouTube video. A five-minute tutorial educating me on the “positive effects” mistletoe can have on the environment.

The video speaks directly to the plant’s rich source of nectar and fruits and the safe habitat the plant provides for birds. Ideas I had never contemplated.

Animals depending on the plant’s leaves and young shoots for food and transferring pollen between plants fascinated me. In fact, Mistletoe- with Dr. Dave’s words were so captivating, I replayed his video a few times to get his wording right: “Their nutrient-rich litter that rains down to the understory below acts like a constant stream of fertilizer and mulch, trapping the water in and giving all the other plants lots of nutrients to grow and thrive.” I found these words to be almost poetic, giving me pause to appreciate a plant I had thought of as a constant irritant.

Reportedly, there are about 1,500 species of mistletoe and their toxicity levels vary. More

concentrated levels in the leaves and berries, medicine continues to try to harness and add value towards the treatment of arthritis, high blood pressure and infertility.

And while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved mistletoe, it apparently is considered as a complimentary medicine for the treatment of cancer and as a veterinary herbal medicine.

Mistletoe, relevant to many cultures throughout history, is rich in lore. Pre-Christian cultures regarded the white berries as a symbol of male fertility, while Norse mythology speaks of an arrow made of mistletoe wood used to end a sibling strife. The Romans associated mistletoe with peace, love and understanding, and in the Western world, it’s associated with Christmas as a decoration under which lovers are expected to kiss.

Most mistletoe are evergreen

at Rutgers University predict the destructive pest will continue its spread throughout the state in the spring. The Department of Agriculture’s quarantine in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Salem, Somerset and Warren counties hopefully will reduce its range.

The state Assembly Agriculture Committee will be watching the spread closely in the year ahead and working with farmers and regulators to support farmers and keep residents informed about what they can do to prevent infestation.

As always, the Agriculture Committee welcomes your ideas and we look forward to working with farmers, gardeners, state agencies, and the scientific community to address challenges ahead in 2021. Reach me at asmhoughtaling@njleg.org.

Editor’s Note: Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling is Chair of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee in the New Jersey State Assembly.

He can be reached at 732-6953371 or AsmHoughtaling@ njleg.org, or by mail at 802 W Park Ave, Ste 302, Ocean Township 07712. and fairly easy to spot once their deciduous hosts have lost their leaves. Despite the fact that most mistletoe parasitize a number of host plants and some species parasitize other mistletoe, there are positive contributions made by this plant, enriching lives and supporting ecosystems.

For me, mistletoe will forever conjure up images of rifles and shots fired, Norse Gods and those committed to one another.

Mistletoe is a plant like no other.

Steeped in folklore, believed to have magical powers, used for medicinal purposes, supporting ecosystems and a target for some, I can’t think of another plant quite like it.

Editor’s Note: Bob LaHoff is co-owner of Hall’s Garden Center and Florist in Union County, a member of the Union County Board of Agriculture, the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association, past member of Reeves-Reed Arboretum Buildings and Grounds Committee, a lifetime member of the Conifer Society and past member of the retail council for Monrovia Growers.

He can be reached at (908) 665-0331.

GardenerNews.com

December 2020 11

WARNING: Don’t Let These Hatch (Continued from page 1)

and first confirmed in New Jersey in 2018. It showed up in Pennsylvania in 2014.

This insect is a member of the Order Hemiptera (true bugs, cicadas, hoppers, aphids, and others) and the Family Fulgoridae, also known as planthoppers.

There is one generation per year. Eggs are the stage that overwinter. These eggs hatch sometime in May and nymphs (immatures) undergo four instars. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd instars are black with white spots. These immatures will feed on the various host plants listed toward the end of the story, depending upon availability. These early instars have been found to move up and down the host plant on a daily basis as they feed.

Here is the meat and potatoes part. Egg mass destruction is now.

Egg masses contain an average of 30 to 50 individual eggs, and are covered with a waxy-like substance. The wax,

when it is first deposited, is a whitish light gray, but it takes on the appearance of mud as it dries. The size of the mass can vary, but it’s typically about an inch long by three-quarters of an inch wide.

You can scrape egg masses whenever you see them. This can be done using any hard or rigid tool such as a credit card, strong stick, a putty knife, or a hand held ice scraper (‘tis the season). It is unknown if eggs scraped onto the ground can survive, so the best advice is to scrape egg masses into a container or a zipper-sealed plastic bag with rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer. Make sure you scrape the area completely.

Eggs can be laid on any surface, including agricultural equipment, automobiles, cemetery head stones, fruit bins, metal and wood sheds, landscaping fabric, landscaping stones, patio furniture, plastic and wood fences, playground equipment, trains cars, trees,

and wood piles, just to name a few.

The insect tends to lay eggs in areas protected from wind and the harsh winter storms. Look for them in a sheltered area. The egg stage is the most vulnerable of the Spotted Lanternfly life cycle because they are stationary for months.

During feeding, spotted lanternflies excrete significant amounts of honey dew (or sugar water). Honey dew deposits provide a food source for a sooty mold fungus that can grow on plant surfaces and fruit, leading to reduced photosynthesis and plant vigor. Adults feed in large congregations and are highly noticeable. Although there are no numbers or estimates on the economic impact of spotted lanternflies, I am concerned about the impacts to our agricultural and homeowner communities.

The Spotted Lanternfly is a planthopper and can only fly short distances. (Cont. on Page 17)

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Ice Scraper Being Used to Remove a Spotted Lanternfly Egg Mass.

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12 December 2020 The NJLCA tries to give back to the community each year by way of low- or no-cost landscaping projects.

When past President of the NJLCA Tom Canete proposed a service project at the school his son Jake attends, how could the Service Project Committee say “no”? You see, Tom and his crews have assisted on every service project we have completed in the past 10 years and anyone who knows his family knows how much they give back to their community and friends.

As Tom explained it, the playground at The Gramon School in Fairfield, N.J., was having severe drainage issues, which caused large pools of water to form where the grass met the pavement, making both areas unusable for the students to play on during recess after a rainy day.

In addition, the school was looking to upgrade the property and install a greenhouse, re-mulch their playground equipment area and repair an uneven field. They were also planning to install a few umbrellas and tables on an unused area of the field.

In typical NJLCA fashion, our “Day of Service” turned into several “DayS of Service,” but the project was entirely worthwhile.

Thirteen companies volunteered and 21 companies donated material and equipment to complete this project, which is an estimated

GardenerNews.com The NJLCA Today

By Gail Woolcott Executive Director

Season of Giving

$90,000-$100,000 project with time and materials.

Several major sections were completed, with Tom Canete and Dave Dacosta overseeing the project (and providing comic relief)! Paul Hewitt oversaw most of the drainage work as well.

Section 1: Revision of Drainage - Nearly 500 feet of eight-inch reduced to four-inch SDR drain pipe was installed from the side of and along the entire back of the playground to two 18-inch-by-18inch concrete catch basins with cast iron framing grates. Upon excavation for the drainage, they encountered a 12-inch-thick existing catch basin, which had to be hammer-drilled through to get to the other side. The deepest section excavated was over eight feet deep!

Section 2: Area for Outdoor Classes and Eating – Volunteers installed a 1,000-square-foot patio with three shade trees (October

Glory) where the school could place outdoor furniture (the patio was a surprise to the school). Pavers used were Cambridge Ledgestone 16-by24 Smooth Sahara Chestnut. Several companies, including Exclusive Stoneworks and Wayne Jepsen Landscaping, installed the patio over two days, including excavation, grading, prepping, installation, cutting and sweeping sand.

Section 3: Greenhouse Grading and prep for a cement pad for the greenhouse was installed and the final part of the project completed was the greenhouse itself (a 16-footby-20-foot wheelchair-accessible greenhouse) in November.

Section 4: Raised garden beds - When we first arrived, we didn’t even know there were beds in there!

Volunteers did a massive cleanup of a large, fenced area that had previously been used as raised beds.

Section 5: Two playground areas - Re-mulched using 100 yards

of playground mulch.

Section 6: Field – The entire playing field was regraded to remove low spots by relocating and adding topsoil. The 14,000-squarefoot was then hydroseeded, which includes grass seed, hydro mulch and fertilizer.

Section 7: Asphalt – To complete fixing the drainage issues, 2,200 square feet of asphalt was laid to refinish and extend the area where the basketball hoops are.

Volunteers included: Bergen Community College Horticulture Dept. Chair, Canete Landscape, CK Paving, Exclusive Stoneworks, Green Meadows Landscape, Hewitt Landscape, Horizon Landscape, Kindergan Landscaping, VIP Landscape, Wayne Jepsen Landscape, Wayne Wholesale Fertilizer, Yellow Wagon Landscaping.

Donors included: Al D. Landscape Supply, All Service Equipment, B & B Organic Recycling, Bergen Siteworks, Bobcat

of North Jersey, Braen Supply, Cambridge Pavingstones, Canete Garden Center, Dan Como & Sons, Downes Forest Products, Michells, Morris Brick and Stone, NJLCA, Peerless Concrete, RER Supply, SiteOne Landscape Supply and Synatek Solutions.

The Gramon School was extremely appreciative of the project and excited that their students can once again learn and play outdoors.

The NJLCA is very thankful to all the volunteers and donors for their assistance in making this project a reality.

In this season of giving, have a wonderful holiday everyone!

Editor’s note: Gail Woolcott is the Executive Director for the New Jersey Landscape Contractors Association.

She was presented with a community service award from the Borough of Fairview 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 is currently the State Licensee Chair on the National Association of Landscape Professionals International Certification Council.

GardenerNews.com

December 2020 13

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14 December 2020

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Germinated in 2003

GardenerNews.com As we are now fully immersed in our traditional holiday season here in New Jersey, let’s take a look at what farmers have to do in order to put food on everyone’s holiday table.

Of course, every segment of agriculture has its own different busy season. And every crop that is grown in New Jersey has its own critical time frame in production that can make or break the season for a grower.

And at each critical point during the growing season, growers have to be ready to act and or react to whatever challenges may come their way.

With many crops, the crucial points in the growing season are planting and harvest. Growers work very hard to get their crops planted at the right time into good soil conditions. As long as that is done properly and the weather is at least somewhat favorable during the remainder of the growing season, harvest season begins, and growers again work very diligently to get the crop harvested in an optimal condition in a timely manner.

Sure, there are plenty of other crucial steps that must be taken along the way. Crops Which would you rather do? I first thought work on my lawn, but it’s December and I feel in the holiday spirt!

While I’m not a big fan of shopping, I do like to surprise my family each year with something special. For those of you who would rather work on your lawn than shop, well, you are limited somewhat by the time of year and weather.

How about we review the past year and make plans for a better lawn next year? My lawn didn’t do what I wanted it to, why not? As you know, Mother Nature takes hold of our lawns too many years and twists and turns them around with drought, insects, fungus and skunks. This year again, there was very inconsistent rainfall from spring through fall.

The summer was droughty as expected but September, which is a great month for re-seeding, was very dry. We had a number of complaints of slow germination. Eventually, fall seedings came around and filled in nicely.

This year, despite the great disruption of COVID19, we saw a banner year for

December 2020 15 The Town Farmer

By Peter Melick Agricultural Producer

Holiday Harvests

must be kept free of pests such as insects, diseases, and weeds.

The crops also must receive the right amount of water. Not too much and not too little. And then there are other steps that should be taken which are specific to that crop. Whether it be staking and tying tomatoes or thinning apples and peaches, these critical steps must be taken in order to keep that crop on track for a successful harvest.

Most of the crops grown here in the Garden State are harvested before we reach December. But just as harvesting them and then selling them are, of course, very important, so are certain other actions that need to be taken during the growing season.

Take the process of thinning apples, for example. For those

that are not familiar, thinning means to remove excess blossoms or tiny apples so that the remaining apples on the tree can size properly. This is a critical step in the growing season and, if not done properly, can ruin the crop. There is a twoweek window that starts when the trees are in full bloom when thinning can be accomplished.

If too many apples are taken off, overall yield will suffer. If not enough are removed, the grower will be left with a multitude of small, unmarketable fruit.

Another side effect of not thinning enough is that too many fruit left on the tree can put stress on the tree, which can cause it to greatly decrease the amount of blossoms in the following year, which leads to

more problems.

But getting back to thinning, this is a critical step that must be completed at a specific time.

Because it is done chemically through various treatments of plant growth regulators, it must be completed when weather conditions are optimal. It can’t be done in the rain or wind.

Also, temperature has a great effect on the efficacy of the treatment. If it is too cold during and after the application, it will not work as well. If it is too warm or too humid, too many apples will be taken off. And to make matters more difficult, each specific variety can react differently to these treatments.

Therefore, applications should be customized for each variety.

These factors all but require a

Turf ‘s Up

By Todd Pretz Professional Turf Consultant

Holiday shopping or work on your lawn? homeowners doing homeimprovement projects, fences, pergolas, painting, pools and lawns. Yes, we saw a tremendous demand for grass seed. So much so that we almost couldn’t keep up with the demand due to the West Coast fires and transportation disruptions in early fall. Will all the lawns that were planted this year look great at this time next year?

Did you water when possible during dry periods this year? Did you turn on the hose to water too late after drought set in and your lawn went into a brown dormant stage? Did you ever get your sprinkler fixed? Did you fertilize more than once or twice? Did you plant quality grass seed or cheap, quick

growing, annual ryegrass?

Did skunks dig up your lawn looking for grubs?

Investigate their activity; they must be digging for food. If you have grubs, you should have treated them earlier in the year, knowing their life cycle and following proper timing for best results. Did you finally test your soil pH liked I’ve asked you too many times? If not, shame on you.

Remember, consistency in monitoring your lawn and the applications makes all the difference, just like you need to carefully monitor your health.

Did you forget to fertilize once or twice because you just forgot or it was raining, or you went to the beach instead (I don’t blame you!)?

There are some distractions

during the year, but at least if you never have taken a soil pH test, you need too. This is the lifeblood of your lawn. Better seed, better soil, better lawn!

Maybe you can fix drainage problems this month before it gets too cold. Trim some tree branches in order to get better air flow to reduce disease pressure and reduce shade to grow better grass.

Did you clear the lawn of all leaves and clean and service your mower before you put it away in the shed? It’s now too late to apply lawn fertilizers due to most states having date restrictive “black out” laws about fertilizing.

Hey, I just got a call from Maryland. They re-seeded their back yard after a patio project and aerated the front

grower to live with his or her trees for this two-week time period.

Once the season progresses through this critical window, a grower has to evaluate how effective their thinning treatments were. If not enough were taken off, there is always the hand-thinning option. But this is very expensive and does not do much in the way of stimulating a good return bloom in the following season. If too many were taken off, take good notes about what went wrong and better luck next year.

I hope everyone has a joyous holiday season!

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. lawn, which was in decent shape. They tell me now a month later they have a lot of clover growing. Why? Because they disturbed the soil and clover was a common ingredient in lawn seed mixtures in the 1950s and 1960s? They simply brought the clover seeds to the surface and they germinated. Wow, what a story!

I told them to fertilize again and mow until late fall and then evaluate their situation next spring. This is a better strategy than trying to kill the clover now. Getting a thick, healthy lawn first and then treating problems later is much easier.

What special gift will you buy for your spouse, friend or family this year? Happy Holidays!

Editor’s Note: Todd Pretz is Vice President of Jonathan Green, a leading supplier of lawn and garden products in the northeast. For more information, please visit: www.jonathangreen.com

16 December 2020

Rutgers “Scarlet Hot Sauce” Makes its Debut as Release from Exotic Pepper Project

The Exotic Pepper Project team of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) and School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) announced the release of a new hot sauce made from Rutgers-grown hot peppers. “Scarlet Hot Sauce” was made available to Rutgers Dining Services on October 12 in a limited first-run. The spicy concoction is a result of over two years of collaboration initiated in 2018 between the Exotic Pepper Project team, Rutgers Dining Services, and HotSauce4Good, LLC. Since 2010, the Exotic Hot Pepper Project team— Albert Ayeni, ethnic crop specialist, Tom Orton, extension specialist in vegetable breeding and Jim Simon, distinguished professor of plant biology, along with SEBS undergraduate and graduate students—have been evaluating the agricultural attributes of more than 40 exotic hot peppers at Rutgers Agricultural Research and Extension Center (RAREC) in Bridgeton, NJ; the Rutgers Snyder Research Farm in Pittstown, NJ; and in New Brunswick on the Rutgers Cook Campus at Horticultural Farm III. Bob Ferretti, CEO of Hot Sauce 4 Good—a small, New Jersey family-run company dedicated to supporting charitable causes—described the sauce’s flavor profile, “The sauce is full-bodied with a medium heat level. The pepper mix (habanero and cayenne) gives the sauce its heat – but also its complexity. The habaneros are fruity and flavorful.” Ferretti added, “This is a Srirachastyle sauce that uses locally sourced honey (instead of sugar) and locally grown garlic.” The hot sauce is bottled in the Hot Sauce 4 Good commercial kitchen in Hillsborough, NJ. The raw materials used for Scarlet Hot Sauce were habanero (Rutgers Rosebell Red) and cayenne peppers from the exotic pepper studies carried out at RAREC and Hort Farm III between 2015 and 2019. The sauce was formulated based on recommendations suggested

by Joe Charette, executive director of Rutgers Dining Services and his senior staff on the taste, texture, and flavor preferred by the Rutgers community (students/ faculty/staff).

The initial release of Scarlet Hot Sauce is limited for now but has potential for growth. Charette said, “Rutgers Dining Services purchased the entire production which was 15 cases and is offering it for sale at “Kilmer’s Market” on the Livingston Plaza.” He noted, “Our original intent was to make it available as a condiment in all four all-you-can-eat dining halls. Due to the current circumstances of remote instruction, that style of service is not being offered.”

“We are proud to be associated with this product,” said Ayeni. “We believe it has a bright future as Rutgers University, one of the leaders of the nationally recognized Menus of Change University Research Collaborative will help promote adoption nationwide and hence the integration of Rutgers SEBS/NJAES grown peppers in the hot sauce industry in and outside the United States.”

Ayeni added, “We appreciate the financial and technical support provided by the SEBS/NJAES Office of Research to enable the production of topline exotic peppers that qualify for this innovative hot sauce formulation.”

GardenerNews.com

A Year Like No Other

By Jeannie Geremia Contributing Writer

The year 2020 is permanently engraved in our hearts and minds, as it was full of every plot twist imaginable and, if fiction, would have been tossed out as too far fetched for even the most ardent fantastical theorists.

But here we are, nearing the close of this topsyturvy year and everyone is exhausted from a deluge of life-changing events converging on planet Earth and leaving a permanent imprint on life as we’ve known it.

It has paid to be an optimist as The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. was able to change direction, adapt, and subsequently move forward in new directions that will have long-term, positive impacts on our garden clubs, our state, the nation and the world.

Late winter and early spring brought a complete shutdown to all of our planned meetings, projects, and activities, as everyone sheltered in place with scary scenes of the pandemic raging throughout the world. Our last face-to-face meetings of the majority of our 100-plus garden clubs were held in February and early-March 2020, and we have slowly entered into a new world of virtual meetings as there appeared to be no end in sight to the pandemic’s deadly grip.

Who knew that there would be such positives to conducting meetings, workshops, business, and much more from the comfort and safety of our homes? The benefits include less traffic, less pollution, more wildlife, more time with family, and the lists go on. It’s so nice to be able to bid adieu to members on a virtual conference, meeting,

workshop, etc., then stroll outside to our yards and gardens.

We’ve realized more attendees at these virtual meetings as many members were loathe to drive, and/ or travel due to health, expense, and time so that hybrid meetings have entered our vocabulary. It will be our future even after life returns to a new normal, post-pandemic.

The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc.’s course corrections throughout the year are as follows. A dynamic, interactive, userfriendly website with the ability to upload information quickly and artfully thanks to our website team – GCNJ Board members Diana Kazazis, Ellen Preissler and our new website manager, Doug Guthrie.

Our goal was to inspire our garden club members and the public, as we are social animals and need the feeling of connectivity and positive activities with attainable results as we stay safe in our own homes, gardens and communities.

Most gratifying and climactic for us and the Garden State was the change in direction we took with the realization that we had reached a roadblock at Rutgers Gardens, our GCNJ headquarters for the past 38-plus years. Rutgers and the GCNJ, while still sharing Holly House in the foreseeable future, were facing a standstill at Rutgers Gardens itself.

The door having closed on my GCNJ President’s Project “Paths to Discovery Through Outdoor Learning Centers” at Rutgers Gardens, another door opened up for us and destiny called. The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. joined the Coalition to Pass the Liberty State Park Protection Act and Save Caven Point Natural

Area (Senate Bill S1449 and Assembly Bill A2189).

We were the 85th nonprofit to join this Coalition and our Environmental Chair, Beverly Kazickas, worked to have Scenic America join as the 93rd member of the Coalition to Pass the Liberty State Park Protection Act and prevent continual onslaughts of privatization and commercialization efforts that the Friends of Liberty State Park and the public have battled every two years or so for decades.

The NJDEP’s Liberty State Park Interior Restoration Design Concept that was presented to the public at a virtual meeting held on October 20, 2020 was met with enthusiasm and elation over future plans that include outstanding passive and active recreational activities.

The GCNJ is looking forward to working with other nonprofits, Friends of Liberty State Park, the NJDEP, the public, and other stakeholders in upcoming workshops that will enhance Liberty State Park for us and future generations, eclipsing any state, national or international park in the world as the only urban oasis gazing on the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with ferry service to both, and a key site of the Atlantic Migratory Flyway with habitat for flora and fauna that offers world class study opportunities in its 1,200 acres.

The last component and critical part of our efforts to save our pollinators is the passage of our “Protect Pollinators License Plates” bill, Senate Bill S92 and Assembly Bill A4717. Only two steps to go, as A4717 has to be posted for a vote in the entire Assembly and signed

by Governor Murphy. More to come in the New Year!

Editor’s Note: Jeannie Geremia is The Garden Club of New Jersey, Inc. President, and is a National Garden Clubs, Inc. Master Flower Show Judge for the GCNJ. Jeannie is a member of Neshanic Garden Club and her email address is: jgeremia42@gmail.com.

The Garden Club of New Jersey’s website is: www.gardenclubofnewjersey.org.

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December 2020 17

WARNING: Don’t Let These Hatch (Continued from page 11)

However, it is an excellent hitchhiker and has been known to ride on any kind of transportation.

Spotted Lanternfly adults and nymphs are phloem feeders that feed on woody tissue with piercing-sucking mouthparts on the host plant fluids.

Feeding primarily occurs on the trunk and limbs of plants, not on the fruit or leaf tissues, although young nymphs may feed on the leaves, particularly along the leaf veins. Feeding and abundance on different hosts switches throughout the growing season, likely tied with sugar flow. Wasps, hornets, bees, and ants can come to the area to feed on the sugary liquid. Watch out!

According to new research, the insect is known to feed on at least 103 species of plants (Barringer and Ciafré, 2020), including the invasive tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima),

but also apple (Malus spp.), plum, cherry, peach, and apricot (Prunus spp.), grape (Vitis spp.), birch (Betula spp.), dogwood (Cornus spp.), maple (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), willow (Salix spp.).

This non-native insect will become a real nuisance.

Other hosts reported for this insect include, but are not limited to: American beech (Fagus grandifolia), American linden (Tilia americana), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), big-toothed aspen (Populus grandidentata), black birch (Betula lenta), black cherry (Prunus serotina), black gum (Nyssa sylvatica), black walnut (Juglans nigra), dogwood (Cornus spp.), Japanese snowbell (Styrax japonicus), maple (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), paper birch (Betula papyrifera), pignut hickory (Carya glabra), sassafras (Sassafras

albidum), serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis), slippery elm (Ulmus rubra), tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera), white ash (Fraxinus americana), and willow (Salix spp.).

As a result, this destructive

insect has the potential to impact a wide assortment of ecosystems throughout its potential range, and its North American distribution may not be limited by the presence of tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima).

If you have any questions about suspicious masses or any other evidence of Spotted Lanternfly on your property, please contact your state department of agriculture. (ht t ps://w w w.nasda.org / states/state-directory).

Tom Castronovo/Photo

Items that Can Be Used to Remove Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses.

18 December 2020

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NORTHEAST DEPARTMENT NEW YORK DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

State Agriculture Commissioner Announces Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force to Support Growth of New York Farms and Strengthen Food System

PA Secretary of Agriculture: Pennsylvania Hunters Can Address Local Food Insecurity

by Donating Deer

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced the members of the Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force, which met for the first time Thursday, November 12. The task force, which is made up of New York farmers and representatives from produce distributors and retailers, was first announced as part of the Governor’s 2020 State of the State address and will build on New York’s leadership in food safety practices. The task force will review and make recommendations to further advance New York’s tracking and tracing system for produce grown in the State.

An improved system will help consumers to more easily identify where products were grown and processed and allow the State to more quickly trace the origin of a product during foodborne illness investigations.

Commissioner Ball said, “We look forward to the work of this taskforce as a next step in the evolution of our food safety mission.

Food safety is everyone’s business, and this task force consists of all parts of the produce supply chain— from the farmer that grows our fruits and vegetables to the distribution center that sorts and/ or bags it to the retailer who sells it. Understanding the sophisticated tracking systems that are already in place and how those systems communicate throughout the supply chain is key to supporting our farms, strengthening our food system, and reducing foodborne illness.”

Currently the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require a tracing system for produce. Unlike manufactured products, which are traceable through serial numbers, consumers

generally cannot identify where fresh produce was grown. In addition to the health and safety risks, this is costly to the entire supply chain, from the producers to retailers. The task force will analyze today’s existing tracking and tracing system, identify potential gaps and areas in need of improvement, and recommend uniform operating standards and practices for each point of the supply chain. This will provide consumers with more information about the source of the food they eat and expedite investigations of foodborne illness.

The Produce Traceability Blue Ribbon Task Force builds on New York State’s leadership in food safety initiatives. The Department adopted parts of the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FMSA) in 2016 and has been working with the food supply chain to implement these proactive and preventative measures for the harvesting, manufacturing, and holding of all food types, including produce normally consumed raw.

In addition, in 2016, the Governor launched the NYS Grown & Certified program, which is administered by the Department. The NYS Grown & Certified program certifies New York’s farmers for growing and producing food to a higher standard in the areas of food safety and environmental sustainability.

The food safety requirements for participation in the NYS Grown & Certified program include thirdparty food safety audits, such as the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), Safe Quality Food (SQF), British Retail Consortium (BRC) certification.

Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding joined Hunger-Free Pennsylvania and Hunters Sharing the Harvest on November 10 to encourage Pennsylvania’s more than 850,000 licensed hunters to consider donating a deer to Pennsylvanians in need of food this hunting season.

“In a year of challenges, Hunters Sharing the Harvest is a reliable tradition that offers us some bright light,” said Redding. “It’s a shining example of the good that can happen when public sector support and private sector generosity work together to solve a problem.

“A well-stocked freezer is not universal; more than 2 million Pennsylvanians are at risk for hunger and the simple act of sharing can help to fight that hunger,” added Redding.

“If you’ve got more than one tag, consider using your love for the sport to feed others.”

A non-profit organization, Hunters Sharing the Harvest (HSH) coordinates the donation, processing, and distribution of venison to Pennsylvanians facing food insecurity. In 2019, HSH coordinated record donations for the program with more than 160,000 pounds of venison distributed to provide 822,000 meals to Pennsylvanians in need. On average, a single deer donated can provide up to 200 meals.

In 2019, the Department of Agriculture renewed a five-year contract with HSH to provide funding to defray costs of processing the donated venison. Under the contract, the department pays up to $145,000 annually in processor costs.

“Now more than ever, we need the support of Pennsylvanians

as we work to feed the growing number of people facing food insecurity,” said HungerFree Pennsylvania Executive Director Sheila Christopher.

“This partnership with Hunters Sharing the Harvest is critical to maintaining a steady supply of lean, high-protein product that is often difficult for our member food banks to source.”

In 2018, 1.4 million Pennsylvanians, nearly 10.9 percent of the population, didn’t always know where their next meal was coming from. In 2020 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, that number increased by 41 percent to 2 million insecure Pennsylvanians. Even more startling, of the 2 million food insecure, 630,900 are children.

That’s an increase of 57.6 percent since 2018.

“Our program is unique in maintaining its effectiveness and recognition of our Pennsylvania hunters’ compassion for others and since 1991,” said Hunters Sharing the Harvest Executive Director John Plowman. “With a 2019 record of more than 160,000 high-protein pounds distributed to statewide food banks, soup kitchens and families in need, we’re shooting for comparably good results for 2020.”

Hunters interested in participating can take their deer to one of the participating deer processors throughout the state and donate any amount of their venison to the program.

For more information on Hunters Sharing the Harvest, becoming a corporate sponsor, or donating through their Buck for the Pot initiative, visit sharedeer.org.

GardenerNews.com

December 2020 19

OF AGRICULTURE NEWS NEW JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Yearlings of New Jersey Sires Lead Sales at Prestigious Auction Yearlings from New Jersey sires Muscle Hill and Walner led the way at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale in Kentucky. Muscle Hill led trotting sires with $4.81 million in gross sales and a $192,400 average for 25 horses sold. Walner was second in gross sales with $2.64 million with an average of $155,294 for 17 horses. Muscle Hill and Walner each stand at Southwind Farms in Pennington in Mercer County.

“New Jersey has a rich tradition in horse racing and our equine farms continue to make a significant positive impact on many levels,” said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher, who visited Southwind Farms earlier this year. “A thriving horse industry establishes a broad economic infrastructure that supports many agriculture-related businesses.”

The offspring of Muscle Hill and Walner each garnered their share of attention at the sale. The trotting filly Kadena, out of Walner, brought the highest price on the first day of the sale at $725,000. That amount set the record for a highest bid on a filly yearling, breaking the previous mark of $625,000 set in 1983. Kadena is expected to train in New Jersey this fall.

The top selling colt from Muscle Hill was Bonanza at $600,000.

Muscle Hill also sired Knights Guard, and Trunk Bay, which each sold for $400,000, and No Ball Games, which sold for $340,000.

Muscle Hill, recognized around the world, sired this year’s Hambletonian winner Ramona Hill.

Muscle Hill was the 2009 Horse of the Year and was the Trotting World Champion as a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old. Muscle Hill also

had a streak of 20 straight wins and set a single year winnings record at nearly $2.5 million. According to the United States Trotting Association, 2-year-old foals and starters from Muscle Hill had amassed more than $4 million in earnings through the end of 2019.

Walner was the 2016 2-yearold Dan Patch Award Trotter of the Year, when he won 9 of 10 starts, which included a win in the Breeders Crown. In 2017, he won the Stanley Dancer Memorial Division at the Meadowlands.

Walner is out of Mission Brief, a daughter of Muscle Hill.

Southwind Farms’ General Manager is Laura Young and her husband, Chris Pazdan, is the Farm Manager. Along with the 235 acres at the horse facility, they also farm about 800 acres in hay and grain in Hopewell Township. A second

Southwind Farms equine facility is in Gilbertsville, N.Y. The success of New Jersey race horses has led to an increase in the amount of mares that are bred here each year. The number has risen by more than 500 since 2017, reaching nearly 800 in 2020.

The racing dates for the rest of this year at the Meadowlands are Fridays and Saturdays from now through the end of the year, except for Christmas Day. There are also seven off-track wagering facilities throughout the state located at Meadowlands Racetrack, Freehold Raceway, Mays Landing, Monmouth Park, Woodbridge, Gloucester Township and Toms River.

For more information about the Standardbred Breeders Association of New Jersey go to http://www. sboanj.com/

MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Grants to Support Buy Local Organizations The Baker-Polito Administration awarded $500,000 in grants to regional Buy Local organizations across the Commonwealth for projects that will support the agricultural industries in western, central, northeastern, and southeastern Massachusetts. These organizations work to generate consumer awareness and demand for locally grown food products while improving logistical access to these important food sources.

“The challenges of the COVID19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of reinforcing local food system connections and encouraging residents and businesses to buy local,” said Governor Charlie Baker.

“Regional Buy Local organizations have been doing great work promoting the Commonwealth’s agricultural industry, and these efforts will be just as important in

the future to sustain the farming community and local food sectors for generations to come.”

“These grants build on our administration’s efforts to improve food security and support local food and agricultural businesses during these difficult times, including through our new $36 million Food Security Infrastructure Grant Program,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “We remain committed to helping the regional Buy Local organizations continue and grow their efforts as a valuable resource for the promotion of the farm and local food sector throughout the Commonwealth.”

These grants build upon the Baker-Polito Administration’s efforts to support regional economies across the Commonwealth. On August 25, 2020, the Administration

RECYCLE THE Gardener

announced the launch of the “My Local MA” campaign to encourage residents across the Commonwealth to support their local economies by shopping at local Massachusetts businesses and attractions, either in person, online, or by using curbside pickup or takeout.

“We commend the regional Buy Local organizations for recognizing the needs of the agriculture, food, fiber and fishing industries and providing programs geared to these sectors as well as promotional opportunities for consumers,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides.

“Massachusetts is home to a vibrant local food sector, and supporting these Buy Local organizations will lead to increased business opportunities for farmers, fishermen, and food producers throughout the

Commonwealth.”

“The Department of Agricultural Resources values the great partnership we have with each of the regional Buy Local organizations, as well as the spirit of collaboration they have amongst themselves,” said MDAR Commissioner John Lebeaux. “We are proud of all of the hard work each organization does to identify and address the technical and promotional needs of the agricultural industry within their region.”

Buy Local groups across the Commonwealth offer members and consumers a variety of resources. From technical assistance information to marketing assistance, consumers, farmers, and food producers alike can find resources to help them grow, buy, cook, and eat healthy, locally grown products.

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20 December 2020

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GardenerNews.com As a gardener, I think it is valuable to have a working knowledge of invasive plants, since, through our actions, we can help to remedy some of these issues or conversely contribute to the problem.

Most invasive plants were once popular ornamentals that have now invaded natural areas causing habitat destruction and disrupting fragile ecosystems.

The invasive exotic plants create loss of natural biodiversity, which is key to supporting the native birds, mammals, insects, etc.

One of the most destructive invasives in this area is the Norway maple, Acer platanoides.

This tree gained great popularity across the United States as a shade tree and street tree after most of the American elms, Ulmus Americana, were wiped out by Dutch elm disease.

While this is, in fact, a durable and fast-growing street tree, it also has the propensity to produce thousands of very viable seeds per tree, which readily germinate and take hold in a variety of conditions.

As the trees grow, they cast a lot of shade, which impedes desirable native species from germinating. Additionally, the roots are allelopathic, which means they produce a chemical that prohibits other species from germinating and/or growing.

Over time, as the Norway maple thrives and other native

December 2020 21 Pennsylvania Horticultural Society

By Andrew Bunting Vice President of Public Horticulture

Invasive Plants

species struggle, our native woods slowly turn into a monoculture of Norway maples.

Many residential properties still have Norway maples as street or shade trees and if you don’t have a cultivated specimen, it is likely you have them growing in unkept areas of your property or along fence or property lines.

While the Norway maple is the most prominent invasive species in this area, there are many more that you should be aware of so you can either take appropriate actions to eradicate them or avoid adding them to your garden. The New Jersey Invasive Species Council maintains an up-to-date list of current invasive species for the state.

Like the Norway maple, the Bradford pear, Pyrus calleryana, was a popular medium-sized street tree and spring flowering ornamental tree. However, it has become a prolific spreader and invades primarily edges of woodlands where there is more sun. If you drive north or south

on I-95, in the spring, you will see spire-like trees covering the verges of the highway.

There, too, are many shrubs that were once popular ornamentals that are now some of the most invasive plants, like the common privet, Ligustrum sinense. Many viburnums that were once coveted for both their ornamental fruits and flowers are now considered highly invasive, like Siebold’s viburnum, Viburnum sieboldii, Linden viburnum, Viburnum dilitatum, and one of my favorites, the double-file viburnum, Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum.

Several honeysuckles are also an issue, especially Lonicera maackii. In some of the forests of Connecticut, the entire understory is covered with the Japanese barberry, Berberis thunbergii, or the once very popular burning bush, Euonymus alatus, which is coveted for its fire-engine fall color.

In the 1980s and 1990s, ornamental grasses started to

become very popular and they remain popular today. However, there are some that have proven themselves to be a nuisance by invading natural meadows and open areas, such as most of the cultivars of Miscanthus sinensis, as well as, the fountain grass Pennisetum alopecuroides.

An entire article could be written on invasive vines, but the ones in this area to be most concerned with are bittersweet, Celastrus orbiculatus; English ivy, Hedera helix; Japanese honeysuckle, Lonicera japonica; Wisteria sinensis and Wisteria floribunda and the five-leaf Akebia, Akebia quinata.

As gardeners, I feel we need to be responsible stewards of both our gardens and the surrounding natural areas. We should have a working knowledge of invasive plants so we can avoid adding them to our gardens, or, if we have them, learn how to identify them and then develop plans for their removal.

Many botanic gardens and arboreta are now much more

proactive and have protocols in place for determining the potential invasiveness of plants before they add them to their collections. And many have Invasive Plant Policies where they also proactively remove those invasives from their collections.

Editor’s Note: Andrew Bunting is Vice President of Public 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 Announces Major Grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) announced that it is the recipient of a project grant of almost $480,000, 20% of which is designated as general operating support, from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage (the Center) to lead sTREEt Work.

This socially-engaged, participatory arts project is designed to explore the wonder and value of trees and the urban forest, with a strong focus on understanding barriers to increasing tree canopy coverage in low canopy Philadelphia neighborhoods. The communitydriven and creatively-inspired project will culminate in a public art installation at Awbury Arboretum in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia.

The installation will be complemented by a series of public events that will raise awareness of how trees can benefit urban communities, by combating the effects of climate change and improving air quality in communities experiencing environmental inequities.

The sTREEt Work installation is scheduled to be available to visitors in Spring 2023.

Increasing Philadelphia’s urban forest is an urgent concern, especially for those living in Philadelphia’s most underserved communities, where the temperatures on summer days can be well over 10 degrees hotter than in higher income neighborhoods.

PHS will work with curator Marina McDougall and art and design collective Futurefarmers to develop tree tours, hands-on workshops, and film screenings that spark conversations around barriers to trees, the need for more equitable canopy cover across neighborhoods, and ultimately to motivate public participation in tree planting throughout Philadelphia.

Awbury Arboretum in East Germantown will serve as the site for sculptural work and as a main hub for the project, with additional community gathering sites located throughout the city.

“The Pew Center’s grant for sTREEt Work provides a meaningful path for PHS to better engage broad and varied audiences throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, to connect horticulture to their daily lives, to bring attention to our existing tree planting and maintenance work, and to increase volunteer efforts to mitigate the extremely critical status of the tree canopy within our area,” said Matt Rader, PHS President. “This project allows us to bring together a unique combination of art, education, horticulture, and beauty, resulting in the ability to advance the health and well-being for thousands of people in and around Philadelphia.”

The Center’s project grants are awarded to cultural

institutions in amounts up to $400,000 (plus 20% in additional unrestricted general operating support).

The sTREEt Work project is a three-year effort to build awareness around horticulture, the urban forest, and environmental inequities, providing new ways to engage communities through art and culture, urban ecology and design.

ABOUT PHS The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, an internationally recognized nonprofit organization founded in 1827, plays an essential role in the vitality of the Philadelphia region by creating healthier living environments, increasing access to fresh food, growing economic opportunity, and building deeper social connections between people. PHS delivers this impact through comprehensive greening and engagement initiatives in more than 250 neighborhoods; an expansive network of public gardens and landscapes; year-round learning experiences; and the nation’s signature gardening event, the Philadelphia Flower Show. PHS provides everyone with opportunities to garden for the greater good as a participant, member, donor, or volunteer. For information and to support this work, please visit PHSonline.org.

22 December 2020 APHIS Seeks Comments on Draft Pest Risk Assessment for the Importation of Hydroponic Lettuce with Roots from Mexico The government of Mexico has asked USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to authorize the importation of lettuce with roots, Lactuca sativa (Asteraceae) for consumption into the United States. APHIS has drafted a pest risk assessment to support the risk mitigation requirements for the importation of this commodity.

APHIS shares draft pest risk assessments to determine whether stakeholders have information that might lead us to revise the draft assessment before we identify pest mitigations and proceed with the commodity import approval process.

The draft pest risk assessment for lettuce with roots for consumption from Mexico will be available for review and comment until December 28, 2020. To view the assessment or submit comments, go to https:// www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/risk-assessment-consultation

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The Premier Gardening Monthly Newspaper Number 212 Published Monthly Reserve Ad Space Website: www.GardenerNews.com E-Mail: Mail@GardenerNews.com Staff

Executive Editor/Publisher . . . . Tom Castronovo Art Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Susan F. Kessel Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tom Castronovo Tom Castronovo Todd Pretz Gail Woolcott Andrew Bunting

December 2020 Columnists

Brian Schilling Bob LaHoff Al Murray Douglas H. Fisher Peter Melick Eric J. Houghtaling Kenneth M. Karamichael

December 2020 Contributing Writers

Bruce Crawford

Jeannie Geremia

Hubert Ling

Gardener News is published monthly by

New battery-powered mower will help lawncare pros transition to zero-emissions fleet of mowers and yard tools; delivers on durability, power, and productivity The switch is on. Across the United States and Canada, a growing number of municipalities and professionals are gearing up to make the change to battery-powered lawn care equipment as performance expectations begin to meet and exceed expectations. Toro is ready to answer the call with a fleet of low noise, low exhaust and powerful professional battery equipment.

With the new Toro 60V 21-inch Commercial Heavy-Duty Mower, professionals can be ready to transition to an emission-free lawncare fleet of mowers and tools in the years ahead. The launch of the revolutionary 60V commercial mower is the start to a complete gamechanging commercial product line-up. It is just the beginning, From Start To Finish™.

“We are excited about our investments in technology,” said Mitch Hoffman, marketing manager. “By leveraging our 100 years of customer-focused product development, we are building an ecosystem of powerful commercial electric products. This 60V heavy duty mower that cuts and performs as well as the gas cousins is just the start!”

Without sacrificing any of the power, durability or reliability that you’ve come to expect from Toro, the new Toro 60V Heavy-Duty mower is powered with Toro’s proven 60-Volt, 7.5 Amp-hour battery that puts out a whopping 405 Watts per hour to deliver the productivity that lawncare pros demand.

Make no mistake about it – this new commercial mower from Toro is a powerful tool for lawncare pros focused on getting the job done right and fast. It’s easy-to-replace 60V battery design allows you to go all day without missing a beat, delivering perfect green ribbons and crisp, clean-cut edges.

Built for today’s environmentally aware lawncare professionals, the Toro 60V Heavy-Duty mower delivers zero-emissions and quiet performance while giving lawncare professionals the dependable quality cut that their customers expect.

The mower (Model 22282) is quiet, allowing pros to get to work earlier and work in sensitive areas such as schools, hospitals and corporate campuses, it is a sheer brut in delivering the power you need to get the job done right the first time.

Learn more at toro.com

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Full Moon December 29, 2020 Eastern Daylight

TIP OF THE MONTH When purchasing an interior plant, select only those which appear to be free of insects and diseases. Select plants that look sturdy, clean, well-potted, and shapely. Avoid plants which have yellow leaves or chlorotic leaves, brown leaf margins, wilted foliage, spots or blotches, or spindly growth. In addition, avoid those which have been treated with “leaf Shines,” which add an unusual polish to the leaves. During winter months, wrap plants thoroughly in newspaper or brown paper bags, before leaving the garden center or store, to carry them to your car. A short run in very low temperatures can kill or severely damage plants. The truck and/or back of most cars and SUV’s is too cold to carry plants. Place them in the front, and turn on the heater. And, never allow wind to blow across them from an open window.

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December 2020 23

24 December 2020

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BEAST OF THE NOR’EAST W H E N A N O R ’ E A S T E R R OA R S I N , YO U N E E D A B E A S T O F A S N OW B LOW E R TO R OA R BAC K .

A

O

W

N

SN

D †*

ERICA’ S AM

B L O W E R

B

R

*Based on average Traqline unit share for snow blower market from 2013 – October 2017

NUMBER ONE

AMERICA’S

COMMERCIAL

CHOOSE YOUR POWER

GAS OR BATTERY

STARTING AT

STARTING AT

399

$

SNOW BLOWER BRAND

679

$

^

†

SNOW BLOWERS

NEW!

^

POWER TRX HEAVY-DUTY

TRACKED TWO-STAGE SNOW BLOWERS

POWER CLEAR

SNOWMASTER

POWER TO BLAST SNOW

LIGHTNING FAST

All the power to break through heavy, wet snow in no time and throw it up to 40 feet.

Tear through the roughest snow and ice in record time with the engineered powerful auger.

MORE ROOM FOR WHAT MATTERS

KEEP UP THE PACE

Sleek, compact design for easy storage and quick use.

You control your speed with the Personal Pace® Self-Propel System.

®

SINGLE-STAGE SNOW BLOWERS

®

SELF-PROPELLED HYDROSTATIC TRANSMISSION TRACKS PROVIDE INCREASED STABILITY FOR TOUGH SLOPES AND STEEP TERRAIN

SNOW BLOWERS

POWER CLEAR®

COMMERCIAL SINGLE-STAGE SNOW BLOWERS EXTENDED LIFE PADDLES AND REINFORCED HANDLE

STARTING AT

STARTING AT

1199

$

899

$

^

^

POWER MAX® HD

COMMERCIAL TWO-STAGE SNOW BLOWERS CAST IRON SKID PLATES AND DRIFT CUTTERS

POWER MAX®

POWER MAX® HD

BUILT 2X STRONGER

POWER UP

Hardened gears and no shear pins to break or replace in the cold.

Optimal performance and years of dependable use with Toro Premium 4-cycle OHV engines.

TRIGGLERLESS STEERING

NIGHT VISION

TWO-STAGE SNOW BLOWERS

Self-propelled, triggerless steering for smooth turns. (Select models)

HEAVY-DUTY TWO-STAGE SNOW BLOWERS

Your visibility will never be clearer with the LED headlight.

Find Your Local Dealer at WWW.TORO.COM/DEALER

GRANDSTAND® MULTI FORCE™

WITH BOSS® SNOW BLADE, SNOW BLOWER OR POWER BROOM ^Manufacturer suggested promotional price subject to local dealer participation. †Based on average Traqline unit share for snow blower market from 2013-March 2020.